South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 03 October 1942

Marconigrams

The August road deaths were the lowest for many years. An official return shows that 502 died from road accidents, 2,900 were seriously injured and 8,153 slightly injured. Deaths from road accidents in the third year of the war totalled 7,893, nearly 2,400 fewer than in the second war year, but still substantially higher than in the last year of peace.

The custom of ceasing work for 24 hours after a fatal accident at the pit Is to be discontinued by Frickley miners if the colliery company will increase their offer of £50 to £1OO to the family of the victim. The company made the offer subject to the men remaining at work and levying themselves a shilling and boys sixpence. for the dependants. The levy would produce about £100.

A new Red Cross organisation was formed at Wombwell on Monday to put into operation a penny a week scheme In support of the Society’s funds.

The death occurred suddenly on Saturday of Mr. William Watson of Mexborough, for many years headmaster of the Denaby Main Rossington Street School and a well known diocesan lay reader. He was 63.

A reader suggests that a good rule for pedestrians, particularly now the longer nights are coming along, is ” Keep to the left.” If the rule applied to pavements, as well as roads a good few black-out bumps would be avoided.

On Saturday Wombwell’s successful Warship Week was recalled by the exchange of commemorative plaques between the town’s civic leaders and representatives of the warship which Wombwell ” adopted ” by this savings effort.

Present indications are that the “Potato Week,” which Is being held this week among local allotment gardeners on behalf of the Mexborough Montagu Hospital will be a great success. Already the Hospital is assured of well over two tons of potatoes, in addition to a large quantity of other vegetables.

Harry Crossley, the well known Mexborough boxer and former British Cruiserwelght Champion, is in hospital in Leicester suffering from a nervous breakdown. Harry, who retired from the ring some years ago, and has been in the hotel business at Leicester, was very much upset by the recent death of his brother, Mr. Fred Crossley of Mexborough, who was fatally injured in a mining accident. He is understood to be making satisfactory progress and hopes to be fit to resume his business duties in the near future.