1952

 

A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE 
 
 1952
 
THE COUNCIL
 JANUARY  Residents on the Leatham Park Estate complained the work needed after mining subsidence had not been done by the National Coal Board. The Council agreed to pursue the matter.
FEBRUARY  Following the death of King George VI, the proclamation of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II was read from the steps of the council offices by the chairman Cr T Morgan, and was followed by the playing of the national anthem. 
  All tenants of post-war council houses would be informed they could not keep fowls, rabbits or rodents about the premises. Emergency repairs to property on the Leatham Estate by the NCB had been carried out. The Council was concerned about children using the All Saints' churchyard as a playground, and asked parents to help the Council to put a stop to it.
MARCH  The Council decided to have an annual carnival day to be held in June. The Clerk of the Peace would be told of the urgent need for more Justices because of difficulties caused in the signing of documents. There was only one in the whole of the urban area.
APRIL  A method was adopted for the letting of council house by which 60% would be let from a points system, 30% would be reserved for emergency cases, and 10% for newly-married couples who did not qualify under the points system.
  The attention of the police would be drawn to complaints about the night parking of vehicles in the streets throughout the district.
MAY  The Council received a letter from the police about the increasing number of cases of lead stealing. It was agreed to keep a register of old metal dealers and marine store dealers.
  At the annual meeting Cr W Griffiths was elected chairman, and Cr Bessie Major was welcomed to the Council.
JUNE  Miss Kathleen Gilbert age 20 of Albert Street was chosen to be queen for the forthcoming Gala.
JULY  The Council granted rent relief to a tenant whose house was affected by mining subsidence, and asked for a report on another house in Little Lane. Featherstone joined other councils from Castleford, Pontefract, Hemsworth and Knottingley to form an Osgoldcross Joint Cremation Board.
SEPTEMBER  Plans for 20 old people's dwellings at Cressey's corner were approved. The NCB were told the Council would not agree to them building houses on sites earmarked for council houses, and suggested a site in Girnhill Lane. 
OCTOBER  The Council was concerned about damage to shrubs and trees on the Ackton Lane Estate and said proceedings would be taken against future offenders. It was agreed to buy 100 rose trees for the park and prepare plans to convert Purston Hall into a civic centre. Council tenants were told they must pay an insurance premium to the Council if they erected a television aerial.
  All the council house rents would be increased except the 1914 estate which was protected by the Rent Restriction Act. Cr Harper said the post war houses had never been let at an economic rent.
NOVEMBER  It was said if equipment was delivered as promised the new water tower should be in operation by the end of the month. Flashing beacons were to be put at the pedestrian crossing at Purston School.
DECEMBER  The Council approved a plan to use Purston Hall as a civic centre. Consent was to be given to the NCB to use land off Girnhill Lane for 174 houses for miners.

THE CRICKET CLUB
  The annual dinner of the Featherstone and Purston Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Club was held at the Junction Hotel in January. A presentation was made to Mr H (Toby) Mason who was groundsman from 1922 to 1950. He received an inscribed walnut clock from the president, Mr A E England.
  Mr Arthur Booth, the former Featherstone and Yorkshire cricketer, proposed the toast for the club. He felt the low position of the club in the league table was due to lack of practice, but he praised the women's committee who helped the club financially.
    Mr England acknowledged the work of the women's committee and said they had plans for a new tearoom which would be a costly item.
  Dr J Duncan once again proposed the toast for the town. He said the muckstacks were still Featherstone's most characteristic feature, and he welcomed the new look Purston Park, more new houses (making the total since the war into 400) and the pithead baths at Snydale Colliery. In his 26 years in Featherstone it had lost dreadful houses, dreadful streets, not all of which had gone, and an atmosphere polluted with sulphur.
  The chairman of the Council, Cr T Morgan, said the local organisations (rugby league and cricket?) had to struggle to exist, but it was amazing how they kept going. Featherstone Council with housing its biggest headache, was proud to have let its 1,000th house recently.

TWO PUB DISPUTES
  There was trouble at two pubs which led to four men being up before the Pontefract magistrates at the same sitting in January. The first confrontation was at the Bradley Arms between Jack Brown of North Featherstone and Lewis Griffiths of Wakefield. Griffiths was assisting the licensee, a relative, and Brown accidentally knocked a bottle from a tray which Griffiths was carrying.
  The two went into the yard, presumably for a fight but were restrained. A little later they went outside again where Brown was alleged to have removed his coat and struck Griffiths several times. Griffiths was taken into the hotel where a doctor saw him and then sent him to hospital.
  Griffiths told the Bench he had 12 stitches in his top lip, two in his bottom lip and one on his head. He said he never attempted to defend himself. Brown maintained Griffiths had a grievance against him because of the drink being knocked over. He said Griffiths struck at him but did not connect. He felt several of his blows connect, and when Griffiths fell to the ground and continued struggling he hit him twice again.
   Mr A R Collen, representing Brown, said it was one of those occasions when people decided to settle their differences by blows. He suggested Griffiths was the man who had asked for the trouble. The magistrates agreed and dismissed the charge of causing grievous bodily harm against Brown.
 
  The second set to was between George Copland of Featherstone and Thomas Jones of Purston in the Junction Hotel. An argument arose between Jones and James Copland, George's brother. They were told by the licensee to go out. They continued arguing outside and it ended in a fight which was described as the two throwing their arms about and not hitting anything.  
  While Jones was sitting on the ground, George came up and hit him several blows in the face and he lost consciousness. Jones later attended Pontefract General Infirmary and St James's Hospital, Leeds. It was found he had two fractures of the jaw, a fracture of the nose, and because of the condition of his jaw, all his bottom teeth would have to be removed.
   When seen by the police Copland said he was sorry, he did not know it was as bad as that, and he wished it had not happened. The Bench said it took a serious view of what appeared to be a readiness to fight, and hoped it would be a lesson to him to keep a curb on his fists. They fines George Copland £5 plus costs. 
 
