William Henry Ellway (1900-1954) was born in Pillowel, the son of a miner. He intially started work at the nearby Oldcroft colliery. He married Isabella Chalmers in 1921 and had seven daughters. He then worked at Norchard Colliery and by 1941 was its representative on the FDMA Executive. In 1941 he was nominated as a Labour Party candidate for Pillowell ward of the West Dean Parish Council and was elected to the Council in 1949. He was chairman of the FDMA in 1946.