1937 coronation gift to schoolchildren
DAVID Cookson’s father Norman was a public servant for the whole of his working life, joining the sanitary department of Stourbridge Council as a clerk on leaving school in the 1930s, and later joining Brierley Hill Urban District Council before working for Dudley MBC.
David has many interesting mementoes of his father’s career, among them this pristine copy, still wrapped in tissue paper, of the special book that was presented to schoolchildren by Brierley Hill UDC to commemorate the coronation of George VI in 1937.
The book is George VI King and Emperor by Major J.T. Gorman, and thousands of copies were given away by local authorities across the country.
At first glance there appears to be a mistake on the cover of the Brierley Hill book, with the year 1934 instead of 1937. However, the date 1934 is actually part of the badge of the urban district.
Brierley Hill UDC was created in 1894 but it was much smaller originally. In 1934 it was combined with its neighbours, Quarry Bank UDC and Kingswinford Rural District Council, to make a new authority.
The badge was replaced in June 1942 when Brierley Hill UDC was granted a coat of arms.
Thomas Williams served four terms as chairman of the council, 1905-06, 1911-12, 1936-37 and 193738.
Brierley Hill survived as an independent authority until 1966, when it was absorbed into Dudley.