Mexborough and Swinton Times December 16, 1939

New Post Office

Opening Ceremony at Mexborough

Growth of Postal Business since 1871

Coun. G. S. Morley. J.P., Chairman of Mexborough Urban Council, who yesterday formally opened the town’s new post office in High Street, said he believed that but for the war Mexborough would have gone forward for Borough powers. Mexborough had been chosen for the building of magnificent educational establishments: but for the war the widening of High Street and the provision of public baths might also have been achieved. He mentioned this for the benefit of those who seemed offended when they had to change their postal address to “Swinton near Mexborough,” for the postal authorities had cemented that decision by bringing that magnificent office to Mexborough. “It will give us a good start for our County Borough,” he added.

Curtailed By War.

A larger scale ceremony had been curtailed by the war, and a few representative visitors were received by the acting Head Postmaster, Mr. L. Anderson, who later introduced Mr. J. Scholes, 0.B.E.. Director the North-Eastern Region of the General Post Office. Mr. Anderson said for many years the business of the post office in Mexborough had been conducted in unsuitable premises, and it had long been appreciated that such an important town should have a better office. The new office would, he was certain, give useful and satisfactory service to the town.

Mr. Scholes said the ceremony was a milestone in the history of Mexborough and a landmark in post office progress. It was generally recognised that the telephone service had made phenomenal strides. This was equally true of postal services. In 1871 the population of Mexborough was 4,300, and the number of letters posted that year, 126,000. By 1907 the population had risen to 9,000, and the letters to 550,000. This year, from a population of over 19,000 there had been 1,930,000 letters, over 100 per head. It was said we had lost the art of letter writing, but figures showed that Mexborough was making increasing use of its postal facilities. The spread of education, following the Act of 1870, had resulted in much more letter writing. Football coupons represented only a small proportion of letters dealt with: most of them were genuine letters, and the war was making the output still greater.

Credit to the Town.

The old Mexborough head office was opened in 1903. He would not say it had “sufficed” for over 30 years. Its deficiencies had become more and more obvious, and the time had come when they had looked for a new site. Their ideas of construction to-day were much different from what they were in 1903. They did not then regard themselves as a business organisation catering for their customers, but they had developed that theme and were trying to get a really attractive type of post office. They would agree they had succeeded in giving Mexborough something which was a credit to the town. He was also pleased they had been able to give better accommodation to their staff.

The visitors then passed down to the front entrance of the building, where Coun. Morley opened the main entrance door and purchased the first stamp from the senior clerk, Miss M. Goldthorpe. Later, bouquets were presented to Mrs. Scholes, Mrs. Morley and Mrs. Sparkes, wife of the Mexborough Postmaster, Mr. H. B. Sparkes, by Miss Marjorie Sparkes, his daughter.

Behind The Postman.

Mr. Scholes proposed a vote of thanks to Coun. Morley, describing him as linking central government with local government

Mr. Sparkes, seconding, said he had been surprised at the interest taken in postal service by Coun. Morley. He had done a useful service to the town that afternoon. Mr. Sparkes referred to the figures quoted by Mr. Scholes, and said one firm alone posted over one and a quarter million letters per year. There was no department of the State that touched the life of the people more than the post office. The postman was one of many thousands doing a useful service: behind him was a vast organisation. He appealed to local officials to co-operate with their officers so that the post office could offer still greater benefits.

On the request of Coun. Morley, all stood in silence in memory of those who had lost their lives in the war. This is a procedure adopted at the monthly meetings of the local authority.

Coun. Morley referred to Mexboro’s claims for borough powers and went on to say that the staff of the post office, who had experienced many difficulties and inconveniences, were worthy of this fine building. Many people looked on the post office as a place where penny and three-halfpenny stamps were available. It was much more. It was interesting to note that eighty differed kinds of stamps were obtainable. The Council he said seeing such a magnificent building might think of better offices for themselves some day. He hoped that when the war was over they would go in for a town hall. And offices where the whole of the Council business could be carried on. The public of Mexborough welcomed this new office. An old man he had seen on the way down had told him. “Tell ’em it ought to have been here twenty since.”

Earlier in the proceedings Coun. Morley also made up some of the Ant outgoing mail, and later, afternoon tea was served.

The new building, as described earlier in our columns, provides for both Postal and telephone services. There is ample floor space and good lighting all over the building, and it is heated by the panel system of low-pressure hot water: in the public office some of these panels have been made to contribute to the scheme of decoration. Installation of the new automatic telephone exchange is expected to commence during January. 1940, for completion at the end of April.