Clarence Taylor died 31st May 1916

I participated in the workday at Walkley Cemetery last Saturday 25th October 2014, a rather pleasant autumnal day. We were tackling a rather overgrown section of section B

 

when I discovered the following memorial that was in marvelous condition albeit slightly slanting

 

Clarence was a stoker on the battle-cruiser HMS Queen Mary when she was hit by German shells at the Battle of Jutland and sank The casualties were 57 officers and 1,209 men killed; 2 officers and 5 men wounded. One officer and one man were subsequently rescued by German destroyers. 

It appears that Clarence was one of 39 men from Sheffield who lost their lives in that action

After the loss of Queen Mary, Admiral Beatty supposedly turned to Chatfield and said the memorable line "There's something wrong with our bloody ships to-day." (Chatfield. The Navy and Defence. p. 143.)  

I was going to post an article to the site but there is a comprehensive amount of information available about the Battle and its aftermath, hence this blog 

Private Clement Hobbs Bible

My grandfather Clement Hobbs served in the Welsh Regiment in the Great War as it was called then. His certificate of discharge (No1822) states that Private Clement Hobbs who enlisted in the Welsh Regiment at Pontypridd on 13th August 1914 and was discharged 4 years and 17 days later (29th August 1918) on the grounds that he was no longer physically fit enough for war service. A description on the form states that he was 5ft 5" tall, pale complexion, grey brown eyes, brown hair and that he had a small hole in his left cheek (bullet wound!) together with a scalded left calf.

He was also shot in the chest but the bullet his pocket bible. I still have the bible and this summer I loaned it  to Weston Park Museum in Sheffield for an exhibition they were doing in connection with the centenary of the start of the conflict

A Walk In Crookes (Sheffield) Saturday 11th October 2014

On Saturday 11th October 2014 I was the lead in a walk that was organised by Activity Sheffield.

"Stories of Crookes Cemetery
Saturday 11th October, 3 to 5pm.  Meet at Barretts Café (S10 1TF). Chris Hobbs will lead this 2 mile walk around Crookes, with a particular focus on the cemetery and the stories of people who lay there. We will find out about the gruesome Chinese Laundry Murder which caused the papers to tag it "one of the most sensational crimes Sheffield police have ever investigated".

 
It was the first time I had ever done this type of activity and so I took a fair bit of time planning the route (about 3km or 2 miles). I also wanted to include some information that is on my website and also some which has not yet been posted

These are my notes that I used on the walk. It started outside Barretts Cafe on Crookes near the junction with Springvale Road


422 - 424 Springvale Road - 5 civilians killed on the night of the Sheffield Blitz

HARRISON, Annie (WW2 Civilian War Dead, age 64).
Died at 424 Springvale Road on 12 Dec 1940; Buried on December 30, 1940 in General ground;
Grave Number ~, Section OO1 of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Entered as Unknown' Death Identity 571-574.

HARRISON, Richard Arthur (WW2 Civilian War Dead, age 23).
Died at 424 Springvale Road on 12 Dec 1940; Buried on December 30, 1940 in General ground;
Grave Number ~, Section OO1 of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Entered as Unknown' Death Identity 571-574.

HARRISON, Robert (WW2 Civilian War Dead, age 38).
Died at 424 Springvale Road on 12 Dec 1940; Buried on December 30, 1940 in General ground;
Grave Number ~, Section OO1 of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Entered as Unknown' Death Identity 571-574.

HARRISON, Richard (WW2 Civilian War Dead, age 62).
Died at 424 Springvale Road on 12 Dec 1940; Buried on December 30, 1940 in General ground;
Grave Number ~, Section OO1 of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Entered as Unknown' Death Identity 571-574.

ABBEY, Ada Marion (Widow (killed in air raid), age 77).
Died at 422 Springvale Road on 12 Dec 1940; Buried on December 23, 1940 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 8888, Section T of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Widow of William James Abbey. Identified by Wm Ernest Abbey of 36 Slinn St (Son).

