Links in a Chain - the Mayors of Bolton
Links in a Chain - The Mayors of Bolton
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George Tomlinson

Chairman of Farnworth Urban District Council: 1932-34 (Labour)

Born: 55 Fielding Street, Rishton, Lancashire 1 March 1890

Died: Manor House Hospital, Golders Green, London 22 September 1952

Educated: Wesleyan School, Rishton; Rishton Elementary School

At the age of 12 he started work as a half-timer in a cotton mill, becoming full time a year later.

He became a Methodist lay preacher.

He joined the Independent Labour Party and was elected to Rishton Urban District Council.

President of the Rishton District Weavers Association 1912.

He was a Christian pacifist during the First World War and was exempted from military service, working as an agricultural labourer for three years.

He moved to Farnworth to sell herbal drinks from the back of a cart.

He was elected to Farnworth Urban District Council and was Chairman of the Education Committee 1928-35.

Lancashire County Councillor 1931.

MP for Farnworth (Labour) from 1938 until his death.

He held office in the Attlee government as Minister of Works 1945-1947 and Minister of Education 1947-1951.

He died shortly before he was due to open what is now George Tomlinson School in Kearsley - it was named in his memory instead. (The school hall was named after his Labour Party agent, Richard Matthews, Chairman of Kearsley Urban District Council 1937-38, 1948-49, who was one of the prime movers in the building of the school and who also did not live to see its completion.)

 

Click for larger image Portrait of George Tomlinson.

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Click for larger image George Tomlinson MP entertaining a party of Farnworthians on the terrace of the Houses of Parliament.

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George Tomlinson

 

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