Cecil Erskine Bovill

Cecil Erskine Bovill (10 November 1854-19 January 1924) was a solicitor and local politician in Chiswick, Middlesex.

Born in Cobham, Surrey, he was the eldest son of Edward Clarke Bovill and Luisa Margaret Magniac. His father was variously described as a 'gentleman', 'landed proprietor' and 'county justice'. His mother had been born in India.

In the 1870s his father had settled at Bolton Road, Grove Park, Chiswick. Cecil was to remain there for the rest of his life, inheriting the property on his father's death in 1904. He became a solicitor with chambers in Holborn.

A long term member of Chiswick Urban District Council of which he was chairman, he took his seat as a nominee of Chiswick Ratepayers Association. He was also a member of Chiswick Conservative Association. In 1907 he was nominated to contest the Middlesex County Council for the Turnham Green Division. He unexpectedly withdrew from the election and resigned from the local Conservative Association at what he saw as 'imperial politics' being introduced into local government. When the Conservatives nominated another candidate in his place he supported his opponent. By 1910 he agreed to go forward if he had the support of both the Municipal Reform Party, and Conservatives and Unionists. He was elected and remained a county councillor until his sudden death, aged 69. He never married.