George Prior

DEATH NOTICE: see the Master's Office, Cape Town, No 27156. OBITUARY: see the Daily Dispatch, 26.7.1930.

George William Prior was born in Halsted (Essex) in December 1871. He emigrated to the Cape Colony in about 1890 and settled on the West Bank, East London.

He became a moulder on the Cape Government Railways -- later the South African Railways -- eventually to rise to the position of production foreman, which he held until his death.

He was elected to the Town Council as councillor for Ward 1 in April 1914 and would remain on the Council until April 1928 when he resigned because of his being transferred to Pretoria.

He would serve a term as Deputy Mayor in 1928 but could not be elected Mayor because of his service with the Government. Nevertheless, he was regarded as the "Father" of the Council for many years, presiding at those meetings where the Mayor was elected.

He died at Cambridge on 25 July 1930, at the age of 58. Prior Crescent in the Quigney was named in his honour.