A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1963
THE COUNCIL
JANUARY The council approved plans by Messrs Broughs Ltd to have a new shop front and convert the premises into a supermarket. Plans for two petrol pumps for Mr C B Roberts at Bedford House were rejected on the grounds the site would be affected by further road improvements, and they would be a hazard to road safety. The bus shelter at the bottom of Station Lane would be moved further up Pontefract Road and would be set at the back of the pavement.
Featherstone Miners' Welfare Committee asked the council to take over maintenance of the Welfare Hall clock. It was agreed, and inquiries would be made about an electric clock instead of a mechanical one.
FEBRUARY Cr T Morgan said there had been an alarming number of street lights broken during the past two months, and the council was perturbed at the amount of money they were spending because of this vandalism. Cr Lily Fox said one stretch of road in North Featherstone was totally unlit because of broken lamps.
MARCH Youngsters in North Featherstone complained they had nowhere to play now the building of the Roman Catholic School had taken most of their playing field. One lad told the Express "If we had somewhere to go they might not get as many lamps broken". The county council, who had bought the field from Featherstone Council, said they were going to buy a field near the quarry to convert into a new recreation field.
A brewery firm wanted to buy a piece of land on the Common Lane estate. The council agreed some of the land could be used for licensed premises. For the new one-bedroom bungalows the council approved tenders for launderette equipment and underfloor heating of the common room.
It was decided the main attraction at the Gala would be the children's sports which were not run past year. The county council agreed to provide a bus lay-by at the junction of Ackworth Road and Wentbridge Road. The council wanted to know when improvement work would start at North Featherstone crossroads.
The council agreed to make a grant of £50 to the Featherstone and Purston Welfare Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Club who said they needed about £100 to keep it on an even keel this season. Cr F G Smith said the club had not been able to hold its usual New Year's Eve dance.
county council members would visit Featherstone to inspect a proposed site in Purston Park for an old people's home.
APRIL Cr J Harper decided not to stand for re-election to the council now he was MP for Pontefract. He had represented the South Ward since 1949. He said his Parliamentary duties were taking up much of his time, and someone new should take on his job as a councillor.
The council considered urgent action was needed at the Station Lane/Girnhill Lane crossroads after a recent fatal accident and three more accidents in 24 hours. Cr J Harper said it is time the county council agreed to erect a set of traffic lights. He added, the ordinary street lighting drowned the lights on the bollards making it difficult for motorists to spot the crossing. The clerk said the county council did not turn down the idea of traffic lights, it was the police. Cr H Woodcock said there is a terrific amount of traffic and the police think it should be kept moving. The surveyor, Mr G F Adamson, was instructed to improve the lighting at the crossroads.
MAY An application to turn the old Featherstone Lane Working Men's Club into a maintenance and storage place for automatic coin vending machines was refused because the premises were in a residential area.
Also refused was an application by Mr J Jones to have the front room of his house in Pontefract Road converted into a shop because the random conversion of terraced houses into shops would be a retrograde step, and there were adequate shopping facilities in the area. Permission was given for Mr C Raybould to convert a detached house in Pontefract Road into a private club with steward's accommodation.
The council were informed by the county council that work to improve the North Featherstone Crossroads would be started during the 1964-65 financial year.
The election results were:
North-West Ward A J Davis (Tenants and Ratepayers) 666 J A Eden (Labour) 606
Central Ward R Widdowson (Labour) 682 G Holt (Tenants and Ratepayers) 538
East Ward J H Livesey (Labour) 951 W Marsh (Tenants and Ratepayers) 685
South Ward S F Gascoyne (Labour) 730 A Edgar (Tenants and Ratepayers) 498
The new council was Labour 11, Tenants and Ratepayers 1. The annual meeting elected Cr H Woodcock as chairman for the next year. It was his third time. He paid tribute to the sacrifices councillors had to make to fulfil their duties, their wives who showed tolerance and gave valuable support, and the council officials who had worked assiduously for the town.
JUNE The council were informed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government the housing programme for 1963 could comprise 310 dwellings.
JULY It was agreed to replace the 40 Arcon prefabs with traditional dwellings. The council would renew its efforts to have traffic lights installed at the bottom of Station Lane crossroads. The police would be asked to place no parking signs.
The West Riding County Council approved an order making part of Ackworth Road a one-way thoroughfare in the direction of Wakefield.
