A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1966
THE COUNCIL
JANUARY The West Riding County Council approved the installation of traffic lights at the bottom of Station Lane at a cost not exceeding £2,472.
FEBRUARY The NCB asked for outline approval to build 50 houses for mineworkers. Alexander Rose Ltd of Leeds asked for permission to use the Miners' Welfare Hall as a clothing factory.
A meeting would be arranged between council representatives and Ministry of Housing and Local Government officials to discuss smoke control in Featherstone.
FEBRUARY The NCB asked for outline approval to build 50 houses for mineworkers. Alexander Rose Ltd of Leeds asked for permission to use the Miners' Welfare Hall as a clothing factory.
A meeting would be arranged between council representatives and Ministry of Housing and Local Government officials to discuss smoke control in Featherstone.
It was agreed to donate £100 to the Featherstone Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society. Cr R Widdowson said he had seen a balance sheet and the small amount of money in the bank was not enough to keep the society going. Cr H Wright said the society's next production would cost about £90 in royalties alone. Cr Norah Edgar said it was a good thing to give money to the society, but what would the people of Priory Road think when they got nothing after being flooded.
It was hoped people in the clearance area of Loscoe would soon be rehoused in the North Featherstone estate. Regarding poor water pressure in Purston, it was said a new main was being laid from the Pennines but it had only reached Newmillerdam. A new main was being laid in Station Lane but it would only have a slight effect.
MARCH It was decided to abolish the 5s a week rent charge on householders who had retired elderly people as lodgers. The council kept the rates the same and were proud to be the only council in the local area to do so. It was regretted the Wakefield and District Water Board had put the water rate up by 5d in the pound.
The council decided to complain to the local MP and the Ministry of Transport because after inviting tenders for street lamps only four were received and they were all within a shilling or two of £841 14s.
The engineer and surveyor, Mr G F Adamson, said the sodium and mercury vapour lamps were all made by Phillips, but the firms tendering had different names. It was decided to order from Phillips. Mr Adamson said the firms are all members of the Electrical Lamp Manufacturers' Association and they all quote an identical tender. There is no competition.
APRIL The council could lend money to people buying houses. but the builders would have to be members of the National Housebuilders' Registration Council.
Cr Davis decided not to stand for the forthcoming elections because of family commitments. He had been a member of the council for 12 years and his election broke a 100% Labour representation.
It was agreed to borrow £3,906 for a concert stage at the Lister Baths.
MAY The election results were:
Central Ward R Widdowson (Labour) 634 J Holt (Ratepayers) 462
East Ward J H Livesey (Labour) 855 D H Grace (Ratepayers) 573
South Ward S F Gascoyne (Labour) 707 A Edgar (Ratepayers) 607
North West D Townsend (Labour) 719 F W Collier (Ratepayers) 343
This meant the council was now Labour ten seats, Ratepayers tw0.
It was recommended the council should send a representative to conferences of the International Union of Local Authorities in Harrogate and Bangkok. Cr G Holt argued against that in Bangkok because of the expense, but both were approved. It was pointed out the Bangkok visit was subject to the approval of the Minister of Housing and Local Government.
Cr Lily Fox was elected chairman of the council for the second time. She had been on the council for 15 years. The clerk, Mr H Tattersall, congratulated her and said Featherstone had completed 72 years as an urban district, and it was disappointing the proposed reorganisation had not yet been decided. But during the ensuing year we shall be told what is going to happen. The photo of Lily Fox is from the Express.
JULY The council decided to write to Mr S Renshaw expressing appreciation of the work done by members of South Featherstone Gospel Hall for the old people of the district. Cr D Gray said they were doing a great job and the council appreciated it.
A planning application by the NCB to erect a multiple store on the site of Girnhill Lane allotments was refused because it would detract from the new shopping developments in Station Lane and the Common Lane Estate. Yorkshire Bank Ltd were given permission to convert a shop in Station Lane to a bank.
AUGUST The council agreed to buy the Purston Methodist Church, which had not been used since it was severely vandalised last year, subject to a satisfactory price by the district valuer and loan sanction. The church would give the proceeds to the Methodist New Church Building Fund in Wilson Street.
