King, Robert Barley – Grantham’s first Labour Mayor

Robert Barley King (1850-1927)

The son of agricultural labourer, Robert Barley King was born Hail Weston, Huntingdonshire, near St Neots.

The only education lie received was at the village school, having to leave at the age 10, due to the death his father, who left the widow with four children,

Being the eldest, Robert found work as a farm labourer.

At the age of 22 he entered the service of the Great Northern Railway, as a porter at Grantham station.

He later became a a a shunter, and subsequently rose the position of foreman, which held for 10 years, but was obliged to give this work on account of ill-health.

His next post was that of a brakesman, and then became a passenger guard, occasionally acting as inspector when the necessity arose, and continued in this capacity until he retired aged 70.

Mr King was a strong trade union man and for 11years was branch secretary for the Amalgamated .Society of Railway Servants, and attended as delegate a number of annual congresses.

He was elected to Grantham Borough Council in 1905 nominated by the Trades and Labour Council, for the West Ward. He became Mayor in 1908-9, having being unanimously elected by councillors.

He retired from the Council in 1918.

All his life Mr King was connected with the Baptist Church, and had hold office as deacon, and had also been a member of the choir.

Mr King, if Commercial Road, died following a seizure in 1927, a year after celebrating his golden wedding with his wife Jane.

He had been in failing health for two years after breaking a leg after a fall in his yard.

At his demise, he had four sons and five daughters, 27 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.