Mexborough & Swinton Times, May 29, 1931

Great Houghton

Cricket.

The boys of the Council School beat Thurnscoe by the narrow margin of two wickets. Ernest Robinson, by good bowling, broke up a Thurnscoe stand when it was getting set for a good score.

Outing Fund.

The children’s outing from is connection with the British Legion is reaching substantial dimensions, and it was further increased last Saturday evening when the Comrades organised a supper to assist the fund.

Whitsuntide Sings.

The weather on Monday was fortunately ideal, and gave both Great Houghton and Billingley the Wesleyans opportunity to give their anniversary hymns to the district. The Billingley Wesleyans commenced at Whiteley and visited Middlecliffe and Little Houghton.

The Common.

Those chose to hale au open air Whitman on the Common—and one might well go further and fair worse – would had it clothed in one of its very last dresses. The gorse is at the moment a blaze of gold, and a few hundred yards away one may have another feast of springtime colour—a carpet of bluebells in the wood.

Rounders.

The Council School girls gained their third victory at rounders when they met the Highgate girls on the home playground. E. Godfrey, Vera Stanton and Ruth Hinds scored well and Renee Dent and E. Godfrey combined very effectively at back stop and first hams respectively.

Anniversary.

The size of the congregation at the Great Houghton Wesleyan Sunday School anniversary is not dependent on weather, so although that of Sunday was disappointing for, the kiddies who had new dresses to display, the older folk turned up, in their usual crowds. The singing, conducted by Mr. Reg. Taylor, was greatly enjoyed, and the services were conducted by the Rev H. Hackforth, of Hemsworth.

County Library.

The local librarian desires that all hooks should be returned to the Welfare Hall on Tuesday evening. A fresh supply is to be received from the County Repository and these will be available the following Tuesday. A new batch for the junior library, run in connection with the Council School, will also be received on Wednesday.

Scouts.

The Scouts once made a profit of £15 as a result of a Whit -Monday dance, and since then, although enthusiasm for dancing has waned, they still select the same date for their annual dance. As they have to take over before expenses are paid, the venture takes on the nature of an adventure in these days. Messrs Bladon and Scott organized Monday the dancing.

Children’s Treats.

Whitsuntide is the annual treat of all the children attending all the Sunday Schools in Great Houghton and Billingley. On Whit Monday the Wesleyan at Great Houghton and Billingley and the church at Great Houghton entertained the scholars to tea and afterward they had games and sports respectively in fields lent by Captain Cooke, Mr. Appleyard and Mr. 8. Richardson.

Pigeons.

There appears to be a revival of interest in pigeon flying in Great Houghton, comparable to that of a few years ago. During the last year or two some of the interest appears to have lapsed, though a few of the “faithful’s” attached themselves to the Thurnscoe Homing Society. Now there appears to be a desire among some to form a local society. A number of short distance flights are being arranged—one took place last Saturday—and a number of locals also take part in the long-distance events. In common with most other societies, Great Houghton lost a large number of birds —owing to storm—in the recent distance flight from Ampthill. Only 19 out of released birds arrived home.