SEPTEMBER A clearance order was issued for 43 properties in Loscoe which would complete the clearance of this area. New metal goal posts were erected in Purston Park to replace the wooden ones which suffered from vandalism.
OCTOBER The clerk reported a quotation of £5 10s for a bar at every dance at the Lister Hall had been accepted from the Junction Hotel. The only other quotation was from the Featherstone Hotel.
The council considered giving anti-flu tablets to its workers because of large absenteeism last winter at a cost of 4s 6s for each worker. They were claimed to prevent infection for six months. The clerk, Mr H Tattersall, said there were about 120 employees. Cr S Gascoyne pointed out they could not be forced on people, so it was agreed to get the views of the staff.
It was agreed to give the staff three extra days holiday (Good Friday, Whit Tuesday and the Tuesday following August Bank Holiday) to bring them into line with neighbouring authorities.
NOVEMBER Consideration was given to providing a wheelchair at each of the elderly people's community centres. The council was concerned there were no facilities for taking home anyone taken ill.
It was agreed to provide 50 houses for miners moving into Featherstone. They would be integrated with existing communities rather than building isolated estates.
DECEMBER The council's plan for a bus lay-by near Andrew Street was delayed because the ownership of the land required was disputed. It was agreed to try and sort it out with the two parties involved.
The National Association of Local Government Officials put in a claim for a 38 hour working week and no Saturday mornings (for payment of rents and rates). The staff involved worked one Saturday in four for this purpose.
The clerk said it was his duty to report it was costing the council £61 a week to employ their five painters, and because of the bad weather there was very little for then to do. It was agreed it would not be right to make them redundant and they would be found other work when necessary.
There were complaints about people moving into new houses and finding "odds and ends" not completed. The council's architect, Mr T H Holland, said you may rest assured any outstanding work will be done as soon as possible.
Water standing in a field off Girnhill Lane was reported to the council as a danger for children. Cr D Gray said it was a spot known as Old Pond. The surveyor said it was partly overflow from the park lake and natural drainage from the area. He would investigate to see if the drainage ditch to the Went Beck was blocked.
THE ROVERS
At the half-yearly meeting in January the secretary, Mr R Bailey, said £8,000 had been received for the transfers of Fox and Ramshaw, but the band overdraft was nearly £2,000, outstanding accounts over £1,000 and £2,561 owed to the guarantors. Supporters should ask themselves what the position would have been without the £8,000. He said the Rovers must start to build again by concentrating on juniors and signing wisely.
Some supporters criticised this view, and Ralph Asquith, who presided, said such matters involved many opinions, but every member of the committee was working in the best interests of the club. John Jepson, the chairman and just recovered from illness, said the policy was to start from scratch and get some good local lads.
Answering a question about the proposed social club, Mr Jepson said the project was held up by the Charity Commissioners who had already taken five months over it.
Carl Dooler, the Rovers' scrum-half, was selected for the Under 24 International Match and if he had played he would have qualified for a £100 bonus as per his signing on contract with the Rovers. But he was then selected for the reserve side for a full Great Britain International match so he didn't play in the Under 24's game and so didn't get his £100.
The club agreed to pay him it at £10 a week, and had paid £50 when the Rugby League stepped in and decided the payments were against the rules and fined the club and player £50 each. Enough disgruntled members called for a special meeting at the Junction Hotel in April but the Press were not allowed in.
After the meeting ex-player and committee member Cyril Woolford told the Express he had resigned from the committee which he thought was a thoroughly archaic set-up. He said 12 of the committee where men who guaranteed about £250 each and were on the committee for life. He thought the only way forward was the formation of a limited company.
Some supporters criticised this view, and Ralph Asquith, who presided, said such matters involved many opinions, but every member of the committee was working in the best interests of the club. John Jepson, the chairman and just recovered from illness, said the policy was to start from scratch and get some good local lads.
Answering a question about the proposed social club, Mr Jepson said the project was held up by the Charity Commissioners who had already taken five months over it.
