Ministers in charge of Laughton Methodist Church since 1950 are as follows:
1950 – 1954 Leslie Adams
1954 – 1959 Ronald Priestley
1959 – 1964 Cyril Wade
1964 – 1972 Peter Pomery
1972 – 1976 James Welch
1976 – 1980 Leonard Chatters
1980 – 1981 Otto Tuscher
1981 – 1986 Michael Lewis
1986 – 1993 Renee Howling
1993 – 1998 Graham Miles
1998 – 2003 Gillian Riley
2003 –
Lyn Gregg
It is interesting to note that Lyn Gregg has been Minister in Charge for a longer period than any
Minister since a Chapel has been in existence in Scotter Road.
Thanks to Royce Day for providing this information regarding Laughton Methodist Church
The
The Methodist Church with the old schoolroom
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LAUGHTON PARISH COUNCIL
A parish council is a type of local authority found in England which is the lowest, or first, tier of local
government., They are elected bodies and have variable tax raising powers. Parish councils are
responsible for areas known as civil parishes. Civil parishes cover only part of England; corresponding
to approximately 35% of the population, There are approximately 8,500 councils in England and
the National Association of Local Councils exists to provide support and lobby services.
The 1891 census showed that Laughton had a population of over 300 people. This was a landmark
number because only parishes with that number would be allowed to form a Parish Council under the
new legislation of 1894. Laughton was one of the very first Parish Councils to be formed in England
and has been in existence over 100 years.
The Council has 7 elected members and is defined as ‘a body’ i.e. no one councillor can make
decisions or take action on their own.
Councillors elected in 1949 to serve a four year term were: Roy Chappell; Alfred Johnson;
Albert Revill; George Hollingsworth; Fred Smithson; Fred Redhead and Walter Jackson;
Further councillors through the years have included Stuart Jackson, Les Stainton, George Love,
Pat Love, Joy Bannister, Eric Smithson, Royce Day, Trevor Needham, Nigel Loates, Ray Greenwood,
John Foster, George Moss, Gary Beaman, Robert Millward, Terry Findley, Margaret Peet, Hazel
Findley, John Robins, Jill Hawkins, Stuart Fisher, Dianne Millward, Simon Fallon, Paul Bowskill
June Freear, Dick Bows, George Pinney, Trevor Odlin.
.
Walter Hunsley was clerk for many years being succeeded by Royce Day, Joe Milner, Gary Beaman,
Jill Hawkins and Dianne Millward. Present councillors are: John Kennedy, Cathy Kennedy, Gary
Talbot,Stacey Gillott, Andrea Walker, Andy Dewick and Don Goudie. Clerk is Yvonne Clark.
The Parish Council have made representations on many issues including planning, highways and the
environment. In 2003 the Meynell Estate offered the Old Cricket Field to the village and the Council
started negotiations which have resulted in the field becoming a community space.
LAUGHTON BURIAL BOARD
The burial board was formed on the 9th December 1896 and the members were Mr Cowling, Mr Dook,
Mr Musgrave, Mr Lamb, Mr Revill, Chairman Mr Grovenor Roadley and clerk Mr George Roadley.
This board drew up the plans for the cemetery to be situated on Platts Field and the owner and
occupiers of 2 houses within one hundred yards were consulted and consent given. The site was
approved on 18th March 1896, the site are was deemed to be 1 rood of land which was fenced round.
Eventually, the responsibility for the burial board passed to the Parish Council who now maintain the
area, setting burial fees and allocating grave spaces.
In 2005 the Council erected a War Memorial for air crew killed in Laughton Parish. This is in the form
of a blue perl plinth with armillary sundial and the following year All Saints Amateur Dramatic Group
provided a seat engraved ‘Rest and Remember’ to all those who lost their lives in WW2. This included
local man Arthur White killed whilst doing Bomb Disposal duty. A plaque to Arthur can be found in
The Methodist Church. There is a Remembrance book in Laughton Church in an oak cabinet made by
Paul Hawkins.
The cemetery contains three trees dedicated to former councillors – Alf Johnson,
Eric Smithson and John Robins.
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