Mayor
Bolton: 1983-84 (Labour)
Born
Accrington, Lancashire 1 March 1911
Died
Bolton Royal Infirmary 28 October 1988
Educated
Hyndham Park Central School, Accrington; Night School
About

Worked as a clerk and cost accountant.

From mid-1960s to retirement he was Sub-Postmaster at Albert Road Post Office, Farnworth.

Represented Darcy Lever-cum-Bradford Ward and Tonge Ward.

Councillor 1952-55, 1958-67 and Alderman 1970-73.

Served again on Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council 1980-1988

He opened the General Post Office on Deansgate after its brief move to Victoria Square North, St George's Craft Centre in the old St George's Church, Bolton and the Marks & Spencer Charity Canopy on Newport Street / Victoria Square - which was topped off with the cast iron elephants from Thomas Ridgway Bridson's factory gates.

President of Bolton Chamber of Trade.

Chairman of Bolton Fabian Society from 1956.

Freemason - attained the position of Worshipful Master.

Methodist - he was a Methodist local preacher and was presented with a 50 years service certificate in 1987.

His daughter, Linda, affectionately pointed out that he was "a lifelong teetotaller, but he was very fond of his groceries!"

His wife, Mary, was Mayoress.

 

Trinity Methodist Church, Tonge Fold and its two Labour Mayors, both of whom were Local Preachers for many years.

"On the evening of 22 May 1983 the Reverend J Frederick Jones, Mayor's Chaplain (and Minister of Trinity) conducted a Civic Service following the inauguration of Councillor Alan S Brigg as Mayor of Bolton. It had been 46 years since a previous member of Trinity had been similarly honoured. It is worth noting that 1937, when Thomas Halstead became Mayor of Bolton, was the year Alan Samuel Brigg commenced as a Methodist Local Preacher. To have completed almost 50 years of local preaching, to give many years service as Sunday School Superintendent and other offices in the church and to combine this with a busy political life is no mean achievement. It was appropriate that a framed photograph of Alan and his wife Mary, in their Mayoral robes should be presented to the church during a special service on Christian Citizenship Sunday."

This information is from A History of Trinity Methodist Church, Tonge Fold, Bolton (1811 to 2004)  In 1986 Mr W Glyn Jones wrote, compiled and produced an excellent publication about the history of Trinity in time for the centenary year in 1987. It has since been updated by others.

Forty-six years earlier on 19 November 1937 the Bolton Journal and Guardian had reported that on the previous Sunday the new Mayor, Thomas Halstead, and members of the Corporation and Officials had attended Trinity Methodist Church. This was the Church which the Mayor had been associated with for 44 years and was still an active member. In spite of the wet night the church was full and extra seating accommodation had had to be provided. Reverend J W Dinsdale preached on the international concerns. The collection amounted to £11 13s 6d. The money was given to the Bolton Royal Infirmary.

 

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