Victorian Bournemouth (233) has followed the Town Interest Association as it fluttered into public attention for a short time. Philpots blazed a short-lived trajectory through local politics, but, as did other gentlefolk, he abandoned the town. Perhaps the Association’s main success consisted of launching the community career of its secretary, John Armitage Crawshaw. He adhered to the model whereby others of humble origin achieved respectability at Bournemouth. He exemplified how individuals of modest origins could attain respectability in Bournemouth. His involvement in many activities would have established a broad presence within the community.
Tag: politics
Victorian Bournemouth (207): soup kitchens
Victorian Bournemouth (207) shows how squabbling amongst respectable people hampered the workings of soup kitchens administering charity to the poor during harsh winters. Lives already made difficult through economic recession became worse when extreme weather occurred during the 1880s. Conflicting social agendas and territorial issues set respectable charitable people against each other making the provision of soup a political matter, leaving people in need to shiver and starve.
Victorian Bournemouth (205): Joseph’s dream
Victorian Bournemouth (205) examines how Joseph Cutler used a public dinner given in his favour as a platform for furthering his political career. A divisive civic figure, Cutler had his eye on the first borough elections, his dream the mayor’s regalia. The dinner eschewed politics for bolstering his public image. The resort’s power brokers declined their invitations. A splendid occasion failed in its apparent purpose, for, at next year’s elections, voters did not favour Joseph Cutler .
Victorian Bournemouth (186): Big Dogs (2)
Victorian Bournemouth (186) continues studying the extent to which successful traders stepped into wider civic and community roles.