Basil Holmes

Basil Holmes (1856-28 January 1940) was a local politician and advocate of public open spaces.

Born in Upper Tulse Hill, he spent some years in India. He returned to England in 1887, and married Isabella, daughter of Dr John Hall Gladstone on Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee day. His wife was honorary secretary of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association and he eventually took a position as secretary of the group.

He moved to Ealing in Middlesex, and soon started moves to promote public open spaces in the county. In 1895 he stood for election to Middlesex County Council on a platform of promoting the acquisition of land for parks. He was elected councillor for Ealing North. He held the seat until 1925, when he became an alderman, a position he held until his death. He was chairman of the county council's Open Spaces Committee from 1915-35.