1970
(512)
(ACCOUNTANT)
Born in Evesham, Worcestershire on the 18th March 1906, and educated at the Colton Street School, Leicester and the Leicester Technical College. In 1924 he commenced work with the local firm of Ashwell & Nesbit Ltd., Heating and Ventilating Engineers, and subsequently rose to the position of Chief Accountant.
Married Mollie Helen Dixon on the 20th June 1945 and has five daughters.
In 1948 he was elected Chairman of the East Belgrave Branch of the Conservative Association. Elected to the City Council, where he represented Belgrave Ward from 1950 to 1953 and Knighton Ward from 1954 until his election as Alderman in 1967. Appointed High Bailiff of the City in 1966.
Alderman Baldwin has served on every major committee concerned with the various functions of the Council, except the Education Committee. Nevertheless his interest in education has been reflected in his appointment as a representative of the City Council on the Governing Body of the City of Leicester Polytechnic. His particular interests, however, have been in establishment work and local government finance. He served for many years as a representative on the employers' side of the national "Burnham" Negotiating Committee concerned with teachers' salaries and conditions of service. He was Vice Chairman of the City Council’s Establishment Committee, 1958~1960, and Chairman 1960~1961and 1963~67. His membership of the Finance Committee has extended over sixteen years, including the Vice Chairmanship, 1955.1957, and the Chairmanship, 1961~63, and since 1967. Notwithstanding the pressures of his many other commitments during his Year of Office, he continued to undertake the onerous responsibilities of the Chairmanship of this Committee at a time when the financial problems confronting Local Government were never greater.
He is also the Vice Chairman of the Leicester and Rutland Police Authority and a member of the National Health Executive Council.
The Year of Office will be remembered for the World Cycling Championships which were held in Leicester in the Council's Sports Centre in the presence of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Edward Heath; and which brought to the City colourful contingents of competitors and their supporters from all parts. The year, too, was marked by other highly successful visits to Leicester by notable personages and by some of the most strenuous journeys made by a Lord Mayor of the City, including visits to Krefeld and to the 47th Light Regiment of the Royal Artillery, stationed in Hong Kong.
