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Brentford Councillors - Thomas Edward Doran

Introduction

Thomas Edward Doran (1862 – 1936)

The 1871 census shows him as an 8year old scholar living at 51, Chestergate, Macclesfield. His father, Owen (40) had been born in Dublin and was what I read as nurseryman. His mother Harriet (42) had been born in Tavistock, Devon and he had two younger sisters.
1881 is the same. The sisters are both scholars and Thomas Edward Doran is what looks like Silk Deliquez (see 1891 census details).

His marriage is recorded in the December quarter 1885 Hackney 1b 874 and in the 1891 census Thomas Edward Doran and Agnes (28) born Broadgate, London were one of two households at 25 ????, South Hackney. Employment Silk Designer.

This was also his employment in 1901 when the couple were living at 9, Lady Margaret Street, Kentish Town. Agnes is shown as being born in Spitalfields.
This is near Broadgate and a traditional centre of silk weaving in London.

The 1911 census is the first for him living in Brentford.
He and his wife lived in Somerset Road both aged 48 with a 21year old servant called Alice Wilkinson who had been born in South America.
He had been born in Macclesfield, Cheshire and his wife, Agnes in London City.
They had been married for 25 years and Mr Doran is shown as an employer – a corn, seed and flour merchant.
In the 1913 street directory his address is given as Chestergate, 5, Somerset Road.

In 1919 Mr Doran was one of 17 men standing for the Council.
He had been nominated by James Clements, seconded by Alistair Smith Steinmetz DD. Proposed by Harry Giltrow, seconded by Henry Owen Band. Proposed by George Knowling, seconded by William Reeder.

In a letter to the local paper signed by Messrs Bacon, Cross, Doran, Fisher, Painter and Palmer in April 1919 they say they are standing for the newly formed Progressive Party of Brentford. They had a clear idea of what was required in the town and this was houses to let at fair rents as some of the existing houses were turning in to slums. To help this they were advocating a Town Planning Scheme that would include open spaces, a public hall and allotments.
Mr Doran was one of the 8 men who were elected. He received 705 votes.
He was due for re-election in 1920 when he was proposed by Thomas Stallabrass, seconded by CH Curtis, proposed by George Challis, seconded by RR Babbage.
On March 13th 1920 the Middlesex Independent showed him at odds of 4 to 1 and third in the table of odds on being elected that they published.
He came third in the poll with 757 votes.

TIn a later election he stood for the Brentford Allotments Society having been nominated by Charles Henry Curtis who was also a Councillor and a horticultural journalist and writer. After Mr Doran’s death Mr Curtis moved round the corner from Boston Road to live at 5, Somerset Road. It’s likely their gardens had backed on to each other or the gardening Mr Curtis wanted a more established and possibly longer garden.

The Rate Book shows that Mr Doran was renting the house in 1913.

The headline in his obituary in 1936 described him as a ‘Stormy Petrel’ of local politics. It seems he had a direct manner of expressing himself that didn’t always commend itself to the majority of his colleagues and had been in hot water when he made an attack on freemasonry but he was known for his jovial disposition and was popular in the town.
With his friend Mr Stallabrass JP (who was also a neighbour) he had been among the group who acquired Carville Hall Park for use a permanent open space and memorial park.

It seems that he had worked for a Lambeth forage merchant called Newth Guymer & Co but had gained a gold medal for his textile designs in his younger days. (See earlier census details)

He and his wife were members of St John’s Catholic Church and had presented a canopy to the church which was in use at his death. Mr Doran had a fine tenor voice and had sung in the church choir.
A Requiem Mass was held in the church and he was buried in a family grave in Caterham.

Thomas Edward Doran of 5, Somerset Road, Brentford Mddx died 26 May 1936. Probate London 19 March to Agnes Louisa Doran widow. Effects £615.10s.

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Page published January 2013