PURSTON CHURCH HALL
  Members of Purston Parish Church were congratulated in February by the Bishop of Wakefield on their courage and enthusiasm in building a church hall in such difficult times, and thanked for the encouragement their example would provide.
  The new hall, built at a cost of £2,500 alongside the Parish Church, provided seating for about 200 people, but many more were present at the opening and dedication ceremonies by the bishop.
  The bishop recalled it was his fourth visit to Purston and said without a hall of some kind, true parish life was impossible, and he was glad to see the hall so near the church.
  The  Express described the building as light and airy, consisting of a main hall, a committee room, a well equipped kitchen, and cloak and toilet rooms. A loan from the Diocese of £1,000 would be repaid over seven years. The photo shows the bishop and the vicar, Revd I O Jay, having a chat with Miss J S Alexander MBE, a long standing member of the church and Sunday School teacher. A Wakefield Libraries photo.
 
THE ROVERS 
 Mr A H Greaves, the financial secretary, appealed to the ten branches of the supporters' clubs for urgent financial help at a meeting held in the Miners' Welfare in February. He said the position was worsened because seven of the remaining ten league fixtures were away games.
  Mr A Berry, the secretary, said this was because of the admission of Workington AFC to the football league (they used the same ground as Workington Town) which caused last minute alterations to the fixture list.
  The Rovers beat Rochdale Hornets and Batley to get into the third round draw for the Rugby League Cup for the first time since 1925. The draw gave them a third round home game against Wigan, and the committee had the problem of getting a quart into a pint pot. It was decided to make the game all ticket and no person would be allowed to buy more than two tickets.
  The supporters worked many hours to improve the banking and terracing. Six foot concrete slabs were used for terracing, and 76 were laid in one day. They planned to work right up to the time of the match. Their efforts resulted in the ground capacity for the game being fixed at 16,000. The club was trying to get in touch with the 13 players who faced Wigan in 1924.
  In the event, 14,344 turned up, a record Post Office Road attendance. Wigan were beaten 14-11, and the Rovers were in the semi-final for the first time. The cartoon below is from the Express, and the past and present players photo is from the Dr Gatecliff Collection.

 
   
The Rovers sold 8,915 tickets for the semi-final against Leigh at Headingley, and rewarded their supporters by winning 6-2 to gain a place in the final at Wembley. The attendance at Headingley was 34,000, by far the largest attendance for a Rovers game.
  The final was against Workington Town on 19 April. The team went to Westcliff on Sea in Essex on the Tuesday before the game. From the early hours on the day of the match Station Lane was busy with people making their way to the station for the special trains to London.
  It was the first final to be televised, and those who stayed at home crowded into the houses of those fortunate enough to have a television. Fifty people saw the match at the Junction Hotel, and 600 old people watched it on 40 sets in the Miners' Welfare Hall.
   In the end 72,093 spectators saw the Rovers lose 18-10. The Rovers player coach Eric Batten said "We cannot win every time, and I think we were beaten by a better team, but we made them fight". The team was: Freddie Miller; Eric Batten, Don Metcalfe, Alan Tennant, Norman Mitchell; Ray Cording, Ray Evans; Ken Welburn, Bill Bradshaw, John Daly, Fred Hulme, Laurie Gant, Cliff Lambert.
  When they arrived home the team transferred to a single deck bus with a specially constructed platform on the roof. At Houndhill Lane they were met by Yorkshire's Rugby League Queen Jean Bowen and Featherstone's Carnival Queen Pat Wilson. They were led to Post Office Road by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band, which because of the crowds took 35 minutes.
  On the stand, the chairman of the Council, Cr T Morgan, welcomed the team home. Eric Batten responded for the players. He acknowledged the wonderful reception and made no excuses for the defeat and claimed the team were not disgraced. The party then went to the Lister Hall for an official reception by the Council of over 160 people. The hall was decorated with the Rovers blue and white colours. Mr R H Jackson, the club chairman, regretted the absence of the president, Mr A Bullock. He said "To be ill at this time must have been the great disappointment of his life". He thought Wembley was a great ordeal for the many young players in the team, but the Rugby League secretary, Mr W Fallowfield, had congratulated the club on playing its full part in a grand final. The photo of the programme is personal and the crowd in Station Lane was uploaded to Featherstone Bygone Days by Tracy Sharp..

 
 
