William Arthur Gillman

William Arthur Gillman (4 October 1899-November 1990) was a boiler maker, trade unionist and Labour Party politician in the Essex suburbs of London.

Born in Leytonstone, he was the son of Thomas Herbert Gillman, a commercial clerk and his wife Julia Jefford nee Day.

He worked as a wine merchant's delivery boy from 1914 until 1916, and then as a work as dyer's assistant at a fur factory, 1916 until 1917 when he joined the army. He served with the Royal Fusiliers during World War One on the Western Front before demobilisation in 1920.

He briefly worked for the Port of London Authority Police from 1920-1921. After a period of casual work he gained employment at Stratford Railway Works in 1923 as a boilers' mate in the engine repair shop. He was secretary of the local branch of the National Union of Railwaymen from 1923-1931.

He joined the Labour Party and was elected to West Ham Borough Council in 1925 and was a member until the council's abolition in 1965. He served as Mayor of West Ham for 1953-1954.

By the time the London Government Act 1963 was passed he was living in Hornchurch. This fell within the boundaries of the new London Borough of Havering, and Gillman stood for election in 1964 to both Havering Borough Council at Cranham Ward and to the Greater London Council to represent Havering. He failed to win the borough council seat but was elected to the GLC. At the next GLC election in 1967 he lost his seat.