Wilfred John Allaway
Mayor of Oxford 1956/7
Wilfred John Allaway (1905–1970), always known as John or Jack, was the son of Charles Augustus Allaway (born in Oxford in 1868) and Elizabeth (Bessie) Polley (born in Cowley in 1866). His parents were married in the fourth quarter of 1892 and had the following children, all born in the Headington registration district, which included east Oxford:
- Jessie Catherine Allaway (born 1892/3, birth registered first quarter of 1893)
- Dorothy Edith Allaway (born 1893/4, birth registered first quarter of 1894)
- Cecil Charles Allaway (born 1895, birth registered fourth quarter)
- Mary Ellen Allaway (known as Helen, born 1899/1900, birth registered first quarter of 1900)
- William James H. Allaway (born early 1902)
- Wilfred John Allaway (known as John, born 1905, birth registered second quarter).
(Wilfred) John was born at 282 Cowley Road, just three doors away from the University & City Arms pub at 286 Cowley Road (on the corner of Magdalen Road, rebuilt in 1938 and now rechristened the Philosopher & Firkin). At the time of his birth his uncle, William “Fiddler” King, kept this pub, which marked the terminus of the horse-trams that passed along the Cowley Road.
The 1911 census shows “John” as a schoolboy of five living with his parents and his five older siblings at 282 Cowley Road. His father was described a general labourer, but he was later a driver for the Oxford Tramway Company. Allaway attended SS Mary & John Church School (of which he later became a Manager) and was also a choirboy at SS Mary & John Church.
After leaving school Allaway joined the goods staff of the Great Western Railway.
Allaway married Hilda E. M. Burness in the fourth quarter of 1927 in the Headington registration district, and the birth of their daughter Elizabeth was registered there in the first quarter of 1930.
In 1941 Allaway took over the University & City Arms pub, and was landlord there for a quarter of a century.
Allaway came on to the Council as the Conservative representative of Headington & Marston Ward in 1946, the first licensee to be Mayor of the City for 300 years. (It had been agreed at a meeting in May 1536 that
yf any vitteler … herafter shall happen to be made Mayre of the Towne of Oxford, that then he that ys Mayre shall not occupy his occupacion duryng the tyme of that ys Mayre, under the payne of to forfayte to the usse of the Towne coffers xli.)
Allaway went on to be elected Sheriff of Oxford for 1951/2, and an an Alderman in 1952. In 1956 he was elected Mayor of Oxford for 1956/7.
Allaway was a leading member of the Oxford & District Licensed Victuallers’ Protection Society; he supported the scout movement and local charities; and his hobby was pigeon-racing.
Allaway retired from the pub in April 1966 and went to live at 41 Liddiard Close, Kennington. He took on a part-time post at the Centre for Management Studies there.
Allaway retired from the council in February 1970, and died suddenly at the age of 65 while at work at the Centre for Management Studies on 5 December that year. His funeral was held at Oxford Crematorium. His wife Hilda and his daughter Mrs Dougan survived him.
See also:
- Oxford Times, 11 December 1970, p. 5 (obituary)
- Oxford Times, 18 December 1970, p. 4 (tribute)