Carl Dooler, the Rovers' scrum-half, was selected for the Under 24 International Match and if he had played he would have qualified for a £100 bonus as per his signing on contract with the Rovers. But he was then selected for the reserve side for a full Great Britain International match so he didn't play in the Under 24's game and so didn't get his £100.
The club agreed to pay him it at £10 a week, and had paid £50 when the Rugby League stepped in and decided the payments were against the rules and fined the club and player £50 each. Enough disgruntled members called for a special meeting at the Junction Hotel in April but the Press were not allowed in.
After the meeting ex-player and committee member Cyril Woolford told the Express he had resigned from the committee which he thought was a thoroughly archaic set-up. He said 12 of the committee where men who guaranteed about £250 each and were on the committee for life. He thought the only way forward was the formation of a limited company.
Laurie Gant, an ex-player and former coach, was given a three year contract in June to be coach again to replace Johnny Malpass.
The annual meeting was held in the Junction Hotel in July. Mr R Bailey, the secretary, said the profit on the season was £586, but the biggest source of income during the year was £8,750 from transferred players, which only served to underline the point he had made before - we are back to the stage where we have to sell to survive.
Three questions were: How could the club manage without parting with star players, could the declining income from gates and pools be arrested and built up, and could other major sources of income be introduced? He mentioned the social club project. He welcomed the appointment of the new coach, Laurie Gant, and said he had been offered the job of sole selector, but he had declined it.
The chairman, Mr J Jepson, said the committee were concerned about the falling gates and put it down to the style of football played - rough stuff, bullocking and barging and offside tactics. He felt all committees should instruct their players to play the type of game the public wanted.
Negotiations with the Miners' Welfare for the purchase of the ground were in hand, and if successful floodlights would be considered. Also the deeds had been signed for the social club.
The Rovers qualified for the Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley in October against Hull Kingston Rovers, but lost 12-25. The photo of the programme is from fevarchive.
PRIORY ROAD FLOODED
Torrential rain on the last night of January caused flooding in more than 20 houses in Priory Road when the Went Beck overflowed. Many residents woke to find themselves trapped in their homes. The Featherstone Fire Brigade arrived at 7.15am to begin pumping the water away. By 11am the water level had only fallen by 3 inches.
Mr J Padgett told the Express the fire buzzer woke them at 7am and when they went downstairs they found they were flooded out with the water six inches deep. Those children who wanted to go to school were carried out by firemen but some refused.
The opinion of the residents was the flood was caused by the culverting of part of the beck, and the pipe wasn't big enough for storm water. Mr Padgett said there used to be an open back at the back and it never flooded before the pipe was installed.
Mr G F Adamson, the council surveyor, said the flooding was caused by very heavy rain. The beck was so full the drainage from around it could not even get into the beck, and so could not be carried away. The photos are from the Express.
Mr J Padgett told the Express the fire buzzer woke them at 7am and when they went downstairs they found they were flooded out with the water six inches deep. Those children who wanted to go to school were carried out by firemen but some refused.
The opinion of the residents was the flood was caused by the culverting of part of the beck, and the pipe wasn't big enough for storm water. Mr Padgett said there used to be an open back at the back and it never flooded before the pipe was installed.
Mr G F Adamson, the council surveyor, said the flooding was caused by very heavy rain. The beck was so full the drainage from around it could not even get into the beck, and so could not be carried away. The photos are from the Express.
THE HEALTH REPORTS
The medical officer of health, Dr V F Fraser, in his report for 1965, published in February, said school health was satisfactory with 94% of the children immunised against diphtheria and 70% against tetanus. During an intensive campaign for vaccination against polio 483 children received a primary course, and 318 a reinforcing dose, which meant 81% were protected.
Mr J Ellison reported 125 council dwellings were built plus 50 by private builders. There did seem to be a problem wit the water supply in parts of Purston. Treatments and re-treatments for rat and mice infestations totalled 1,900 of which 1,694 were in council houses.
Time was limited for shop inspections but no case of illness could be traced to faulty hygiene in shops. Some new houses were fitted with central heating which would help in the task of making the district smokeless when the zones were fixed.
