A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1979
LEN BULLOCK
Leonard Bullock of Mount Pleasant Street began his retirement on January 1 after 50 years with various bus companies starting in 1928 with Bullock and Sons in Wilson Street. He was always active in sporting and youth activities. He was treasurer of Featherstone Miners' Welfare Rugby League Football Club, and for many years was a youth club leader and a cub scout leader. His wife Margaret was school secretary at Featherstone High School. The photo is from the Express.
THE ROVERS
George Turton was collecting waste paper at the Rovers' ground and selling it in aid of the Floodlights Fund. By January he had raised £206. Photo - Express.
At the half-yearly meeting in February assistant secretary Terry Jones said the club owed £16,894. Part of the money owed to the former guarantors and part of the Rugby League fine had been paid. The membership totalled 739, and the new lottery had so far raised £2,000 for the club.
Secretary Derrick Hobbs said the new committee had been thrown in at the deep end. That they learned the ropes quickly was a credit to the job they set out to do.
In March Sharon Hurdus age 17 of Wakefield was chosen to be the Rovers queen for the next year. Photo - the Express.
In July secretary Derrick Hobbs announced he would be retiring after the annual meeting. His successor would be assistant secretary Terry Jones.
The meeting was held in August. The new secretary and former assistant secretary, Terry Jones, said "Finance at Featherstone has always been a challenge and the challenge does not appear to be diminishing. The balance sheet shows that on the season we made a loss of £1,220. Such a loss may be considered by some of you to be fairly satisfactory, but it was only kept within bounds by the fact that winning money was not paid so very often. Players wages and training expenses were £8,000 less than last season". The club had received £7,757 so far from the lottery and he hoped it would continue to prosper.
The retiring secretary, Derrick Hobbs, said the 1978-79 season would probably be recorded as one of the blackest in recent history. Everything seemed to go against us - injuries, refereeing decisions, the team coach arriving late for a vital cup-tie or on one occasion not getting to a game at all. He thanked everyone who had helped him during his term of office, and expressed the belief that in Terry Jones the Rovers had found a worthy successor.
Donald Hunt, chairman of the Floodlight Fund committee, said the total now raised was £2,067. Treasurer Jim Reed said floodlights are an extra we cannot do without.
A NEW LIBRARY?
Wakefield Council considered the Featherstone Library was far too small for modern purposes and in the wrong place on Green Lane. A new library should be more central. Featherstone Town Council wanted a new library to be combined with a meeting and exhibition hall, and the two councils were discussing this in February. The council already owned a suitable plot at the corner of Station Lane and Victoria Street. The photo of the library and ex-miners' welfare building is by Rich Short.
NO MORE CONKERS
A horse chestnut tree which had stood at the entrance to Purton Church School for over 100 years was cut down in February as part of a footpaths and road widening scheme for the A645 between Friars Close and Ackworth Road. The Express photo shows the narrow footpaths which had been a worry for many years.
THE AMDRAMS
The Featherstone and District Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society put on their production of The Card at Castleford Civic Centre in March. It had the unusual happening of a mother and daughter in the musical being played by Audrey Haggerty and her daughter Catherine. Of Catherine the Express reviewer said her singing voice must surely rate as the best in the cast.
The society put on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat at the Civic Centre in June. The Express review said it moved at an energetic pace throughout. There was a competent four-piece band, and the singing was backed by a very good choir.
Cast members of the production visited Regent Street School. The Express photo shows Martin Pickersgill with the "dream coat" trying it on Steven Blaydon age six.
PIGEON LOFT ATTACK
Alexander Evans lived on the NCB Girnhill Lane estate and had an allotment in Girnhill Lane. He was at work at Ackton Hall Colliery in March when he was told his pigeon loft was on fire. The loft was destroyed and over 50 pigeons died.
Harry Bailey was working in his garden and saw a youth apparently forcing the door. When he approached, the youth ran off. He was chased and eventually caught at George Street School. The police were investigating. Photo - the Express.
KATRINA GROVE LINK ROAD
There should have been a link road between Katrina Grove and Bedford Close but it wasn't completed, and it wasn't until April when someone put in a planning application to build a house in the gap that the planners realised the omission. A check on the original planning approval revealed there were no conditions for its construction. The council would have to apply for a compulsary purchase order for the 25 metres length and then complete the link road.The total estimated cost was £4,000.
