Alan Dawtry


Sir Alan Graham Dawtry was a British municipal government official. He was an Assistant solicitor at Sheffield City Council between 1938 and 1948, deputy town clerk at Bolton, England between 1948-1952 and Leicester, England between 1952-1954 and town clerk Wolverhampton, England, 1954–1956. He was Chief Executive of the Westminster City Council between 1956 and 1977. During his career, he was also Town Clerk for the City of Westminster. In the 1974 New Year Honours, Dawtry was knighted.

Early life and education

Dawtry was born in Sheffield; his parents were Melancthon and Kate Dawtry. After King Edward VII School, he studied law at Sheffield University, graduating in 1937.

Second World War service

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Dawtry joined the British Army and served in France and the Mediterranean theatre. He was appointed an MBE for his role in planning landings at Salerno and Anzio.

Local government career

Before the war, Dawtry worked for Sheffield City Council as a prosecutor on behalf of the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
After the war he held senior municipal posts, including periods as town clerk in Bolton, Leicester and Wolverhampton, before moving to Westminster.

Westminster

In 1956 Dawtry became town clerk of Westminster City Council.
City of Westminster Council approved application for at Pimlico station underpass to recognise his role in bringing a station to Pimlico