Mr J Ellison reported 125 council dwellings were built plus 50 by private builders. There did seem to be a problem wit the water supply in parts of Purston. Treatments and re-treatments for rat and mice infestations totalled 1,900 of which 1,694 were in council houses.
Time was limited for shop inspections but no case of illness could be traced to faulty hygiene in shops. Some new houses were fitted with central heating which would help in the task of making the district smokeless when the zones were fixed.
ACKTON HALL COLLIERY STRIKE
The reorganisation scheme meant the coal would come out of the pit in a skip and be unloaded on to a convey belt and taken to a new coal washing plant. Men would no longer be required to handle the hundreds of 10cwt pit tubs each shift. For the new system the management and union agreed to change the afternoon shift times of 1.15pm to 9pm to 1.45pm to 9.30pm.
Instead of waiting until the new coal handling system was operating the management brought the new shift times into operation straight away in March and those involved (43 surface men and 49 underground) went on unofficial strike and brought the pit to a standstill.
The men said the change would disrupt their social life, and there would be no coal to fetch out of the pit during the last half-hour. The management said they wanted the new times to be in use ready for when the modernisation scheme was completed.
Instead of waiting until the new coal handling system was operating the management brought the new shift times into operation straight away in March and those involved (43 surface men and 49 underground) went on unofficial strike and brought the pit to a standstill.
The men said the change would disrupt their social life, and there would be no coal to fetch out of the pit during the last half-hour. The management said they wanted the new times to be in use ready for when the modernisation scheme was completed.
The men went back to work after a week's coal production of 11,500 tons was lost, on the understanding the National Union of Mineworkers would take up their case with the management.
SOUTH PACIFIC
The Featherstone Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society put on South Pacific at the Miners' Welfare Hall at the end of March.The Express review said the director, Mr H Walker, handled the cast of 40 players with effective smoothness, although most of then let their American accent slip at times.
All the principals sang well, and in their 23rd production the society made good use of the talents at their command, and Mr K Caswell, the musical director, did them full justice.
THE GALA
The council returned to having a parade and queen for the annual gala in June. The parade included the Gala Day Queen, 12 year old Susan Hand of Priory Road and her ten attendants, the Salvation Army Band, fancy dress competitors, the fire brigade, and the Pontefract and District Caledonian Society Pipe Band.
At the park the chairman of the council, Cr Lily Fox, opened the gala and crowned the queen. The attractions included children's sports, a gymkhana, roundabouts and various stalls and exhibitions.
Proceed from the sale of programmes were donated to the Featherstone and District Hospital Comforts Fund which organised a bar and bring and buy stall in aid of the fund. It was announced their efforts raised £166 for the fund. The photo of the Gala Queen and attendant Bridget Brear is from the Express.
ACKTON HALL RECONSTRUCTION
The reconstruction scheme at Ackton Hall Colliery, announced last year, was completed in July. It involved cable belt conveyors taking the coal from the inbye workings in the Warren Houses and Silkstone Seams to the pit bottom where it was wound out of the pit in eight ton skips thus doing away with the hundreds of 10cwt tubs used since the pit was opened.
On the surface the coal was taken to a new coal preparation plant capable of handling 400 tons an hour where it was graded and cleaned for the market. It had automatic blending equipment to ensure quality control for power station coal. The scheme was designed to reduce the number of men required for non-productive work. The photo of the coal preparation plant nearing completion is by Dr J Gatecliff.
On the surface the coal was taken to a new coal preparation plant capable of handling 400 tons an hour where it was graded and cleaned for the market. It had automatic blending equipment to ensure quality control for power station coal. The scheme was designed to reduce the number of men required for non-productive work. The photo of the coal preparation plant nearing completion is by Dr J Gatecliff.
BOAT MODELLERS
William Fox and his son Trevor of Pontefract Road saw some model boats being sailed at Fleetwood. The fascination of these realistic craft so appealed to them they decided to have a go. They were so successful they were chosen to represent Britain in an international championship against Belgium and Britain won. By August this year they had won over 150 trophies and Trevor won the 1966 national championship.
Mr Fox designed and built his own boats but Trevor used kits from model shops. The boats were powered by miniature diesel engines, and the steering and speed controlled by radio from a small transmitter.
