15 Facts About Alfred Roberts

Alfred Roberts was an English grocer, preacher and local politician.

Alfred Roberts served Grantham as alderman from 1943 to 1952 and mayor from 1945 to 1946.

Alfred Roberts's father was Benjamin Ebenezer Roberts, from a Ringstead family, and his mother was Ellen Smith, whose own mother, Catherine Sullivan, was born at Kenmare in Ireland.

Alfred Roberts later moved to Grantham in Lincolnshire, where he gained a job as an apprentice in a greengrocers; he initially wanted to become a teacher.

Four years after moving to Grantham, Alfred Roberts met Beatrice Ethel Stephenson through the Finkin Street Methodist Church, which he attended every Sunday.

In 1919, they bought the grocery shop, and in 1923, Alfred Roberts opened a second shop.

Alfred Roberts was an "old-fashioned liberal" who believed strongly in individual responsibility and sound finance.

Alfred Roberts had read and admired Stuart Mill's On Liberty.

Alfred Roberts came from a family that traditionally voted Liberal.

In 1927, Alfred Roberts was elected to the Grantham town council as an independent.

Alfred Roberts soon became Chairman of the Finance and Rating Committee and, in 1943, was elected by the council as Alderman; he served as Mayor of Grantham from November 1945 to 1946, in which he presided over the town's victory celebrations.

Alfred Roberts retired and sold his business in 1958 but continued after that to preach and remained active in the Rotary Club.

On 26 November 1965, Alfred Roberts married again; his second wife was Cissie Miriam Hubbard, born 16 March 1896 in Long Bennington, Lincolnshire.

Alfred Roberts died on 10 February 1970, four months before the general election at which Edward Heath became prime minister.

The article claimed that Alfred Roberts was an inspiration for a lecherous character who was a local councillor and grocer in the 1937 satire of Grantham, Rotten Borough.