South Yorkshire Times, February 23rd, 1934
Here is another group for our gallery of “Old Wombwell.” It is a photograph of the choir of the Parish Church taken some forty years ago. In it are several which are still prominent in the township. Before looking at the names below, cast your eyes over the picture and see how many you know. The girls have grown into womanhood, the features of most of the men have been adorned by patriarchal beards, but most of them can be recognised. This was the “village choir” in the days of Rev. A. E. Flaxman the clergyman who was rector of Wombwell when the couples now attaining their golden weddings were married. He is sitting at the front towards the left of the picture. Mr. Flaxman died about two years ago at a great age, after living many years in retirement. He was buried in Wombwell cemetery.
The choir was unique in those days because it was composed for the most part of girls and young ladies. They were replaced by boys when Canon R. B. Blakeney, now rector of Southport, came to Wombwell, but there was another slight concession to feminine representation in the days of Mr. Barnes. Old church people say the choir was at its best and sweetest when the ladies supplied the treble voices; but on the other hand, others were quite outspoken in their objection to this feminine “encroachment.” They were glad to see the ladies go. But whatever may be said on that point the ladies in this picture certainly look a comely lot and must have improved the shining hour for all churchgoers.
The picture has been loaned by Mr. Fred Hawksworth, of 70, Brampton Road, West Melton, who is on the left of the group at the back. Mr. and Mrs. Hawksworth were married by Mr. Flaxman and will celebrate their golden wedding next year. A son of the late Mr. Thomas Hawksworth, under-manager at Wombwell Main colliery for 38 years, Mr. Fred Hawksworth was born at Dodworth. When he gave up work two years ago, he had been a deputy at Mitchell Main colliery for 25 years. All his working life was spent at Wombwell Main and Mitchell Main and he is an authority on “Old Wombwell.” He remembers when there was not a single house between Cemetery Road and the wayside cottages at Aldham. When he was a boy, the shop now occupied by Barkers, fruiterers, was old John Townsend’s “Curiosity shop.” The road leading out of Wombwell to Barnsley was narrow dark and tortuous. As he told our reporter “There were holes in the road deep enough to drown a dog in.” Still, despite all disadvantages and difficulties, Wombwell was then a very happy place to live in.” Mr. Hawksworth now keeps fit by walking . He thinks nothing of taking “a little jaunt” round Hoober, Wentworth, and Thorpe Hesley with his little terrier dog as his only companion.
Now to the picture. The surplices worn in those days will probably strike you as being strangely like nightdresses. They were all starched and ironed and there was not the slightest “trimming” about them. They were all very long and there was a reason for it. Perhaps you have already noticed that the men are not wearing cassocks. The surplices were slipped on over their own clothes. The little tight-fitting black caps worn by one or two of the girls reveals again that there is nothing new under the sun. They are not unlike the little fancies that adorn the shorn locks of the present generation. The only difference is that their hats are now “on the side of their heads.” About the expression on these girls there is the same seraphic tranquility noted in the old Jump photograph reproduced a week or two ago.
The men in the left of the group are:
Back – Mr. Fred Hawksworth (baritone), and Mr. George Washington (tenor).
Front – Mr. Fred Oxley (baritone), the Rev. A. E. Flaxman.
On the right are:
Back – Mr. John Tom Bennett (tenor), Mr. Charles Oxley (baritone)
Front – Mr. Sam Thornsby (organist), Mr. Isaac Hall (tenor).
The girls in the front are misses Nellie Goddard, Annie Thorpe, Rose Ibbotson, Kitty Johnson, Maud Bennett. The rear constellation is composed of Misses Annie Gothard, Pattie Washington, Mary Thorpe, Annie Johnson, Eleanor Bell, Annie Loy and Ada Johnson. Most of them are now married and several are grandmothers.
Mr. George Washington was a son of Mr. Michael Washington, schoolmaster at Barnsley Road and before that at Elsecar and Broomhill. A weighman for any years at Darfield Main Colliery, he is now living in the midlands. Miss Pattie Washington, who has done so much as any other person in Wombwell to maintain the musical tradition, is his sister. Miss Washington is now conductor of the Wombwell Co-operative Junior Choir with more than 150 members.