- Mayor
- Bolton: 1943-44 (Liberal)
- Born
- Newport Street, Bolton 18 January 1883
- Died
- Bolton 24 January 1959
- Educated
- Mawdsley Street School, Bolton
- About
-
He started work as an office boy in the patent office of Samuel Heyes (Bolton) Ltd and later joined his family firm of Joseph Bentley (Bolton) Ltd, removal contractors, eventually becoming a director.
He represented Exchange Ward 1924-27 and Halliwell Ward from 1931.
Appointed Magistrate in 1933.
He was appointed an Alderman in 1940 and at the time of his death was the only Liberal Alderman on Bolton Council.
His Mayoral speech called for a thorough post War slum clearance programme.
As Mayor he made an appeal to raise funds for Bolton Royal Infirmary in 1944. The appeal target was £28,000 - £42,342 was raised.
Bolton's Salute the Soldier savings appeal in May 1944 raised £1,787,507.
He retired in 1945.
Member of Bolton Rotary Club and a Trustee of Bolton Lads Club.
Prominent Freemason.
Baptist - He was Church Deacon and Treasurer of Claremont Baptist Church and was also a Sunday School superintendent there.
His wife, Laura, was Mayoress.
His youngest son, Eric Russell Bentley was a distinguished author, critic, playwright and translator. He was the drama critic for New Republic 1958-61 and was also assistant to and translator of Bertholt Brecht.
His eldest son, Frederic Herbert Bentley, had a distinguished career in medicine and was a professor of surgery.
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