South Yorkshire Times, October 21st 1944
Labour Stalwart Going Down South
Mr. J. T. Rowan Leaves Mexborough
To-day (Friday), a long and useful personal connection with the Labour and Trade Union movement in the Don Valley is interrupted by the departure from the district of Mr. John Thomas Rowan, of Mexborough. Mr. Rowan, who is taking up residence at 272, Margate Road, Ramsgate, has done much to make the Don Valley Parliamentary Division a Labour stronghold.
Mr. Rowan came to Mexborough in 1896 to instal an up-to-date linotype machine for the “South Yorkshire Times” Printing Company, who were pioneers in this part of the district in machine composition, and after superintending the erection of this first machine Mr. Rowan eventually remained with the firm until his retirement in 1908, seeing the firm’s battery of composing machines in this department increase seven-fold. At the time of his retirement Mr. Rowan was foreman of the linotype department, a position he had held for a number of years.
On his retirement Mr. Rowan continued his long connection with the Labour movement which began when he first came to Mexborough as a delegate to the then Trade and Labour Council. As a young man in Manchester, he had developed an interest in politics as a member of the Manchester Labour Church, and found a ready outlet for his enthusiasm in the Don Valley. He became a member of the Mexboro’ Urban Council in 1908 and was chairman in 1913 and 1921, retiring from the Council over 20 years ago. Just prior to 1918 he was appointed secretary and Parliamentary Agent to the Don Valley Divisional Labour Party, an office he has held continuously from that time. He organised seven election campaigns during his term of office and only relinquished the position of Divisional Secretary in June this year. In 1922 he organised the election campaign which resulted in Mr. T. Williams’s election to Parliament, the first time a Labour candidate had ever been returned in the Don Valley Division, and since that time he has successfully organised five other campaigns on behalf of Mr. Williams, the most notable being at the last General Election when the Labour majority was 19,999.
For 36 years Mr. Rowan was President of the local section of the Typographical Association and played a large part in the good industrial relationship existing between the union and the employers. Despite long working hours, he did, during his youth, find time to prove himself a swimmer of repute, winning many trophies and championships.
A circular letter sent out to all affiliated bodies by the Don Valley Divisional Labour Party, over the signatures of the President and Secretary, pays tribute to Mr. Rowan as follows:
“His retirement terminates a 26 years’ period of devoted service to the movement, during which time his guidance and activities have brought rich results to the cause. The remarkable growth of Don Valley Division since 1918 is in no small measure due to the constant and faithful comradeship displayed by Jack Rowan.”
During the present war he has been a founder member of the Don Valley Information Committee and has done a great deal of work in this connection. Latterly he has taken a keen interest in gardening and looks forward to developing this interest, despite his 71 years.