Harry Knowles (Mayor of Faversham)

Harry Knowles
Harry during his mayoral years
Born	25 January 1901 Faversham, Kent, England
Died	3 January 1975 Canterbury, Kent, England
Nationality	British
Occupation	Fruiterer/Mayor
Known for	Mayor of Faversham

Harry Knowles (born January 25, 1901) was an English politician and fruiterer who was twice Mayor of Faversham in Kent, England between 1949 and 1950. He was made a Freeman of Faversham in 1973.^[1][2]

He died at his home in Tankerton, Kent, England on January 3, 1975 aged 73.^[1]

Early life

Knowles was the youngest son of Faversham businessman, Edward Knowles, who ran the international fruit company, Knowles for Fruit.^[3]

Political career

Knowles was Mayor of Faversham twice between 1949-50. His political career extended from 1936 to 1970 and on his final retirement from the Council was made a Freeman of the Borough. At his “freedom ceremony” he recalled the many hours he had spent on council work since the 1930s but said there had been compensations. He had met people including Sir Winston Churchill and Lord Montgomery.^[1][2] He always stood as an Independent.^[4]

In 1948, Knowles was made a Justice of the Peace and served the Faversham bench for more than 20 years. He was one of the prime movers in restarting the Faversham Carnival after the war and before electricity was nationalised he was Chairman of the local Electricity Committee.^[1][2] He also served as Chairman of the Faversham Chamber of Trade, President of Faversham Hospital Charity Cricket Competition and President of Faversham Town FC. He retired in 1969.^[4]

References

1. "MAN OF THE PEOPLE". Faversham News. January 1975. Check date values in: |access-date= (help);
2. "Mayors of Faversham, 1901 to 2000". Faversham.org. Faversham Council. Retrieved July 2015.
3. "Knowles, Greengrocer, Faversham". 1985. Retrieved 1985. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
4. Who Got In’ – a brief history of local election results from 1945 to 1972. Reg Winton.