Frank Branston
Encyclopedia
Frank Branston was a journalist, novelist and newspaper proprietor, and the first directly elected mayor
of the Borough of Bedford
in Bedfordshire
, England
.
, Nottinghamshire
, brought up in Chelsea
, west London
, and educated at Sloane Grammar School, Chelsea leaving in 1955 aged 16. He had been married to the German-born Marlies since 1968, and was the father of two children, Naomi (a lawyer) and Antonia (marketing).
Prior to entering politics he was a journalist, although he was for a while a member of the Labour Party
in the 1970s. In 1974 he was the first weekly newspaper owner to be honoured in national press awards. After launching his own newspapers he also received a number of other awards.
Branston was the owner of five local newspapers, Bedfordshire on Sunday
, 'Luton
on Sunday', 'Hertfordshire
on Sunday', 'Leighton Buzzard
on Sunday' and the 'Milton Keynes
News', with a total distribution approaching 400,000. He and his wife sold their 88% stake in the newspapers in 2005. He was also the author of two novels, "Sergeant Ritchie's Conscience" (1978) and "An Up and Coming Man" (1977) and contributed to 'Dogs of War', a book about mercenary soldiers in the 1970s.
, and was the town's second Jewish mayor—coincidentally following on from the first Jewish mayor of the town. Talking about a visit to a local school arranged by the Board of Deputies.
Branston was reelected with an increased majority on Thursday 3 May 2007, after a count which lasted 16 hours due to problems with an experimental electronic counting system.
and underwent emergency surgery at Papworth Hospital
. He died on 14 August 2009.
In December 2009, a new section of the A428 trunk road bypassing the west of Bedford was named The Branston Way in his memory.
Elected mayors in the United Kingdom
Directly elected mayors are council leaders elected by the general electorate of a council area for local government, instead of being appointed by members of a local authority, which is common in the United Kingdom. The Elected Mayor is elected from a number of candidates who put themselves up for...
of the Borough of Bedford
Bedford (borough)
Bedford is a unitary authority with the status of a borough in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. Its council is based at Bedford, which is also the county town of Bedfordshire. The borough contains a single urban area, the 69th largest in the United Kingdom that comprises Bedford and...
in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Early life and career
Frank Branston was born in RetfordRetford
Retford is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands of England, located 31 miles from the city of Nottingham, and 23 miles west of Lincoln, in the district of Bassetlaw. The town is situated in a valley with the River Idle and the Chesterfield Canal running through the centre of the...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, brought up in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and educated at Sloane Grammar School, Chelsea leaving in 1955 aged 16. He had been married to the German-born Marlies since 1968, and was the father of two children, Naomi (a lawyer) and Antonia (marketing).
Prior to entering politics he was a journalist, although he was for a while a member of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in the 1970s. In 1974 he was the first weekly newspaper owner to be honoured in national press awards. After launching his own newspapers he also received a number of other awards.
Branston was the owner of five local newspapers, Bedfordshire on Sunday
Bedfordshire on Sunday
Bedfordshire on Sunday is a free local newspaper published in Bedfordshire, England.The newspaper is distributed as two editions, one covering Bedford borough and its surrounding villages, the other edition serves Central Bedfordshire...
, 'Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
on Sunday', 'Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
on Sunday', 'Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard
-Lower schools:*Beaudesert Lower School - Apennine Way*Clipstone Brook Lower School - Brooklands Drive*Greenleas Lower School - Derwent Road*Dovery Down Lower School - Heath Road*Heathwood Lower School - Heath Road*Leedon Lower School - Highfield Road...
on Sunday' and the 'Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
News', with a total distribution approaching 400,000. He and his wife sold their 88% stake in the newspapers in 2005. He was also the author of two novels, "Sergeant Ritchie's Conscience" (1978) and "An Up and Coming Man" (1977) and contributed to 'Dogs of War', a book about mercenary soldiers in the 1970s.
Religion
He described his religion as "non-practising" JewishJudaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, and was the town's second Jewish mayor—coincidentally following on from the first Jewish mayor of the town. Talking about a visit to a local school arranged by the Board of Deputies.
- Bedford Modern gave room for a travelling exhibition at the request of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and asked me to open it. I am sure they were not aware that I am Jewish (non-practising). I pointed out that while Bedford is certainly one of the oldest boroughs in the country, having been chartered in 1166, it had to wait a long time before getting its first Jewish mayor, Cllr Judith Cunningham in 2002. I succeeded her. Isn’t that always the way? You wait 836 years for a Jewish Mayor then two come along at once..
Political career
Frank Branston stood as an independent in the borough's first direct election for mayor in 2002, backed at the time by the Better Bedford Independent Party, which has since announced that it will field no further candidates. His platform was based on encouraging investment in the town and on focussing on getting things done rather than on party politics (the borough and the county both had a history of hung councils and unimplemented development plans over several decades).Branston was reelected with an increased majority on Thursday 3 May 2007, after a count which lasted 16 hours due to problems with an experimental electronic counting system.
Death
In July 2009, he suffered an aortic aneurysmAortic aneurysm
An aortic aneurysm is a general term for any swelling of the aorta to greater than 1.5 times normal, usually representing an underlying weakness in the wall of the aorta at that location...
and underwent emergency surgery at Papworth Hospital
Papworth Hospital
Papworth Hospital is a heart and lung hospital in Cambridgeshire, England. It was home to the first successful heart transplant in the UK and one of the world's first beating-heart transplants.-History:...
. He died on 14 August 2009.
In December 2009, a new section of the A428 trunk road bypassing the west of Bedford was named The Branston Way in his memory.