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1945–1972 Carmarthen Borough Council elections

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Carmarthen Borough Council was a local authority created by the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act and replaced the ancient borough that had existed since medieval times. The Council consisted of 24 members, eighteen of whom were elected councillors and the remaining six were aldermen. The councillors were elected on a triennial cycle, with a third of councillors retiring each year. Aldermen were elected for a six-year term from within the council membership.

During the period between 1919 and 1939, the Council had an Independent majority but with Labour candidates gaining ground.

1946 Carmarthen Borough Council election

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Due to a number of vacancies that had arisen during the latter part of the war years and since the Armistice in 1945, nine members (amounting to half the councillors) were elected in 1946.[1]

Eastern Ward (five seats)

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Eastern Ward 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Owen* 2,382
Labour Herbert Morgan* 1,894
Labour G.V. Davies 1,469
Independent John Treharne 1,440
Independent H. Ellis 1,435
Independent Alice K. White 1,419
Labour W. Evans 1,398
Labour T. Thomas 1,245
Independent D. Morgan 577

Western Ward (four seats)

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Western Ward 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Jenkins 1,337
Labour W. Jones 1,305
Independent W. Jones 998
Independent D. Davies 973
Independent T. Lewis 935
Labour B. John 928
Labour W.C. Ferman 903
Labour G. Ralphs 787
Independent W. Lovell 607
Independent E. Davies 603

1947 Carmarthen Borough Council election

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In addition to the six seats which were up for election a seventh vacancy was created due to the elevation of D.H. Jones to the aldermanic bench.[2]

Independent won a seat from Labour in the Eastern Ward while the reverse happened in the Western Ward, leaving the composition of the Council unchanged.[3]

1950 Carmarthen Borough Council election

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Nine candidates contested the six vacancies across the two wards. Labour gained one seat from the Independents.[4]

Eastern Ward (five seats)

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Eastern Ward 1950
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent C. Dathan Davies 1,948
Labour Thomas J. Thomas* 1,440
Independent Alice K. White 1,343
Labour T. Idwal Jones 1,181

Western Ward (four seats)

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Western Ward 1950
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Charles W. Griffiths* 1,436
Labour John H, Evans 972
Independent Cliff C. Davies* 897
Independent Margaret M. Mitchell 854
Independent D.H. Davies* 843

1951 Carmarthen Borough Council election

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Twelve candidates contested the six vacancies across the two wards.[5]

Eastern Ward (three seats)

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Eastern Ward 1951
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Sidney Jeremy 1,636
Labour T. Idwal Jones* 1,515
Independent J.J. Lewis* 1,299
Independent Gordon Selby Davies* 1,205
Labour J.M. Harding 865

Western Ward (three seats)

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Western Ward 1951
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ellis J. Powell 1,148
Independent Denzil Harries 1,101
Independent William Edwards* 990
Independent W.D. Jones 930
Independent William Jones* 919
Independent Marjorie Mitchell 871
Independent D.H. Davies 415

1952 Carmarthen Borough Council election

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Nine candidates contested the six vacancies, with five Labour candidates being successful.[6]

Eastern Ward (three seats)

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Eastern Ward 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Owen* 1,892
Labour C.C. Jones* 1,627
Labour Herbert Morgan* 1,518
Independent Gordon Selby Davies 1,280
Independent Marjorie Mitchell 956

Western Ward (three seats)

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Western Ward 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour M.E. Clifford Jones* 1,909
Labour W.D. Jones* 1,510
Independent W.D. Jones 1,149
Independent L.G. Rees 838

Following the elevation of three councillors to the aldermanic bench, by-elections were held. Retiring alderman David Howell Jones, a member of the council for seventeen years, but who did not contest the recent election, was among those returned.[7]

Eastern Ward by-election (two seats)

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Eastern Ward 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Gordon Selby Davies 1,252
Independent David Howell Jones* 1,107
Labour John Miles Harries 821

Western Ward by-election (one seat)

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Western Ward 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Elwyn John 893
Independent George Leonard Rees 823

1953 Carmarthen Borough Council election

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For the first time since the Second World War there was an unopposed return in a municipal election as the Western Ward was not contested.[8] Ex-servicemen candidates (Wynford Davies and R.C. Hopkins) were elected in each ward.[9]

Eastern Ward (three seats)

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Eastern Ward 1953
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent R.C. Hopkins 1,339
Independent John Murray 1,290
Independent Alice K. White* 1,136
Labour Ivor Morris 1,126

Western Ward (three seats)

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Western Ward 1953
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Wynford Davies Unopposed
Labour John H. Evans* Unopposed
Independent M. Marjorie Mitchell Unopposed

1954 Carmarthen Borough Council election

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For the second successive year, there was no contest in the Western Ward after sitting member William Edwards (who had lost his seat on Carmarthenshire County Council in 1952 chose not to seek re-election.[10] After a contest in the Eastern Ward the composition of the council remained at 14 Independents (including two elected as Ex-Servicemen) and 10 Labour members.[11]

