There Won't Be Mail in Crookes This Xmas (2024 Version)

 Well it has been over 14 years and 699 blog posts since View From A Hill was founded in November 2010. The other day I looked back at the first posts and was astounded to find that on 7th November 2010 I posted a blog "There Won't Be Mail in Crookes This Xmas" . 

It was a prediction that was made 14 years ago that Royal Mail would become a source of plunder for the monied classes and so it has proved with the news that Royal Mail is now owned by a reclusive Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský. His EP Group now owns Royal Mail after the UK government approved the takeover of the postal service's parent company, International Distribution Services (IDS), in December 2024. The deal was worth £3.6 billion. 

"The takeover marks the end of over 500 years of public ownership for Royal Mail. The government retained a "golden share" in IDS, which gives it the power to approve any major changes to Royal Mail's ownership, tax residency, or headquarters. The government also requires EP Group to maintain the Universal Service Obligation (USO), which means Royal Mail must deliver letters six days a week and parcels Monday to Friday." 

Křetínský has promised to invest in Royal Mail's modernization and transformation. He has also said that he's considering ways to allow UK citizens to invest in the company."

Ah a billionaire's promises  - I think we have been here before and in nearly every case it has ended with the workers and taxpayers picking up the tab for corporate greed,

The mail this Xmas has been its usual patchy self - days without letters and cards and then a bundle arrives tied with an elastic band. Some of these have taken 7 - 10 days to arrive and not 2 - 3 as promised by the Royal Mail. The company get fined for late delivery by the so-called regulator  Ofcom but they just raise their postal prices to pay the fine.

"Pay More Get Less" a slogan for today

And with that observation all that remains is to wish my readers a happy and prosperous New Year! 

   

  

  

Sir Wilson Mappin (1848 - 1925)

Several years ago I posted an article to the site relating to the life and achievements of his father Sir Frederick Thorpe Mappin "Sheffield's Grand Old Man (1821 - 1910)" 

Sir Wilson Mappin was his third son and like his father a noted benefactor to the city of Sheffield. His home Thornbury is now a private hospital.

This obituary is from the Sheffield Daily Independent dated 9th June 1925

  

The Real Santa Claus - A History For Readers Young And Old

 This is from the Leeds Mercury dated 2nd January 1913

Christmas at Bramall Lane Sheffield 1974

I came across this advertisement when I was looking at some old Sheffield United programmes. This was taken from a home game against Burnley on Saturday 16th November 1974. It was my 21st birthday but sadly the match ended in 2 - 2 draw. Disappointment but that can be the case when you watch the Blades.

Anyway I had to have a wry smile at this advertisement

Fifty years on in 2024 it is a different world. To visit the club shop now either in person or online, the first and only requisite is to have substantial disposable income at your disposal as none of the products are inexpensive.  And it is not just Sheffield United, it is every football club that has pricing that at times can be eye-watering.

The Sheffield United shoulder bag that is advertised above cost £1.75 in 1974 and allowing for inflation it would be in todays money £12.75.  A visit to the aforementioned Sheffield United shop today for a  Sheffield United shoulder bag would set up back £18.00. 

The 1975 SUFC calendar priced at 60p is the equivalent of £4.37 in todays money. The 2025 calendar for SUFC £9.99. mmm

And 50 years on something does not change - the Blades are playing Burnley at home on Boxing Day. Does disappointment await! 

 

  

Lizzie Siddal - Tragic Story of Model with Sheffield family

This is from the Sheffield Weekly Gazette dated 1st February 2007. Many years ago I was going to post an article on Lizzie to the site but as you can see in the text, a book has already been written about her and there is plentiful information now online.

But what I did not know was that lizzie was related to William Ibbitt, 1805-1869

"A designer and chaser by trade, but now known for his large coloured prints of the town and

districts of Sheffield which are striking and on the whole accurate."

A couple of his paintings are featured below and often feature in Sheffield history books.

 

Wardsend Bridge 1855

View from Crookesmoor 

John Firth's Obituary - April 1869 Sheffield

 In January 2019 I posted a blog about the funeral of Mr John Firth of Holt House Sheffield. John was a major figure in the industrial and commercial life of mid-nineteenth century Sheffield. This week I located his obituary in the Derbyshire Courier dated 24th April 1869 which details the circumstances surrounding his death,

 

5 Durham Road Sheffield - 4th July 1960

A researcher contacted me this week regarding a feature of his family history

" there is one that I feel I must find more about; the death of Linda Valerie Pridmore, aged 12, in December 1960.  This, of course, is late 20th Century when the child mortality rate had improved quite a lot, which poses the question, how did she die?  She survived the usual infant diseases, although children of all ages are vulnerable I know.  But I have a feeling that there is more to Linda's death that I just need to find  out about; it is niggling me.

