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 N.C.B.’s No. 3 Area to attain the million tons output for the year 1958.
Mr. J. A. Hall, C.B.E., J.P., retired after sixty years service to mining. Mr. Hall, a member of Wombwell U.D.C. for 40 years and Divisional Welfare Officer for the N.C.B., 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, Coun. Mark Glover, and members of the Council in the council chamber.
A meeting was convened at once to coordinate and strengthen a campaign against the continuance of opencast mining in South Yorkshire and Rotherham Rural District Council sent to the Minister of Power 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 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 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 sited 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 Coun. , 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 1798 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 Service at Wombwell Parish Church.
The Yorkshire Traction Company announced their intention of introducing 73 seater buses later in the year.
April
Mr S.C. Hacking, J.P., director and editor of the South Yorkshire 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
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 Messy Church, Denaby, since 1895 were Mr G.W.Smith and Miss Hilda Peters.
Swinton’s Secondary school was officially opened by Alderman Maurice Creighton.
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 MBE of Wath, Chief Chemist at the benzole refinery plant, Manvers Main colliery, and a former president of the Coke Oven Manufactures Association.
The centenary of Kilnhurst
To Complete