This month’s object of the month is the Mayor’s Journal for Mayor Councillor F.J. Press, J.P for the year 1953-1954

Frederick James Press (1909-1964) was Rugby's youngest ever Mayor, aged 44. His wife was Elsie Winifred Mullock (1909-1997). They had two sons.

The journal was bought at a postcard fair in Birmingham before being donated to the museum last year. It contains many photographs, invitations and menus as well as a diary of what was going on in Rugby during that year. It was compiled by staff at the library. The Mayor and Mayoress were extremely busy during the Coronation Year and attended at least one function most days and sometimes up four engagements.

One photograph shows the Mayor and Mayoress at Deepmore Road Coronation Party which was one of the many street parties and celebrations which were held in Rugby that summer.

 Other engagements that year included :attending the Civic Sunday ceremony at St Andrews church,  presenting Coronation gifts to local schools, attending the opening performance of Warwickshire Coronation Pageant in the grounds of Warwick Castle, meeting actress Jane Hylton at the reopening of Regent Cinema, attending BTH Fire Brigade’s annual interworks competition, Rugby Engineering Society’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, Rugby and District Chrysanthemum Society show, the opening of the new cattle sheds and sale ring at Rugby Cattle Market, presentation of the freedom of the Borough to Douglas Edgar Biart (town clerk since 1932) and the 390th Shakespeare’s Birthday celebrations in Stratford Upon Avon. They also attended many dinner dances and balls in Rugby and across the county.

The album contains the Mayor’s portrait at the front of the book which was taken by Rodney Huntingford of Redding’s Studio every year.

The book was presented at the meeting of Rugby Borough Council on Tuesday 26th October 1954.