South Yorkshire Times, October 27th, 1951
By-Election at Swinton
First Woman Councillor
Mrs. Winifred Lawrence, of Slade Road, Swinton, becomes the first woman member of Swinton Urban Council and new Central Ward representative as the result of her defeat of Mr. Leonard Firth in Saturday’s by-election held to fill the vacancy caused by the non-attendance for six months of Socialist member Mr. E. Metcalf.
Mrs. Lawrence’s selection means that the all-Socialist composition of the Council is maintained. Less than one third of the electorate voted and there was one spoiled paper. Mrs. Lawrence (official Labour) polled 413 votes and Mr. Lenard Firth (Ind) 217. Mrs. Lawrence has only six months to serve until the seat becomes vacant in the local elections next May.