   In June Mr A Berry resigned as secretary and he was replaced by Mr G L Collier of Featherstone Lane who was chosen from 28 applicants. Mr F Bell of Ivy Street replaced Mr W Randall as full-time groundsman.
  The season's accounts showed a loss on the season of £743 despite a rise of over £4,000 in gate receipts. This was offset by an increase in signing on fees of £2,500 and £2,000 in players' wages and expenses.
  The annual get together at the Junction Hotel where the players entertained the committee was held in June. Mr W Williams made the arrangements for the 20th year in succession. He congratulated the team on their magnificent performance at Wembley and said the young blood introduced to the team had worked wonders. As young players came on, older ones had to hang up their boots, and he urged them to do so gracefully.
   Mr E Fearnside presented a testimonial cheque for £216 each to Jack Blackburn and Jimmy Russell who had now retired, and praised their loyal service since 1939.
  The annual meeting was held at the Welfare in June. Mr E Holstead, the accountant, thought the balance sheet would appear to some people to be an anticlimax after the magnificent effort of the team in reaching Wembley. He said "I found from the accounts, however, that getting to Wembley is an expensive business. But the success of the club last season cannot be measured in cold figures, and it is to be hoped its vastly improved playing record receives financial reward next season".
  Mr J Caulfield of Pontefract described the balance sheet as most appalling, and asked whether the large party which went to Wembley was justified in view of the club's precarious financial position.
  The chairman, Mr R H Jackson, thought the nine members of the committee who accompanied the players were justified in going, and the players appreciated their presence. He stressed insufficient receipts from league games was the primary cause of the present financial position.
  The voting for the committee resulted in Dr M B Garnett, John Jepson and Tommy Woodcock being elected. Mr A Haigh lost his seat.
  The appearance in the cup final earned the Rovers a game against the Australian tourists in October which they lost 15-50. Persistent rain kept the attendance down to 3,800. The Australians were entertained to dinner at the Junction Hotel after the game.
 
 LEATHAM PARK CHILDREN'S FUND CLOSES 
  The committee of the Leatham Park Estate Children's Fund said in March lack of support from the estate residents was making things awkward. It was decided unless further support was forthcoming this year's effort would be the last.
  In April all the members of the working committee resigned. Mr W Eyre, the secretary, wrote to the Express thanking them for the interest shown in their efforts and said he was deeply sorry to see such a grand organisation come to a sorry end. It will ring down the  curtain as the show is ended.  
  Subscriptions for the present year by residents of the estate would be returned to them, and any surplus would be handed to charity or a hospital fund.

MR J E GRAHAM BEM
  Mr J R Graham of Halfpenny Lane was awarded the BEM in the Queen's Birthday Honours List published in June. He began work at Ackton Hall Colliery in 1917 and was foreman boilersmith since 1919. He was a member of the former Burial Board, and a special constable from 1936 to 1938 when he resigned to take charge of ARP work at the colliery. He was superintendent of the colliery's fire brigade for 20 years and a member of the council from 1946 to 1949, also chairman of the Featherstone savings committee.
  In sport he was chairman of the first Featherstone Rovers Supporters' Club from 1926 to 1929, and later chairman again and then a life member. He also served as chairman for the Featherstone and Purston Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Club, and for the former carnival committee.
 
THE GALA
  After last year's successful council gala it was decided to have an annual one. It was held in a heat wave in June which turned out to be too hot for some. The queen, Kathleen Gilbert rode in an open top car from the Bradley Arms with her attendants Norma Brooks and Lilian Taylor. She collapsed soon after arriving at the park, and the crowning ceremony had to be delayed until later and then she was taken home.
  A host of attractions kept the large crowd entertained throughout the day, and the evening illuminations and the fireworks which ended the gala provided a fine spectacle.
  There was more drama. Joshua Telford age 69 of Little Lane collapsed when leaving the park in the afternoon and had to be assisted home. It was found he had had a heart attack. William Walton age 35 of Leatham Park Road was walking home at the end of the gala when he collapsed. He was taken by ambulance to Pontefract General Infirmary but was dead on arrival. 

THE DISTRICT GALAS
  The 24th annual gala for Welgarth Road and The Green was held in July. The Carnival Queen, June Dodson, was crowned by the retiring queen, Jean Cousins, and then there was a procession down to Pontefract Road, round by the Junction Hotel and back to The Green. 
  There were 20 competitors for the fancy dress competition. The judges could not decide so all were given a prize. There were sports for the children, a tea for all under a marquee, and the event closed with dancing and fireworks.
 
  The Old Featherstone and Ackton Children's and Old Folk's Treat was also held in July, and was held over two days. On the Saturday there was a procession headed by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band, followed by the Queen, Miss F Matthewman, and a number of gaily decorated drays. It toured the district and ended in Messrs Copley's field where tea was served to about 300 children and 150 old people. 
  There were selections by the band and others by the Wakefield Comic Band, Mr F Brookes (ventriloquist and conjurer), a Punch and Judy show, a model aircraft exhibition, and many competitions. On the Monday there were sports for the children.
 
THE ANNUAL HEALTH REPORT
  Dr J P Fraser in his annual report, published in September, said the population was 13,840, and the number of inhabited houses was 3,903. There were 531 cases of measles, and immunisation against diphtheria was received by 186 children. The home nursing service was operated by two nurses and a relief nurse, and over 200 cases were treated and 7,806 visits made.
  In his report the sanitary inspector, Mr J Hilsley, said the new water tower was approaching completion and should provide adequate pressure to all parts of the district. More privies were converted leaving 126 still to be done.
  The demand for houses showed no signs of abating and there was a waiting list of 849. During the year 66 houses and bungalows were completed and six built by private enterprise. Houses built since 1946 totalled 484.
 
PEA PULLERS' PROBLEM
  John Joseph and Harold Baker traded as J Baker and Son and were in Castleford Court in November charged with using a motor lorry and carrying passengers whereby injury was likely to be caused. The lorry. driven by Bramwell Hill of Featherstone, was stopped by two policemen who told the court it was crowded with men, women and children who said they were pea pullers. The police said they were sat on the sides and tailboard. They counted them and there were 39.
  An insurance official told the court the company would have no hesitation in paying any claim if the lorry had been involved in an accident because they were satisfied the passengers were not being carried for hire or reward, but in accordance with a contract.
   Hill said when he left Baker's place of business all the passengers were sat on the floor of the lorry, and in that position would have been perfectly safe. Arthur Copley, a North Featherstone farmer, said he had a contract with Baker's to carry scales, pea bags and pea pullers. At times there was difficulty with the pea pullers as some would not wait for a second lorry to take them.
  The magistrates said because of the insurance company's cover note the three defendants would not be disqualified, but they were fined for other technical offences.
 
