John Bott, Mayor of Lambeth

John Bott, pictured here, was Mayor of Lambeth (before the days of Foursquare) between 1910-11.

He was born in Paddington of James Bott, one of three illegitimate siblings. Meanwhile, James was busy with his wife producing three further legitimate sons and a daughter.

Not the greatest provenance for a mayor I think - back to John Bott himself. Whilst still married to his first wife, Caroline (producing a number of children) he was busy with a Daisy Powell, servant to a furniture dealer by the name of Chaplain in 1911. With a little help from John, Daisy gave birth to a girl, Winifred in 1916!

We have no idea what happened between the years of 1911-16, but as John Bott was an auctioneer, and the irresistible Daisy worked for a furniture dealer, it is conceivable that the connection from one side of London to the other was thus made. John did later marry Daisy in 1918 following the death of Caroline in 1916.

The only other thing that is certain is that Winifred was my Grandmother and John, her father.

Oh and thanks to me the tradition of producing illegitimate children continues (no I am not married or otherwise committed to another other than beloved!)