They were grateful to the council for allowing them to use the park lake for practice, and on many summer evenings they were watched by large crowds. They had covered thousands of miles in three years following their hobby. The photo is from the Express.
Mr Fox designed and built his own boats but Trevor used kits from model shops. The boats were powered by miniature diesel engines, and the steering and speed controlled by radio from a small transmitter.
They were grateful to the council for allowing them to use the park lake for practice, and on many summer evenings they were watched by large crowds. They had covered thousands of miles in three years following their hobby. The photo is from the Express.
THE ST OSWALD ARMS OPENED
The St Oswald Arms public house was declared open in August by Vice-Admiral Sir Conolly Abel Smith, the chairman of Bentley's Yorkshire Breweries Ltd. The company provided free beer in the public bar for the first half-hour of opening. A private party, including local councillors and officials, was held in the lounge bar. A special darts alley was provided to avoid the players disturbing other customers.
The unveiling of the sign outside revealed an error. It should have been The St Oswald Arms, not the St Oswald's Arms, so it had to be redone. A personal photo.
The unveiling of the sign outside revealed an error. It should have been The St Oswald Arms, not the St Oswald's Arms, so it had to be redone. A personal photo.
A new fire station was opened in Andrew Street in August only yards from the old one which only provided shelter for the engines. The new one had showers, a drying room for clothes, recreation facilities and a bar for social occasions.
The brigade was "retained" which meant they were part-time, and called out by an automatic alarm when required. It was 14 strong who followed a separate occupation buit were ready to become firemen at a moments notice.
After a 999 call was connected to the West Riding County Fire Service the siren was sounded at Featherstone (except between 11pm and 7am) and a bell rung in each fireman's home. A fire engine with a seven man crew could be on its way within four minutes.
The station officer was Mr G H Gibson of Ackworth Road, and a member of the crew was Ian Dransfield whose father and grandfather served at Featherstone before him. The call outs averaged 120 a year. The photos below of Mr Gibson and leading fireman Norman Millard polishing the bell are from the Express.
The brigade was "retained" which meant they were part-time, and called out by an automatic alarm when required. It was 14 strong who followed a separate occupation buit were ready to become firemen at a moments notice.
After a 999 call was connected to the West Riding County Fire Service the siren was sounded at Featherstone (except between 11pm and 7am) and a bell rung in each fireman's home. A fire engine with a seven man crew could be on its way within four minutes.
The station officer was Mr G H Gibson of Ackworth Road, and a member of the crew was Ian Dransfield whose father and grandfather served at Featherstone before him. The call outs averaged 120 a year. The photos below of Mr Gibson and leading fireman Norman Millard polishing the bell are from the Express.
NEW PRIORY OPENED
The new sheltered housing flats in Wentworth Road called New Priory were opened in August by the chairman of the council, Cr Mary Lily Fox. She said "It is obvious a lot of thought and careful planning has gone into this building. There is a definite need for places such as this, where elderly people can obtain help should they need it by simply calling the warden".
The building consisted of 16 single and 16 double self-contained flatlets There was a resident warden, dinners provided in a dining room, entertainment in a lounge, and a laundry with washing machines and dryers. It had cost £79,000. The recreation facilities were also open to residents in the 16 old folks bungalows built nearby. The photo is from Google Street View.
LEVEL CROSSING DEATH
Peter Ashton age 13 of Alexander Crescent was knocked down and killed
by a train at the Church Fields level crossing near the cricket field in October. The train driver said
he sounded his horn about 50 yards from the crossing and the boy rushed
out from the wicker gate into the path of the train. The inquest verdict
was accidental death.
Over 180 parents signed a petition to the council saying the nearest suitable playground for children was Purston Park, which was too far the children to travel. The council said they had provided a field adjacent to the community centre for old people in Halfpenny Lane for use as a playground, but the parents said it was dangerous because it was too near the railway lines and the Halfpenny Lane level crossing. It was said some children had used the Gordon Street School field which was further from the railway but had been turned out.
At a council meeting in November the clerk said there was a field next to the Halfpenny Lane Old People's Community Centre fenced off with barbed wire and separated from the railway by the fence, a dirt track and a railway fence. Cr S Gascoyne said when the Government squeeze is lifted we can get some equipment on the field.