 CHRISTMAS DANCES
   Featherstone Rovers had their usual Boxing Day dance in the Lister Hall. The Express said it was well attended but did not give the number. The Cricket Club followed with their customary New Year's Eve dance. In the presence of over 500 people the Three Sunbeams appeared on the stage at midnight, and the five year old daughter of Mr W S Newton, the club treasurer, was Miss 1953. The singing of Auld Land Syne was led by Mr H Mason.
  A series of dances over the Christmas and new year period were arranged by Norman Longbottom.

1952 NEWS ITEMS
 JANUARY  Featherstone and Pontefract firemen made their sixth call out to a fire in the false roofs of prefabs in Leatham Crescent. They were caused by sparks from the chimney dropping onto dried grass in the roof. The grass was from birds building their nests and there was a fault design of the roof apex which allowed dropped grass to accumulate. Council workmen were fixing aluminium sheeting under the ridge to prevent further occurrences.
 
  A committee was formed in 1950 to help the Cresswell Colliery Disaster Fund. Members were the Miners' Welfare, the Rovers, the cricket club, and the working men's clubs. They held a meeting in the North Featherstone Lane WMC and decided to change the name to the Ackton Hospital Television Fund, the first objective being to provide a television for the men's ward.
 
FEBRUARY  Mr J C Avery of Highfield Foods Ltd appeared on the programme What's My Line on the television. His job of making noodles didn't fool the panel.

  A concert was held in the Hippodrome in aid of the Ackton Hospital Television Fund and raised about £45. This raised the total so far to £83, and a television set had already been installed at the hospital.

 MARCH  The Featherstone and District Musical and Dramatic Society put on their latest offering Rose Marie at the Miners' Welfare Hall. The Express revue was slightly critical and said at the opening performance it needed a little more polish and assurance at times, but the first-night nerves soon disappeared.

APRIL  At Leeds Town Hall Jean Bowen, the Rovers' Rugby Queen, was selected as the Rugby League Queen for Yorkshire.

  Featherstone Fire Brigade was called to a snap cabin in the locomotive shed at Featherstone Main Colliery. In spite of their efforts it was completely burnt out. 

MAY  Ackton Hall Colliery produced a record weekly amount of coal since nationalisation of 13,156 tons.

JUNE The county education authority wanted to use Purston Church Hall as additional accommodation for Purston School and their land agent offered £100 a year rent. The church council said it wasn't enough and suggested £150, but the land agent considered that unreasonable.

JULY  The committee of the Ackton Hospital Television Fund met and decided to change the name to the Featherstone and District Comforts Fund. Mr R H Jackson was thanked for installing and providing the aerial for the second set for Ackton Hospital. The fund's next effort would be to provide Christmas gifts for the patients in Ackton Hospital. 

AUGUST  A meeting was held in Ackton Hall Colliery offices to discuss the change from local miners' welfare committees to the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation. The cricket club and the Rovers were represented plus intermediate football clubs, but later the Rovers said they could not be involved because they were a professional organisation.

  A concert was held in Ackton Hospital for the presentation of the second television set. Each had cost £86, but so successful was the new comforts fund that £260 had been collected so far.

OCTOBER  The annual meeting of the British Legion was held at the Featherstone Hotel. It was agreed to increase the annual subscription from 2s 6d to 3s because their credit balance had dropped to £100. As a result of a membership drive a record figure of 440 was reported.

  Nurse E Leach of Featherstone Lane was one of four West Riding nurses, among about 130 from the whole country, who were invited to the House of Commons to receive a long-service badge for 21 years' service in the Queen's Institute of District Nursing. The photo is from Aberdeen Archives on the internet.


NOVEMBER  There were two fires in one week. A platelayer's hut at Featherstone Main Colliery was destroyed, and a haystack at the sewage farm caught fire but two thirds of it were saved. Featherstone firemen were helped out by colleagues from Castleford at the first one and Pontefract at the other.

  Writing in the parish magazine, the Vicar of Purston, Revd I O Jay, said the total cost of the church hall was £3,029, of which £1,200 was a loan which had to be paid back in six years. Donations had not come up to expectations and he said the financial position was grave.

  In one week Ackton Hall Colliery produced a record output of 14,422 tons. This was achieved by working Saturday morning.

DECEMBER   Passers by including PC Smith noticed a fire in the engineering works of Birshall of Purston. They used fire extinguishers until firemen arrived from Featherstone and Pontefract. The damage was limited to a burnt wooden first floor.

  The Hospital Comforts Fund arranged entertainment for the patients and a dance for the staff at Christmas. The Featherstone and District Musical and Dramatic Society put on the pantomime Cinderella at the Miners' Welfare Hall.

  All Saints' Church was floodlit for the Christmas period, and the bells rang the old year out and the new year in. The photo is from the Dr Gatecliff collection.





