Walter Holehouse

Chairman of Kearsley Urban District Council: 1933-34, 1947-48, 1955-56 (Labour)

Born: St Helens Road, Bolton 4 September 1881

Died: 28 Elsie Street Farnworth 16 November 1962

Educated: Queen Street Seminary School, Farnworth

Started at the age of 10 in the spinning room at Thomas Barnes Mill, Farnworth, working 28 hours per week for 2s 6d, as a half-timer.

After leaving school he began what was to be 40 years working for Wallwork & Sussum. When the firm closed in 1941 he went to E & S Street, the builders, until he retired in 1953.

During the First World War he served with the 3rd King's Liverpool Regiment in Ireland for 18 months.

Represented West Ward from 1921 apart from a break between 1924 and 1927.

As Chairman of the Housing Committee he handed over the keys of Kearsley's 1000th Council home (to a Mr and Mrs Jones) at the Springfield Road housing estate on 19 June 1948.

Mmember of the Education Committee for 20 years.

Member of the Farnworth and District Co-operative Committee for 30 years and for 25 years was connected with the Operative Cotton Spinners and Twiners Approved Society.

Served on the Farnworth and District Trades and Labour Council for 30 years as a Committee member and Treasurer. 

President of the ILP Committee.

Shop steward at Wallwork & Sussum for 25 years.

Chairman of the Governors of George Tomlinson School and a member of the Farnworth Division Road Safety Committee.

Kearsley's representative on the Bolton Regional Sewerage Board.

Secretary of the Farnworth and Kearsley branch of the Federation of Old Aged Pensions Associations and was President of the Kearsley Horticultural Society.

In his younger days he was a well known billiards player with the Wesley SS and Market Street teams.

"An honest hardworking citizen of Kearsley he made a full contribution to education in this division." Alderman Robert Neary.

"Mr Holehouse did his whack with regard to education and his time on the Education Committee was well spent." Councillor John Martin.

"Mr Holehouse was young in spirit and progressive in outlook." Councillor Herbert Brindle.