Her name isn't common and if there was anything untoward about her death, it may have been reported in the local press.  I wondered if you could do a search of the local papers of December 1960. The date of her death falls just within the embargo of coroners' reports, so I can't go there yet.  I would be grateful for anything that you can dig up."

I checked the BMD and found the following for Linda

 Birth Name Linda V Pridmore Registration Date Jul 1948

Registration Quarter Jul-Aug-Sep

Registration district Sheffield Inferred County South Yorkshire

Mother's Maiden Name Todd

Volume Number 2d  Page number 86

Death  Name Linda V Pridmore Death Age 11

Birth Date abt 1949

Registration Date Jul 1960 Registration Quarter Jul-Aug-Sep

Registration district Sheffield Inferred County Yorkshire West Riding

Volume 2d Page 45

And then I checked the excellent Sheffield Indexers site and found these burial records

PRIDMORE, Ellen (Wife of George, age 57).  Died at 5 Durham Rd; Buried on July 9, 1960 in Consecrated ground;      Grave Number 30979, Section F6 of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 250

PRIDMORE, Linda Valerie (Daughter of George, age 11). Died at 5 Durham Rd; Buried on July 9, 1960 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 30979, Section F6 of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 250

Mother and daughter buried on the same day looked ominous and so I checked the BNA and Newspaper Archive and found this report from The Guardian dated 5th July 1960

I relayed this information back to the researcher and needless to say he was dumbfounded by this revelation. He also informed me that  George and Ellen lost two other children, both less than 12 months old in 1941 and 1942.  George, who found the bodies, was their first born and their only child to survive childhood.  Such a sad story

I can find no photo of the house on Durham Road as it is now the site of  the University of Sheffield's multi-storey car park. I have a feeling that the house where the tragedy occurred may have been late Georgian in style similar to those on adjacent streets

And of course if anyone could supple me with any further information I would be grateful. 

  

Joseph Goddard's Death Mask - Sheffield

The following cutting is from the Sheffield Telegraph dated 13th March 1949. I was going to do an article on Joseph but there is quite a bit of material and content online about his life and career and so I did not take it any further.

But there is nothing online about this article which is at times quite sad but also very interesting. 

Death at Rawson's Brewery, Pond Street Sheffield - February 1939

 

The photo shows Rawson's Brewery in Pond Street Sheffield. 

Thomas Rawson's and Co Brewery situated in Pond Street Sheffield was totally destroyed by enemy action and was never rebuilt. The irony of the destruction was that in the late 1930's Sheffield Corporation was giving serious consideration to demolishing the Brewery itself and constructing a new technical college. The air raid flattened the site and the brewery was never rebuilt. It was developed after the war as Sheffield Polytechnic which is known nowadays as Sheffield Hallam University

This report is from the Times dated 16th February 1939 - it is rather ironic

Similar reports appear in a few regional newspapers, and one states that William was still alive when he was reached but had extensive injuries and as a result died soon afterwards. 

All the reports refer to William Oswald Furniss but his burial record states that his middle name was Oliver and not Oswald

FURNISS, William Oliver (Brewers Engineer, age 67).

     Died at Rawsons Brewery, Pond Street; Buried on February 20, 1939 in Consecrated ground;

     Grave Number 8587, Section H of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.

His wife Florence died 12 years later

FURNISS, Florence (Widow, age 78).

     Died at City General Hospital; Buried on July 28, 1951 in Consecrated ground;

     Grave Number 8587, Section H of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.

   

  

Robert Hollingworth - Wadsley Bridge Station Sheffield January 1890

 I have just posted an article to the site relating to the life and death of a Sheffield banker Mr William Wild of Pentonvillle, 23 Northumberland Road Sheffield. The newspaper reports are just prodigious in the detail they contain and the tone they set.

Just below the report of his death in the Evening Telegraph and Star dated 21st January 1890 was this report of an inquest into the death of Mr. Robert Hollingworth at Wadsley Bridge railway station.

It appears from the report that Robert was an experienced platelayer but he obviously lost concentration for just a moment and that cost him his life.  

