South Yorkshire Times December 28, 1968
A Glimpse at The Files Reveals The Story Of 1968 In Retrospect
A review in brief of the items which made our headline news
As 1968 draws to its close, we glance back through the news columns of the “South Yorkshire Times” to note the items which made up the year for people in this industrial corner of the County, records of gay times and tragic events, of notable achievements and failures, which touched their lives or passed them by. Here we recall a cross section in miniature of the local story of the year.
January
Terry Roberts of Taylor Street, Thurnscoe, became the first Wath Grammar School student for 20 years to gain a Yorkshire Schools’ Rugby Cap
A Newton Chambers office girl. Lynn Hotchkiss (19), of Woodhouse Road, Hoyland, was top in the R.S.A. National examinations in Advanced Typewriting and received a silver medal.
The last woman remaining on the shop floor of Wombwell Foundry and Engineering Company of those recruited in wartime, Miss Ethel Jones, of Blythe Street Wombwell, retired after 26 years’ service and received presentation gifts from management and colleagues.
Mr. Arthur Barrow of Millhouse Green completed 50 years’ service as a member of Thurlstone Parish Church choir.
Mr. Kenneth Clark of Stocksbridge was elected to a seat on the National executive of the Iron, steel and kindred Trades’ Association.
The bar rolling mill of Giilott’s Forge and Rolling Mills Ltd., was transferred from Ecclesfield to the former Baker and Bessemer Steel works site at Kilnhurst.
In appreciation of the effection they received as war time evacuees a London brother and sister, both now married, made a radio record request and sent gifts to mark the Golden Wedding of their former foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Turton. of Hall Street, Wombwell.
At a Diamond Jubilee celebration of Princess Street Methodist Church, West Melton, 60 members and their friends Packed the schoolroom for an “Evening of Memories” presented by Mr. Herbert Clarke one of the original scholars when the sunday school was opened, and seven other original members attended.
A new £40,000 Hemingfield WMC in School Street, open since before Christmas, was officially opened by Mr Michael Whittaker.
Mr Michael John Osborne of Timothy Wood Avenue, BirdweIl, gained a silver medal as first prize in the City and Guilds of London Institute Colliery Mechanics advanced certificate national examinations for 1967.
February
A new £6,400 Bowbroom Wesleyan Reform Church at Swinton built as a result of money raising effort over 17 years, was opened by the Rev G. D. Lee. President of the Wesleyan Reform Union.
The Rev, Clifford A Dawson from Laceby Lincs., was instituted as Rector of Bradfield.
Paul Hudson of Wentworth Street, Birdwell, who attended Huddersfield College of Technology and the Royal College of Music and has toured abroad with the College Madrigal group, joined Sadlers Wells Opera Company
A new Moorthorpe Recreation Club complete with a 350 seat concert hall was opened to replace the old club built in 1927.
Mr. Wilfred Cleasby, Headmaster of Tankersley C. of E. Junior and Infants’ Schools for 16 years and formerly at Darfield C of E School resigned owing to Ill-heath
The Directors of Kilnhurst Cooperative Society recommended to the 8.400 members a merger with the Doncaster Society.
Miss M Coupson formerly of Wath Wood Road, Wath and former organist at Wath Trinity Church became an Associate of the Royal College of Organists after having studied at the Royal College of Music.
A former Penistone man. Mr. Douglas Pickering, contributed to Penistone Church Renovation fund by allowing his firm from Dewsbury to complete interior cleaning of the Church free of charge.
The death occurred at Oxford, of Mr A. G. Jenkinson (93), first headmaster of Hemsworth Grammar School from 1921 until his retirement in 1937.
Mr, Ernest Widle (35). of Valley Road, Swinton, was selected in the England Angling team to take part in a World Championship match in Ireland in September
Michael Hogarth (18), of Coltfield, Birdwell, a member of the Hoyland Oakleaf Venture Scout Unit was chosen as a member of the Queen’s Guard of Honour at the St. George’s Day parade at Windsor.
The remaining members of Stocksbridge Instrumental Society originally formed at the end of the last century, decided to wind up the Society and give the assets to local organisations
Miss Brenda Bury. formerly of Barnsley Road, Brierley, who has a studio in Chelsea was chosen by the R.A.C. to paint a portrait of the Queen to hang in the Club’s Pall Mall room.
March
The Minister of Housing and Local Government, Mr. Anthony Greenwood. M.P., opened the first two phases of an 800 Council house scheme at Rawmarsh and the Sauna bath extension at the swimming baths.
Mr. James W Webb, B.E.M., of Nestfield Way, Sheffield 5, ambulance room supervisor at Firth Vickers Stainless Steels Ltd. and S.J.A.B. member for 38 years, who had been a Serving Brother of the Order -since 1946, was promoted as Officer Brother.
A new £35,000 reform club at Goldthorpe to replace old premises in Doncaster Road was opened at. Hamilton Road in the former Astoria Dance Hall.
Mrs June Walker (80) of 27, Tinker Lane, Hoyland Common, completed 40 years of regular attendance at night school classes at Hoyland Further Education Centre
Believed to have been the oldest local married couple with a partnership of 65 years, Mr James Jones (88) and his wife Mrs Flora Elizabeth Jones (85) both died within days at Langthwaithe House, South Kirkby, where they had lived for two years after 50 years at Exchange Street, South Elmsall
Mr. Colin G. T. Andrews, headmaster at Penistone Springvale School for 17 years, announced his impending retirement upon completion of 45 years of teaching including spells at Hemsworth and Grimethorpe Schools
An estate of 116 houses, which started as a private development and was then handed over to Swinton Urban Council in a £336,000 package deal by the Mexborough building tine of Ben Bailey Ltd., was opened by Coml. A. H. Marriott, Council Chairman.
A new £34,000 central library was opened at Goldthorpe
Sisters Angela (16) and Jacqueline Finney (18) daughters of Wombwell Council’s Chief Public Health Inspector shared the premier honours in the junior musical festival of the B.B.C.S. when they were awarded jointly the rose bowl as the best artists.
Christopher May (16), of 19. Hall Avenue, Mexborough, a Corporal in the Rotherham Air Training Corps was chosen as A.T.C. Cadet of the Year and received the R.A.F.A Shield.