1951

A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE 
 1951
 
THE COUNCIL
JANUARY The council approved plans for the extension of the premises of the Featherstone Clothing Company and promised help if necessary for the licence for the work. The Ministry of Supply promised all the help possible in obtaining materials for work on the water tower at North Featherstone.
   Cr Parker complained about the delay in improvements to North Featherstone crossroads. The clerk explained some property had to be acquired before work could begin, and Dr Forster had gone to South Africa and had left no one in charge, and they could not take possession in his absence.
FEBRUARY  The council approved the plan of a house in Ackworth Road for Mr H Tattersall, the council clerk. The county council said it would be better to purchase some land from Dr Forster to widen the road north of the crossroads rather than have a one-way system as proposed by the council last year.
  The chairman, Cr A Evans, described the vandalism on their housing estates, particularly Halfpenny Lane, as a burning shame. Plans and shrubs had been pulled up or trodden down. Cr Williams said it was mostly done on Saturday and Sunday nights late at night by people walking home from Pontefract. Cr Evans said lads seem to have got out of hand these days. 
MARCH  The Leatham Park Estate Children's Fund were told the green would be sown with grass immediately the weather improved. The surveyor reported an early start on the water tower was promised by the contractors. All amenities in Purston Park would be available for public use on Sundays. 
  A rate of 22s in the £1 was levied for the forthcoming financial year. Cr Rowley moved the provisional gross rent of 19s 3d  on the two-bedroom houses on the Little Lane estate be further discussed. He only found one supporter. Cr Bingley said if some members attended all the meetings they would be more conversant with committee recommendations. 
APRIL  Featherstone Council asked Hemsworth Council if they would transfer land consisting of the parish of West Hardwick and parts of the parishes of other areas for housing land for Featherstone. The Featherstone clerk, Mr H Tattersall, said they wanted to move the centre of population as far as possible from the slag heaps where at present many families were living in slum conditions, some in back-to-back houses. After a meeting of representatives of the councils Hemsworth agreed in principle but said they wanted more details of the Featherstone proposals.
  The council said if Mr N Sawyer did not give an undertaking for privy conversions to be completed within six weeks the tender of Mr W F Wagner would be accepted. The surveyor was to carry out tests in an effort to eliminate condensation in the Arcon (pre-fab) bungalows. It was agreed 44 more dwellings would be built on the Ackton Lane Estate under the 1951 allocation. The clerk had written to the county council about the serious overcrowding of schools because of the closure of Purston C of E School. A reply was received saying plans were prepared for a new infants' school, but Ministry approval was necessary.
MAY  The election results were:
Purston Ward  Mary Lily Fox (Labour) 806  C B Roberts (Independent) 285
South Ward  J Harper (Labour) 321  G E Darnton (Independent) 94
North Ward  A Booth (Labour) unopposed
Ackton and Snydale Ward  A Evans (Labour) unopposed
  Mrs Fox, secretary of the women's branch of the Featherstone Local Labour Party, became the first woman councillor, and the Labour Party now had all 12 seats on the council. 
  The clock on the council offices was regularly affected by power cuts and often showed the wrong time, so the council decided to seek an alternative mechanism. Non-delivery of steel reinforcement was holding up work on the water tower. Cr Evans complimented the council staff on their work at Purston Park. He said it was the best show ever put on at Featherstone - at least since 1897.
  Cr T Morgan was elected chairman for the coming year. He mentioned the development scheme at Purston Park and the erection of the water tower in acknowledging his post. He hoped it would be a year of steady progress.
JUNE  There was a great deal of theft from the housing site in Little Lane and the contractor had to hire two watchmen. Notices would be erected on open spaces on the council's housing estates forbidding the playing of ball games. It was decided to proceed with the adaptation of Purston Hall as a civic centre.
AUGUST  The July meeting was delayed until August. There was an outbreak of mosquitoes at Ackton, Snydale and Loscoe and an investigation was under way for stagnant water. Tenders were accepted for 44 houses and bungalows at North Featherstone. There was damage to some houses on the Leatham Park Estate because of mining subsidence.  The NCB said it would not be expedient to undertake repairs until settlement was completed, but there was no danger to the occupants.  A ceremony would be arranged to mark the handing over to the council of its 1,000th house.
  A house in Alexander Crescent had been found in a verminous condition. It was resolved to inspect all council houses for vermin, to publish the addresses of all verminous houses, and to serve notices on the tenants to quit. The chute in Purston Park would be amended after the number of accidents on it.
OCTOBER  Mr L B Smith from National Savings asked for help in the forthcoming campaign "Lend help to Britain". He said Featherstone saved about £14,000 last year, and had 61 savings groups in social organisations, streets, schools and employment. 
  There was vandalism on housing estates, and the headmaster of South Featherstone Secondary Modern School would be asked to take it up with the children. The allocation of houses for 1952 was 40. It was agreed to use 36 for an extension to the Ackton Lane Estate, and the remaining four for private building.
  The council was considering a plan for one bedroom bungalows to be built on land owned by the NCB at Cressey's Corner.
  The bonfire and fireworks to be held in Purston Park for Bonfire Day was cancelled because it was not possible to arrange with fireworks manufacturers for a display.
NOVEMBER  The council were to seek detailed information from the West Riding Automobile Company about local fares and stages because some fares appeared to have increased by 200%, conductors were inconsistent in defining stages, and some inspectors disagreed where the various stages were.
  It was reported the 1951 Census resulted in a population for the urban district of 13,926.
DECEMBER  The council were to consider the provision of baths (probably means bathrooms) and electricity in houses on the 1914 scheme. If there were no more delays, the water tower at North Featherstone should be completed next April.
 