KEITH CHEGWIN'S SWOP SHOP
BBC TV's Keith Chegwin, known to most young viewers as "Cheggers", played a part in the annual May Day gala when he hosted a "swop shop" as part of the attractions on the Rovers' ground. He was also in charge of an egg-throwing competition. The proceeds were shared by Pontefract Round Table and the Featherstone Rovers Floodlight Appeal Fund. Photo - Express.
The Social and Handicrafts Day Centre in North Featherstone, for people with a physical handicap, had about 30 members from all over Featherstone. It was run by Mrs Winifred Lister and Mrs Sue Cranshaw and met every Monday. There was a variety of handicrafts such as knitting, crocheting, embroidery and macrame. Members also appreciated the social chat.
Mrs Lister told the Express in June "The main advantage of the day centre is it keeps the members as part of the community. They are able to get out of the house and meet people and they have discovered they can still do things". The photos of members playing cards and Mrs Elizabeth Jarvis of Jaglin Court making a basket are from the Express.
DEMOLITION TIME
In June Cr Norman Longbottom said there's still half of Earle Street to be rehoused and we need to get them out as soon as possible.
At the other end of town, Mr Ron Horrocks, housing officer, said "The remaining 32 houses in Lister Road and 32 in Nostell View were not up to scratch and it would cost too much to bring them up to modern standards. He had received requests from many tenants who wanted to move into more modern housing.
"Sixty-six houses were knocked down three years ago. At that time the the 64 left were satisfactory, but there has been some deterioration since then and it would just not be economical to improve them."
The Express was told by a council representative that the Andrew Street and Granville Street area had been cleared and new housing would be built, George Street school had been extended and new playing fields added, and the pit dirt tip behind Lister Road had been landscaped. Lister Road would be isolated in the middle of these dvelopments. The 80 years old Lister Road would be isolated in the middle of these developments and would cast social stigma on the area.
THE GALA
The Gala was held in July in Purston Park. The Queen was Denise Dixon. A new cup was available for the winners of the relay race. It was the Joe Harper Memorial Cup. Gala queen photo - Jayne McKenna (Featherstone Bygone Days).
Also taking part were the Territorial Army, West Yorkshire Police, weightlifters, Pontefract Aeromodellers, a display of vintage bicycles, and the Featherstone Model Power Boat Club.
The Express photo shows members of the 1st Purston St Thomas Cub Pack with brothers David and Michael Thomas wielding the mallets.
BETTY WARD BEM
Betty Ward of Leatham Crescent was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June. It was for 15 years outstanding service with the Air Training Corps. The Presentation was made at a special ceremony in Pontefract Barracks in October where over 130 parents, cadets, friends and relative gathered to see the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Sir William Bulmer, present her with the medal.
The gathering was greeted by a fanfare from Pontefract ATC band and a guard of honour by the rifle display team. The event coincided with Mrs Ward's retirement from Pontefract ATC and she was presented with a cutglass decanter by Squadron Leader Eddie Upton on behalf of the corps. Photo - the Express.
HIT BY LIGHTNING
Mr and Mrs Robert Cleworth lived in Little Lane. There was a severe storm in October so they switched off the electricity at the mains switch. Shortly after, lighting struck the house. The light sockets in a bedroom and the bathroom were fused and the casing was blown off the mains switch. A wall in the bedroom was cracked. Mr Clewarth told the Express, "A blue light came into the room. We hear two loud cracks, and the last one hit us". The police were called who checked the property and found it safe.
IRENE KEENAN RETIRES
After 30 years working in an off-licence in Station Lane Mrs Irene Keenan retired in November. The shop was run by Mrs Kennan and her husband until he died 12 years ago. Then her daughter and son-in-law, Lorna and Jack Hutsby took over with Mrs Keenan lending a hand. The Hutsby's had decided it was time to move on which prompted Mrs Keenan to call it a day. She would however be helping the new proprietors, Mr and Mrs Jones, for a few weeks. Photo - Express.
SNYDALE COLLIERY BATHS
McLauchlins of Knottingley and Jenkins, Mercer and Crofts of Pontefract wanted to grow produce and sell it on the site of the redundant Snydale Colliery baths. There was nothing in the planning application in December about demolishing the building.
At a council meeting in December Cr Tom Dando said there was no reason why the application should not go forward. A garden centre is a green belt application. Cr Norman Longbottom didn't agree. He said the council had already agreed the premises should be demolished. We have had this eyesore all this while. A compulsory purchase order has been signed and is on its way.
A vote to defer the application was lost, and a motion to refuse permission altogether was approved.
