1937
(480)
(Trade Union Official).
Son of Jeremiah Acton, wool-comber, of Leicester; born at Abbey Gate, 27th March, 1876; organiser for the National Union of General and Municipal Workers.
Mr. Acton knew hardship in his early life, but had a good home. In later years his devotion to his mother, who lived with him until her death at the age of ninety, nine years and seven months, marked his gratitude to her. He became a trimmer in a Leicester factory, but a breakdown forced him to seek open-air occupation. It was then that he first came into contact with the Corporation, by whom he was employed in the Highway and Sewerage Department.
Mr. Acton has held firmly to Labour principles all his life, and was associated with the late Mr. James Ramsay MacDonald in his campaign in Leicester. He was first elected to the City Council in January, 1924, for Wyggeston Ward. After one break, he was again successful in this Ward, which he continued to represent until the redistribution of the Wards, when he became one of the representatives for St. Margaret's Ward.
Throughout his Council career Mr. Acton has been faithful to his early Committees, Highway, Water, and Gas, but his deepest interest has always been work among the mentally sick, and he was appointed Chairman of the City Mental Hospital Visiting Committee in 1937.
The Institution of Joint Industrial Councils brought Mr. Acton into prominence outside Leicester; he is honorary secretary of the No. 5 area for non trading services of local authorities, of No. 7 area for the electricity industry, and is Chairman of the Midland Joint Industrial Council for the water supply industry.
He married Rose Gilbert, daughter of John Gilbert, of Leicester, and has one son.
Mr. Acton has deservedly gained the reputation of being one of the most genial men in the public life of the city, but his friendliness to all, and especially to those hard hit by life, has never impaired his straightforward qualities when principles are at stake.
