1919
10 Nov.
(462)
(Hosiery Union Secretary).
Of humble parentage, being a son of Mr. William Chaplin of Hinckley, where he was born 20 February 1860, and a member of an old family connected with Sibson, co. Leic., since the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He was a self educated man; came to Leic. at the early age of thirteen with his pack on his back, a fact that has caused him to be styled by his comrades the "Dick Whittington" of Leic. For some years he was engaged as a journeyman in the hosiery trade, later in 1892 becoming the Hosiery Trade Union Secretary. He entered the council chamber in 1898, was made a magistrate 1907 and elected an alderman in 1909.
AId. Chaplin was the first mayor of the local labour group, but was by no means a man of extreme political views. A gifted speaker, temperance worker, he devoted much of his time to the welfare of children, the aged, blind and the crippled. He married twice, (1) Miss Eva Wale and (2) in 1893 Miss Ellen Wale, having issue two daughters, one by each wife. He died at the Leic. Royal Infirmary on Saturday, 3 September 1927, aged sixty~seven, the result of a distressing motor accident, and was buried at the Welford Road Cemetery. Administration, with his will annexed, was granted at Leic. 2 December 1927 to Ellen Chaplin, widow, the relict. Effects £675 Us. 7d.