LIN PAC CLUB
A new sports and social club built within the factory site costing £125,000 was opened in December. Everybody who worked at Lin Pac Corrugated Cases and Lin Pac Plastics was entitled to membership and there were no fees.They could also sign in friends whom they wanted to bring as guests.
It had a large turfed area as a children's playground and a paved patio with tables and umbrellas. Inside there was a stage and dancing floor and a large lounge. It would be open every afternoon and evening and be available for special occasions. There were men's and women's changing rooms and showers for the adjacent football field. In charge were Derek and Carol Nadin. The Express photo shows Lin Pac Group Chairman Mr H E Comish receiving the first pint, after he had officially opened the club, from steward Derek Nadin.
JANUARY Stephen Nuthall was appointed headmaster at Regent Street First School. Photo - Express.
FEBRUARY The grounds of Purston First School were used by people walking between Bedford Close and Nunns Lane. A locked gate had been put up but headmaster Peter Cork said people climbed over it and it was beginning to sag.
Wakefield District Council wanted the best practical means to control noise and dust on the proposed Springfield opencast site, and eleven trees in a plantation to be spared.
Cr John Holt complained Ackton Hall Colliery were running wagons from the pit yard to a spoil site the other side of Green Lane and had churned up the footpath and made it impassable. The NCB said they were looking into the matter.
Men from Ackton Hall Colliery cleared four feet deep snow drifts from the road near Ackworth Pit and spread grit so the miners could get to work. Photo - the Express.
Featherstone Council were dismayed that the proposed relief road from the Junction Hotel to Green Lane was not in the county council's new ten year plan even though it was shown in the Featherstone Town Plan.
Sarah Jane Bland age 12 of Nunns Lane was at St Thomas Middle School at Purston and was said to be the first pupil there to play the euphonium. She also played with Featherstone High School Band. Photo - Express.
MARCH The residents of numbers 119 to 129 Pontefract Road complained their cellars had been flooded by water from the Went Beck since before Christmas. They were told it would cost them £1,000 each to have the beck piped. A spokesman for the council said there had been flooding all over because of all the rain and snow in the winter. The level of the cellars was below the level of the beck and nothing would stop the water seeping in. The residents could have the cellars filled in and inquire about the possibility of an improvement grant.
APRIL Letty Pagdin of Pontefract Road reached the age of 65 and had to retire from her job as cook at Ferndale old people's home. The staff and residents presented her with an electric blanket. Photo - the Express.
Pupils of St Thomas Middle School performed their Easter mime and song play The Miracle Man. They were led by teacher Mr J Parkin on the right of this Express photo.
JUNE Vandals smashed the plate glass window at Sheard's shop on Ackworth Road. It was estimated to cost £750 to repair the damage.
JUNE Vandals smashed the plate glass window at Sheard's shop on Ackworth Road. It was estimated to cost £750 to repair the damage.
Mr Gerald Haines of Hardwick Grove grew a lupin flower whose flowers were different from the conventional lupin. Expert gardeners and passers by were all bewildered by the shape. Photo - the Express.
A DOSCO Road-Header Mark III,one of the largest tunnelling machines in use, was delivered to Ackton Hall Colliery. It was 41 feet long and weighed 65 tons. It could dig an arched tunnel 21 feet wide and 14 feet six inches high. Photo - the Express.
JULY A mysterious plant growing in the Girnhill Lane allotments was defying identification. It was over six feet high and was still growing. The Express photo shows allotment holders George Banks (left) and Les Cross looking puzzled.
After 59 years in America, 91 years old Mr Walter Lorriman decided it was time to come back to Featherstone on a three weeks holiday to find old friends. He was accompanied by his daughter Mrs Olive Kara. He was a deputy at a Featherstone mine and left in 1920 to work in Canadian mines and then in America. He was staying with his brother, George Herbert Lorriman of Gordon Street. The Express photo shows Walter on the right with Olive and George.
AUGUST A traffic jam developed in Station Lane when the level crossing was closed for 15 minutes during the rush hour.
Thieves broke through a skylight to enter the Featherstone Rovers Social Club and steal £250 from behind the bar. Oher thieves broke into Gordon Street School and stole two Decca Legate Delux cassettes valued at £64, and a Phillips portable radio valued at £16.
A team of eight workers on a community industry scheme were making a car park for Purston Church. They were hampered because vandals had broken the carburettor on their concrete mixer and the mixing had to be done by hand. The man in charge, Albert Blackford, said he was trying to get a replacement mixer.
