The Estate - Bevendean History Project
Councillor Lewis Cohen at Bevendean in October 1959
While canvasing for the General Election in October 1959
Councillor Lewis Cohen drove his car to Bevendean. Unfortunately the
car broke down in Heath Hill Avenue outside Bevendean Primary School
just before the children came out at the end of the afternoon.
The Evening Argus had the following story on Wednesday 7 October 1959, which was one day before the general election under the heading:
The Evening Argus had the following story on Wednesday 7 October 1959, which was one day before the general election under the heading:
That Car Does it Again
It has happened again! For the second time in 4 days councillor
Lewis Cohen’s red-ribboned election car broke down. This time it
was in the centre of the Lower Bevendean council estate.
But unlike Saturday, when one of the Labour candidate supporters gave him a lift, there was no one around to help.
Until the clock struck four. Then scores of children leaving a nearby school answered his distress signals and flock round the car to push.
And as the cheering children put their backs into the job, a grateful councillor Cohen laughed: “I feel like the Pied Piper – but if it had not been for the kids I might have been stuck for hours.”
Earlier councillor Cohen visited Saint Wilfrid’s Hall, of Elm Grove where he told hundred and 80 old age pensioners: “I’ve been doing my best to you folks for more years than I can remember. And I intend to keep it up when I reach Parliament.”
Here are two photographs taken of the children from the school pushing Councillor Cohen’s car in Heath Hill Avenue.
But unlike Saturday, when one of the Labour candidate supporters gave him a lift, there was no one around to help.
Until the clock struck four. Then scores of children leaving a nearby school answered his distress signals and flock round the car to push.
And as the cheering children put their backs into the job, a grateful councillor Cohen laughed: “I feel like the Pied Piper – but if it had not been for the kids I might have been stuck for hours.”
Earlier councillor Cohen visited Saint Wilfrid’s Hall, of Elm Grove where he told hundred and 80 old age pensioners: “I’ve been doing my best to you folks for more years than I can remember. And I intend to keep it up when I reach Parliament.”
Here are two photographs taken of the children from the school pushing Councillor Cohen’s car in Heath Hill Avenue.
The first picture is with the children standing around Councillor Cohen who is sitting on a seat.
The second picture is with the children pushing Councillor Cohen's car.
The third picture is with the children gathered around Councillor Cohen who is sitting on a bench.
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