THE AMDRAMS
    The Show selected for this year by the Featherstone and District Musical and Dramatic Society was Viktoria and her Hussar. Mr C Higgs took over as musical director from Mr C Chilton. It was held at the Miners' Welfare Institute in March.
   The Express commented "As a light musical comedy it has all the ingredients for an amateur production - lilting melodies, a romantic story, and plenty of comedy, with opportunities for clever dancing and good chorus work. The final performance on Saturday was one of the most successful in the society's history, for both company and audience were in the gala mood".
  The next Wednesday, again in the Welfare, about 100 members of the society had dinner. The producer, Mr G Evans, described the production as the happiest in the history of the society so far. 
  In July in was announced the profit from the show would be about £70, and it would be shared between Featherstone's St John Ambulance Brigade and the Miners' Welfare Institute. The show selected for next year was Rose Marie.
  In October a dance was arranged at the Welfare to present cheques of £37 10s each to the two societies. They were accepted by Mr R Widdowson and Mr E Fearnside respectively. It was announced the society would present a pantomime before Christmas.   
  Their next year's production was being performed at Brighouse so a trip was arranged to give the members of the cast a chance to become familiar with their parts.  
  The pantomime Red Riding Hood was put on at the Welfare Hall the week before Christmas. The Express said it got off to a slow start but by the last performance some people had to be turned away. 
 
 THE CHORAL SOCIETY
    The Express said it was considered the most satisfying concert of recent years.
 
POACHERS EXPENSIVE DAY OUT
  Three Featherstone men, Roland Sutton, Harry Stirling and Harold Hawkins, were in a car which was stopped on the Escrick to Howden Road with two guns, a cock pheasant and a ferret in a sack. In court they claimed they were out to catch rabbits and shooting the pheasant was a mistake because they thought it was a rabbit in the grass.
  They were fined £5 each for poaching, £5 each for killing game on the Sabbath, and £1 each for killing game during the close season. Roland Sutton was also fined £10 for not having a gun licence. He said he bought the gun from a newspaper advertisement and the need for a licence slipped his mind. Both guns were confiscated.

PURSTON PARK
  The scheme for the development of Purston Park was opened in May. There was a procession which started at the Bradley Arms headed by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band and followed by the Carnival Queen, Pat Wilson, and her court, the members and officials of the council, and the competition entrants. The photos below, from the internet, show Pat Wilson and her attendants. 

