Wallace
Hills, the son of Matthew Hills, chief engineer of Lewes Prison, was
born in Chiddingly on 16th July, 1863. After being educated at Ardingly
College Hills became a journalist. In 1881 he was appointed editor
of the East Grinstead Observer. Hills later joined the board
of Farncombe and Company, the publishers of the East Grinstead
Observer.
Wallace Hills married Lizzie Miller of Lansdowne, Lewes. For most
of their married life Wallace and Lizzie lived in Lansdowne House
at the corner of London Road and Garland Road. The couple only had
one child, a daughter who died at a young age.
Hills took a keen interest in politics and for twenty-five years was
Secretary of the East Grinstead Conservative
Association. He also played a leading role in the East Grinstead
Literary and Scientific Institute, the Constitutional Club, the Sackville
Lodge, Grand Pursuivant Freemasons, the Primrose League and the Sussex
Buffs.
In 1902 Wallace Hills was elected to the East Grinstead Urban Council.
Hills received 492 votes, at the time it was the highest number of
votes that anyone had ever achieved in an East Grinstead Urban Council
election. For the next twenty years Hills was the most influential
person in East Grinstead. This brought him into direct conflict with
other leading figures in the town such as Edward
Steer and Joseph Rice, who held more
progressive views than the editor of the East Grinstead Observer.
Wallace Hills was Chairman of the Urban District Council in 1906,
1911-12, 1917-18 and 1920-21. His main political success was to block
the social reforms advocated by people such as Edward
Steer, Thomas Isley, George Brinkhurst
and Thomas Hartigan. Wallace Hills was
a strong opponent of increased public spending and campaigned against
the money of ratepayers being spent on parks, electric street lighting
and subsidized council housing. On several occasions Hills was accused
of using his position as editor of the East Grinstead Observer
to distort the views of his opponents.
Wallace Hills was very interested in local history. His newspaper
often contained articles from local people about the history of the
town. In 1906 Hills published his book History of East Grinstead.
He was also the author of The Parliamentary History of the Borough
of Lewes. Hills worked as editor of the East Grinstead Observer
until just before his death in 1932.
(1)
Brian Desmond was a journalist on the East Grinstead Observer.
In The Bulletin of the East Grinstead Society (Spring, 1983)
Desmond wrote about his memories of Wallace Hills.
From his appointment until his death he must have been in command
for the greater part of fifty years. This was no desk job, for he
was very much the chief reporter, covering all the main events. His
shorthand was fast and outlines near perfect. All copy was handwritten.
He transcribed his notes with great speed, and his handwriting, punctuation
and literacy left nothing to be desired. He was a public speaker of
rare quality, never taken by surprise, apt at quotation and able to
brighten a dull subject without facetiousness.
(2)
Edward Steer, speech at the East Grinstead
Urban Council meeting on 10th August, 1901.
What I object to is this.
When we are seeking election the East Grinstead Observer supports
a certain section of the community, and against another section to
the community. A newspaper may take what side it likes with regard
to the election of members, but once elected they should be treated
with fairness. The editor has no right to put into their mouths words
they don't use. I have suffered more than anyone I think in recent
times, with what I call prejudice and biased reporting.
Last
updated: 20th August 2002
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