Links in a Chain - the Mayors of Bolton
Links in a Chain - The Mayors of Bolton
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William James Roskelly

Chairman of Horwich Urban District Council: 1936-37 (Liberal)

Born: Perranzabuloe, Cornwall 9 April 1864

Died: Oaklands, Brownlow Road, Horwich 9 December 1944

Educated: Dame School, Perranzabuloe, Cornwall; Board School, Killingworth, Northumberland

Insurance Agent.

Moved to Killingworth, Northumberland as a child.

Worked as a coal miner from 12 years old until becoming an Insurance Agent for the Pearl Assurance Company aged 19. In 1891 he moved to a the Prudential Assurance Company, rising to Assistant Superintendent of Agents by 1894 and Superintendent by 1901. He worked in the Durham and Yorkshire areas before coming to Horwich in 1917. He retired in 1923 after 32 years service.

Represented North Ward from 1932.

Chairman of the Parks and Markets Committee and of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee.

Secretary of Horwich Liberal Association from 1930.

Joined the local branch of the League of Nations Association in 1922 and became Treasurer in 1923. He represented the branch on the Manchester Council of the League of Nations.

Governor of Rivington and Blackrod Grammar School.

Primitive Methodist - he attended Lee Lane Primitive Methodist and later Victoria Methodist Church, Horwich and was a lay preacher from 1900. 

President for 2 years of Lancashire Federation of Brotherhoods and Sisterhoods - a religious organization. He was also a member of the Band of Hope temperance organization.

He had ten children. One son - Wilfred Menadue Roskelly - was a Lieutenant in No 52 Sqadron RFC and was killed in action when his plane was shot down over Belgium on 29 July 1917.

William James RoskellyRoskelly Family Tree • pdf

 

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