98 and 167 Cobden View Road 2 Civilians
    
BAXTER, Elsie (WW2 Civilian War Dead, age 47).
Died at Wharncliffe Emergency Hospital, Wadsley, on 24 Dec 1940; Buried on December 31, 1940      in Unconsecrated ground; Grave Number 2684, Section D of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.      Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Injured 12 Dec at 167 Cobden View, Crookes. Wife of      Horace Baxter..

TINGLE, Kate (WW2 Civilian War Dead, age 74).      Died at 98 Cobden View Road on 13 Dec 1940; Buried on December 20, 1940 in Consecrated~ ground;
Grave Number 77, Section L of Walkley St Marys Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Identified by Kate Ethel Ralsron of 52 Sheard Rd      (Daughter).

131 Cobden View Road
Childhood home of Ben Warriss

Cobden View Hotel
The scene of Theresa Unwin's Inquest - 24th October 1888
Jack The Ripper's Sixth Victim!

203 School Road - Childhood home of David Blakely - murdered by Ruth Ellis - Easter Sunday 1955
Dr John Blakely and his trial for murder - February 1934

School Road at its junction with Glebe Road Sewage Gas Destructor Lamp

Wesley Hall - Crookes -
The Chapel had to be enlarged and re-developed several times as the work of the church grew. But it was still too small. Finally, in 1907 the foundation stones were laid for a completely new building, on a new site, that could accommodate up to 1000 people – Wesley Hall.

The new building was designed as an octagonal “Mission Hall”. As one reporter noted: “Wesley Hall looks more like the Hippodrome that a place of worship. And one is thankful for it … it is pre-eminently a place to worship in, to breathe and be glad in.”

The decision to build a new church was not just based on the need for more accommodation. It marked the beginning of a new phase in the church’s mission to the people of Crookes. Since the Wesleyan Chapel was first built in 1836, Crookes had been transformed from a village into a densely populated suburb. The vision for Wesley Hall was that it would be “a church where rich and poor, ignorant and cultured, would all be welcomed, and the Christian cause would be exalted.”

St Thomas Church Crookes
Appeal 1837
"The district of Crookes, including Tapton,Steven Hills,Crookes Moor Side etc.at this time contains a population (which is rapidly increasing) of 1500 souls, nearly destitute of Pastoral superintendence and instruction. To provide for this lamentable destitution, a few friends of religion and The Established Church commenced a subscription for building a Small Church..."

The trustees who gave the Church the original £1,350 were
    Miss Harrison of Weston
    Miss Rawson of Philadelphia
    Reverend W.H.Vale of Ecclesall
    Joseph Wilson of Clifford
    George Younge of Sheaf House
The church is a classic Victorian church with a square tower and gothic arch stained glass windows

The foundation stone for the Church which incidentally given by local quarry owners was laid on 30th August 1839 by a Henry Wilson of Westbrook. Local farmers did much of the work for free. The Church had a nave,south aisle and porch, sshort chancel and west pinnacled tower. In fact St Thomas's had the same design as the smaller Christ Church Gleadless which was built two years earlier. (The latter church was the one I was married in ). St Thomas's Church and the adjacent Burial ground were consecrated on October 1st 1840 by the Archbishop of York and the Church soon began rectifying the "lamentable destitution" that had occurred in the Parish
BAPTISM - the first christening in the Church Register occurred on December 6th 1840 when Joseph Dixon (born October 23rd 1840) the son of Joesph and Mary Dixon of Broomhill was baptised. His father Joseph's occupation was that of Groom
BURIAL - On March 23rd 1841 the first burial occurred in the Churchyard. Charles Joseph the infant son of Mr Fairbank of Mount Pigsah near Crookes
MARRIAGE - the first marriage occurred over 16 years after the Church was first opened. On January 1857 Andrew Smith a draper aged 40 of Victoria Street and the son of John Smith a farmer married Mary Brookes aged 30 of Crookes Road. Her father James was a manafacturer
CONFIRMATION - the first confirmations occurred on April 1st 1908 included 48 persons from St Thomas's and seven from St Timothy's. All were aged between 12 - 21

