Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 18 September 1931
“South Yorkshire Times.”
Memories of Early Days.
An Old Friend of the Paper
The “Times” is to be re-christened at last ! After a life of more than half a century !
I can envisage cogitations in the proprietorial and editorial rooms ere the final decision was reached. A perfectly legitimate sentiment caused the original designation to be retained as long as possible. But a “Times” sentiments that once supplied news only for the immediate Mexborough area, and If which South Yorkshire with five district issues, he is certainly not the same thing. The new name is certainly not a surprise to me. In my own mind that was settled long ago.
What a worthy past the journal had! How it has honourably identified itself with movements tending to the progress of the people! There her been a sympathetic understanding of questions affecting capital and labour, and clear vision relative to local government, and, amid all that has concerned au important industrial area. I have been personally very interested to note that the work of the churches hay been by no means neglected.
“Founded by the late Mr. Walter Turner in July, 1871.” What a flood of memories this sentence called forth. It was in mid-winter, 1879, that I first entered Mexborough. My father was, at the time, editor of a Lancashire paper, and I was a junior reporter on the staff. One day, he said, quite good-humouredly, “You had better be off and paddle your own canoe.” Watching advertisements for an opening by which to commence the journalistic journey, I saw an announcement that a Pressman was required at Mexboro’. I wrote for a copy of the paper. It was about half the size of one of the present sheets, folded, to make four pages. I was appointed to “take charge.”
Mexboro’ looked the reverse of attractive on the day I arrived—leaden sky, sombre surroundings, with fitful glare from glassworks and ironworks, furnaces, surrounded by slag heaps near the canal bank. Anxious to at once discover what the district looked like, I immediately ascended the Common. I loved that Common ever after, and, as friends know, lived there many years. It had very few houses on it in those days, but I was not surprised to learn, later on, that it had been the scene of historic camp meetings in the early period of Primitive Methodism. I could recognise the spire of Rotherham Parish Church, five miles away, well-wooded uplands, owned by Earl Fitszilliam, hills country in the direction of Maltby and Roche Abbey, Clifton, and other parts of the Conisboro’ area, made famous by Sir Walter Scott in “Ivanhoe.”
After this, I was prepared to go downhill to High Street and shake hands with Mr.Walter Turner. We soon became friendly and continued this so as long as I knew him. He was behind the counter at the shop— comparatively small premises in those days, but adequate for the printing and stationery business, with rooms at the rear. “You will need to enlarge the paper now I’ve come,” I laughingly intimated. “0, yes,” said he, “I have the necessary machinery ready for a larger newspaper.” I admired his Yorkshire shrewdness and pushfullness. “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” and he was destined to succeed. Townsfolk soon became known to me—the Rev. Henry Ellershaw, MA., the genial and able vicar; Dr. Sykes, medical officer and enthusiastic Conservative; Mr. J. H. Watson (later County Alderman), placid, but equally eager Liberal (they had verbal duels in the local Parliament), Messrs. Waddington and Barron, successful manufacturers and influential on the Local Board; Mr. Varah Lockwood, clerk and surveyor; and many others. Those early days in Mexboro’ were a fine experience to a young journalist. There was not much “peace” at that time of day. Trade unions were not on the sound footing they are today. Disputes at Denaby Main and Manvers Main mines were frequent. Strikes or lock-outs provided much good copy for the press (including Sheffield, Leeds, and London papers), particularly, when “black-sheep” arrived from a distance. Mr. John Dixon, checkweighman, Denaby Main, was a good friend to the reporter and could give reliable information. Fortunately, those exciting times are quite a feature of the past; the spirit of “give and take” is more abroad to-day—masters and men understand one another better. Although my stay with the “Times” was comparatively short, I continued, for years, as you know, to supply a little local news.
I am sorry the efforts for incorporation have not yet been successful, but when they are accomplished I should be delighted to find Mr. W. P. Turner made chief magistrate, in consideration of the great influence of the “Times” in the development of the district —and of South Yorkshire.
- T. Stevens.
West Kirby.