    When it reached the park Cr J Harper said he thought the spirit of carnival should prevail at least once a year, and Featherstone should throw off its air of despondency by opening its arms to the sun. He introduced Cr A Evans to perform the opening ceremony.
  Cr Evans said they had dreamed of developing the park when they acquired it and the hall in 1930. He complimented all concerned in the scheme for their skill, patience and perseverance, particularly the clerk (Mr H Tattersall), and said the park now catered for people of all ages.
   He said Featherstone people should be proud of it but we should co-operate against the great danger in our midst - the youth, who are doing tremendous damage all over the country. Young people in Featherstone were no better and no worse then those in other places, but they could do more damage in an hour than the park keeper and the council could remedy in a year. He asked residents to be unofficial park keepers, for the council did not want to ask for police assistance if possible. He declared the park open and the band played a fanfare.
  Dr Duncan described the day as a memorable one in the history of the town, and commended the Latin inscription over the new entrance Pro Salute Publica meaning for the health of the people. He ended "This is your park and mine. Don't let us have any bottle breakers, litter leavers, fire raisers or people like that playing the fool. Let us be so proud of our park that in 50 years it will be as green and fresh as it is today.
  There followed a fire fighting display, a talent spotting competition, folk dancing and choral singing by scholars of George Street Junior Mixed School. As darkness fell there was a fireworks display, and the hall was floodlit and the park was dotted with coloured fairy lights. 

THE ROVERS
  Arthur Wood, the Rovers hooker who played for England against Other Nationalities last season, was transferred to Leeds at a fee of £3,000 in May which was a record for the Rovers. The decision to move or not was left to Wood who was not on the transfer list.
  That transfer fee enabled the Rovers to sign Eric Batten, international right winger, from Bradford Northern as player-coach. Mr A Berry, the Rovers' chairman, said he cost the club a little bit more than we wanted to pay, but we feel he is the very man for the job. 
  For the first time the annual meeting was held on unlicensed premises in June in the Welfare Hall and 300 members turned up. The Auditor, Mr E Holstead, said the accounts showed a very satisfactory state of affairs. It was nice to see the club with a credit balance for once thanks chiefly to the fee received from Leeds for the signature of Arthur Wood.
  The secretary, Mr F Mountain, commenting on the increased support last season, said it was mainly due to organised bus parties from Pontefract, Knottingley and Ackworth. The season brought Walter Tennant's career to a close, and he expressed the warm thanks of the club.
   Mr J C Caulfield of Pontefract asked why the required 21 days' notice of the meeting had not been given, why two members' meetings had not been held, as agreed at the last annual meeting, and why no ballot box for voting for members of the committee had been placed in Pontefract.
  Mr Mountain replied delay had been experienced in booking the Welfare Hall; only 15 people attended the first members' meeting; and only 23 people voted at Pontefract in the ballot box provided last year. 
  Mr A Bullock was re-elected unopposed as president, and the three successful candidates for the committee were Messrs E Fearnside, E Winter and F G Smith.
  At the first meeting of the new committee the resignation of Mr Mountain was accepted, and Mr Berry was appointed as secretary in an honorary capacity. Mr R H Jackson was elected to succeed Mr Barry as chairman.
  Letters were sent to the Express questioning the legality of the meeting because the required notice was not given, and one said "With only one-third of the committee elected by the members, this is already the most undemocratic club in the game, and the need for freedom of expression at the annual meeting is obvious".
  There was a dance at the Miners' Welfare Hall at the end of August held by the Green Lane WMC branch of the Featherstone Rovers' Joint Supporters' Club to choose Featherstone's Rugby Queen. About 450 people turned up to see Jean Bowen selected. 
  There was a break in at the ground in September after the cup-tie against Bradford Northern. Damage was done to the committee room, two refreshment rooms and a supporters' hut, but nothing was stolen. It was thought the intruders were after the gate receipts of £440, but these were in a safe in another room. 
  A small fire broke out on the stand in the match against Bramley in September. It was quickly extinguished. Warning notices were put up asking patrons not to throw away lighted cigarette ends.
  The traditional Boxing Day dance was held in the Lister Hall. Many players were among the crowd of about 400 dancers.
 