1953

A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE 
 1953
 
 THE COUNCIL
JANUARY  The Council agreed to adapt Purston Hall as a civic centre at a cost of £13,450. Planning approval was given for a reinforced concrete stand on the Rovers ground. A scheme would be prepared for 12 bus shelters. Planning permission was given for a housing site in Girnhill Lane for the NCB.
FEBRUARY  A severe gale caused death, flooding and destruction on the east coast. The Council sent six dinghies from Purston Park by county fire service tenders, and the chairman, Cr W Griffiths said the urgent need is for relief, and I know it will be the wish of residents of Featherstone to play a full part. I am therefore opening a local fund to which I now invite donations. 
  Traffic lights were recommended for the bottom of Station Lane, but the County Council suggested deferring the matter pending the development of the Girnhill Lane housing site by the NCB.  
MARCH  The Council was at odds with the Express over what they considered was wrongful reporting of recommendations by committees which had not been confirmed by the Council. They said such recommendations would be withheld because the Express refused to give a written assurance "regarding resolutions of a confidential nature publication of which might operate to the detriment of the ratepayers in general".
  The Express replied the written assurance asked for represented a serious restriction of the legal rights afforded to the Press, and suggested the reports of the Council meetings might not be allocated the same space in the newspaper.
APRIL  For the third time in five years there was no contest in the Council elections. The retiring members were John Parker, Henry Woodcock, Harold Darbyshire and Willie Bingley.
MAY It was reported the baths superintendent, Mr J Black, and his wife had tendered their resignations and then submitted a request to be allowed to withdraw them. The Council agreed to the withdrawal of the notices and said increased wages would be considered when an application was received. 
  The East Coast Flood Relief Fund closed at £249 16s 1d, and the King George VI Memorial Fund at £24 2s 1d. The Coronation Fund has reached £287 4s 6d.
  The annual meeting elected Cr J Parker as chairman. He was concerned the head of Featherstone Council, when meeting his local counterparts at various functions, did not have a chain of office. He said Featherstone had produced no less than 100 million tons of coal, and he hoped the former coal owners would follow the lead of Mr A Bullock (who had give £1,000 for a new stand on the Rovers ground), and do something about it.
  The clerk, Mr H Tattersall, said a chain of office could not be bought from public funds. Cr W Griffiths suggested the matter might be considered again when the coast is clear (ie when the present fund raising was ended). 
JUNE  The chairman said Featherstone had been widely complimented on its postponed Coronation programme, and he thanked the council officials for their work. He also hoped during his year of office they would be able to work amicably with the Press.
SEPTEMBER  The Council noted the receipt by the Coal Industry Housing Association of tenders amounting to £228,724 for 174 houses in Girnhill Lane. Also that an order constituting a Joint Cremation Board would operate from 1 April 1954.
OCTOBER  It was decided to suspend the points system for allocating council houses and to give absolute priority to tenants of properties to be demolished. A public inquiry would be held into the Council's application to borrow £17,028 to adapt Purston Hall into a civic centre.
NOVEMBER   An offer of £5 5s per Saturday evening for old-time dancing at the Lister Hall from Mr N Longbottom was accepted. The profits would be shared by the St John Ambulance Brigade and the British Legion. It was considered the safety of the floor was in question for modern dances. 
DECEMBER  The Ministry of Housing told the Council because of the number of houses under construction, and the number approved but not yet begun, no more tenders for traditional houses should be submitted for 1954, but 50 more non-tradition houses (flats) would be considered reasonable. It was decided to explain to Mrs Darlison (the house builder) non-completion of houses is injuring the future programme, and the work must be speeded up. 

THE WATER TOWER
   After many years in the planning the new water tower at North Featherstone was declared open in January by Cr W Griffiths, the chairman of the council. He said the project was first discussed in 1946, but shortages had made it a long drawn out job. He was certain the tower would make a vast difference in the Purston Area, and nowhere would there be any more water problems.
  Cr Rowley said the project was one needed for a long time, and the need had been emphasised by housing development. Reports received after the test indicated a tremendous increase in water pressure in the Purston Area, and it would now be possible to provide an adequate water supply to existing houses and those planned.
  The Express reported the capacity of the tower was 100,000 gallons and it could deliver 35,000 gallons per hour. It took its water from the original 314,000 gallons steel tank which was fed from a nine inch main from Wakefield. A new five inch main would serve Ackton and Streethouse, and the old reservoir at Mill Hill would be retained for emergency use only. The photos are from the Express.
 
 
 
VERMINOUS HOUSE
  John Jepson Smith of Altofts went to court in January seeking possession of a house in Robbins Terrace so he could restore it, and the adjoining property, to a state fit to live in.
  Mr A M Smith, on behalf of the owner, told the court cupboard doors and panels had been kicked out, window panes broken and replaced with rags, fluff was littered about the place, the house smelt of decay and neglect, and the houses on each side had to be fumigated against vermin which had escaped from the house in question. He said bugs seem to have gone one way and blackclocks the other.
  The rent collector, Leslie Brown, said the house was very dirty and smelly and appeared not to have been decorated for years. The houses had been damaged by subsidence, and the NCB had promised to repair the houses next door to the one in question, but the workmen refused to work in them because of the vermin.
  The sanitary inspector, Mr J Hilsley, said he had fumigated the houses at one side because the workmen would not continue, and the house at the other side at the request of the tenant. He told the court Robbins Terrace was classed as a very nice street, and there are some good tenants in it, but it has deteriorated in its social standing. The judge gave an order for possession in two months.

