South Yorkshire Times January 2, 1960
A Diary of the Year 1959 Presented in Brief
Sunshine and Shadow of life in South Yorkshire
Below are recorded some of the main events of the past year in the immediate neighbourhood. They recall incidents gay and tragic, achievements attained or hopes unfulfilled, but all making up the pattern of local life.
January
Barnburgh Main colliery was the only pit in the NCB’s number three area to attain the million tons output for the year 1958.
Mr J.A. Hall, C.B.E., J.P., retired after 60 years’ service to mining. Mr Hall, a member of Wombwell UDC for 40 years and Divisional Welfare Officer for the NCB was succeeded by Mr P Gallimore of Leeds.
Cudworth’s “Woman of the Year” was the title accorded Hickleton Main sprinter, Miss Dorothy Hyman, of Bloemfontein Street, Cudworth, when she was received by the chairman, Councillor Mark Glover, and members of the Council in the council chamber.
A meeting was convened at Wath to coordinate and strengthen a campaign against the continuance of opencast mining in South Yorkshire, and Rotherham Rural District Council sent to the Ministry of power is a demand that opencast coal working should cease immediately.
Mike Hawthorne, world-famous racing driver and native of Mexborough, was killed in a road accident a fortnight after a visit to his 86-year-old grandmother, Mrs Kate Hawthorne, of Alexandra Road, Mexborough.
A scheme for the construction of a footbridge over the River Don between Mexborough and old Denaby is to be submitted for the consideration of the County Council.
As a result of domestic pipes being frozen and then fractured, Dearne Valley Water Board lost over a million gallons of water in three days.
February
Thurnscoe boxers, Colin Marsden and Doug Cooper won titles for Hickleton Main Youth Club in the Yorkshire Association of Boys Clubs Boxing Championships.
“Memory Man” Leslie Welch visited Wombwell, as a guest of Wombwell Cricket Lovers Society.
“Ginner,” a Wath cat belonging to Mr and Mrs Mark Nokes of the George and Dragon Hotel, Wath, celebrated its 22nd birthday.
Efforts were made to revive a Midland League Football Club in Mexborough.
County Councillor, Alan Beaney of Thurnscoe chosen as Socialist candidate at the next general election for the Hemsworth Division.
A fossilised tooth – thought to be the tooth of a prehistoric animal – was found embedded in strata at Houghton Main Colliery.
Dearne Urban Council “came of age” – having been established 21 years.
February rainfall at Mexborough totalling .02 of an inch was the lowest recorded since figures were first kept in 1898.
March
A coin dated 1793 was found in the canal near Factory Bridge, Wath.
Mexborough born Doctor Ronald W Elliott took up his appointment as Medical Officer of Health of the West Riding.
Wombwell Chamber of Trade protested against restrictions imposed on, and the possible closure of a canal bridge in Tingle Bridge Lane, Hemingfield.
Johnny Wardle attended the Wombwell Cricket Lovers Annual’s Service at Wombwell Parish Church.
The Yorkshire Traction Company announced their intention of introducing 78 seater buses later in the year.
April
Mr F.C. Hacking, J.P., Director and Editor of the “South Yorks Times” was appointed nonplaying captain of the County men’s team, by the Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Association.
The first children’s playing field at great Houghton was opened by the President of the Yorkshire Playing Fields Association, Mr C.J. Rhodes of Leeds.
May
For the second time in three years Mexborough Theatre Guild when the annual Yorkshire Drama Festival organised by Scarborough Theatre Guild.
At the annual meeting of Old Wathonians Rugby Union Club, it was revealed that enquiries were being made with regard to obtaining land on which to build a new clubhouse.
June
Nursing cadets from Goldthorpe St John’s Ambulance Brigade Division reach the final of the Dunbar – Nasmith Cup for which they competed in London.
Fowl pest caused the destruction of 2000 head of poultry at Denaby.
Alderman Maurice Creighton began his 40th year as a member of Swinton Urban Council.
To mark its “21st birthday”, Dearne Urban Council issued a booklet “21 Years of Progress.”
The first couple to be married in Low Field Methodist Church, Denaby, since 1895 were Mr G.W. Smith and Miss Hilda Peters.
Swinton Secondary School was officially opened by Alderman Maurice Creighton.
A national printing dispute caused a break in normal publication of the “South Yorkshire Times” series and news was issued in emergency bulletin form for this clay to district branch offices and on newsagents’ premises.
July
John Ellis (25), of Wombwell was charged at Barnsley with the murder of his wife, Grace Mary Ellis (25)
The death occurred of Mr W Green, M.B.E. of Wath, Chief Chemist at the Benzyl refinery plant, Manvers Main Colliery, and a former president of the Coke Oven Managers’ Association.
The centenary of Kilnhurst Parish Church was celebrated with special services and meetings on July 5th.
The railway passenger service between Mexborough and Penistone was withdrawn.
The Right Honourable Wilfred Paling, M.P., for Dearne Valley since 1933, intimated that he would not stand as a candidate at the next general election. He is 76.
(To be continued)