Alderman and first mayor of Mitcham (RM Chart was the Charter Mayor). His name is remembered as the name of one of the blocks of flats on the Laburnum Road Estate.
From the Mitcham News & Mercury, 27th April 1933
Mitcham Council’s New Chairman
Councillor Jack Fitch Unanimously Elected
Coun. Jack Fitch was elected Chairman of the Mitcham Council for the coming year at a meeting of the Council on Tuesday.
Several matters came before the Council, including an intimation from the Southern Railway Co. that they hope to arrive at an early decision on the question of the establishment of a halt or station in the vicinity of Sandy-lane.
Reference was also made to boxing at the baths hall and the Streatham-road bridge.
Coun. Jack Fitch was unanimously elected Chairman of the Mitcham District Council for the coming year at the general meeting on Tuesday night.
Coun. H. F. Cusden moved, and Coun. J. S. Abraham seconded, that Coun. Fitch should be the chairman, and it was carried.
In taking the chair, Coun. Fitch thanked the members for their confidence. “It may be a hard position, or it may be otherwise,” he said, “it all depends upon the Council. The vote, I think, shows the fair-mindedness of the Council, and that they should elect a chairman who does the work for all the Councilors, that I do believe I am the only member of the Council who is not a representative of a Ratepayers’ Association. I repeat it shows the fair-mindedness of the Council as a whole… and I thank you all very much indeed.” (Cheers.)
For the post of Vice-Chairman, Couns. Harry Cusden and G. W. Cole were both nominated.
A ballot took place, and Mr. Cusden was elected by 13 votes to 10.
Mr. Cusden thanked the Council, though, he said, he would for several reasons have preferred Mr. Cole had won. Anyhow he had offered to “toss for the seat,” “It will be a pleasure to act as Lieutenant to my Colonel, Mr. Jack Fitch,” he added.
Mr. George Osborne, of Upper Mitcham, was heartily thanked for his service during the year.
Coun. W. Dalton and S. W. Duckett were appointed two representatives on the Mitcham Common Conservators.
After the transaction of the annual business the Council passed on to the ordinary business.
Coun. J. S. Abraham said he was not entirely in agreement with the minutes. He moved that the minute relating to boxing at the new baths hall should be referred back to the Baths Committee.
The Clerk: You cannot do that.
Coun. Abraham: Why?
The Chairman: You can challenge the accuracy of the minutes, that is all.
Coun. Abraham: That is what I infer.
The Clerk: You can only amend or delete anything that is wrong. Outside that you can do nothing.Coun. Abraham: Thank you.
The Southern Railway Company wrote that they hoped to arrive at an early decision on the question of the establishment of a halt or station in the vicinity of Sandy-lane, adding that before agreeing to the proposal they would require to be assured of a reasonable return for the outlay.
Coun. W. Duckett moved that the Clerk should reply stating that in the opinion of the Council the Railway Company might expect to get a reasonable return.
This was seconded and carried nem. con.
Streatham Road Bridge
Dr. Love raised the question of Streatham-road bridge, and said it was a possible source of danger. If there was some sort of division to divide the up and down traffic, he thought, it would probably save many an accident.
Coun. W. Dalton pointed out that the original plan had a central pier, but it was turned down by the Ministry of Transport. Hence the Council had no option in the matter.
Boxing at Baths Hall
Regarding boxing at the baths hall the people who hired the hall last year were objecting to the increased terms, but they had not stated definitely yet whether they would withdraw their application for next winter.
“I may say that we have had a fair number of applications for the use of the hall for boxing,” he added, “and in my opinion we shall have no difficulty in letting the hall for that purpose.
The Council decided to forward to the Ministry of Health for acceptance, on the Surveyor’s recommendation, the lowest tender for the provision of an incinerator and vans for the collection of house refuse. The tender is approximately £3,000.
During March 95 births and 32 deaths were registered.
Coun. S. W. Duckett called attention to the progress that was being made with the South Lodge estate, and the Clerk was instructed to draw the attention of the Surrey County Council to the need for ensuring that educational facilities are available as soon as the houses on the estate are occupied, and to press the County Council to take immediate steps to secure this end.
Mr. Jack Fitch, 16 Mount-road, Mitcham, the new chairman of the Mitcham Urban District Council, has been all his working life been identified with the General Post Office, and at the present time is a letter sorter. During the Great War he served as a stoker on H.M.S. Renown, and came unscathed through an exciting experience.
For nine years he has sat on the Mitcham Council, and is now starting on his fourth term of three years. Throughout his career on the Council he has always been associated with the Public Health and Open Spaces Committee, and was chairman of the Health Committee for three years. Before he went on the Council he served on the Pensions Committee, his connection with that body dating back over 12 years. He has also represented Mitcham Council on the Board of Mitcham Common Conservators for three years.
Mr. Fitch has the honour of representing his colleagues on the Union of Post Office Workers, and is their present chairman.
Since the resuscitation of the Mitcham Labour Party in 1920, Mr. Fitch has sat on the Executive Committee until last year, when he resigned.
A popular member of the Council, Mr Fitch has the confidence of his colleagues, and in his keeping the Council chairmanship will not lose any prestige.
He opened the Mitcham Fair in 1935, as shown in this Pathe Neewsreel:
From the Mitcham News & Mercury, 3rd February 1950:
ALD. JACK FITCH, the oldest member of Mitcham Council in years of service, has retired on grounds of health and has gone to live in Brighton. His retirement, announced at last week’s Council meeting, will almost certainly mean a by-election.
Aid. Fitch who had held a seat as a Labour member for 26 years, was chairman of the old Urban District Council and was Mitcham’s first Mayor when Mitcham became a Borough. He had been a magistrate for a number of years.
In a letter announcing his resignation. Aid. Fitch said that winter attacks of bronchial asthma had compelled him to give up Council work. It had been his great interest.
Tributes were paid by the Mayor (Ald. Mrs. J. C. Ericson), Coun.
T. Ruff, Ald. T. A. East and Coun. J H. S Bradley.Coun. Ruff, because of a 30-year friendship with Mr Fitch, claimed the privilege of moving the Council’s appreciation of his long
service. He had brought a solid honest integrity to the service of Mitcham. His characteristic of conscious responsibility and application to duty had made him feel uneasy during the last two winters when ill-health compelled him to exhibit an apparent neglect of duty.
From the Worthing Herald – Friday 29 November 1957, via the British Newspaper Archive
He died, aged 73, in November 1957, at his home in Worthing. He was instrumental in founding the Labour Party in Mitcham. He moved to Worthing in 1946 with his second wife, Lily. Between 1901 and 1943 he was a Post Office sorting clerk, and on his retirement he was awarded the Imperial Service Medal.
Worthing Herald – Friday 29 November 1957, page 21
Merton Memories Photos
Mitcham Fair
1933
1935
Mayor
Mitcham History Notes 