THE CRICKET CLUB
  The annual dinner of the cricket club was held at the Junction Hotel in January. Dr J Duncan proposed the health of the club. He said the club was going through a transition period, and perhaps some of the older players were a little beyond their best and they may have to concentrate more on the younger players. The cricket field was one of the few open spaces left in the town and he wished more use was made of it. The approach to it was appalling, bur improved accommodation for spectators and facilities for athletes would make it more popular.
  The president, Mr A E England, said finance was a major problem, and the financial position of the club gave no hope for capital expenditure or of renewing or improving existing facilities. The club had told the colliery welfare authorities it was willing to participate in a welfare scheme. It might result in the expenditure of thousands of pounds on lines similar to those mentioned in 1926 but never proceeded with. 
  The annual meeting was held at the Junction Hotel in December. The secretary, Mr W Fenton, said both cricket teams had improved their performance in the past season. The bowling members were full of enthusiasm and lost no opportunity to improve the green and its surroundings. The tennis players were severely handicapped by the courts being on the cricket field. More would be done by the committee if funds were available.
  He said Featherstone had to struggle each year to make financial ends meet. "I think we could carry on for years as we have been doing but without making the most of our ground. Consequently we have decided to become a welfare club. Only by giving our usual support to all efforts shall we gain the maximum benefit from this scheme which, I feel sure, will be to the good of Featherstone people in general".
  He mentioned the loss of Mrs H Mason, a driving force on the ladies' committee who had often expressed her desire to see a new scoring box on the ground. He hoped it would be possible to erect one as a lasting tribute to her memory.
  The Lister Hall was full for the New Year's Eve dance where Brenda Briggs's Sunbeams were an added attraction. There was community singing as midnight approached, and a fairy let in the New Year. 
    
THE ROVERS
  At a meeting in the Miners' Welfare in February the Rovers secretary, Mr G L Collier, said everything seems to be going wrong at the moment. An onrush of injuries had unsettled the team. 
  The financial secretary, Mr A H Greaves, said the increased entertainment tax had forced clubs to raise admission and subscription charges. He expressed the view the present rate of the tax was killing football.
  Mr A Berry said increased gates were the only answer. He wondered what had happened to the hundreds of additional supporters attracted by last season's cup triumphs. 
  The annual meeting was held in June at the Welfare Hall. The accounts showed expenditure had exceeded income by £875 which was accounted for by the club paying £1,642 in entertainment tax.
   Mr G L Collier, said the season ended with 18 players injured. Eric Batten scored 26 ties and broke the long standing record held by Jack Hirst. Several more matches could have been won with a more reliable goal kicker. The new season would find the popular side covered at long last by the generosity of the president Mr A Bullock.
  Once again there was a proposal regarding the guarantors, but it was heavily defeated. The chairman, Mr R H Jackson, said he was heartily sick of this business of the guarantors. Several were men who years ago virtually saved the club from extinction. They resent the inference they do nothing, and I can understand their feelings. He asked for an alternative to the guarantor system, and said his suggestion two years ago to form a limited company met with no response.
   The meeting agreed a message of thanks and best wishes for a speedy recovery after his illness be sent to the president Mr A Bullock.
  The players' annual dinner was held at the Junction Hotel in July and as usual the guests were the club's committee and representatives of the supporters' clubs. Mr W Williams said he was overjoyed at the wealth of young talent which the club possessed, and he felt many of the young players had a promising future.
  Cr W Bingley said he was sure if they produced the right type of football the public would do the rest. Mr J Jepson presented Irishman Jack Daley with his medal for playing in the Other Nationalities team last season, and thanked the council for securing a licence to build the new covered stand.  
 
THE AMDRAMS
 The Featherstone and District Musical and Dramatic Society  put on A Country Girl at the Welfare Hall in March. The president, Mr A Bullock, wrote in the programme they had had four producers in nine years, so this year they had two of their own members, Charles Brennan and James Stafford  as joint producers.
  The Express said the opening performance started with a flourish in contrast with some previous first night productions. Individual talent varied enormously, as it often does among amateur entertainers, but the weak clearly gathered confidence from the strong. A Country Girl would rank high among previous performances which had raised nearly £900 for charity.
  The December pantomime was Goody Two Shoes put on at the Miners' Welfare Hall. The Express commented "Although a small mining town the society lacks neither talent nor versatility, and is able to move from musical comedy to pantomime with facility".

THE CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II
  The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was fixed for June 2 and the Council decided the celebrations in Featherstone would take place on that date. The West Riding County Council had said they would give a souvenir mug to each schoolchild so Featherstone Council made a decision in January to give each child a propelling pencil, and those under school age would receive a silver plated teaspoon.
  Over 400 people attended a rugby league film show and quiz held in the Miners' Welfare Hall in January in aid of the Council's Coronation Fund. The films were of cup finals, including the Rovers, and the quiz was conducted by Bert Cook of Leeds RLFC assisted by Lionel Cooper of Huddersfield RLFC. The Event raised £15 8s 6d.   
  On the Saturday before the Coronation a game was held at the Belle Vue ground between Wakefield Trinity and Featherstone Rovers for the Coronation Cup presented by Mr J Bullock of Wakefield. The Rovers won 23-13.
  The next day there was a civic procession to Featherstone Parish Church. It began at the Miners' Welfare and was said to be the longest in living memory. It was headed by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band and included police, special constables, members and officials of the Council, British Legion, St John Ambulance Brigade, Scouts and Guides. After the service the Council chairman, Cr J Parker, took the salute in Ackton Lane.
  On Coronation Day, Tuesday 2 June, the Express reported "Featherstone accepted bravely the challenge of the rain, and those in the parade which assembled at the Bradley Arms Hotel were heartened by the many onlookers who lined the route to Purston Park. It was a picturesque procession, in spite of the fact that many of the children in the numerous tableaux had to cover their fineries with mackintoshes and coats. Two bands helped it to swing along through the decorated streets, but few of the spectators followed to the park.
  "The sun peeped through the leaden skies for a second before the chairman of the Council, Cr J Parker, declared open the day's festivities, and its watery rays seemed to mock the efforts of those who had done so much to transform the park for this day of days".
  The rain eventually forced a halt to the park programme, and events continued in Purston Parish Hall, the Parochial Hall, Green Lane, and the Miners' Welfare. The judges could not decide on the best decorated street, and seven were placed equal first. They were Halton Street, South View, Albert Street, Short Street, Moor Road, Wentbridge Road and Belmont Street in Streethouse.
   At Ackton Hospital the Ackton Hospital Comforts Fund gave each child a beaker containing sweets; female patients and staff received a cut-glass tray; and male patients and staff a drinking glass.
  The events which were postponed because of the rain took place on the Saturday. About 30 girls from the two senior schools gave a physical training display in front of Purston Hall, the Brendron School of Dancing gave a display on the boating lake island, and Songs from the Shows were performed by tenor John Tetlow with the Featherstone and District Amateur Dramatic Society, the Featherstone Labour Party Women's Choir, and the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band conducted by Mr T Sellars.
  It was estimated the biggest crowd ever seen in and around Purston Park, about 8,000, gathered to see the park lit up with fairy lights, Cr J Parker light the bonfire, and the fireworks.
  The Queen's Coronation Medal was awarded to civic leaders among others. Featherstone got four for Cr J Parker, the Council chairman, Cr W Griffiths, the chairman before him, and council officials H Tattersall and J Hilsley.
  The photos below of the floodlit Purston Hall and a party in Earle Street are from the Dr Gatecliff Collection. That of the Coronation Medal is from the Traces of War website.