Carl Parker age 11 and his brother Dean age 9 of Katrina Grove entered sporting competitions at a holiday camp near Filey, Dean won football and swimming competitions, and Carl was runner-up in the swimming. The Express photo of the brothers shows Carl on the left.
SEPTEMBER The council had to make spending cuts so the Katrina Grove link road project was postponed.
Staff and customers in the Daryl Hairdressing Salon in Station Lane saw flames spurting from a television set in the Home Electronics and Audio Centre across the road. Hairdressing assistant Mandy Eustace ran across the road but the shop door was locked. She called the fire brigade and they arrived within minutes. Owner John Holton arrive to find firemen carrying wrecked television sets and audio goods onto the pavement. He told the Express "You can see for yourself how bad it is. My insurance ran out last week and I am skint". Photo - Express.
Trooper Keith Luckman of Little Lane was with the Royal Dragoon Guards training in Canada. He took the opportunity to see the famous Medicine Hat Stampede where he saw cowboys ride bucking broncos and bulls, calf roping, wild horse saddling and cowgirls barrel racing. Photo - Express. Trooper Luckman is on the left.
Raffles at Green Lane and Central Working Men's Clubs and the Bradley Arms raised over £250 for the Featherstone Hospital Comforts Fund.
OCTOBER The Gold Award of the National Blood Transfusion Service was awarded to Mrs Maureen Morgan of Rhyl Street when she made her 50th donation of blood at Pontefract Infirmary. Her blood contained an antibody used in antenatal work.
Cr Norman Longbottom said he was disgusted when he saw there was nothing in a council ten-year programme to reclaim land in need of improvement. He said "We have the biggest muckstack in the area (between Snydale Colliery and Streethouse)". The Ackworth Pit muckstack was in the programme for 1987-88.
Mrs Gwen Matthewman of Priory Road, world knitting champion since 1963, took part in a Dutch television programme Doobel Spel and knitted throughout the programme.
George Ritchie of Throstle Crest, Ackton, a self-taught pianist who could not read music, won the National Pub Player of the Year competition in London. He told the Express he improved his technique by watching closely his two favourites, Russ Conway and Liberace. Landlord Mr Keith Hopton of the King William IV pub in Castleford said "We're putting out the flags and preparing a celebration for George".
The Hospital Comforts Fund was to purchase two surgical beds, two Buckton invalid chairs and two bedside wardrobes for Ackton Hospital.
Cr R Smith said at a Featherstone Town Council meeting something should be done to speed up the re-housing of people in Lister Road and Nostell View. Cr Ernest Longley said Wakefield District Council was doing what it could, but it could only reallocate people as better houses became available. There was also a problem with people turning down houses offered to them. We do not force them to go where they do not want to go. Cr George Holt said the houses in Earle Street were even worse.
NOVEMBER Ackton Hall Colliery Band was one of only two representing Yorkshire at the National Union of Mineworkers Brass Band Championships held at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. Although they didn't win conductor Dennis Metcalfe said the band played remarkably well. I was delighted with their performance. The visit was marred by the stealing of a euphonium.
Cr Keith Wilson presented North Featherstone First School with its certificate of affiliation to the Tufty Club which was set up to keep young children safe, such as crossing a road. Photo - Express.
Dry rot was discovered in the porch of St Thomas's Church. it was estimated to cost £800 to repair depending whether or not it had spread to other parts of the roof.
NOVEMBER The Poppy Day Collection organised by the Royal British Legion realised £491.45.
DECEMBER A record number of toys was collected at the annual family toy service at the Methodist Church. Sunday School Queen Jayne Bennett and her consort Simon Artas received the toys from Sunday School children, Guides, Brownies and Cubs. They were to be given to Social Services to be shared among needy children in the town.
A gale with 75mph winds caused havoc. In Carlton Street scaffolding collapsed and narrowly missed crashing into residents parked cars. The metal top of Purston War Memorial was blown off. The power to about 75 households was cut off when steelwork on a low voltage line gave way.
Members of the Hospital Comforts Fund and young people from the Gospel Hall visited Ackton Hospital over Christmas. Paul Clarke accompanied carol singers on the accordion. Duets were sung by Pat Wray and Michelle Hare. Mr G Holt said £1,200 had been spent on comforts for the hospital.
The Featherstone firemen handed over a cheque for £1,000 to the National Fire Service Benevolent Fund. It raised the total amount raised by the men for the fund to about £4,500 over the last six years.