Guardians' election, 1893

Winslow's two representatives on the Board of Guardians were usually chosen without a contest at the March vestry meeting. In 1893 Henry Monk and James East faced a serious challenge. Jonas Hillyer (now of the Station Inn) also challenged the sitting Guardians in 1886.

Buckingham Advertiser, 8 April
ELECTION OF GUARDIANS.- A public meeting in support of candidature of Mr. Hillyer was held at the George Room, on Wednesday evening, and was well attended, amongst those present being- Messrs. T. Walker, Yeulett, G. T. King, Jennings, Grange, Varney, Hatwell, Hill, H. Ingram, C. Saving, G. Robinson, E. Illing, C. Mayne, Wilford, Gates, F. Wilmer, Russell, Dunkley, A. G. Stevens, W. H. Stevens, Collier, Bird, Lorkin, Ash, J. Buckingham, H. Dancer, W. King, etc.- Mr. Yeulett proposed, and Mr. H. Dancer seconded, that Mr. T. Walker take the chair. After a few words from the Chairman, Mr. Hillyer spoke at some length on various subjects connected with the business dealt with by Poor Law Guardians, and contended that younger blood was required on the Winslow Board.- The usual vote of thanks closed the meeting.

Buckingham Advertiser, 8 April
Mr. Hillyer described himself as a “Progressive Tory” at Wednesday night’s meeting, but one of the audience called him a regular Radical, and told him he worked well for Mr. Leon [the Liberal MP].
There is every probability of the election being rather a close contest, but Mr. East, as a practical, commonsense business man, with ideas which keep pace with the times, ought certainly to be at the head of the poll.
Mr. Hillyer’s meeting passed off very well, with only just sufficient interruption to make it lively, and that apparently from too enthusiastic supporters.

Bicester Herald, 14 April
WINSLOW GUARDIANS’ ELECTION.
The result of the polling on Monday was made known Tuesday mid-day, April 11, and was received with great pleasure by the Liberals, on account of their candidate being at the head of the poll. The new candidate (Mr. Hillyer) described himself as a progressive Tory(?), and being president of the Local Licensed Victuallers’ Association, as well as a most active worker in the Primrose League and other Conservative organisation, it was hoped by a section of the party that he would oust Mr. East, on whom an attack, on the ground of economy, was made because he had proposed the raising of the salary of the clerk to the Board (the official who really does most for his salary). The result was disappointing to Mr. Hillyer’s friends, the numbers being:
            East (Liberal)                                228
            Monk (Conservative)                    214
            Hillyer (Licensed Victuallers)        105
Mr. T. P. Willis was returning officer, and Mr. A. J. Clear distributed and collected the voting papers.

Politics in 1894

1894: Bucks Herald, 2 June
WOMEN’S LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.- The first public meeting in connection with this newly-formed association was held on Tuesday evening, and was fairly well attended. The Rev. John Pither occupied the chair, and was supported by Rev. H. Kerby Byard, Mr. Thomas Higgins, Mr. Grummitt, Mr. Watson, Mr. C. Watson, Mr. E. W. [=E.J.?] French, &c. The speakers of the evening were Miss Brabrook, secretary of the National Association, who delivered an interesting address, full of facts and figures; and Miss Embleton, the organising secretary. The Rev. H. K. Byard and Mr. T. Higgins also spoke.

1894: Buckingham Express, 21 July
LIBERAL UNIONIST MEETING.- On Friday evening in last week an open-air meeting in connection with the North Bucks Liberal Unionist Federation was held in the Market-square. The attendance was not very large, but comprised a good number of working men. Mr. G. Cogbill (of the Rural Labourers’ League) took the chair, and was supported by Mr. F. G. Pyne, of Bletchley (organising secretary), Mr. E. Martin, of Oxford, and Mr. H. Russell, of Winslow [a well-known Conservative]…- The Chairman also spoke at some length chiefly on the measures passed for the extension of allotments, which he claimed was due to the Liberal Unionists in great part, alluding to the efforts of the Rural Labourers’ League, and the part which he himself had taken.- There was a fair lot of questioning done by Liberals present, but the meeting was a good-humoured one, and passed off without any unpleasantness.

1894: Bicester Herald, 7 Sep
WOMEN’S LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.- This association is now fairly started. Mrs. H. S. Leon is the president, Mrs. Pither and Mrs. Byard vice-presidents, Miss Edith French secretary and Mrs. Watson treasurer.

1894: Buckingham Express, 22 Sep [a strongly Conservative paper at the time]
A Winslow correspondent points out the change which a few years have wrought in the politics of Winslow tradesmen - at one time only about one-third of them were Conservatives, now the Liberals could almost be counted on the fingers of one hand. The same remark, but in a stronger degree, applies to the Licensed Victuallers - about one half were Conservatives, now there is not a single Liberal amongst them.
MR. J. HILLYER, who has always taken such a prominent part in Winslow affairs, is leaving this week for Fenny Stratford.