John Lipsey Bright (1860 - 1900) - Ladysmith South Africa

I have jus updated the article on the Bright family in Sheffield to include details of the life and Death of Maurice De Lara Bright. I had not updated the article for a number of years and I was saddened to find that the excellent Deane Road Cemetery website was no longer in existence. This is happening more frequently and I can only assume that the owners/contributors have moved on to other media outlets or decided that they had taken it as far as they could.    

But I also found this rather poignant report in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph 14 November 1911 relating to the death in South Africa of John Lipsey Bright, Maurice's son. John was forty years of age at the time of his death.

Miss Slocombe Commits Suicide - 19th February 1946 - Little Braddow Essex

This article is very rare thankfully but a a bit of background is needed on the person this blog centres around

THERESA SLOCOMBE

Baptism 18 Dec 1875 • Finchley St Mary, England

Residence 1881 • Hendon, Middlesex, England

Birth of brother Charles Frederick Slocombe(1882–) Jan 1882 • Middlesex, United Kingdom

Residence 1891 • Hendon, Middlesex, England

Death of father Charles Philip Slocombe(1832–1895) Jul 1895 • Middlesex, United Kingdom

Residence 1901 • Hendon, Middlesex, England

02 Apr 1911 • Fairview, Hendon, Middlesex, England Modeller for art metal worker

1946 70 Death Mar 1946 • Chelmsford, Essex, England

The following report is from The Essex Chronicle dated 22nd February 1946 and is a report of the coroners inquest into the death of Miss Slocombe at her home in Little Braddow Essex 

The surprising revelation was when the coroner remarked that it is " the only case I know suicide of by hanging in the manner of a judicial hanging," 

And as far as I can ascertain it is indeed a very rare event. And it also a very sad event in as much as Miss Slocombe must have gone to considerable lengths to ensure that her death would be instantaneous. 

Probate Record

Alfred Bell's Fatal Attempt To Imitate The Star Diver - Rotherham 21 st June 1868

This blog relates to the ancestors of Olive Bell who was the wife of noted Sheffield artist Kenneth Steel. Olive wad a victim of the Sheffield Blitz in December 1940

A researcher sent me this information as he is distantly related to Olive (3rd Cousin x 2 Removed.) and thought that I should record it in the Blog. He was right!

The events that led to Alfred Bell's tragic death had their origins in this fatal accident as reported in the Bridport News dated 16th May 1868 

"Kenneth (Steel) as you know married Olive Bell. Olive is from my Bell line her father was Harold Alfred Bell b. 10 Jan 1893 d. 07 Jun 1965 who married Aloysie Henriette "Louisa Henrietta" Frölich in 1914. Louisa was b. 30 Aug 1891 and d. In Q4 1990 aged 99. She was born in Manhattan, New York the daughter of German immigrants.

Olive's fathers middle name Alfred was from his grandfather who while in a drunken state took a bet to dive into the River Don from the Bow Bridge in Rotherham and died as a result of it on 21 Jun 1868. He was my 3rd great-granduncle and his brother John Swinden Bell was my 3x G Grandfather".

Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 22nd June 1868

Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 23rd June 1868

Sheffield Independent dated 23rd June 1868

Frederick Nodder - A Child Murderer from Sheffield - An Update

 Many years ago I posted an article that culminated in the execution of Frederick Nodder at Lincoln Gaol on 30th December 1937. 

It was followed by an article that I put together in an attempt to correct some of the misinformation that surrounded his early life.

I have also put additional information in this blog in 2011 and 2017.

But last week some more information came to light that was surprising to say the least.

I located a copy of his baptism record and also his entry in the marriage records of St Marys Church Walkley Sheffield

His address is given as 130 Howard Road in the marriage record which still stands today. It was adjacent to the now demolished Howard Road Methodist Church. and can be seen on this photograph. It is on the right hand side just about where the pedestrian is.

I have never been able to locate a service record for Frederick Nodder but in the 1921 Census his family are living at 61 Providence Road which is at the other end of Walkley

1921 Census

First name(s) Last name Relationship to head Sex Birth year Age in years Birth place Occupation Employer

Frederick Nodder Head Male 1887 33 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England Motor Mechanic T Greatorex Tripe Dresser 8 Mitchell St Sheffield

Amy Nodder Wife Female 1887 33 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England 

Margaret Nodder Daughter Female 1914 6 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England

Frederick Nodder Son Male 1916 4 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England 

It was sometime after this that Noddder deserted his wife and family and began his path that led to his date with the hangman in December 1937.

