Mancpedia

Wright Robinson

Wright Robinson was the Lord Mayor of Manchester from 1941 until 1942.[1]

Robinson started working at the age of ten. He joined Manchester City Council in 1919 as a councillor, and later became an alderman in 1936.[2]

One of Robinson's grandchildren, Tony Robinson, spent more than 20 years in school leadership, before retiring as the Principal of Bury College in 1995.[3]

Lord mayoralty

After becoming the Lord Mayor Elect in mid-1941, Robinson became unwell with a paratyphoid fever. While not considered serious, they were admitted to Monsall Hospital to recover.[4] On around the 22nd August, they were discharged from hospital after making satisfactory progress.[5]

On 29th January 1942, Robinson attended the funeral of Major Percy Clarence Parker, a fellow Manchester City Council member, at Manchester Crematorium.[6]

Later life

Following Robinson's term as Lord Mayor, the University of Manchester awarded him with an honorary Master of Arts degree in 1943, for his services to education.[2]

Robinson was offered but turned down a barony in 1945, which would have given him a seat in the House of Lords, according to his family and Lord Mayor Arthur Donovan after Robinson's death.[2]

In March 1956, Robinson was asked to become an Honorary Freeman of the City (of Manchester).[7] On 5th April, around 350 leaders of Manchester life assembled at Manchester Town Hall to watch Robinson be given an illuminated scroll and silver tray by the incumbent Lord Mayor, Tom Regan.[8]

Robinson died on 17th June 1960 at the age of 84. He was cremated at Manchester Crematorium on 21st June, at 11.30am. Robinson had specifically requested no flowers at his cremation.[9][2]

Sources

  1. Former Lord Mayors of Manchester (1892-Present), Manchester City Council website, accessed 25th July 2026. ↩
  2. Manchester Evening News, 17th June 1960, Page 27. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
  3. The Bolton News, 28th February 1995, Page 7. ↩
  4. Manchester Evening News, 9th July 1941, Page 4. ↩
  5. Manchester Evening News, 22nd August 1941, Page 8. ↩
  6. Manchester Evening News, 29th January 1942, Page 8. ↩
  7. Manchester Evening News, 1st March 1956, Page 5. ↩
  8. Manchester Evening News, 5th April 1956, Page 4. ↩
  9. Manchester Evening News, 17th June 1960, Page 31. ↩