OLD FEATHERSTONE TREAT
  The Old Featherstone and Ackton Children's and Old Folk's Treat was held in July. The procession was headed by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band and the Airedale Boys' Brigade Band. The festival queen was Janet Hull. It included three tableaux, fancy dress competitors and comic bands from Wakefield and Woodlesford. As well as touring the district, the procession passed through the grounds of Ackton Hospital and entertained the patients.
  Tea was provided for 150 children and old people and was followed by a variety programme. The following day there was a concert by the collieries band, and on the Monday the children's sports were held. 

THE MEDICAL REPORT
  The medical officer, Dr J F Fraser gave his report for 1950 in August. He said there were no cases of death from diphtheria or maternity in 1950, but there were 28 cases of scarlet fever, 197 of whooping cough, 22 of measles, and one of infantile paralysis. 
  The growth of the home nursing service since the appointment of two nurses in 1949 was spectacular. They had made 7,415 visits. Since the war ended 412 houses had been completed but there was still a waiting list of 751.
  The sanitary inspector, Mr J Hilsley, reported 47 privy closets were converted to WC's during the year, but there were still 141 remaining. A large number of rats were killed. Only four houses and eight bungalows were built for the council, and two by private enterprise.
 
PAT WILSON IN BLACKPOOL
  Pat Wilson of Wentbridge Road was signed for a summer season with the Tiller Girls at Blackpool's North Pier. Another girl was Wendy Clarke, a Lancashire Lass. This photo from the internet shows Pat second left, and Wendy at the other end.
 
 
Bert Hardy, a photographer with the magazine Picture Post was assigned to go to Blackpool and take some photos with an ordinary popular camera instead of his expensive Leica. He picked out Pat and Wendy and took some photos on the beach and promenade. This was one that was published in the magazine.

  LEATHAM PARK ESTATE CARNIVAL
  The Leatham Park Estate Children's Fund held their annual carnival in August. The procession, headed by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band, included the carnival queen, Pat Cooper, and her attendants, the St John Ambulance Brigade, and the competitions entrants. It toured the estate and then went along Pontefract Road, Ackworth Road and Wentbridge Road, returning for the crowning of the queen.
  The queen should have been crowned by last year's queen, Maureen Harvey, but she died from a stroke on 27 July. The duty was performed by the Mayoress of Pontefract, Mrs G Wright JP. The chairman of the proceedings, Mr H Reynolds, made a sympathetic reference to the tragedy, a silence was observed and the band played a hymn.
  There was a comprehensive sports programme and 450 children were provided with a tea, sweets and ice cream. Floodlights were turned on in the evening for dancing.
  Prior to the carnival the pensioners on the estate were entertained to a tea and concert at The Travellers' Hotel.

BECK TO T'STATION CHILDREN
  The Beck to t'Station Children's Treat Fund was formed last year and raised over £300 which was spent on an outing to Cleethorpes in August for 750 children accompanied by as many adults. It was said to be the biggest trip in Featherstone's history.
  The day began with a procession of the trippers from the beck in Featherstone Lane to the railway station, headed by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band. Crowds lined the streets to watch the mammoth procession pass by. Two special trains carried the trippers, and each child received half-a-crown, a packet of crisps, sweets, fruit and a bottle of pop. No one was lost, and no one was ill in spite of the goodies.
  At a meeting in the Featherstone Hotel in September it was decided next year's trip would be to Redcar. It was said the funds were entirely from voluntary efforts, and the trip to Cleethorpes cost £750.
 
