Mexborough and Swinton Times Friday, June 2, 1939

Stricken Wombwell Home

Generous Response by District Sympathisers

Amazing Success of “Times ” Fund

When the home of Mr. William Foster, an employee of Wombwell U.D.C. 7, Wright Crescent, Wombwell. was burned out on Thursday of last week, a neighbour (Mr. W. Oughton), who assisted in the rescue work and only barely escaped with his own little family, made the remark, “Wombwell is too big to see a man down like this.”

How true that sentiment was has now been proved in a striking way. Immediately after the fire the “South Yorkshire Times” made an appeal to its readers, and before we went to press a sum of £10 had already been promised or actually subscribed. Within twenty-four hours the amount had jumped to £15 and five days after the fire 4 “Times” representative and Mr. G. W. Atkinson. who willingly assumed the role of organiser and collector in the Council housing scheme and other districts were able to hand over to Mr. and Mrs. Foster a sum of £25 with promise of “more to come.”

Early Morning Outbreak.

The fire broke out in the early hours Thursday, May 25th. Mr. and Mrs. Foster being awakened from their sleep by their five months’ old grandson. Malcolm. They had just time to snatch the child to safety from a smoke-laden bedroom, escaping with nothing but their night clothes. From the house adjoining five children of Mr. and Mrs. W. Oughton were carried into the street. Mr. and Mrs. Foster lost every stick and stitch of their home.

Moved by the tragic aspect of an overwhelming domestic calamity the “Times” immediately made an appeal with a view to Mr. and Mrs. Foster being provided with the wherewithal to lay the foundations of a new home. In the response we see another example of that fine spirit of large-hearted generosity which always animates Wombwell people when their hearts are touched and their sympathies aroused. Wombwell has tried to put itself in the place of Mr. and Mrs. Foster, and has willingly helped to shoulder their burden.

Hard Working Secretary.

In expressing appreciation of all who save contributed to this fund we would specially mention the hard work put in by Mr. G. W. Atkinson, of 11, Wright Crescent, who was appointed to receive subscriptions. Mr. Atkinson is secretary of Wright Crescent Football Club, and has had some experience of organisation. Actuated by no other motive than sympathy for an unfortunate neighbour, he spared no effort in making the appeal a success, being assisted in the work of collection by Mr. A. Skidmore, Mr. W. Wade and Mrs. Oughton. We said last week, “We know that all the neighbours in the housing scheme at Wombwell will do what they can.” They certainly did. Many gave their last coppers left over from Whitsuntide, children went to their money-boxes and took their pennies to Mr. Atkinson’s house. Freely the strollers in the park on Saturday and Sunday threw their contributions into a sheet provided near the burnt-out dwelling.

While there is real philanthropy, there being every gift from a penny to a pound, it is noteworthy that one of the first donations was a guinea from Wombwell Rangers, whose practical “social service” Wombwell has frequently had cause to appreciate. There is no doubt that others were inspired by that gift. The patrons of the two greyhound tracks at Wombwell also responded in a manner which ought not to go unnoticed. These collections were generously started by Mr. J. Morris and Mr. H. Mather. Workmates and sympathetic landlords of public houses also organised collections, and those amounts have still to be credited to the fund.

Very touching was the sympathy shown by the employees of Messrs. Mc- Lintocks, of Barnsley. where Malcolm’s mother works. Hearing that Malcolm had escaped with nothing but his nightdress they generously organised a “whip,” and provided him with three sets of new clothes, three suits, and a pair of new shoes.

Grateful Thanks.

As a result of this response it was possible on Tuesday morning hand over to Mr. and Mrs. Foster a sum of £25. We did not feel that the public would wish them to be subjected to the ordeal of appearing on a public platform

“On behalf of my wife and myself I should like to express the gratitude we feel at the kind and generous way in which the people of Wombwell have rallied round us in the calamity which has befallen us through the loss of our home and everything we had. It has made the blow easier to bear to know that we have so many kind-hearted friends around us. We are very grateful to the ‘South Yorkshire Times’ in making known our loss and opening a fund. We should also like particularly to thank our good neighbour ,Mr G. W. Atkinson, who, together with the help of Mr. A. Skidmore and Mr. W. Ward, did what he could on our behalf in collecting from friends of the housing scheme and. other places. We should like to thank personally all who contributed towards our loss, but it is impossible. We should just like to express a special word of thanks to Wombwell Rangers, and to the supporters of the Wombwell greyhound tracks. It is impossible to say what is in our hearts, but all subscribers may be assured that we are fully grateful and that the money will be carefully spent in renewing our home.

Yours sincerely,

(Signed) William Foster.”