As for his family, they stayed together and they prospered. The 1939 National Register reveals that they moved to 112 Westwick Road, a three bedroomed semi-detached house in the Greenhill area of Sheffield. 

Frederick Nodder (his son) is now a Quantity Surveyor, a professional person who looks as though he is making a life for both himself and his mother and sister. 

 

Tommy Wards Grave - Crookes Cemetery Sheffield

 A few years ago (2018) I was going to post an article on the site on the life and achievements of Thomas W Ward, a prominent Sheffield industrialist but when I checked recently there was great deal on content online and some excellent articles. Not wishing to duplicate material I decided to post details of his last resting place in Crookes Cemetery Sheffield

But first a brief summary

Thomas Ward was born in 1853, started work at 15, became a coal merchant and then, because the time was right for it, a scrap metal dealer in Sheffield. In the early 1870s there was a big demand for scrap metal. There were many big engineering projects and Thomas Ward developed an expertise in dismantling big structures including ships. He had breakers' yards at ports round the country and became the biggest scrap dealer in the country, taking apart old warships and redundant luxury liners. These included the Majestic, sister ship to the Titanic, which was broken up at his yard at Morecambe, and the Olympic, which was finally towed to Inverkeithing.

Thomas Ward Ltd of Sheffield opened its ship dismantling department in 1894 and soon became the largest supplier of scrap metal to the growing steel industry. The keynote was efficiency - everything on board a ship was dismantled and resold. Ships' fittings and equipment were sold at the showroom in Sheffield. Books, lamps, toilets and carpets were all dismantled. It is said that even the timber was turned into garden furniture.

During the First World War, Thomas Ward's was heavily engaged in war activities. There was a shortage of horses which had been sent to the Front and in 1916 Ward leased an elephant (and a man to look after it) from a circus. Circuses had been stood down for the duration of the war. The firm had the elephant for a couple of years, stabling her near the factory and using her for hauling heavy loads of steel around Sheffield. The elephant's name was Lizzie and the records are full of anecdotes about her - eating a schoolboy's cap, putting her trunk through a kitchen window to help herself, and pushing over a traction engine.

The firm carried on until the early 1980s.  

Dated 10th February 1926

Photographs taken 11th July 2018

The burial records are from the excellent Sheffield Indexers site

HAYTHORNTHWAITE, Gerald Graham (Retired, age 82).

     Died at 22 Endcliffe Crescent; Buried on February 27, 1995 in Consecrated ground; cremated.

     Grave Number 1181, Section BB of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Ashes. Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 181

HAYTHORNWAITE, Ethel Mary Bassett (~, age 92).

     Died at 22 Endcliffe Crescent; Buried on April 23, 1986 in Consecrated ground; cremated.

     Grave Number 1181, Section BB of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Cremated remains removed from Hutcliffe Wood           No. 24457.Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 136

WARD, Gertrude Miller (Retired, age 94).

     Died at Ranmoor House Retirement Home; Buried on August 16, 1989 in Consecrated ground;               cremated.

     Grave Number 1181, Section BB of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Cremated remains. Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 154

     WARD, Mary Sophia (Widow, age 92).

     Died at 60 Endcliffe Vale Road; Buried on December 29, 1955 in Consecrated ground;

     Grave Number 1181, Section BB of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: ~.      Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 245

WARD, Thomas William (Director of ? Company, age 72).

     Died at Endcliffe Vale Road; Buried on February 13, 1926 in Consecrated ground; cremated.

     Grave Number 1181, Section BB of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.

     Parent or Next of Kin if Available:  Remarks: Cremated Remains. Plot Owner: ~ of ~. Page No 157

Ethel Haythornthwaite was Tommy Wards daughter and Gerald his son in law. Both were noted environmentalists 

 

An Illicit Still in Gertrude Street Sheffield - May 1880

 

This cutting is from the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 15th May 1880 and refers to the discovery of an illicit still in Gertrude Street which was off Infirmary Road in Sheffield

On the face of it it is just another case of common criminality that was rife in late Victorian Britain and also demonstrated the keenness of the authorities to disrupt activities of this nature.

But the reason why I posted this article on the blog was because the Isabella Buckley who appeared before the magistrates in this case also features in an article I posted to the website many years ago

The article was entitles "Alleged Violence in a Sheffield School 1878" and refers to the death of a schoolgirl who was also called Isabella Buckley. The Isabella Buckley that was involved in the illicit still was the grandmother of Isabella who died two years earlier. Her son Robert was the father of the dead girl.