Crookes Cemetery (Headland Road Entrance)
It was opened in 1906, and covers 29 acres (120,000 m2). Over 29,000 burials have taken place since its opening.
Graves of
Sir Stuart Goodwin
 Sir Stuart Goodwin (1889-1969) founder of the Neepsend Steel and Tool Corporation was born at 120 Upperthorpe, he was one of Sheffield’s top industrialists in the inter war period. He later became one of the City’s most renowned patrons, funding Sheffield’s Christmas illuminations for many years and the Goodwin Sports Centre, he is commemorated by the Goodwin Fountain in the Peace Gardens

Henry Boot

John Maxfield

George Chandler and David Piper - Beighton Rail Disaster 11th February 1942

Doreen's last resting place

Corner of Stannington View Road and Mulehouse Road  - Sewage Gas Destructor Lamp

Down Mulehouse Road to it's junction with Crookes

Crookes Picture Palace

The Crookes Picture Palace opened its doors on 2nd December 1912. The building was primarily a brick building with a cement frontage. Above the entrance to the cinema were some embossed decorations and the name "Crookes Picture Palace". The front of the building was flush with the adjoining shops and a blind alley ran down one side of the building to accommodate the queues waiting to see the films. From the small foyer a door on the right gave access to the stalls whilst a series of steps lead up to the rear of the auditorium. The auditorium was a single floor with the audience only sitting in front of the stage. A heavy red curtain covered the screen when not in use.  A raised section at the rear had a steeper rake than the rake in the stalls. The overall capacity of the cinema was 660.

The proprietors of The Picture Palace were Hallamshire Cinemas Ltd. In 1931 a Western Electric Sound System was installed. The cinema remained open until 2nd April 1960 when it shut its doors for the final time. The last film to be shown was the Brigitte Bardot classic "Babette Goes To War" and "Senior Prom" with Jill Corey.

231 Crookes - site of the Crookes Chinese Laundry Murder 1922 http://www.chrishobbs.com/crookesmurder.htm

I thoroughly enjoyed the walk and although rain was threatened, it held off until the walk had finished. There were 25+ people on the walk which was a lot more than I expected. It also demonstrated that there is still  quite a lot of interest in the history of Crookes which is heartening to say the least!

Thank you to everyone who took part  

The V! at Featherbed Moss - December 1944

Quite a few years ago I posted an article about the only V1 to land in Sheffield during WW2. And since it was posted quite a few people have contacted me to add their reminiscences about the event. Their observations have proved to be both welcome and valuable,

I have also just found a photo from 2007 that shows a V1 crater at Featherbed Moss in the Peak District

 On the morning of 24th of December 1944 about 50 Heinkel 111s of Kampfgeschwader 53 headed into the North Sea and under each aircraft was a V1 Flying Bomb. The target was the industrial city of Manchester. Only one bomb fell within the Manchester Civil Defence Area. No factories or military targets were hit. Seven of the bombs landed in Yorkshire including this Fieseler Fi-103 V1 Flying Bomb Crater which exploded on Midhope Moor, Near Cut Gate, It like the Sheffield V1 fell short and exploded at Featherbed Moss, near Cut Gate on the 24th December 1944. Grid Ref: SK 18224 97083 GE: 53.470171 -1.726931

John Henry Johnson (1840-1877) - A Very English Murder

Way back in August 2001 a Mr Steve Allatt placed the following message on a Family History Board

" My great, great uncle,John Henry Johnson was hung for murder at  Armley Gaol,  Leeds, Yorkshire on April 3rd 1877. He murdered Amos Waite in  Bradford, Yorkshire on December 26th 1876.

 Between about 1865 and 1875 he lived in the States, probably  Pennsylvania,  but this is not certain. He was joined there by his wife, Mary Jane  Johnson,  formerly Toothill, and their son Fred Johnson, born in Bradford on  4th May 1861. John Henry and Mary Jane lived apart prior to his return to England and
although contacted before his execution, she declined to return to England."

Steve wanted to know about the family in the US but I thought it would be interesting to see the about the circumstances that led to John's execution.

