See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
I have vague memories of him going round campaigning on his bicycle with a bullhorn to “get his message across” as they say these days but having checked out his pictures he had all manner of bicycles adorned with his “message”.
Born in 1904 Bill reached the grand old age of 81 when he passed in 1986. He spent the years 1920 to 1949 in the Royal Navy rising from boy seaman to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. While stationed on HMS Rodney, he was involved in the sinking of the Bismark. After leaving the senior service he moved to Streatham (what a hell hole that is these days) and first stood for Walthamstow East in the 1951 general election claiming to represent the “Association of Democratic Monarchists Representing All Women”. He had intended to stand in Clement Atlee’s constituency of Walthamstow West but unusually for a naval officer, confused his east and west. He received a total of 174 votes.
Bill was always an independent but had a natty line in titles. His major concern was road safety, the death toll was much higher then than it is now. He was also against communism (who isn’t) and homosexuality in the civil service. Heaven alone knows why he singled out the civil service though you don’t have to ponder too much. His tagline on elections revolved around “White Monarchist” , “Road Safety”, “Public Safety”, “White Resident” in various combinations.
He also took various people to court over alleged road safety infringements. These people included Lady Atlee, Prince Philip, Princess Anne and R. A. Butler who was Home Secretary at the time. Boaks also applied to be Chief Constable of Berkshire in 1958, having taken a previous, or perhaps even existing, Home Secretary to court will not have helped his attempt.
On the 2nd April 1955 before the start of the England-Scotland fitba match at Wembley, Bill stopped his van in the road and refused to move until all the spectators had crossed. Two hours later he stopped at Cambridge Circus and again refused to move until pedestrians had crossed. For this he was fined £5 for obstructing the highway. In October he again stopped his car in the Strand and was again convicted of obstructing the highway. For this he got a week in Brixton jail.
In 1956 he stood in the by election at Walthamstow West but finished in last place with 89 votes. In 1959 he entered the Bleriot Race to travel from Marble to the Arc de Triomphe by any form of transport. Bill decided to use roller-skates and yes, it does take all sorts.
In 1962 Boaks sued the South London Press after it accused him of being nutty and later sued the London Evening News after it claimed he was living on National Assistance, he wasn’t, and he won the second case being awarded damages of £1.
Having tried variations of handles he finally settled on “Democratic Monarchist, Public Safety, White Resident”. This tied in rather nicely with the six word limit candidates are allowed on the ballot papers.
The White Resident part led to accusations of racism and black chaps often accused him of such. Bill’s response was to slap a pound note in the man’s hand and say “Another 149 of those and you can stand as a Black Immigrant candidate”. By his own reckoning he had given away a couple of hundred pounds in this manner.
Bill is reckoned to have contested 40 elections, he also stood in some council elections. All were unsuccessful but the world is poorer without him. These days we have the Monster Raving Loony Party, Count Binface, bus-pass Elvis and various others to keep the tradition going.
My theory on eccentrics is that they shouldn’t realise that they are somehow different. I fear that those in the political sphere probably have that little bit of showmanship embedded in what would otherwise be just some remarkably odd people. There are some wonderful images of Bill riding round on his bike campaigning while covered in slogans. A bit like multiple sandwich boards somehow clinging onto his bicycle.
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