Eastern Ward (three seats)

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Eastern Ward 1954
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John James Lewis* 1,542
Independent Sidney Jeremy* 1,532
Labour T. Idwal Jones* 1,275
Independent T. Keble Morgan 1,216
Labour William Colvin 983

Western Ward (three seats)

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Western Ward 1954
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent D. Denzil Harries Unopposed
Independent David Thomas Jenkins Unopposed
Labour Ellis J. Powell* Unopposed

1955 Carmarthen Borough Council election

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For the first time in the post-war period there was no contested election at Carmarthen as six candidates were returned unopposed. These included Charlie Griffiths who resigned from the aldermanic bench in order to be returned as a councillor.[12]

Eastern Ward (three seats)

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Eastern Ward 1955
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Gordon Selby Davies* Unopposed
Labour C.C. Jones* Unopposed
Labour Herbert Morgan* Unopposed

Western Ward (three seats)

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Western Ward 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent C.W. Griffiths** Unopposed
Labour Elwyn John Unopposed
Labour M.E. Clifford Jones* Unopposed

Following the elevation of three councillors to the aldermanic bench, by-elections were held. Two Labour candidates were returned unopposed but retiring alderman J.O. Morgans, a member of the council for 36 years, faced a tough contest to retain his seat.[13]

Eastern Ward (two seats)

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Eastern Ward 1955 by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Colvin Unopposed
Labour Ivor Morris Unopposed

Western Ward (one seat)

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Western Ward 1955 by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent J.O. Morgans** 954
Independent T. Keble Morgan 754

1956 Carmarthen Borough Council election

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The Western Ward was uncontested for the second consecutive year. In the contested Eastern Ward, Labour gained a seat from the Independents.[14]

Eastern Ward (three seats)

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Eastern Ward 1953
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Murray* 1,056
Independent Alice K. White* 887
Labour T.H. Gwynne Davies 875
Independent R.C. Hopkins* 831
Labour Reginald Johns 776

1957 Carmarthen Borough Council election

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On this occasion there was no contest in the Eastern Ward and the three sitting members were returned unopposed.[15] In the Western Ward a sitting Independent member was defeated by another Independent.[16]

Eastern Ward (three seats)

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Eastern Ward 1957
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Sidney Jeremy* Unopposed
Labour T. Idwal Jones* Unopposed
Labour Ivor Morris* Unopposed

Western Ward (three seats)

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Western Ward 1957
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent D. Denzil Harries 1,209
Independent T.Ll. Jones 1,190
Labour Ellis J. Powell* 1,028
Independent David Thomas Jenkins* 913

1959 Carmarthen Borough Council election

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Both wards were contested with a total of thirteen candidates. Two vacancies in the Eastern Ward resulted in a total of eight councillors being elected, amounting to almost half the number of elected members. The Ratepayers Association ran a slate of candidates; three of whom were elected.[17]

Eastern Ward (five seats)

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Eastern Ward 1959
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour R.E. Rees* 1,744
Labour T.H. Gwynne Davies 1,709
Labour J.D. Davies 1,580
Labour D.C.H. Pullen 1,540
Ratepayers Mrs V.M. Chapman 1,432
Ratepayers J.A. Hillman 1,377
Labour J. McMeel 1,307
Ratepayers R. Summers 1,232

Western Ward (three seats)

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Western Ward 1953
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Wynford Davies* 1,211
Ratepayers Thomas McCall 975
Ratepayers Leslie H. Howells 906
Labour D. Norman Richards 762
Independent M. Marjorie Mitchell* 685

References

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  1. ^ "Non-County Boroughs". Elections Centre. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Seven Vacant Seats at Carmarthen". Western Mail. 23 October 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Anti-Socialist Net Gain in Wales: 22". Western Mail. 3 November 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Municipal Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 19 May 1950. p. 1.
  5. ^ "Independents Lose Seat. Carmarthen Municipal Election". Carmarthen Journal. 18 May 1951. p. 5. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Election". Carmarthen Journal. 16 May 1952.
  7. ^ "Election". Carmarthen Journal. 4 July 1952.
  8. ^ "Municipal Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 24 April 1953.
  9. ^ "Municipal Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 15 May 1953.
  10. ^ "Municipal Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 30 April 1954.
  11. ^ "Municipal Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 21 May 1954.
  12. ^ "Carmarthen Town Council". Carmarthen Journal. 29 April 1955.
  13. ^ "Carmarthen Town Council". Carmarthen Journal. 24 June 1955.
  14. ^ "Borough results". Western Mail. 11 May 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Carmarthen Borough Council". Carmarthen Journal. 26 April 1957.
  16. ^ "Municipal Election". Carmarthen Journal. 17 May 1957.
  17. ^ "The Poll. How Welsh Towns Voted". Western Mail. 8 May 1959. p. 11. Retrieved 1 May 2024.