Robert Demaine

Son of William Demaine, a stonemason.

He began work aged 10 as a half-time weaving tenter for Barlow and Jones Ltd.

Left school aged 11 to work as an errand boy and later apprenticed to Dobson and Barlow's as an iron moulder.

He worked in moulding shops both at home and in the USA before returning to Bolton and later buying a shop in Washington Street, Bolton.

He was President of the Bolton branch of the Friendly Society of Ironfounders.

Represented Derby Ward from 1924.

President of Hospital Saturday Committee 1943.

Borough Magistrate 1936. Alderman 1929.

One of his earliest duties as Mayor was to lead the first Remembrance Sunday Service after the end of the Second World War at the Cenotaph on Victoria Square.

Although too old to fight in the First World War himself he lost two of his three younger brothers:

Edward Demaine died 29 April 1917 from wounds received while serving in France as a Private in 11th Bn, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment).

William Demaine, a Sergeant in 4th Bn, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, was killed when RMS Leinster was torpedoed by a U boat in the Irish Sea on 10 October 1918 with the loss of over 500 lives. To compound the loss, William's wife had died in March 1917 leaving three young children.

Robert Demaine was a spectator as Mayor at the Burnden Disaster, where 33 people were crushed to death and over 500 injured when barriers gave way during a Cup tie between Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City on 9 March 1946. He subsequently launched the Mayor of Bolton's Burnden Disaster Fund to assist those affected by the tragedy.

His daughter, Lena Rigby, was Mayoress as his wife's poor health at the time prevented her from undertaking the role.

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