SEPTEMBER The park superintendent and the council surveyor gave their reasons (not stated) for closing the bowling green to the public and the council confirmed the decision. The council's architects were to prepare a layout for the Sewerbridge Lane housing site. It was to include two and three bedroomed houses, old peoples bungalows, warden's accommodation, old peoples recreation room, and one-bedroomed flats.
A demolition order was issued for No.116 Station Lane, the little house next to the level crossing.
The Featherstone Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society received a £50 grant. The society's chairman, Mr C H Brennan, said the last show made a loss of about £45. Members' subscriptions did not come anywhere near that figure.
The death of Cr J Parker (Labour) caused a by-election in the Central Ward. The result was:
G Holt (Tenants and Ratepayers) 610
Ethel May Townsend (Labour) 533
OCTOBER The West Riding County Council were to pay £2,500 for land in Purston Park as a site for an old folk's home. British Railways said there were difficulties closing the Station Lane level crossing gates during heavy road traffic and they proposed twin red alternate-flashing lights. The council agreed, and the county council would contribute half the cost of £680.
The county council said all that was needed at the Station Lane crossroads was direction signs and they should be given a six months trial. Traffic lights would be considered after that period.
Notices would be served on the owners of two houses in Arundel Street reported by Mr Ellison to be unfit for human habitation.
NOVEMBER The council expressed concern at the state of some of the tip clearance sites, and the contractors would be requested to clear them up. The public health inspector was instructed to inspect a caravan in the yard of a public house after a member claimed it was unfit for habitation.
An outline application by Metrovincial Properties, London, to erect shops ans flats in Station Lane was approved. Demolition orders were given for Nos 2 and 4 Arundel Street.
A tender for £4,506 was accepted from the Stourbridge Glazed Brick and Fireclay Co Ltd to tile the surround of the pools at the Lister Baths, and one of £4,837 from J A Hewitson and Co. Ltd to provide two dance floors.
An unnamed young person rode a horse through the park, over the flower beds, and did about £5 worth of damage. The clerk claimed he could have caused injury to old people or children. The offender's father disputed the amount of damage and refused to pay more than £2. The council were split on what action to take, but finally decided to prosecute.
There were also problems at the recently erected toilets in Green Lane. A policeman had caught two 13 year old boys jumping up and down on the toilet seats. The clerk also reported young people were using the space outside as a dance floor.
DECEMBER The public health inspector was told to take steps to remove five caravans and their occupants from the recreation ground in Post Office Road, because they were preventing the children from using it.
An electric defrosting device would be bought to defrost frozen pipes in bad weather. It clipped on to the pipe and then was switched on. It was thought the use of a traditional blowpipe could damage surrounding paintwork.
A tender of £146,027 by Derek Webster Ltd. was accepted to remove the prefab bungalows and build 57 houses, 12 flats and 50 garages.
After consultant specialists had reported on sewage disposal it was decided to close the Snydale sewage works and handle all the sewage at the South Featherstone works. The cost of improving the South Featherstone works was estimated at £109,250. The council considered this as too high, and would discuss it further with the consultants.
A licence was granted to Miss J N Last of Featherstone Lane to keep an animal boarding establishment. This was to comply with a new Act due to come into operation next January 1.
GWEN MATTHEWMAN
In January Mrs Gwen Matthewman of Priory Road, who knitted 1,022oz of wool last year, appeared on the BBC television programme Wednesday Magazine. She said she spent all her spare time knitting clothes for herself and her two sons. In 1962 she knitted more than 60 sweaters, cardigans, suits and dresses.
She said her husband got tired of the clicking of the needles and offered to buy her a knitting machines, but she said that takes all the fun out of knitting. The photo is from Featherstone Bygone Days.
THE ROVERS
Harold Moxon, the coach, said he would be leaving at the end of the season when his contract expired. He had asked the committee if they would release him if he got another coaching position and they refused. He said one person on the committee had been gunning for him ever since he started, with constant pin-pricking.
The half-yearly meeting was held at the Junction Hotel in February. The chairman said he was disappointed at the attendance as he had been for several years. He was of the opinion the membership number warranted a bigger response.
He said the relations between the club and coach were by no means as strained as members might be led to believe. Of course there were differences of opinion within a committee; that was what a committee was for.