In December the grass and weeds had been cut and work began on replacing the barbed wire with ordinary wire.
THE CRICKET CLUB
The annual meeting of the Cricket Club was held in the Green Lane Working Men's Club in October. The secretary, Mr R Belfield, said it was a pleasure to report a successful season both on the field and in club activities. Financially we have been able to keep our heads above water, but I would like to point out we have received no financial help whatsoever from the Welfare, although our expenditure is on the £400 mark. There must be something wrong wrong with the general system when other local welfare clubs receive cash grants at the start of the season, yet we receive nothing. He paid tribute to the new groundsman, Mr W Martin, who had taken over from Mr W Swallow. The club had beaten Castleford to win the Stones Cup, and it was a long time since a Featherstone team had played so well together to upset the odds.
Mr F Tuffs, the chairman. paid tribute to Mr Belfield who was retiring as secretary. He was replaced by Mr D Hirst.
PURSTON METHODIST CHURCH
vandals broke into Purston Methodist Church last year and caused serious damage to the organ and the communion area. A short-lived attempt was made to keep going with a piano but it closed down. The trustees had previously refused to join a merger of the Featherstone Methodist Churches but now considered they had no option but to do so.
The church was put up for sale, and a Leeds firm offered to buy it, but the council refused planning permission on the grounds there was no reasonable access to the premises, and offered to buy it subject to the district valuer's valuation.
In November, the Featherstone Methodist Minister, Revd M J Collings complained of lack of progress. He said it needed to be sold and the money put into the fund for building a new Methodist Church in Wilson Street estimated to cost £20,000.
For the council it was said a report was awaited from the architect preparing a comprehensive re-development plan for Girnhill Lane from the junction with Station Lane to Priory Road. Also, the current credit squeeze meant getting a loan for the project could be difficult. Mr T N Holland of Turner, Holland and Bell Architects said the outline plans were ready and would probably be discussed by the council at their next meeting.
Outline planning permission was granted in December. An application for financial aid had been made to the Methodist Home Missions Department. At that time the bank balance of the combined churches was nil. A grant of £9,000 was agreed, and the Chapel Department made it up to £10,250. A Featherstone Building Fund started By Revd Collings raised £5,000 in 18 months, and Pontefract Methodist Circuit offered to lend £2,000. An all-out effort would now be made to raise the final £3,000 required. The architects revealed an outline drawing of the proposed church in the Express.
CHANGE AT THE HIPPODROME
Falling attendances for the films had caused the Hippodrome to change to films four nights and Bingo on the other three. In November it was announced there would be no more film shows, the building would be redecorated, and opened as a full-time Bingo Hall. The manager, Mr D Holden, said we have had to discontinue the films because of the public's lack of interest. If we had not done something the place would have closed. The last advert in the Express is shown below.
TOMMY SELLERS - BANDSMAN
In November Thomas Sellers, known to all as Tommy, celebrated 50 years of music. He joined the Featherstone Brass Band at the age of seven, and four years later he was the solo cornet player. In 1932, married and out of work like hundreds of other Featherstone miners, he went to Bettshanger in Kent to work at the colliery there and play in the band.
In 1936 he came back to Yorkshire (Askern) and inevitably played in the colliery band there. His return to Featherstone in 1944 saw him playing in local dance bands, but his first love was the brass band so he joined the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries' Band and became conductor. He was able to persuade the men at both collieries to pay a penny a week to the upkeep of the band. In 1951 the band went to Cleckheaton and won its first major competition. It also competed in the All England Brass Band Championships in London.
He also taught music at South Featherstone Secondary School, and some of his pupils progressed to play in the band. For the future he said "Many of our members are young people. Brass bands are not as common as they used to be and there are not as many carnivals and similar events for them to play at. But there is still a demand for a band with a good style. The Featherstone band has this and we will fight to keep it so". The photo i from the Express.
1966 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY Vandals broke into the pavilion in Purston Park smashing door and locks, but they failed to get into the refreshment room which had a more substantial door and lock. The park superintendent, Mr J W Vaughan, said he didn't leave the park until after 9.30pm.
