Sheffield Evening Telegraph – Wednesday 25 January 1939

A.R.P. Successes 

When Swinton Urban Council found difficulty’ in rallying women volunteers to the A.R.P. service last September, the chairman eventually approached Miss Kate Creighton, headmistress of the Swinton Bridge Girls’ School, well-known for her organising capabilities in other spheres, and asked her to take on the new task of organising women in A.R.P. matters.

Miss Creighton, busy as she is throughout the day, was not very confident about the outcome, but she accepted, and immediately sent out an appeal for women who were prepared to help to send their names along. The response was fairly encouraging, and the time it was possible to arrange lectures over 40 women had volunteered. They went through a course instructed by Miss Dean, a Cortonwood headmistress, and 19 passed the examination. The majority of the remainder were not available at the time of the examination, but they sat to-day. It is hoped to have about 30 qualified A.R.P. workers.

A.R.P. Workers

Meanwhile, those who have qualified now constitute a first-aid class. Miss Creighton followed similar methods at Kilnhurst, and a class of about 30 was started there last week. Another group at Piccadilly had to be discontinued for lack of numbers. Apart from A.R.P. qualifications, however, Miss Creighton is concerned about the position of women in the home, and has issued another general appeal for women to take part in a series of specially shortened lectures. She has arranged classes to start next week at four centres in the township—Fitzwilliam Street School (Monday night). Bridge Street School (Thursday night). Queen Street School (Wednesday night), and Swinton Library (Tuesday afternoon).

These classes started this week, and will continue for five weeks, and will be under the direction of Misses Dean, Broadbent (Wath), and Ambler (Wombwell), all Grade 1 instructresses.

Some years ago Miss Creighton formed and became first Commandant of the Swinton St. John Ambulance Nursing Division, but had to relinquish the post a year or two ago, and unfortunately that body has now disbanded. She is also co-organiser with Mr, F. Ward, of Swinton’s Poppy Day Appeal, and acts as local organiser and almoner for the Cancer Relief Fund. One of Miss Creighton’s schemes for raising funds for the ambulance division was the publication of a looseleaf calendar with a musical quotation applied to every day.

She was formerly accompanist to the Mexborough District Teachers’ Operatic Society