| abstract | - (Alfred) James Hawkey (1877-22 May 1952), knighted in 1926 and created Sir James Hawkey, First Baronet, of Woodford in the County of Essex in 1945 was a businessman and Conservative Party politician long involved in the local politics of the Woodford area. He was born in Woodford Green and educated at Woodford Collegiate School. He entered business in the bakery trade: he was chairman of Clark's Bread Company, deputy chairman of the Aerated Bread Company. He was also a director of Sangamo Weston Limited, manufacturers of light meters for photographers. Sangamao Weston had a strong association with north east London: the company's factory was in Enfield and their products were distributed by Ilford Limited, film manufacturers. He was chairman of Woodford Urban District Council for eighteen years, from 1916 up to 1934 when it was merged with the neighbouring urban district of Wanstead. He subsequently was chairman of the successor Wanstead and Woodford Urban District Council from 1934-1937, when it was granted a charter of incorporation to become a Municipal Borough. Hawkey was charter mayor of the new borough, and served three more terms as mayor in 1937–38, 1943–44 and 1944-45. He was the first person to be granted honorary freedom of the borough in 1939. He also represented the area on Essex County Council. He died in 1952 and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son Sir Roger Pryce Hawkey, 2nd Baronet (1905-1975). The baronetcy became extinct on his son's death. In 1955 Wanstead and Woodford Borough Council named a newly-built hall Sir James Hawkey Hall in his honour. It was officially opened by Sir Winston Churchill, who was member of parliament for Wanstead and Woodford and a friend of Hawkey's.
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