When Penrith held a `mini royal election`
The death of the Queen gives us an opportunity to look back to the start of her reign and an election in Penrith around the year 1952 - an election that had an uncanny similarity to the Queen`s accession in that year.
The Penrith election also threw up much debated issues that followed the accession. The election was very minor indeed compared to the royal accession. But in its small way the Penrith election was notable and caused a great deal of debate in the town..
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| Penrith town centre |
The election was for a new “leader” for Penrith … a new chairman of the town`s Urban District Council which was the local authority running the town at that time.
For the first time in its history, the council chose a woman chairman. There was also another first time: the council chose a Labour chairman.
These two “first times” pleased the majority of people, particularly the choice of a woman .It was seen as not so very unusual alongside the royal accession of a woman which took place about the same time..
The new chairman was a Mrs Elizabeth Watson who was a very popular and well-respected councillor.
Also equally popular and respected was her husband, George. Like most people at the time, he was very curious about how the new Queen`s husband would fit in with the day to day running of the monarchy and how the new Queen would fit in with her role as a wife and mother.
These “unresolved problems” for the royal couple were also widely debated by the public . So, the curiosity of the new chairman`s husband was very understandable
No double he gave these “problems” a lot of thought.Probably more thought than most people.
Because what he did say was this:”Now that I am the husband of a woman council chairman, I know exactly what it is like to be the Duke of Edinburgh”
Community Voice Carlisle is the blog of Carlisle Tenants` and Residents`Federation. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 522277.
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