 

 

 
  NEW SCHOOL SHELVED
  At the annual meeting of the Pontefract Divisional Education Executive in July Cr W Bingley complained infants in Purston had to go to Regent Street School because of structural problems at Purston C of E school and some had to travel a mile. The children had to be accompanied and this was difficult for mothers with younger children and workers to look after. He said there were three classes at South Featherstone Secondary Modern School with 48 infants in each and asked what sort of education can be established that way? Over three years ago a new infants school was on a priority list but is now forgotten. He suggested two prefabricated classrooms at the South Featherstone School would cater admirably for Purston Infants.
  Cr J Harper said new housing estates were being built but there were no new schools to go with them. Two of the classes at South Featherstone were held in a hall with a dividing partition. The babble is like a monkey's cage. The transfer to Regent Street has brought an outburst from mothers.
  The chairman, Cr G Wright, thought it was unreasonable to expect five year old children to travel so far but asked what can we do? Cr Harper said make do with a couple of Nissen huts. The Executive agreed to point out the difficulty at Featherstone and ask the county committee to erect two prefabricated classrooms.

OLD FEATHERSTONE TREAT
    The Old Featherstone and Ackton Children's and Old Folk's Treat was held in July. The treat began in the 1920's and was an annual event except for a break because of the war. The carnival queen was Beryl Thorne, and accompanied by her attendants she took her place in the procession which visited Willow Lane, Halton Street, Ackton Road, Loscoe Hill, Ackton Hospital and the Manor estate.
  Back in Copley's field there were sports and tea for 300 children and 150 old people accompanied by selections from the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band. The cost of the treat was about £150.

MINERS' WELFARE
  The Miners' Welfare Scheme had been in financial trouble ever since the closure of Featherstone Main Colliery caused a large drop in income. in 1952 the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation took over from the old scheme, and they would be responsible for capital expenditure and the local miners would contribute to the running costs.
  For the Featherstone scheme to continue it depended on Ackton Hall Colliery miners agreeing to pay more. At a meeting in the Welfare Hall in October, the secretary of the Ackton Hall branch of the NUM, Mr C Dickinson, said the miners had agreed to increase their weekly contribution from 6½d to 8d per week.
  This cleared the way for CISWO to immediately begin a £4,600 renovation plan of the Welfare building. Also, improvements would be made at the cricket field. CISWO would meet all capital costs, but maintenance would be the responsibility of the Featherstone trustees. 
 
1953 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY For the third time in 18 months the Hippodrome was broken into through a side door. Only a torch was stolen. The safe, which had been moved on previous occasions but not opened, was now concreted to the floor.
  
  The General Post Office said 4,865 television licences had been taken out in the Pontefract and Castleford areas. As this included Castleford to Hemsworth and Knottingley to Featherstone there obviously were not many in the Featherstone district.
 
FEBRUARY  The Went Beck across the vicarage field had been cleaned out and the sides were steep. A 16 year old pony belonging to Mr A Jones of Purston got in the beck and could not get out. All attempts to rescue it failed and eventually a tractor pulled it out. It could not stand up and after about an hour it had to be shot.
 
  The Hospital Comforts Fund decided to install another wireless set at Ackton Hospital, and provide an electric razor. The fund would be responsible for Coronation Day celebrations at the hospital. 
 
  Norman Longbottom and his Band were in a regional dance band competition in Leeds. They tied with Joe Kirkland and his Band in the final, and lost in the play off by one point.
 
  Walter Wright, the people's warden at St Peter's Mission Church, was congratulated at a church meeting on his 50 years in the choir. He was the choirmaster for many years. 
 
APRIL  The Featherstone Branch of the women's section of the British Legion celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Social Service Centre. There were over 100 members and friends, including five founder members. The entertainment included the Featherstone Women's Labour Choir.
 
  The Ackton Hospital Comforts Fund arranged a variety concert in the Miners' Welfare. Dr R T Forster said extra comforts for hospitals were still greatly appreciated and did much to relieve the tedium of patients. The Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band played a march Featherstone specially written for them by Mr J Hollyhead of Morley and formerly of Pontefract. The concert raised £28.  They decided to present souvenirs to all patients in the hospital on Coronation Day. Each child would receive a beaker filled with chocolate, and each adult a piece of glassware.
 
