Few councillors contribute very much to the community they are elected to serve but there are exceptions, particularly from the 19th century, and in recent years the most outstanding among them in Bourne was Jack Burchnell. 

He was born and brought up in this town and devoted a quarter of a century to its interests, most notably by instilling a new sense of civic pride in the people through his active support for the annual Civic Sunday and the Civic Ball, both intended to bring together once a year those involved in the decision-making processes and who hold office in our various organisations, to worship, to talk and to cement those bonds of fellowship that are essential if a community is to survive. This was the legacy of a man who died before his time and who was also responsible for another major achievement in his lifetime, that of saving the Red Hall from being pulled down.

Jack Burchnell was born in 1909 and attended the Abbey Road Primary School before going on to Bourne Grammar School. He worked in the telephone engineer's department at Peterborough Post Office until premature retirement through ill health in 1969, a career broken only by the Second World War of 1939-45 when he served for four years in the Royal Corps of Signals. His interest in community affairs began after demobilisation and he sat as a member of Bourne Urban District Council continuously from 1948, being elected chairman twice, in 1955-56 and again in 1967-68.

In May 1969, he was presented with a silver salver to mark 21 years as a member of the authority. "No one has carried out his duties with more zeal", said the chairman, Councillor W E Kelby, making the presentation. "I think we all recognise in him the qualities of public service, community service and pride in the town of Bourne. His principal object in life is the community of Bourne and pride in this small town of ours. We hope that this long and splendid service will continue for many years to come." Mrs Burchnell, who attended the presentation ceremony, was given a large bouquet of flowers by the chairman's wife, Mrs Dot Kelby.

In reply, Councillor Burchnell, who had been successful yet again defending his seat in the North Ward during the recent Bourne UDC elections, said: "I really ought to be giving the council a gift for the privilege of serving this authority. It was an honour to be returned last Saturday after 21 years. This was the greatest honour the town could afford me."

The Civic Ball, now held at the Corn Exchange every year when the current mayor invites those who have supported and aided him during his year of office, began with Jack Burchnell. Although the event was first held on Friday 14th May 1969 when Councillor W E Kelby was chairman of Bourne Urban District Council, the foundations had been laid by Councillor Burchnell when he had been chairman the previous year. He arranged what he called a civic function to which all organisations in the town were invited, including commercial, business and industrial undertakings, and the following year the event was put on an official footing by his successor.

He was also instrumental in organising a fund for purchasing an official insignia to be worn by the wives of the council chairmen at official functions and was also a member of the joint committee responsible for preparing the way for the new South Kesteven District Council under the local government re-organisation which was then underway.

During his council career, Councillor Burchnell served on all council committees and was a governor of Bourne Grammar School, the first former pupil of the school ever to be so elected. He was also a trustee of Bourne United Charities of which he became chairman, and a Commissioner for Income Taxes for South Lincolnshire. He held numerous other appointments and was a member of the Lincolnshire Association, the Lincolnshire Urban District Councils' and Non-County Boroughs' Association and the Bourne Evening Class committee. He was also the urban district council's representative on East Midlands Tourist Board and a founder member of Bourne and South Kesteven Post Office Advisory Committee. 

Councillor Burchnell was also a past master of the Hereward Lodge of Freemasons and an active churchman, serving as a member of the parochial church council at the Abbey Church and churchwarden twice from 1963-64 and 1970-71. He was also choirmaster for 20 years although he was forced to retire from this due to illness. One of his other musical successes was in founding the Burchnell Singers, a small but enthusiastic group of vocalists who made many appearances locally at concerts and other functions free of charge for worthwhile causes. He and his wife lived at 25, South Road, Bourne and his main pastime was playing golf.

Councillor Burchnell died in the Butterfield Hospital at Bourne on Friday 8th June 1973 at the age of 64. He left a widow, Mrs Margaret Burchnell, his second wife, who still lives in Bourne, two brothers, Joe and Ron Burchnell, and a sister, Mrs Trissie Carlton. The funeral service at the Abbey Church was conducted by the vicar, Canon Gordon Lanham, assisted by the Rev Tony Sparham with Mr H D Bostock at the organ. The church was packed with family and friends and members of the various organisations with which he had been connected during his lifetime.

He was cremated but his ashes were not preserved and sadly there is no memorial to him in this town. Family and friends however remembered him by presenting a large bible inscribed with the important dates in his life to the Abbey Church and which is now kept on the lectern where it is used for reading the lessons at morning and evening services. At this request, there were no flowers at the funeral but instead, contributions were made to his two most loved buildings, the Abbey Church and the Red Hall. 

Ironically, the annual Civic Sunday that he had so wholeheartedly supported was held in the week after he died with the largest attendance to date and at which Canon Lanham paid tribute to his untiring work for the town and those who lived here. 

There were further testimonials to come when Bourne Urban District Council met on Tuesday 19th June. Everyone stood in silent tribute to their former colleague and Councillor Leslie Day spoke movingly about their association stretching back to the early days of the 20th century. He said:

"This council has been in existence for 75 years and Jack Burchnell has served on it for one third of that time, twice as chairman and as a member of all committees. His best work was done as chairman of the housing committee and he had an intimate knowledge of the housing needs for this town and a considerable attitude towards what was needed. When I came to Bourne Grammar School as a young master, I had Jack in my first class on my first morning so perhaps I can claim more knowledge than most of this kindly man. His great wish was to serve Bourne and its people and this he has done in no small measure."

Councillor Day moved that the outstanding record of the work achieved by Jack Burchnell on behalf of the town should be recorded in the council minutes and this was done, the first official recognition of its kind that has not been repeated since, and many newly elected councillors also remembered his kindness in guiding them through their early years as members.

But his most important contribution to Bourne was the saving of the Red Hall which was threatened with demolition after being vacated by the railway company who had used it as a booking office since 1860. When the railway line closed in 1962, the hall was acquired by Bourne United Charities and Councillor Burchnell was appointed appeal director with the role of saving and restoring it for community use. It was his foremost ambition to see the ancient building returned to a good state of repair, a task that took ten years and was completed in the December before he died when the refurbished property was officially opened in its new role.

This is his most lasting accomplishment because the Red Hall still stands today despite attempts by others to tear it down and the work he did to preserve it is amply described in a preface to the second edition of his book A History of Bourne written by J D Birkbeck in September 1976: "A well known building whose fate was at one time uncertain now stands secure with its future role assured. This is the Red Hall. In the late 1960s, Bourne United Charities, with the enthusiastic inspiration of their chairman, Councillor Jack Burchnell, undertook extensive renovation work to the old Tudor building. The whole structure was made safe, the roof re-tiled, the chimneys rebuilt and the original mullioned windows renewed and repaired. Internally, the fine staircase was restored, as were other rooms in the long gallery at the top of the house. The two front rooms on the first floor were combined into one, thus affording accommodation for social functions and public gatherings. Other rooms were equipped for various purposes, including a local museum. Thus, on 2nd December 1972, the Red Hall was officially opened as a community centre. Since then it has been in constant demand for both public and private functions and many of the town's organisations have been able to benefit from the use of its premises."

There may be no public memorial to Councillor Jack Burchnell in Bourne but this is his legacy and it is there for all to see.

REVISED NOVEMBER 2007

See also     Leslie Day     The Red Hall

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