(478)
(Boot and Shoe Manufacturer).
Councillor Hallam, the concluding subject of the roll of Mayor’s 1209 - 1935, was elected 9 November 1935 as Leicester's ninth Lord Mayor. He is the four hundred and seventy-eighth individual to occupy the distinguished position of chief citizen since the days of William fil. Leveric, Alderman (Mayor) and chief executive of the Court of Portmanmoot and the Gild Merchant of Leicester in 1209.
Son of Richard Hallam of Belgrave where he was born 1 September 1871 and descended from an old branch of the family whose connection with Birstall can be traced back by the parish and other records for at least two centuries. Like his predecessor, Ald. Grimsley, he has experienced difficult days. His infancy was passed amid surroundings of deep depression, his mother having been left a widow, nobly struggled to maintain her family with bare necessities of life. The first rudiments of his meagre education were obtained in the infant school founded by the generosity of the Misses Ellis and later at the Belgrave National School, where under the head mastership of Mr. John Grewcock he made considerable progress. Leaving school at the age of twelve, he entered into the Boot and Shoe trade as a clicker, was for a time employed by the late Ald. Stephen " Hilton, mayor in 1904, and eventually, at the age of· twenty-four, he commenced business in partnership with Mr. Thomas B. Howard, who died in 1914.
In June 1918, a vacancy having occurred in No. 12, or Belgrave Ward, caused by Councillor Samuel Hudson being raised to the Aldermanic bench, Mr. Richard Hallam was duly elected as one of the Ward representatives in place of Mr. Hudson, a seat he has continued to hold in the Liberal interest ever since. He has been a very active worker on the Council, the Education Committee of which he is Vice-Chairman forming the field and perhaps the chief scope for his greatest achievements. He has served on the Finance Committee, the Watch Committee and is Chairman of the City Mental Hospital Visiting Committee, also as a Magistrate for the City.
Councillor Hallam has for years been a Sunday school teacher and local· preacher in the cause of Methodism. He married in 1898 Harriett daughter of Ald. Stephen Hilton already referred to, she died in 1902, and by whom he had issue one son and a daughter.
Residence 1935: "Hillsborough," Tempest Road, Birstall, Leicester.