  The annual meeting of the Road Safety Committee recommended zebra crossings should be placed outside the council offices and near the bottom of Station Lane, and the painting of slow signs on Wakefield Road either side of the Station :Lane junction.

MAY  Norman Longbottom and his Band gained first place in an area final of a national dance band competition held in South Shields and would now compete in a regional final.

  A large crowd gathered on the Rovers ground to see the Cytrix Stunt Riders and the trained Alsatian dogs of Messrs C Frickler and C Belcher make a return visit.

  The 1st Featherstone Company of Girl Guides celebrated 25 years by holding a meeting in George Street School where tea was served and a cake decorated in red, white and blue was cut by the first captain of the company Miss D Wroe. Later the party went to Low Laithe Farm, North Featherstone, for a camp fire gathering.

  Mrs Ethel Malpass of Green Lane lost a diamond and opal dress ring valued at £15 on the beach at Bridlington. She didn't miss it until she was packing to come home. On the beach with her at the time was Jean, a niece of the hotel proprietor, Mr S Sanderson. She took a search party back to the beach, and after half-an-hour the ring was found.

JUNE In the Purston Parish Magazine the vicar Revd I O Jay said the church finances were desperate. He said with the rise in prices of coal, coke, electricity and other commodities the general church account was overdrawn for the first time in many years. 

  About 800 plants were pulled and scattered about in Purston Park. They were re-bedded but it was doubtful if they would flower. The police were investigating.

JULY  For about five hours Featherstone and Pontefract firemen fought a fire in a brick barn at Bedford House Farm in Purston. The straw in the barn was destroyed but the fire was prevented from spreading.

  Five Methodist Church Sunday Schools and the Salvation Army had their annual gala. The bands from Featherstone, Wakefield and Knottingley led decorated wagons, tableaux and children walking in procession which almost filled the length of Green Lane on their way to the Rovers football ground. The Sunday School Queen was Mary Lomas of Wakefield Road Methodist Church.
 
  The Wellgreen queen was Mary Hawkesworth who was crowned by the retiring queen June Dodson. She toured the area on a decorated dray at the head of a procession. Later on The Green there were sports for children and adults, tea, and open air dancing in the evening. 

  The Road Safety Committee considered the junction of Church Lane and Willow Lane near the Bradley Arms to be dangerous for school children.

  Albert Smith, a maintenance fitter from Wakefield, drilled a hole into a gas holder in Girnhill Lane and a spark from the electric drill ignited escaping gas. Featherstone and Pontefract fire brigades played six jets of water on the holder and thousands of gallons of foam while the Gas Board emptied it of 30,000 cubic feet of gas.

AUGUST  The Beck to Station Treat Fund sent about 1,500 children and adults in two special trains to Bridlington. Fewer collectors joined in the effort this year so the children didn't receive spending money.

  The Albert Street Outing Fund in its first year used nine buses to send about 350 people to Skegness.

SEPTEMBER  A garden party was held at Ackton Hospital by the Comforts Fund. Rain caused everything to be moved indoors but £205 was raised. They had already provided two televisions and two radios.

  Dr J P Fraser in his annual report said the population was estimated at 14,060. There were only 31 cases of measles last year against 531 in 1951. The home nurses made 20,521 visits.
  The sanitary inspector, Mr J Hilsley, said the opening of the new water tower had improved the water pressure.  During the year 61 houses and 14 bungalows were built by the Council. Twenty houses for which demolition orders had been made were still occupied, and the living conditions were depreciating. He said it was difficult to get repairs done because the owners had to pay 1952 repair costs on 1920 rents.

OCTOBER  Norman Longbottom's band qualified for the all-Britain dance band final in Manchester and came fourth. It was the first time a band taking part for the first time had got through to the national final. A large number of Featherstone people travelled by bus to support the band.

  A mechanical dumper belonging to F Sheppard and Sons of York on the Girnhill Lane housing site set on fire and was put out by Featherstone and Pontefract Fire brigades.

  Three Featherstone 12 year old boys were fined 10s each for trespassing on the railway embankment at Walton. They said they were train spotting.

NOVEMBER  At the annual meeting of the British Legion it was said the membership was a record 443 but only about a dozen were engaged in branch activities. The treasurer, Mr E Lee, asked for better support for the children's Christmas party fund, to which many members sent their children without contributing to the cost. Mr Cameron appealed for more collectors for Poppy Day because there were some parts of the town not covered.

   Remembrance Day was commemorated in the usual manner. There was a parade from Cressey's Corner headed by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band which stopped at the Ackton Hall Colliery memorial for a short service, then on to Purston Church. After the service wreaths were laid at the War Memorial and The Last Post and Reveille were sounded. The parade then reformed and Cr J Parker took the salute outside the Police Station. 

  The Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band took first place and the Yorkshire Federation Halifax Cup at an inter-county brass festival against Durham in Leeds which was won by Yorkshire.

  The Featherstone Lane Methodist Church celebrated its 50th anniversary with a cafe chantant (a cafe with entertainment). The evening was arranged by the men of the church who served supper suitably dressed and preceded it with a waiters' chorus. 

DECEMBER  Over 350 children of members of the British Legion were entertained to a Christmas party at the Miners' Welfare Hall. Each child received a packet of sweets, an apple and an orange.  

  Every member of the staff at Ackton Hospital received a gift from the Hospital Comforts Fund at a New Year's Eve party held in the hospital recreation room.