1,000 COUNCIL HOUSES
   A ceremony was held for the formal opening of the 1,000th council house. It was a semi-detached three bedroom house in Manor Drive, North Featherstone. The tenant was Mr M Winter who would live in it with his nephew and family.
  Cr Bingley said Featherstone had reason to be proud of its record, but the task was not finished, and no effort would be spared to continue the good work. "Our object is a new house and modern facilities for everyone".
  The sanitary inspector, Mr J Hilsley, spoke of the misery caused by want of accommodation. He said there were still up to 400 people in Featherstone living in lodgings, as well as 400 applicants living in unsuitable conditions or in houses very much below standard.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
  For the first time since 1945 the Remembrance Day parade was to Purston Church instead of a service at the War Memorial. The procession assembled at Cressey's Corner and was led by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band. It included the British Legion, Police and Special Constables, the RAOB, St John Ambulance Brigade, Girl Guides, Scouts and Cubs, and many more. The Last Post and Reveille were sounded by Territorial Sergeant Bearns, and after the service wreaths were laid on the War Memorial.
  Afterwards, the vicar Revd I O Jay conducted a short service at the War Memorial in Ackton Hall Colliery pit yard. Wreaths were placed by the NUM, the office staff and the British Legion.
 
1951 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY  The final plans for a new church hall were approved at a meeting of the Purston Church Council. The building at a cost of about £2,300, would include a main hall with a seating capacity of about 200, a committee room and a kitchen. It would be built in brick alongside the church.  
 
FEBRUARY  The Parochial Council for Purston Church said the cost for their new hall did not include furnishing, and they appealed for gifts of furniture or funds to buy it.

  There were some doubts about the Leatham Park Children's Treat fund after last year's gala, but the Valentine dance held in the Lister Hall raised £30. It was attended by the Gala Queen Maureen Harvey and her attendants.

  The Green Lane Club held a function for members over 65. Out of 206 on the books 160 turned up to be served with a substantial tea, a gift of 10s, and a concert. Those who could not attend would receive their gift later.

MARCH  The Featherstone Road Safety Committee expressed concern at the speed of traffic between South Featherstone Modern School and the Travellers' Hotel. PC Hutchinson said they would keep a watch. His accident report revealed that a third of road accidents occurred as people got on or off buses.
  One week later a lorry travelling down the hill past the school shed three bales of wool, presumably by going too fast, on the bend near the school entrance.

  Bruce Woodcock, one-time British, Empire and European boxing champion, paid a visit to the Miners' Welfare to see the boxers of the club there in training.

  The Featherstone and Purston Forces' Comforts Fund appealed for names of local men serving in Korea and Malaya. They received 13 and each was given £3. This virtually closed the fund, which since the start of the last war had distributed thousands of pounds.

  The Leeds Regional Hospital Board decided Ackton Hospital would not be used for treating infectious diseases after 1 April, and future patients would go to Burtonwood Hospital, Brierley. The hospital would then be used for treating general medical, obstetric and gynaecological cases.

  Purston Park's new lake with boats was now open. About 1,000 people queued for them over the Easter holidays.

APRIL  Harold Copley age 33 of The Bungalows, Purston, was killed at Snydale Colliery when he was crushed by the cage in the pit bottom.

  The Old Age Pensioners' Association had held their meetings in the Social Service Centre without charge. Now the former Catholic Church behind the centre had been renovated by the generosity of the centre (who owned it) and Mr E P Bullock, the centre president, and furnished with gifts of furniture and chairs to provide a new headquarters for the pensioners. 

MAY  The work on clearing the site for the Purston Parish Church Hall began. The Church Council had spent more than £150 on chairs and appealed for money to buy other furnishings.

  Pat Wilson of Wentbridge Road was chosen by the council to be the carnival queen. She had taken dancing lessons since she was four years old and had just finished a pantomime season in Leeds. She was booked to go to Blackpool North Pier as a Tiller Girl.

  A civic service to mark the opening of the Festival of Britain was held at Featherstone Parish Church. The congregation included the council and its officials, Police, British Legion and other organisations.

  The new headquarters for the Old Age Pensioners' Association was opened my Mr E P Bullock. About 120 people were entertained to tea. Mr J Gray from the pensioners' Leeds Area Council, said everybody considers everybody until the everybody becomes 65, and at that age a person has served his purpose. He referred to a scrap heap for pensioners, but said the Old Age Pensioners' Association had grown so rapidly the Government was now acceding to the requests of pensioners.