The Rainbow Club in Pontefract Road was broken into and £70 was stolen. It was owned by Charles Raybould.
FEBRUARY There was a national flu outbreak. A local NCB spokesman said there were a number of people off with flu but so far no serious effect on production. The schools reported the average attendance was down to 70% from the normal of 90%.
Allan Bailey was riding a scooter along Wakefield Road. When he approached Station Lane he saw Harold Schofield driving in the opposite direction and signalling his intention to turn into Station Lane. There was a van in Station Lane wanting to turn into Wakefield Road, and a car on the Wakefield side wanting to turn into Girnhill Lane.
Harold Schofield told Pontefract Court he didn't see the scooter because of the bollards and as he turned into Station Lane they collided. His solicitor, Mr J D Denton, said there must be some sort of a jinx on this junction. We are dealing with a place where accidents occur very regularly. His plea was in vain and there was a £5 fine.
The railway line alongside Linpac was flooded twice by heavy rain. Firemen pumped the water away while trains were limited to 3mph.
MARCH The police were investigating vandalism at Regent Street School and the Halfpenny Lane community centre for old people which was under construction.
APRIL Joe Harper MP was promoted from being an assistant government whip to a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, a senior whip. It would add an extra £3,000 to his MP's salary of £1,254.
The Featherstone and District Hospital Comfort Fund said during the past year the women's section had spent about £500 at Ackton Hospital and Headlands Hospital, Pontefract, and the men's section about £400. Items included dressing gowns, easy chairs, children's equipment, Easter eggs, a tape recorder and equipment for the broadcasting service.
Radios and air rifle pellets worth £40 were stolen in a break-in at Mr J T Rogers shop in Station Lane.
MAY Members of Featherstone Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society entertained the residents of Jaglin Court with songs from the shows.
Early one morning the windows of several shops and a house in Featherstone Lane were broken by a gang of youths.
JUNE The Pontefract Divisional Education Executive recommended the purchase of nearly an acre of land between George Street and Wakefield Road to extend the site of George Street School.
JULY A group of 16 members of the South Featherstone Youth Club aged 14 to 21 and accompanied by there leader, Mr George Butler, went on a week's holiday to Belgium. It was hoped to travel further afield next year.
Mr J Harper MP and his wife were guests at the Royal Garden Party in London and were spoken to by HM the Queen. She asked questions about the family, education and the ordeal for children sitting examinations.
Edwin Bowkett and his wife Eileen took their four children to Butlin's Holiday Camp at Pwllheli, North Wales. The won the "Family Album" competition against 24 other families. In their professional capacity as a singing duo they performed as Eileen and Eddie Nelson.
AUGUST In one week two houses and four out buildings were broken into in Priory Road, a car was stolen from Baker's garage on Wakefield Road, a wagon sheet disappeared from Linpac and copper cable worth £80 was stolen from a compound in Old Green Lane.
Featherstone Cricket Club played Castleford at Ackworth in the Stones Cup Final. Featherstone batted first and scored 132 for 7 declared, and they bowled out Castleford for 93.
There were 270 entries from 24 exhibitors at the Featherstone and District Horticultural Society show. Mr R Stanley of Pontefract won the Bullock Cup for most points in the flower section, and the Raybould Cup for being the overall winner. All the entries were auctioned in the Featherstone Hotel, the proceed being for charity.
Two trolley telephones were provided at Ackton Hospital by the Featherstone and District Hospitals Comforts Fund. Incoming calls were allowed 10am t0 11am, and 6pm to7pm, and outgoing calls were allowed at any time apart from doctors' rounds. They had cost £85 each and were judged a great success.
SEPTEMBER Work began on the installation of traffic lights at the junction of Station Lane, Girnhill Lane and the Wakefield to Pontefract Road. The street lighting columns were also being resited.
Mrs Louis Wren of Station Lane was presented with a poppy brooch to mark her selling of £720 worth of poppies on Poppy Day over the last 22 years. It was from the British Legion poppy factory produced in very limited numbers.