The case caused quite a furore at the time and I am still not convinced with how the case was conducted. Here is the link to the article  

Donald Morton's 9th Birthday Card - Northfield Road Crookes Sheffield

 This card appeared on a well known auction site in February 2020. Of course that was a month before a series of measures were introduced by the UK government which will have repercussions long after I leave this mortal coil

It is from his Aunty Ethel and Uncle Harry on the occasion of Master Donald Morton's 9th Birthday Card at 121 Northfield Road Crookes Sheffield. It is postmarked Sheffield 15th February 1939 and the cost of the postage was 1 old penny

The house is still there in fact I passed it today - it just up from the Jet Petrol Station on Northfield Road

Here are a few details of the family from BMD and Ancestry - the dob of Donald would mean that the card was sent a month after his birth date

Births Mar 1930   

Morton Donald Johnson Sheffield 9c 778

Surname First name(s) Spouse District Vol Page 

Parents Marriages Sep 1924   

Johnson Laura A Morton Ecclesall B. 9c 806   

Morton Fred Johnson Ecclesall B. 9c 806

Birth 12 Jan 1930 • United Kingdom 

Birth of Brother Brian Morton(1935–2007) 12 Jul 1935 • Sheffield

Residence 1939 • Yorkshire (West Riding), England Marital Status: Single

Marriage Oct 1955 • Huddersfield, Yorkshire West Riding, United Kingdom

Death of Mother Laura A Johnson(1905–1970) Mar 1970 • Sheffield, Yorkshire West Riding, England

Death of Father Fred Morton(1903–1973) 03 Dec 1973 • Sheffield, Yorkshire, England

Death Jul 1990 • Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Surname First name(s) Mother District Vol Page 

Births Mar 1925  

Morton Fred Johnson Ecclesall B. 9c 728 28 Dec 1924 - died 2005   

Births Dec 1926  Morton Gladys Johnson Sheffield 9c 831

Died 22 Oct 1926 • 69 Ravencarr rd, Sheffield

Births Sep 1931  Morton Margaret Johnson Sheffield 9c 753

Births Sep 1935  Morton Brian Johnson Sheffield 9c 651

12 Jul 1935

Name

Donald Morton Birth 12/01/1930 Death 07/1990 Sheffield South Yorkshire England

 
 

The Death of Harry Blackhurst Southey Sheffield - December 1932

 In Sheffield's Shiregreen Cemetery, there is a family grave that is recorded on the excellent Sheffield Indexers site

BLACKHURST, Annie Maria (Widow, age 76).     Died at Royal Hospital; Buried on April 15, 1958 in Unconsecrated ground; Grave Number 639, Section A of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Removed from Basegreen. Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 28

BLACKHURST, Henry (Son of James Hill, age 16). Died at 45 Gressingham Road; Buried on December 15, 1932 in Unconsecrated ground; Grave Number 639, Section A of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.

BLACKHURST, James Hall Williamson (Engineer, age 59). Died at 45 Everingham Road; Buried on October 17, 1935 in Unconsecrated ground; Grave Number 639, Section A of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.

WOLSTENHOLME, Albert Eric (son of Albert, age 2). Died at 1 Wordsworth Crescent; Buried on March 7, 1940 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 639, Section A of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.

The Guardian dated 14th December 1932 carried a report of an inquest into the death of the son Henry (Harry) Blackhurst age 16 who died on the previous Saturday. The verdict was accidental death but given the circumstances of his death the verdict should have been death due to inadequate education!!

The Opening of Tinsley Park Golf Club Sheffield - Saturday 17th July 1920

The following article is from The Scotsman dated Monday 19th July 1920 and refers to the opening of Tinsley Park Golf Club Sheffield on Saturday 17th July 1920

Henry and Emily Swan - Walkley Sheffield

 I have just received from the author the following book

John Ruskin’s faithful stewards, Henry and Emily Swan, made a practical success of an educational ideal. They were the curators of Ruskin’s art-treasures at St George’s Museum, in Walkley. Local metal-workers and visitors from across the world were greeted with courtesy, enthusiasm, and deep knowledge.