  A reception was held at Wordworth's Cafe in Pontefract for Mr C Faulkner of Willow Lane, North Featherstone, who had retired from Ackton Hall Colliery. He was cashier there for 16 years before nationalisation and was then appointed office manager. About 80 people were present to see him presented with two canteens of cutlery, and a bouquet to his wife. Entertainment was provided by Herbert Stacey, Jack Windmill, Harold Harris and Ken Watson.

  Pat Cooper was chosen as queen for the Leatham Park Estate Children's Fund from a large number of entrants at a meeting in South Featherstone Modern School.

JUNE  After 46 bids the Old Mill on Wakefield Road together with the original small Mill Pond and some land were sold to Mr C G Roberts of Purston for £820. The ten houses known as Mill Cottages were bought by Mr H Sheard of Pontefract for £2,000.

  The Miners' Demonstration was held at Pontefract. The Ackton Hall Colliery branch of the NUM took their new banner.

  A large nameplate panel made of glass compound over the window of Mr J Burgoyne's shop on Wakefield Road fell off and shattered on the pavement. No one was injured.

JULY  The Wellgreen Carnival queen was Jean Cousins who was crowned by least year's queen, Miss J Westerman.

  Woodbury, the home of Mr E P Bullock, was a regular venue for events in aid of Wakefield Road Methodist Church and charities. At the latest, 2,700 halfpennies collected by Mrs Wilford were handed over for the funds of the church.

  Thomas Colley left Featherstone 40 years ago at the age of 17 for the United States. He came back 40 years later on a visit as the Revd Colley. He conducted the service at Purston Methodist Church and addressed the Women's Guild. He was now the district superintendent of Meadville, Pennsylvania.

AUGUST  Mr M T Leech of Wentbridge Road, Purston, won a photographic competition run jointly by four organisations at Scarborough. The prize was a week's holiday for him and a companion, free admission to every entertainment, and free cigarettes and papers.

  A lightning strike caused the electricity to be cut off for nearly 24 hours.

  The building of Purston Parish Hall was up to roof level but the difficulty of obtaining steel trusses was delaying progress. It was decided the entrance would be via Victoria Street rather than through the churchyard as originally intended because of the difficulty of levels and lighting.

SEPTEMBER  The Wakefield Road Methodist Church was reopened after being closed for three months for renovations. The door of the church was opened by Mrs G Malpass, one of the oldest members, and she led the congregation into the church for a dedication service. Afterwards over 100 people sat down to tea in the school. 

  The Salvation Army held a "late shift" evangelical campaign which included open air services outside the Central Working Men's Club consisting of hymns and a film entitled The Prodigal Son shown on a large screen from a mobile film unit. The film was shown at nearly every street, and at the Salvation Army Hall "late shift" meetings were held until the early hours of the morning.

OCTOBER  The Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band won a competition at Cleckheaton arranged by the West Riding Brass Band Association.
 
  A horse belonging to Mr T D Hough of Day's Farm, North Featherstone, was struck by a bus on the Featherstone side of the crossroads and it died of its injuries. It was thought the horse had strayed from a nearby field. There were no injuries to those on the bus.
 
  In the general election George Sylvester (Labour) beat Miss L M Pike (Conservative-National Liberal) by 35,280 votes to 11,183 to win the Pontefract seat which included Featherstone.

NOVEMBER  The West Riding Education Committee said it intended to provide in the 1951-52 programme a new infants' school at Purston to accommodate 120 children age five to seven.

DECEMBER  The British Legion reported the Poppy Day collection realised a record £181 6s 8d. They were to put on a Christmas party for the children of members.

  The shop window of Mr J Townsend's jewellery shop was broken in the night and 12 wrist watches and three silver cigarette cases were stolen valued at £40.

    Twenty local servicemen serving outside Europe were to receive £3 each from the Purston Special Constables Ex-Servicemen's Comforts Fund. The fund was opened in the first year of the war, and about £4,000 had been distributed so far. The men serving in Korea had received £100 this year.

  The cricket club held their usual New Year's Eve dance in the Lister Hall. Toby Mason was Old Father Time, and Diane Newton was the New Year fairy. A company of about 450 enjoyed the proceedings.