Mexborough and Swinton Times, August 24, 1928
Kilnhurst Co-operative Secretary Retiring.
An Honourable Record.
After nearly 50 years as an official of the Kilnhurst Co-operative Society, and at the ripe old age of 76 years, Mr. Thomas Palfreyman, of 115, Victoria Street, Kilnhurst, has decided to resign from the position of Secretary to the Society at the end of this month.
Palfreyman came to the Swinton district from Sheffield at the age of 15 years, and in 1868 he became an apprentice to Messrs. Smith and Guest, timber merchants, of. Swinton. He was connected with the Thrybergh Hail Colliery for many years, and in 1874 he left Swinton to live in Kilnhurst.
Two years later, at Rotherham Parish Church, be married a daughter of Mr.Samuel Rogers, a well-known Rotherham builder and contractor.
For the last 48 years Mr. Palfroyman has been connected with the Kilnhurst Co-operative Society, first as a committee man for 5 years, for 15 years in the post of assistant secretary, and for the last 28 years as permanent secretary, from which post he now intends to resign..
During the period in which Mr. Palfreyman has- been connected with the Co-operative movement, the business of the Kilnhurst Society bas increased by leaps and bounds. Whim be first became acquainted with the society there were about 190 members; now there are over 3,000. The takings for the last quarter amounted to £33,814. Forty-seven years ago the Society had one general store; now it has four different shops.
These statistics alone prove the amount of work and energy put into the movement by the secretary.
Mr. and ,Mrs. Palfreyman were for 50 years prominent members of Kilnhurst Parish Church, and at different times Mr. Palfreyman has served as a sidesman and church warden there. For 50 years he was manager of Kilnhurst National Schools, from which capacity he resigned in 1925. He and Mrs. Palfreyman celebrated their Golden Wedding in November, 1926.
The reason for Mr. Palfreyman’s resignation from the post be has held so long, is that his health is beginning to fail.
“My health is better than that of a lot of men; it is not as good as I would like,” he says..
Mr. Palfreyman will retire from office on the 31st of this month.
The New Secretary.
Mr. Palfreyman’s successor, Mr. Donald Arthur Royston, of Fitzwilliam Street Swinton, is a comparatively young man. but he has the business at his finger-tips. He was the first full-time clerk employed by the Kilnhurt Co-operative Society. He was born at Rotherham, and received his education at the South Grove School there. He commenced as a junior clerk in the offices of Messrs. Corker, aped after nine months went into the Rotherham offices of Mappin, Ltd. Ile was there only nine months when he was appointed clerk to Mr. Palframan and he h this as been connected with the society for 12 years.