A supporters' club dance in the Miners' Welfare Hall in March chose Eileen Roper of Granville Street as Miss Featherstone Rovers. In June Johnny Malpass was chosen as coach to replace Harold Moxon.
The annual meeting was held at the Miners' Welfare in July. The secretary, Ron Bailey, said until the cold spell Featherstone's performance was satisfactory. But after resuming the club had one of the poorest records for many years. Perhaps one of the reasons for our failure was that our team spirit, so essential a part of our past success, was missing during this second half.
It is up to the players to help us regain our poise and status, if not we shall be involved in another desperate relegation fight, which would have a disastrous effect on our support.
The chairman, Mr J Jepson, said it was essential to devise some scheme to increase interest in Division Two, and stressed many teams, Featherstone among them, were becoming evermore indebted to the pools.
The Rovers played the Australian touring team in October and beat them 23-17. Afterwards there was a reception in the Junction Hotel. The tour manager, Mr J Lynch, said you have a team which is certainly a credit to your small town. He handed a pennant to the club, and Kangaroo badges to John Jepson, Ron Bailey and Alf Greaves. Players on both side made recorded messages on the hospital broadcast system to Terry Clawson who was ill in Gateforth Sanatorium. The programme is from fevarchive.
COMFORTS FUND BROADCASTS
The Featherstone and District Hospital Fund Committee installed a broadcasting system for the patients at Ackton Hospital. They hoped to provide commentary on the Rovers home games but the abnormal weather prevented any being played since December, so the first programme in February was for record requests.
The scheme took £800 to establish and had its headquarters at the Rovers ground in Post Office Road. After the successful first effort they were now waiting for better weather so a start could be made on the sport commentaries.
THE BEECHING REPORT
British Rail was running at a loss each year and something radical had to be done. Richard Beeching was appointed to examine the rail network and come up with a solution. Among his proposals in March was the closure of 2,363 stations including Featherstone.
The Featherstone stationmaster told the Express it was no real surprise. There were only 10 passenger trains a day in each direction, and an average of 50 passengers used the station each weekday. There were also excursion passengers. In April the Featherstone Council clerk was instructed to prepare the council's case for the retention of the station.
The freight depot at Featherstone Station was closed in December,
and the railway motor collection and delivery services to and from
traders' premises would be provided from Monkhill Station, Pontefract.
THE AMDRAMS
The Featherstone Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society's production was A Country Girl put on at the Miners' Welfare Hall in March. The Express review said it was on a slightly smaller scale than in previous years, but a bigger success than ever, the cast excelling themselves in the singing and vitality of presentation. A well co-ordinated chorus gave good support and the variety of dresses and the quickness with which they changed created a real kaleidoscope and the dance routines fitted well into the story.
Mrs Alma Nicholson played the part of Nan, the no nonsense solver of everyone's love problems, and her 62 year old mother, May Adelaide Evans, was a backstage helper. After the Tuesday performance Mrs Evans went home to Albert Street and died suddenly. Despite the shock, Mrs Evans decided the show must go on. A friend of the family told the Express her mother would have wanted her to carry on like that. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff Collection.
At the annual meeting it was reported the show was not a big financial success because the attendances were down. Plans were discussed for a Christmas pantomime Cinderella, and next year's presentation, The Student Prince.
METHODIST CHURCH ACCIDENT
An evening service in April at Wakefield Road Methodist Church had ended and the congregation were making their way out when the floor of the porch caved in. A dozen people fell a few feet but the only thing broken was a woman's shoe heel.
Other members of the congregation ran to the rescue and hauled the shaken victims out of the gaping hole. They all had bruises, some pretty bad ones, and scratches and grazes, but nothing more serious.
The members had always thought the floor was solid because the surface was concrete. Little did they suspect under a couple of inches of concrete were floorboards, and beneath those a big hole. Repair work started a few days later. The photo is from the Express.
THE CRICKET CLUB
In May the Cricket Club said it was running into financial difficulties through having to pay for repairs to damage caused by vandals. About 50 window panes had been broken during the past two months. The pavilion windows had been boarded to try and prevent further damage. The club secretary, Mr Fred Belfield, said The finances had been on the bread line for a while, and paying out unnecessary money to repair damage was making it practically impossible to carry on.
Groundsman Mr George Swallow said it's been going on for ages and there's nothing much we can do about it, although the police are looking into it.
