Former mayor of Wolverhampton has city street named after him

A popular former mayor of Wolverhampton has been honoured by having a city street named in his memory.

(L-R): Cllr Val Gibson, Cllr Stephen Simkins, Deputy Mayoress of Wolverhampton Elaine Hadley-Howell, Bert’s grandchildren Adam and Amy Shermer, Bert’s son-in-law Andy Shermer and Bert’s daughter Lynne Shermer, Cllr Andrew Johnson, Deputy Mayor of Wolverhampton Cllr Phil Page, Bert’s widow Kath Turner, Cllr Linda Leach, Cllr Zee Russell, and Cllr Sandra Samuels OBE, pictured with one of the new Bert Turner Boulevard signs

Bilston High Street pedestrian and cycle link, which runs from the High Street to Nettlefolds Way, will now be known as Bert Turner Boulevard, after the Bradley and Bilston councillor Bert Turner.

Bert was mayor in 2011 and 2012, during which time he raised more than £55,000 for charity, and served as a councillor for quarter of a century.

He died in October 2015, at the age of 78, but his name will now never be forgotten thanks to the thoughtful tribute.

Councillor Bert Turner in his days as Mayor of Wolverhampton

His widow, Kath, and family met on Valentine’s Day with local ward councillors and deputy mayor Phil Page to unveil the first of the six signs bearing Bert’s name.

Kath said: "I’d like to thank the council for giving Bert this honour. He always worked hard for the people of Bradley and Bilston.

"As he used to say, this is his patch, and he would have been proud to have part of it named after him."

Bert was a tireless campaigner in the saving of Bilston Steelworks, and a long-standing school governor.

He was also the brother of Dennis Turner, who went on to be MP for Wolverhampton South East and later Lord Bilston before he died in 2014.

Dennis also has a nearby Bilston street named after him – Dennis Turner Close.

Delighted

Bilston East ward councillor Stephen Simkins, who put forward the idea of naming the link after Bert, said: “Bert mentored me really closely and I’m delighted he has been honoured in this way.

“His work helped join the communities of Bradley and Bilston together and it is fitting that Bert Turner Boulevard links Bradley and Bilston.

“Bert is one of the famous sons of Bilston and we must also remember the work of his brother, Dennis.

“It is also fitting that Bert Turner Boulevard sits alongside Bilston Urban Village, WV Active Bilston Leisure Centre and the Academy school, as Bert was a key driving force in all of them happening.”

The Bilston High Street pedestrian and cycle link opened in May last year and was created after the council demolished seven run-down houses.

It links the High Street to the Bert Williams Leisure Centre and South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy, through to Bilston Urban Village.