William Browell Charlton

[3][7] Mr. Charlton's connection with the Durham County Colliery Enginemen and Boilerminders' Association began in 1878 when he was elected by the Hamsteels Lodge as delegate to the council of that body.

[6] In 1889, upon the death of Joseph Routledge, Mr. W. B. Charlton, who had represented the winding enginemen on the executive committee for the twelve months previously, was, at the annual meeting of the delegates, elected president to succeed Mr.

[8] For four years he was president of the Association, and succeeded in the treasurership Mr. Thomas Hindmarsh when that gentleman was killed at Birtley[6] in July 1893, the result of a fall from the cylinder top while at work.

The executive committee resolved that the chairman, W. B. Charlton, act as Treasurer in place of theIr deceased comrade until the end of the year.

He became a magistrate before I was appointed, but during the whole of the time it has been my privilege to have been associated with this court we could have no more loyal colleague than Mr Charlton, who spared himself in no way in the carrying out of his duties.

"[10] Mr. Charlton was fond of the Aged Miners' Homes movement, and attended most of the ceremonies in connection with the foundation stone laying and official opening of these dwellings in various parts of the coalfield.

The association had a special claim upon him in the fact that he was one of the founders and in the very early days assisted the late Mr. Joseph Hopper in the multitudinous correspondence.