Last night we had the Inauguration of Wolverhampton’s New Mayor Cllr Greg Brackenridge. Marking his term of Office as Mayor of the City of Wolverhampton.
Sadly I have found out that former Cllr Tom Larkin of Bilston passed away, that very afternoon. Tom was a very well know local historian, he was Bilston through and through. I like to think of him as a friend.
He certainly wasn’t enamoured by the then Governments changes to Local Government in 1966, which placed his beloved Bilston into Wolverhampton. Nor the following changes in 1974 which created the West Midlands County Council.
Its true to say that the ‘Bilston for Bilstonians’ – was a slogan that Tom never let die. I had many a debate over the years with Tom, about the move that took Bilston’s independence away. I liked Tom Larkin, his energy, his love of Local History, his passion and drive not to lose the past.
Now I want to wish his wife and family our deepest sympathy and condolences. Long may you live Tom in your writings, and in the memories of your friends and family.
