Wood, Alderman Willis

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Watercolour portrait of Alderman Willis Wood, Mayor of Bradford 1895-1896

from John Sowden's notebooks:

"Was born at Bradford Moore in 1832. His father was a wool sorter at Messrs Wood & Walker’s.

He received his education at the Bradford Moor day and Sunday School. He left school at the age of 11, and commenced as a ‘half-timer’ in a factory and at the age of 14 he was apprenticed to wool sorter of Bradford. While an apprentice he attended evening classes at the Mechanics’ Institute and took several prizes there.

After his apprenticeship he went to Messrs S and H Kershaw, worsted spinners, Laisterdyke as a bookkeeper and was made a junior partner. For about 20 years Mr Wood remained a partner of the firm and then commenced business on his own account as a woolcomber and spinner at Junction Mills, Laisterdyke in 1874. Mr Wood took an active interest in political and municipal affairs. In 1877 he entered the Town Council, representing the South Ward as a Liberal. In 1883 he was made an Alderman. He served on the council for 28 years and retired on account of ill-health in 1903. Mr Wood was elected Chief Magistrate in 1894-5 and renewed in 1895-6 and was even proposed for a third year. For some years he was Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

Mr Wood was Chairman of the Liberal 200 for the Eastern Division. In Parliamentary elections he was very energetic and once attended as many as 40 meetings in one week.

Mr Wood was a Wesleyan Methodist of 56 years standing and held nearly all the offices open to a layman. He was a class leader for 39 years and a local preacher for 37 years.

After completing his 50 years of connection with the Sunday School, the teachers presented him with his portrait in oils in 1887.

He was a lifelong teetotaller. For many years he was a governor of the Grammar School. He was made a Justice of the Peace for the City of Bradford.

Mr Wood married in 1859 and had issue for sons and two daughters. He died in 1905."

Year

1896

Creator

Sowden

Image filename

sowden-166