From the Leigh Journal, 16 April 1926 (donated by Dorothea Ruddle)
A painful sensation was caused in Leigh on Wednesday afternoon, when news flashed round of the death of the Mayor (Ald. Henry Isherwood). In company with members of the Council and chief officials he had gone by one of the Corporation's new motor-buses to the Stamford Arms Hotel, Bollington, near Altrincham, as one of the guests of Counc. T. Grundy, chairman of the motor-omnibus Committee. The party reached their destination about 2.30 and soon afterwards a bowling handicap was commenced. It was about 3.50 when the Mayor having won his first round against Mr. T. Smalley (bus manager) adjourned to the hotel for the purpose of taking a rest before bowling his next round. Before he got inside, however, and when he was apparantly in the best of spirits and about to make a remark, he suddenly fell forward and died immediately. Dr. J.C. Beckitt (Medical Officer of Health), who was close at hand, was immediately summoned, but all he could do was to pronounce life extinct, death having apparantly been instantaneous. The tragic event naturally cast a gloom over the party and put a quick finish to what promised to have been a very enjoyable event.
The first concern of those at Bollington was to get into communication with the Mayoress, who, it was known, was at the Workhouse. She had just opened the Brabazon Society's sale of work when the sad news was conveyed to her by Miss Hayes, JP. Incredulous, the Mayoress was at once taken in Mr. Robt. Allen's motor-car to Bollington, where she was shown into a room of the hotel, and realized only too well that the worst had happened.
The Town Clerk (Mr. T.B. Bamber), in company with the Medical Officer of Health and one or two others, later interviewed the Coroner for Cheshire and Macclesfield, and persuaded him to consent to the body being removed in the Leigh Borough Ambulance to the Mayor's residence in Henrietta Street, Leigh. Immediately upon receipt of the news of the Mayor's death the flag at the Town Hall was placed half-mast, and on every hand were to be heard expressions of regret and esteem.
The meeting of the Town Council, over which the Mayor presided on Tuesday evening was Ald. Isherwood's last public function, and those who were present at the meeting little thought that the end was so near. During the six months he had occupied the Mayoral chair he had filled the office with dignity and tact.
All Wednesday morning he was busily engaged at the Town Hall in the affairs of the town and had made arrangements to attend several functions in the future. This is the first time since the incorporation of the Borough, in 1899, that a Mayor has died during his year of office, although it will be recalled that during Mr. W. Harrison's Mayoralty, in 1908-09, he lost his wife. The Town Council is faced with an unusual situation seeing that the Deputy Mayor (Counc. J. Horrocks) has left for the Mediterranean and may not be back for some weeks. A special meeting of the Town Council will probably be called to appoint a temporary civic head.
Ald. Isherwood, who was a native of the town, was 73 years of age, and received his education at the Wesleyan Day School and afterwards at the evening classes conducted by the late Mr. John Elliott at the Collegiate Institute, Leigh. He started work before he was ten years of age at Messrs. J. and J. Hayes' Victoria Mills, and continued in the service of the firm until 1914, when, as head warehouseman, he retired.
He was the oldest member of the Town Council. In 1894 he sought office on the then newly-formed Leigh Urban District Council as a member for St. Peter's Ward. There were five candidates in the field for three seats and he was placed fourth, being defeated by the narrow margin of eight votes. Eight years later he again presented himself to the electors, this time as a representative for Lilford Ward on the Leigh Corporation, then in its fourth year, and was successful. He sat continuously for the ward until 1922, when he was elected Alderman for St. Thomas's Ward in place of Mr. G. Hunter JP. For 15 years he had been chairman of the Health Committee, in which he took an absorbing interest. He was also chairman of the Joint Hospital Board, and a member of the Leigh and Atherton Joint Sewerage Board.
In Wesleyan circles the Mayor's death will be particularly regretted. He was one of the leaders at Leigh wesleyan Church, having held the office of Sunday School secretary, trustee, and secretary to the trustees. Not long ago he presided at a gathering addressed by the President of the Conference.
He leaves one married daughter.
Ald. Isherwood had been a staunch Liberal all his life, and held the distinction of having taken part in all the election campaigns in Leigh Division. In 1902 he was presented with a gold watch and albert by the Leigh Liberal Club in recognition of his 25 years' service - 12 as secretary and 13 as amember of the committee and chairman of the finance committee. He was chairman of the Board of Governors of the Leigh Girls' Grammer School, one of the oldest members of the Leigh Literary Society, a past president, manager and trustee of the Leigh Savings Bank, and a vice president of the Leigh Cricket Club. It is rather singular that the Mayor should have died after taking part in his favourite recreation, for he was a popular figure on the Cricket Club's green at the Beech Walk. Along with the Mayoress he was greatly interested in the Leigh Nursing Association, and the Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic. He was appointed a magistrate in 1910. The late Mayor was twice married, his first wife pre-deceasing him 16 years ago. The present Mayoress, with whom universal sympathy will be extended, is a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ranicar, of Heaton Park, Manchester.
The news of the tragic death of the Mayor was telephoned to the Leigh workhouse about 4 p.m., where the Mayoress, an hour previously had opened a sale of work of the Brabazon Society in a very neat and thoughtful little speech. The task of cummunicating (sic) the sad tidings fell to Miss Ann Hayes JP, who presided over the gathering at which a large number of ladies were present. Mrs. Isherwod (sic) seemed unable to realise that her husband had really passe away, and to hope that he had only had a sudden seizure. She accepted the invitation of a gentleman attending the sale of work to drive her to Billingto nin (sic) his car, and left for there shortly after receiving the intimation of her husband's death.