1947
(490)
(Managing Director, Frears & Blacks, Limited, Bakers).
Born in Leicester on the 29th day of June, 1906, the day his Father was first elected as Councillor for Newton Ward, he was second son of the late Alderman John Russell Frears and of Minnie Keighley Frears who survives (1949) and who has two other sons and two daughters in Leicester.
Educated at the Wyggeston Grammar School, Gresham School, Holt and Trinity College, Cambridge, he obtained an honours degree in Mechanical Science Tripos and Master of Arts. Although chiefly interested in engineering, he joined his Father in the family business in 1928 and became the youngest Councillor by his election for Westcotes Ward in 1932 at the age of 26.
When the Civil Defence Committee was set up before the outbreak of war, he was appointed vice Chairman and became one of the Emergency Committee of three which had wide powers in arranging the City's air raid precautions at the beginning of the war. He relinquished that position on becoming Area Bread Officer for the North Midlands and later gave his services full time to the Minister of Food. In 1941 when Lord Woolton created the office of Director for Bread, John Newton Frears was asked to fill it and in 1942 he was appointed Director of Bakeries for the United Kingdom. That position he held until after the end of the war, returning to Leicester at the beginning of 1946.
The ceremony at the Council Chamber on the 10th November 1947 when he was elected Lord Mayor was unique because his Father had been made Mayor in the same place 34 years earlier to the day, and Mrs. M. K. Frears was present who had been Mayoress in 1913/14. Because of the change of election dates by the Representation of the People Act, 1948, he remained in office until 23rd May, 1949-not only Leicester's youngest Lord Mayor but also the first to serve for more than twelve months.
A member of the Water Committee since joining the Council, he has been vice Chairman since 1945 and is also one of Leicester's representatives on the Derwent Valley Water Board. Besides his Council work, John Newton Frears is a trustee of the Leicester General Charities and was the first member of the Leicester Rotary Club to be Lord Mayor.
Married in 1931 Elaine, daughter of the late Herbert Pochin, well known as founder of the West End Adult School and for his work for the Leicester Drama Society. They have one daughter and one son born in 1933 and 1937 respectively.
Residence: "Narborough House," Narborough.