The Ministry of Transport decided the passenger train service from Wakefield to Tanshelf would cease but from Monkhill to Goole would remain open.
Over 100 members and friends from South Featherstone Gospel Hall visited the old people's community centre in Halfpenny Lane. A recording of the proceedings was made for the hospitals' broadcast system. On another occasion they visited New Priory.
Every year for one week the workingmen's clubs jointly undertook to raise money for the Hospitals Comforts Fund. This year they handed over a combined total of £134.
OCTOBER The annual meeting of the British Legion announced a recruiting campaign until 1971, the Legion's 50th anniversary. The current membership was 146.
The baths superintendent, Mr J G Windmill, said the latest season's attendance at the baths was a record. He said it is an interesting fact that many people are coming from other towns to the baths.
NOVEMBER The National Society for Clean Air reported Featherstone was among the areas not sufficiently advanced with smoke control measures, and had not submitted a programme to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. Mr J F Ellison, for the council, said much of Featherstone's modern development was burning smokeless fuel, and nearly 100 council flats and bungalows were smokeless.
Mr T G Rogers of Ackworth won the Ackton Hospital Cup and the Featherstone UDC Cup at the Featherstone Horticultural Society's late chrysanthemum show at the Clock Cafe. There were over 100 entries and 300 blooms.
The Remembrance Day parade left Cressey's Corner led by the Ackton Hall Colliery Band. A stop was made at the Ackton Hall Colliery Memorial where a short service was conducted by the Salvation Army. Then on to Purston War Memorial where the Vicar of Purston, Revd I O Jay conducted the service and wreaths were laid. The Poppy Day sale realised £180 17s.
By nine votes to eight with three abstentions the Pontefract Divisional Education Executive decided Featherstone should not have a comprehensive school included in the current building programme. The Featherstone representatives complained their town was being left behind.
Three Featherstone women walking to work along Wakefield Road were knocked down by a lorry which skidded onto the footpath. They were Betty Cross of Huntwick Crescent, Irene Cranswick of Huntwick Drive and a third simply named as Miss Fawcett. Betty Cross was worst affected, she ended up underneath the lorry but was only badly bruised. The other two were bowled over. The driver from Sharlston, claimed he had to brake to avoid other vehicles and he skidded on a wet, muddy road. He was fined for driving without due care, and defective tyres and speedometer.
DECEMBER Philip Lewis Booth age 18 of Featherstone Lane was selected to dance in the off-beat section for the North against the East Midlands at Bradford in a television programme. His partner was Margaret Thackray of Leeds.
The Pontefract Divisional Education Executive decided "with all possible speed" to buy land from the National Coal Board to be used as a playing field by Purston Junior Mixed School. A library and staff dining area was to be provided at George Street Junior Mixed School which could remain a fixture after the rehabilitation scheme.
Cr F G Smith put a proposal for the minutes of the last meeting to be discussed in private because of a doubt about the validity of the vote against Featherstone having a comprehensive school. He said there was chaos, confusion and statements made after the meeting suggesting it should have been nine-eight in Featherstone's favour. The chairman, Ald J Blackburn, said you cannot change anything, and quoted standing orders, but the committee voted in favour of discussing it in private. (one member claimed the result was correct and had been counted eight times.)
The local annual firemen's quiz was held in Featherstone's new station. Featherstone won for the second year in succession against Hemsworth, Pontefract, Normanton and Rothwell. The team was sub-officer G Price, leading fireman N Millard, and firemen K Maxwell, B Harper, and G Matthewman.
British rail announce the closure of Featherstone and Tanshelf Stations as from 2 January 1967.
An entertainment was put on for fourth year pupils at South Featherstone Secondary School. Supper was provided by girls from the housecraft department, and music by R Walker, R Mosley, H Watson, S Faulkender and C Randall.
Property worth £136 was stolen from Davies and Broadhead in Station Lane. It consisted of two electric sewing machines, five steam irons, a television set, seven transistor radios, sheets, cigarettes and cash. `
The annual New Year's Eve dance in aid of the Cricket Club in the Lister Hall was attended by nearly 500 people.who brought in the New Year singing Auld Lang Syne.