Sharpe, William – Union secretary was Grantham Mayor

Ald William Edward Sharpe (1879-1943)

Alderman Sharpe was born at Brothertoft, near Boston, and was taken to live at Nottingham when he was only two years old.

He was educated at the Scotholme School, and won a four-year scholarship at Nottingham Municipal School of Art.

Later he was apprenticed as a fitter with Cropper, Charlton and Co, engineers, of New Basford.

On leaving there on attaining his majority, he came to Grantham in 1900 as engineer with Richard Hornsby and Sons.

He joined the Grantham Labour Party in 1910 and in that party’s interests he first entered Grantham Borough Council in 1920, as a representative of what was then the West Ward. At that time there were only two wards — East and West.

He was elected Mayor of Grantham in 1939, a post he had turned down in 1928. Previously, he had been deputy-Mayor to Ald Forsgate Weekley in 1923-24

He appointed his 18-year-old daughter Elaine Nora as Mayoress, the town’s youngest ever, having lost his wife three years earlier.

He was also a magistrate for more than 20 years.

Ald Sharpe was secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, secretary of the Grantham Garden Guild and president of the local branch of the Labour Party.

He was also a member of the visiting committee of the Rauceby Mental Hospital, chairman of the maternity and child welfare committee and of the health committee of Grantham Council, and member of the local Employment committee and Court of Referees.

Ald Sharpe was also is member of Grantham St John’s Bowling Club and a life member the Grantham and District Bowls Association, having formerly been its secretary for three years.

A road, originally due to be called Atleee Road, was named after him.