In the first biography of the Swans ever to be published, Stuart Eagles digs into the archives to reveal the fascinating story of a couple who embraced Quakerism, vegetarianism and spiritualism. Born in Devizes, Wiltshire, Henry moved with his parents to London. In a life of extraordinary energy and innovation, he became a writing engraver, devised the ‘Regent Method’  of musical notation to teach singing, embraced spelling reform, learned shorthand, and printed some of Isaac Pitman’s publications. An early adopter of the bicycle, he sought to make boomerang-throwing an athletic sport. He was among the first students at the London Working Men’s College, where he met Ruskin, and copied illuminated manuscripts for him.

But it was in the world of stereoscopy, a form of 3D photography, that Swan first made his mark. He invented the ‘Clairvoyant’, a hand-held stereoscope. Then he patented the ‘crystal-cube miniature’,  a self-contained, hand-coloured 3D portrait which he marketed through his Casket Portrait Co.

Crucially, Henry and Emily Swan were two of Ruskin’s most dedicated and consequential disciples. Together they helped shape both Sheffield’s cultural heritage and Ruskin’s enduring legacy.

Stuart has a dedicated website that is well worth visiting 

Air Raid Precautions Sheffield - April 1937

 This cutting is from the Daily Independent dated 17th April 1937 

I was surprised when I first saw this as I was always under the impression that Britain in general and Sheffield in particular were not fully prepared for was in the summer of 1939.

But this article contradicts that viewpoint but you cannot help thinking that Britain was extremely nervous about the impact of enemy air raids and the causalities that would entail from such raids.

This was the prevailing thinking throughout the Thirties and stems from the British PM Stanley Baldwin

"The bomber will always get through" was a phrase used by Stanley Baldwin in a 1932 speech "A Fear for the Future" given to the British Parliament. His speech stated that contemporary bomber aircraft had the performance necessary to conduct a strategic bombing campaign that would destroy a country's cities and there was little that could be done in response"

Resurrection Day Service - Walkley Cemetery Sheffield - 9th April 1939

Walkley Cemetery Sheffield - 27th October 2012

Resurrection Day Services were not that common in the United Kingdom but it appears that the first one to be held in Walkley was in 1902. Traditionally associated with the Easter period and the Resurrection of Christ the service also had another purpose. Taking place in a cemetery it was an opportunity for attendees to celebrate the lives of their family and friends in that particular cemetery, whose graves they dressed with flowers. And such activities meant that the cemeteries would avoid falling into neglect  

As stated above the Rev Sydney T.G. Smith of St Mary’s Church, Walkley, conducted the first Resurrection Day Service in the Walkley Cemetery on Easter Sunday 1902. Five years later research found an official count of 12,764 people attending the Walkley Resurrection Day Service

Thirty two years later over 5000 were still attending the Resurrection Day Service in the Cemetery

Walkley Cemetery Sheffield - 9th April 1939

The Resurrection Day Service was still in existence in 1950 This cutting is from the Yorkshire Post dated 9th April 1950

I am unsure when the annual Resurrection Day Services came to an end in Walkley 

Golf in Sheffield - May 1925 - The State of Play

 I came across this in the Sheffield Daily Independent Daily Independent dated Friday 22nd May 1925

I was considering expanding this article as it had some interesting points about the history of golf in Sheffield. But when I had a look I found this excellent site that covers the origins of municipal golf in Sheffield in a most comprehensive manner     

A Frightful Death of Emma Memmott - Sheffield - August 1856

 A report from Manchester Times (Manchester, England), Saturday, August 9, 1856; 

FRIGHTFUL DEATH AT SHEFFIELD 

Shortly before eleven o'clock on Monday morning, a frightful accident occurred at the silver-plating works of Messrs. Wm Hutton & Sons, High Street, Sheffield. The unfortunate victim of the casualty is a girl named Emma Memmott, age 13 years who was employed to assist in the various occupations of the works. A few moments before eleven o'clock she was engaged at a lathe making up some finished articles when a shaft, which runs underneath the lathe, caught her dress. The place where she was caught was at the coupling point, and so firm was the hold which had been taken. that her efforts to disentangle herself were fruitless. She screamed aloud and a man named Birks, who was at work close by, ran to her assistance. 

A strong iron bar which had been placed in front of the lather had enabled her to withstand the drawing of the shaft and Birks who took hold of her, feeling that she was dragged from his grasp, called lustily for assistance and for the engine to be stopped. In another moment however the poor girl was dragged from his arms, the strong iron bar bent, and the body literally twisted around the shaft, which was revolving at the rate of 300 times a minute. It was about a minute before the engine was stopped and then the mangled corpse was shocking to be looked upon. Though it was presently known that the girl was dead, yet the men who extricated her from the shaft hurried her to the Infirmary but the attention of the surgeon was fruitless. 