At the annual meeting in December, Mr F R Belfield, the secretary, said grants from the Miners' Welfare and the council were most acceptable, but the club could use a greater allowance from the the Welfare. Neighbouring collieries did not have the difficulties they have.
The chairman, Mr F Tuffs, said we have been in a bad way, and it we are to carry on we must have some more money. Treasurer Mr C Toft said the club had £40 left. Every economy had been introduced and expenses could not be cut down by another shilling.
FEATHERSTONE - GOOD OR BAD?
A letter in the Express in June described Featherstone as ugly slums, a drab shopping parade and filthy roads. The place looked stagnant and was a typical example of Northern drabness. The Express sent a reporter to investigate. This is a summary of a long report.
Parts of Featherstone are ugly, as are parts of Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley. A walk up Station Lane and Green Lane reveals an undisguised heap of old ugly buildings. But on the edges of town are the post-war housing estates at Common Lane and North Featherstone, carefully planned, well situated and tastefully designed.
Cr Harry Woodcock said industrial towns are known for their drabness. Its all the same where you have coal or steel. Rapid strides have been made in housing, but it is true there has been a standstill in Station Lane. The council cannot suddenly say we are going to get rid of Station Lane. One section of the Lane has been taken over by a development corporation and there's a possibility for other parts to be developed similarly.
When asked why so many old buildings remained untouched Cr Woodcock said we can't make young married couples stay in lodgings just so we can beautify the town. At one time we had a tremendous number of people on the housing list. In a matter of three years at the most we are hoping there will be no one except pensioners on the list.
The council's chief public health inspector, Mr John Ellison, said alternative housing accommodation is the biggest problem about slum clearance. Some property off Station Lane is getting a bit ropy and will eventually be demolished - but everyone has to be rehoused.
The council clerk, Herbert Tattersall, said Featherstone had the second best post-war housing record per 1,000 population in the Boundary Commission's West Riding Special Review Area. If you want to beautify a town you have to plant trees and make small street gardens. In Featherstone such things are likely to be destroyed.
THE GALA
The council's annual gala was held in Purston Park in June. It was opened by Cr H Woodcock who said we are independent of anyone outside our locality to conduct our own affairs, although the Boundary Commission has suggested it would be better to amalgamate with Pontefract and Knottingley. We sincerely hope to keep our own identity and conduct our own affairs in the way we do.
Let the government remain local. Don't let the people become remote from their representatives. If the amalgamation had taken place earlier Featherstone would not have some of the things it had today. They were hoping to build 200 houses in each of the next two years.
The weather was perfect and hundreds of people attended. There were the usual amusements, tennis, bowling, putting and boating, plus children's roundabouts and a miniature railway. The Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries' Band played selections. In the evening three bouts of professional wrestling were held in a specially erected ring in the middle of the park.
THE WHEELBARROW RACE
The Featherstone and District Hospital Comforts Fund Committee arranged a series of events on Whit Monday in June to raise funds. The main effort was a wheelbarrow race which they had first run last year. There were nine barrows entered, including a two-women team.
They set off from the Junction Hotel, one in the barrow and one pushing, They raced to the Jubilee Hotel where a half-pint of milk had to be drunk (beer last year), the passengers and pushers changed places and raced to the Railway Hotel and the Miners' Welfare Hall, with more half-pints and change-overs. Then to Cressey's Corner where they turned round for the return journey including a stop at the Central Working Men's Club.
The winners were Messrs Candlin and Holmes, who completed the course in 17 minutes. A special prize was presented to the two women who came last. The event raised £11 13s.
On the Rovers' ground in the afternoon, eight teams from public houses and clubs took part in a push ball competition. The winners represented the Jubilee Hotel. The Featherstone Rovers Under 11 team beat a Comforts Fund team 28-3, A goal-kicking contest was won by Eric Tinker of Featherstone Miners Welfare RLFC. Jack Fennell of Featherstone Rovers was second.
The Comforts Fund chairman, Mr W Bingley, said the events laid the foundation for a bigger whit Monday event in future. He had no doubt it would turn into a carnival of some sort.
CROSSROADS TRAGEDY
A petrol tanker travelling towards Pontefract in July collided with a van turning into Station Lane. Both crashed into Fearnley's shop window. Elaine Massey age six of Bedford Close was looking in the window and was killed. He brother Stephen age four was with her. People nearby rushed to free Elaine but she was dead when released.
