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Cover-up was among greatest triumphs

27/ 9/2006

HE HAD overseen some of the biggest developments in the town's history - and earned tributes from throughout the North West.

William Henry Hickson OBE was Rochdale Town Clerk for more than 30 years and became hugely respected in all walks of life for his hard work and dedication.

As impressive as his legal and admistrative skills was his high-minded integrity. These made him well-known not only on council chambers throughout the North West but also in government departments.

Born and brought up on Merseyside, he showed a tremendous ability for administration from an early age.

At just 16 he was working in the Liverpool town clerk's offices and advising committees before he was out of his teens.

He became deputy town clerk at Bootle by the age of 24 and in 1899, still only 33, he became town clerk of Eccles.

Thus, when he took over as Rochdale town clerk in 1904, he had more than two decades of experience behind him.

A bright future had been predicted for him and he certainly impressed the members of the town council, who voted for him unanimously out of 24 candidates.

His period in office coincided with a time of massive change in Rochdale and his guiding hand helped these major projects come to fruition.

Mr Hickson supervised the covering up of the River Roch and complete reconstruction of the town centre.

This included the building of the central post office and the war memorial.

He oversaw the revolution in the transport system as trams gave way to cars and buses.

To accommodate the latter the large arterial roads, Queensway and Kingsway, were built.

As clerk he was also at the forefront of the growth of the municipal housing estates which saw a huge shift in the town's population into the suburbs.

He also watched over the completion of one huge waterworks scheme and the start of the other and the vast development of the town's electricity supply.

In addition he played a major role in the development of municipal services following changes in the Poor Law and the whole system of town and regional planning.

He was also instrumental in extending the borough to include Norden and Bamford, a lengthy battle which was finally won in 1933.

For many years he was also an active member of the Council of the Association of Municipal Corporations.

Mr Hickson's abilities were tested to the limit during the First World War, when there were numerous problems and shortages.

But such was his success in making sure, despite the situation, that the town's needs were always met that he was awarded the OBE in 1918.

Outside his work, Mr Hickson was a big churchman and for a quarter of a century was the leader of the men's class at St Clement's Sunday School in Spotland.

After living in Rochdale for 30 years, he moved to Southport in a bid to improve his wife's frail health.

He travelled to the town daily to continue his work but, in July 1935, it became too much for him and he resigned.

Tributes poured in and a subscription fund raised enough for a portrait of him which was painted by George Hall Neale of London.

It was presented to him at the art gallery, where he was described as: "Not only a great public official but a fine citizen."

Replying, Mr Hickson said: "I came to Rochdale and when I had an opportunity of surveying the field of past municipal operations I soon observed there was room for progress and I welcomed the spirit of progress I experienced here.

"I had been placed in a position of trust and I felt it a privilege to give of my best in the interests of the town and I have always found my satisfaction in rejoicing with others in the successful accomplishment of any purpose from which Rochdale would benefit."

In a show of generosity, he presented the portrait back to the town and it was hung in the council chamber.

A further tribute followed in October of that year when the North Western branch of the Town Clerks' Society held its monthly meeting at the Town Hall, switching from its usual winter venue of Manchester.

There was a large attendance with many of Mr Hickson's fellow town clerks wanting to mark his retirement, some travelling from as far as Carlisle, Colwyn Bay and Rhyl.

After a presentation he took his colleagues on a tour of the Town Hall and on to the fire station, where a turnout was arranged for inspection, before tea in the council chamber.

Mr Hickson's last council meeting was in November but for nine years afterwards he kept in touch with the town as chairman of the local Advisory Committee of the Assistance Board covering Rochdale, Oldham and Bury.

He died in Southport in 1955 at the age of 90.