A truly horrifying death and Emma was just 13 years old

The Sad Story of Sheffield's "Starfish" Sites at Strines End and Grindleford

 These two pages are from a book I read years ago called Trojan Horses that dealt with deception and misdirection in wartime. On pages 130 and 131 there is a section on what were known as Starfish sites and it makes particular reference to the events in the Sheffield area in the summer and autumn of 1940.

I was not aware of the dismantling of the site and of course you are always left wondering if the fatalities and destruction that occurred on the nights of 13the and 15th December 1940 would have be less had the site remained active.

Dewsbury Woman Cured by Doan's Backache Kidney Pills - December 1903

 This advertisement is from The News dated 11th December 1903 and I must admit it made smile. In fact I thought if you altered the arrangement of  just two words you may get nearer the truth in our household! Needless being the person I am I kept these thoughts to myself for obvious reasons

Anyway thankfully Mrs H Walker of 15 East Parade Dewsbury was cured by taking Doan's Backache Kidney pills

I have tried to locate East Parade in Dewsbury but have had no success. The BNA goes no further than 1952 but one cutting I did find was of interest. I wonder if she knew of Mrs Walker 

 Of course Miss Boothroyd was to have what can only be described as an interesting life 

Six Children Left Alone At Night - 58 Longley Avenue West Sheffield February 1941

The following cutting is from 1941 and concerns the case of 27 year old Elsie May Clark of 58 Longley Avenue West Sheffield.

The puzzling part for me about this case is the entry in the 1939 National Register for the property. The only occupant is Elsie May Clark date of birth 4th March 1914 who is listed as married and performing unpaid domestic duties. In the next property is a Harriet Clark date of birth 1st May 1878 who is a widow also performing household duties. It is quite possible that Harriet was Elsie's mother-in-law.

There is no record of any children or husband for that matter

Where ere the children in 1939? 

The other point that I discovered was that leaving children alone at night was widespread and been a feature of British life for decades. This certainly was not an isolated case  - the newspapers were full of cases of unattended children that had been left alone. Probably this came more to the fore in wartime when there was far greater vigilance on the population by the public authorities. 

But what made it even worse was the condition of the children who were in the house. They were all six years of age and under and were suffering from sores and were in bad condition.

It reflects a side of the war that is overlooked. The article states that the husband was in the forces and so was in no position to find out the situation at home. I wonder if he was informed that his children were in care and his wife in prison for neglect 
     

 

Private John Reynolds RAMC and the sinking of the HMHS Britannic - 21st November 1916

There is an excellent article on Wikipedia about the HMHS Britannic and its sinking on 21st November 1916 of Kea in the Aegean Sea 

Despite carrying over 1000 passengers and crew at the time of the sinking, only 30 people lost their lives. One of the survivors was Private John Reynolds who wrote letters home to his parents and friens in Sheffield describing his experiences

  

The propeller's John mentions were possibly some of the largest ever manufactured - HMRS was a sister ship of the RMS Titanic after all! 

Gunner Gordon's Victoria Cross - Ashford Kent 11th June 1942

 The wearing of decorations and medals has been in the news this last month. The Chief Constable of Northamptonshire  Nicholas Adderley served as Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police from 2018 to 2024, when he was dismissed for gross misconduct. He had embellished his military service in the Royal Navy and fabricated receiving both Northern Ireland and Falklands medals.

There is a fuller account on Wikipedia on what only be called a very unsavoury episode. Funnily enough this only came out into the open when his ex-wife took the steps to expose his lies and deceit.

But back to June 1942 when Sheffield's Gunner Gordon was court-martialled in Kent for wearing a VC ribbon that he was not entitled to wear. It was awarded ostensibly for his actions on the retreat to Dunkirk in May 1940 but this was a complete fabrication. He had bought the ribbon from a shop in Hythe Kent for the sum of 1s 9d (9p) as he wanted his wife to read about his heroism in the newspapers.

From the report Gunner Graham seems more like a fantasist than one who sets out deliberately to  misrepresent his achievements to others so that they can further their own careers    

As a footnote only 181 Victoria Crosses were awarded in the Second World War and none of the recipients had a Sheffield connection.