Stephen and Jeanette Susan Taylor age 5 of Huntwick Road were taken to Pontefract General Infirmary, as was Samuel Bell of Post Office Road. They were all found to only have slight injuries. The two drivers, from Eccles and Sheffield, were also uninjured.
Fire engines were called to the scene in case the tanker caught fire, and police had to direct the traffic for four hours.
Joe Harper MP said he would table a question in the House of Commons for the Minister of Transport to ask for the number of accidents that had occurred at the crossroads in the past ten years, and how many caused loss of life. He said for years the council had agitated for traffic lights at this spot. We cannot wait any longer. A petition in favour of the lights was signed by 885 people and was passed to the county council By Mr Harper.
A meeting at the crossroads was arranged between the Featherstone Council, the West Riding County Council, the Ministry of Transport and the police to decide on safety measures.
At the inquest the coroner instructed the jury that there was no evidence of criminally negligent driving, and they returned a verdict of death by misadventure. At a later court hearing the van driver, Joseph Platts of Sheffield, was convicted of driving without due care and attention and was fined £25 plus costs, and his licence was endorsed. Photo - Tony Lumb Collection.
REGENT STREET SCHOOL ON TV
Regent Street Infants' School was chosen to be on a television programme Learning for Life on ABC TV in November. The headmistress, Miss M A Canning, told the Express the film covered the work done by five year olds, and went on to show the sort of work the six and seven year olds progressed to before going to junior school. She added, the children had not been worried about the installation of cameras and lights during the past three weeks.
The programme producer, Mr Harry Westwood, said the series would show the many aspects of education from the infants to secondary modern schools. The unit had come to Featherstone because people in the North felt it was a case of South, South and more South. They deserve a chance to show what goes on in this part of the country. I think this is a very good school with a marvellous standard of teaching.
VANDALS AT GEORGE STREET SCHOOL
Vandals attacked George Street School in November breaking windows and putting holes in others with missiles. A brick went through a cloakroom window and smashed a wash basin.
Mr Burke, the acting headmaster, said the trouble began only recently, but it was very worrying. Not only the old classrooms suffered, but the new classrooms erected away from the main building also received the same treatment.
It was a costly job replacing the broken panes, because the windows vary in size and shape, and also because the County Council say broken windows must be replaced with toughened glass. The photo of the new classrooms with the old school behind is from the Wakefield Libraries Collection.
HOLE IN THE HEART BOY
David Nicholls age 7 of Priory Road was examined in September at Killingbeck Hospital in Leeds and was diagnosed with a hole in his heart and a tight heart valve. The consultant said untreated his life span could be as little as nine years. An operation could patch the hole and free the valve, and the parents, Ivor and Maureen, agreed it was worth the risk. The seven hour operation was carried out, and five weeks later he returned home to join his brothers Glen age two, and Allen age six.
His father said what a change there has been in him since he came home. He can go about now without getting out of breath. We hope he will be able to start school soon, because he has never been able to go often before. He does not have to play quiet games with the neighbours' children now. He can play their games and not get tired like he used to.
COMMON LANE COMMUNITY CENTRE
A community centre, warden's house and laundrette were opened in November on the old peoples' bungalow complex part of the Common Lane Estate. The Chairman of Featherstone Council, Cr H Woodcock, did the honours. He said the occasion was a big moment in the life of the district.
The council was grateful for the help given by the county council. He thought the community centre would cut out boredom, which is the bane of old people. The intercom system which linked the bungalows with the warden's home would also be beneficial. He said it is out main aim to bring happiness, and we feel we have succeeded in that.
County Alderman J W Trickett said it was a good sign when local authorities were doing work such as this. The future and welfare of the old people was being tackled on a combined basis by the county council and the district councils.
Mr Herbert Luckman age 69 said we are delighted. This is a smashing place. We have cards, dominoes,and the television, or we can just natter if we want to. The warden, Mrs L Powell, said we all think this place is wonderful. A rota has been drawn up to allow all to get a fair use from the laundrette. The photo is from Google Street View.
1963 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY Prizes were presented to 56 scholars at North Featherstone Gospel Hall. They afterwards gave recitations and solos to relatives and friends.
