Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 23 September 1939

Mr. J. Winder
Yorkshire Deputies’ Secretary
Well-Known Wombwell Man

Mr. Joseph Winder, general secretary of the Yorkshire Mine Deputies Association, and a former member of the Wombwell U D.C. died at his home, 85. Hough Lane. Wombwell, on Wednesday morning at the age of 62.

Last December he was seriously injured in a motor accident at Darrington, near Pontefract, and though he made a valiant effort to continue his administrative work upon discharge from hospital his general health gradually declined and he had to be taken to hospital at Sheffield for treatment His death terminated a long and distressing illness.

Practical Miner.

A son of the late Mr. William Winder, who was a miner at Wombwell Main Colliery, Mr. Joseph Winder was born at Worsborough Dale. At the age of 12 he followed father to Wombwell Main and by the time he was 18 he had acquired a set of tools and a stall of his own. His long experience as a practical miner afterwards stood him in good stead in protracted and difficult negotiations with colliery executives The whole of his working career was spent at Wombwell Main Colliery, and for a long time he was employed as a deputy. More than twenty years ago he was appointed to the executive committee or the Yorkshire Mine Deputies and Shot Firers’ Association, and when he was appointed permanent general secretary in 1932 in succession to the late Mr. James Gilgallon. he had already served two years as President.

Shrewd Administrator.

Mr. Winder took over the secretarial duties at a time when the Association was at an extremely low ebb, both financially and otherwise. This state of affairs was largely brought about by the strain of the 1921 and 1926 stoppages. Mr. Winder set himself the task of reconstructing the organisation, and his efforts soon began to bear fruit. The membership was restored, heavy liabilities were cleared off, the movement gained in strength and influence, and he lived to see the day when the organisation was backed by a fairly substantial financial balance.

Mr Winder was a man of high ideals and sound judgment. The confidence which the members placed in him was one of the secrets of the success of the organisation. To him the onus of personal responsibility was no less important than trade union rights and privileges. While never failed in his efforts to raise the professional status of the mine deputy, he lost no opportunity of reminding the members that they had specific duties in regard to the safety of the mines and other mineworkers which could not possibly be ignored. His addresses to the members of the Association at their annual gatherings at Barnsley were almost invariably based on that maxim.

Presidents Tribute.

During Mr. Winder’s illness the duties of secretary have been temporarily carried out by the President, Mr. Jack Howard, of Wharncliffe Woodmoor, who pays a glowing tribute to his departed colleague. Mr. Winder’s death will be a terrible loss to the Association.” he said,  “and a source of deep grief to all our one thousand two hundred and fifty members. Mr. Winder was a great source of strength to the deputies movement and his personal life was an inspiration to all of us. We shall always remember with the highest appreciation his effort in pulling round the Association from a position in which complete collapse was regarded as a possibility. His loss will be felt for a long time to come and we all realise that it will be a very difficult matter to fill the position he has occupied. The deepest sympathy of all our members will be extended to the bereaved family.”

Mr. Winder had a lifelong association with the Wesleyan Reform and Methodist churches, and had been a local preacher from the age of twenty. When he came to Wombwell 26 years ago he left the Ebenezer Wesleyan Reform Church at Worsborough Dale and joined the local Wesleyan Reform and Wesleyan churches.

Labour Convictions.

Mr Winder sat as an independent member of the Wombwell Council for nine years, but he was regarded as a man with strong Labour convictions. He left the Council on being appointed general secretary of the Y.D.A. but retained a keen interest in all local affairs, and particularly in the work of the churches.

In sport he had a particular fancy for cricket.

Mr Winder has one brother (Mr. William Winder. of Worsborough Dale) and three sisters living. He leaves a widow, to whom he has been married for 41 years, one son and two daughters. The son. Mr. Ronald Winder, is languages master at a school at Audenshaw. Cheshire.

The interment is to take place at Wombwell cemetery at 2 p.m. to-morrow (Saturday), following a service to be held in the Methodist Church, Park Street, WombwelL