Home Places Streets and Communities Collapsed In Market- Sudden Death of Co-operative Manager

Collapsed In Market- Sudden Death of Co-operative Manager

April 1939

South Yorkshire Times, April 7th, 1939.

The death occurred suddenly at Doncaster on Saturday at the age of 58, of Mr. Samuel Gill, of Wentworth road, Kilnhurst. For 46 years he had been on the staff of Kilnhurst Co-operative society. Rising from flour boy to manager and buyer for the society. He saw the society’s purchase rise from £6,000 to £39,000 in the latter capacity. Mr Gill was making purchases in his capacity as buyer in Doncaster Market on Saturday morning when he collapsed and died within a few minutes.

He was born in Kilnhurst, and was educated at the council school. He left at the age of 12 and took a post as flour boy with Kilnhurst Co-operative society in 1893,and in February 1912 he became manager and buyer, a post he had held ever since.

Mr. Gill had some interest in sport, and was and ardent Church Worker, but his main hobbies were his garden and home. He was for 13 years secretary of the Church institute, and had served under 5 Vicars. Mrs Gill is president of the Mothers Union and an ardent worker of the Parish Church. Mr and Mrs Gill would have celebrated their silver wedding this year.

Mr Gill’s sporting interests were mainly centered in the Kilnhurst Welfare, where he had played Cricket and Bowls. He had not enjoyed the best of health for the past two years.