There was a break in at the B & S Sports Club in Wilson Street. Wines, spirits and cigarettes valued at about £116 were stolen. Entry was gained by breaking a rear window and removing a wire guard. Two weeks later there was another break-in.
For the first time in 35 years two members of the Featherstone Girl Guide Company became first class guides. They were Margaret Short and Kathleen McGuire. The whole company, parents and friends gathered at George Street School to see them presented with their badges by the Guides Divisional Commissioner, Mrs R B Addersley of Whitley Bridge.
MARCH After 70 days of frost the winter, the worst since 1947, came to an end on 5 March. Mr G F Adamson, the council's surveyor, told the Express most damage was to the footpaths and repairs would cost about £22,000. There were also costs of £600 for salt on the roads and £700 for the labour.
APRIL The Purston Park superintendent said the bowling green would not be opened for the Easter period because of damage caused by the severe winter frosts.
JUNE Whisky, rum, gin and brandy, worth £352, were stolen from Littlewoods Ltd but were recovered soon afterwards. They were wheeled away on one of the barrows left in the yard.
JULY The Featherstone and District Hospital Comforts Fund appealed for old records to form a record bank to be used for request programmes at Ackton Hospital.
Mr Albert F Blackburn was to retire from George Street Junior Mixed School after being there 21 years. He said he was looking forward to following his hobbies of gardening, walking and reading. At a ceremony in school he received as leaving gifts a picnic set from the pupils, a cheque on behalf of staff, parents and friends, and a tiepin from Mr and Mrs E Hickman (the caretaker and his wife).
AUGUST At the Lumb's Sports Club meeting at Saville Park, Castleford, Featherstone's Barry Lycett won all four cycling events, and the next day at Leeds gala he won another three.
SEPTEMBER The Featherstone and District Horticultural Society held its fifth annual show at the Clock Cafe. There was a record number of 418 entries, and for the first time, it made a profit - £30. The overall winner of the show was Mr R Stanley of Pontefract.
OCTOBER At the annual dinner of the Featherstone Road Club Dr J Duncan, the president, resigned for personal reasons. He had been associated with the club since it was formed in 1929, and he had attended 28 out of 33 annual dinners. he was made a honorary life member.
The road club won the hill climb competition at Ambergate in Derbyshire. The team was K B Lycett, L A Grayson and C M O'Rourke.
The Gold Badge of the British Legion was presented to Mr C Charles who had been secretary of the Featherstone Branch for 23 years. Photo - Pinterest.
A side window was forced at the Red Arrow shop in Station Lane and television sets, transistor radios and tape recorders worth £750 were stolen. The theft was discovered by patrolling police at 5.30am.
Vandals tore 16 seats from their mountings and scattered them about the park. Four of them ended up in the lake. A council official said this sort of thing is going on all the time.
The Featherstone and District Hospital Comforts Fund earmarked £150 for Christmas activities, and agreed fireworks should be bought for Ackton and Headlands Hospitals. It was reported that the request programme for patients at Ackton Hospital was much appreciated.
NOVEMBER The Featherstone and District Horticultural Society held its late chrysanthemum show at the Clock Cafe. There were 115 entries, and the comment was made the show seemed to gain in popularity among the growers each year. but there was not a great deal of interest shown by the public.
Hair lotion and a transistor radio were stolen during a break-in at George Bell's barbers shop in Green Lane.
A lorry with a full load of bagged potatoes overturned after a collision with a car at the junction of Wakefield Road and Commonside Lane. The car was a write off.
The Remembrance service took its usual form with a procession from Cressy's Corner, a stop for a short service by the Salvation Army at the Ackton Hall Colliery War Memorial, and then to the Purston War Memorial where the vicar, Revd I O Jay took the service.
Mr Geoffrey Albert Blackburn of Pontefract was appointed headmaster of
George Street Primary School to succeed his recently retired father.
The Methodist churches held a quarterly united service, and in November it was the turn of the Wakefield Road Methodist Church. The opportunity was taken to dedicate a new communion rail in memory of the late Mr E P Bulllock who was a prominent member of the church.
DECEMBER The Ackton Hospital Comforts Fund reported all the presents had been bought for Ackton Hospital and the fund would play Santa on Boxing Day and not Christmas Day. Gifts would also be provided for Headlands Hospital, Pontefract.
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