John Hanscomb | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Bolton | |
| In office 1982–1983 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Wild |
| Succeeded by | Alan Samuel Brigg |
| Leader of Bolton Council | |
| In office 1973–1980 | |
| Succeeded by | Robert Howarth |
| Chairman and Transitional Mayor of Bolton | |
| In office 1973–1974 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Collins Hanscomb 7 October 1924 Bolton, England, UK |
| Died | 14 February 2019 (aged 94) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Joan Ryder (2) Norma Gibbons |
John Collins Hanscomb CBE (7 October 1924 – 14 February 2019) was a British Conservative politician from the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England.[1]
Born in Bolton, he was educated at Bolton School, and Oundle School near Peterborough.[1] After leaving school he served as a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force until 1953.[1] He graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge with an M.A. degree in modern languages.[1] He married twice, firstly Joan Ryder at Christ Church, Heaton in 1950, and secondly Norma Gibbons at Bolton Register Office in 1976.[2] His son, Dr Nicholas Hanscomb, a scientist who helped to develop DNA testing, was murdered after attending Notting Hill Carnival in 1991, aged 38.[1][3]
Hanscomb was first elected as a Councillor for the Heaton Ward in the County Borough of Bolton in 1964.[1] He became the Leader of the Conservative group and the Council Leader in 1972.[1]
Following the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the County Borough was amalgamated with other local authorities to form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton and Hanscomb became a Councillor for the Deane-cum-Heaton Ward. At the same time, he became the chairman of the new local authority in 1973 and transitional Mayor of Bolton the following year.[1]
After the 1980 local elections, he resigned as the Leader of Bolton Council, but continued as the Leader of the Conservative group.[1] He was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) in December 1980.[1][4] In 1982, he became the ceremonial Mayor of Bolton, with his wife, Norma, as Mayoress.[1]
He stood down as Leader of the Conservative group in 1994, and retired as Councillor for the Deane-cum-Heaton Ward when boundary changes took place in 2004.[1] Hanscomb died in February 2019 at the age of 94.[5]