During the evening of 26 December 1876, John Henry Johnson and his paramour, Amelia Sewell, visited several Bradford pubs. When they entered the Bedford Arms they met Amos White, an old acquaintance. Later, as Sewell walked across a yard to the toilets she was accosted by White and screamed for Johnson to help. The two men squared up and traded a few blows before being separated. Johnson then staggered home, returning later with a gun with which he shot White dead. A friend of the victim helped detain Johnson who was immediately arrested. He was convicted before Mr Justice Lopes and sentenced to death by hanging at Armley Prison in Leeds

The following is a contemporary newspaper report of the execution that was carried out by Thomas Askern on Wednesday 3rd April 1877. The following report is in The Times dated 4th April 1877

"

 I think Mr Lawrence's letter to the editor of the Times sums up what I feel - this was nothing short of torture and "English law forbids torture." It is apparent from that the report that these disgraceful scenes were not a rare occurrence in the prisons of the time but why were they allowed to persist and why was no action taken against the perpetrators of such "outrages."

According to the excellent capital punishment website

His death was formally recorded as being from asphyxia but no official mention was made of the failure of first attempt to hang him. It was to be Askern's last execution at Armley."

A rather typical "establishment" response that unfortunately tends to echo down the years 

It appears that all the blame was heaped on Askern.  

Reginald Herbert Hookes (1910 - 1941)

The other day I received this e-mail from a researcher about an article I posted to my site quite a few years ago. It was entitled The Many Suicides of Reginald Hookes and related to a court appearance Reginald made at Bow Street Magistrates Court on 26th April 1937.  

"I was interested to come across your page on Reginald Herbert Hookes whilst researching his name on the Tinsley St Lawrence Church WW2 Roll of Honour.

Name: HOOKES, REGINALD HERBERT
Initials: R H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service:Royal Artillery
Age: 30
Date of Death: 12/05/1941
Service No: 926362
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. G. Coll. grave 73. Screen wall. Panel 3.
Cemetery: GREENWICH CEMETERY

He died in Hammersmith, although I can not find out the circumstances. There are no other RA deaths in London that day. Although air raid is possible as there are some civilian deaths, there doesn’t appear to have been a big raid. Hammersmith is the location of military hospital. Or he could finally have managed his suicide.
You may be interested in searching him out on the British Newspaper Archive website as there are a number of other newspaper stories that are as ‘crazy’ as this one. An advanced search on the phrase ‘Reginald Hookes’ and ‘Reginald Herbert Hookes’ gives results such as (plus more) from the late 1930’s:

- Reginald Herbert Hookes....... I.R.A. to blow up an R.A.F. launch on the night of July 10, was the appearance at Ramsgate

- Reginald Herbert Hookes……purpose of obtaining certain secrets on behalf of people by whom he was employed, was line 4 10s.

- TO PRISON He Was Near Service Premises For loitering in the vicinity of premises used in His Majesty's service, Reginald Herbert Hookes, of Love Lane, Margate

- On Monday night, a man of 28 years, Reginald Hook, of no fixed abode, was found on the Sea Front. He complained violent pains in the stomach and was taken to

- Found taking photographs at the Manston R.A.F. Station, Herbert Reginald Hookes, was sentenced to a month's

I have not paid to have access to them but they look interesting.

Although born in the south of England the family appears to have moved to Sheffield prior to 1928 as his mother died in Sheffield in 1928 at the age of 48, and was buried in Tinsley St Mary’s Churchyard. I have not found anything on her death, but suicide could be possible. Her gravestone says died suddenly.

Reginald would have been 17/18 and regardless of the cause this would have affected him.
(His father lived to be 88)"

Name:     Reginald Hookes
Given Initials:     R H
Rank:     Gunner
Death Date:     12 May 1941
Number:     926362
Birth Place:     Kent
Residence:     Kent
Regiment at Enlistment:     Royal Artillery
Branch at Enlistment:     Royal Artillery
Theatre of War:     United Kingdom
Regiment at Death:     Royal Artillery
Branch at Death:     Royal Artillery
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.
Original data: England. The National Archives. “War Office: Roll of Honour, Second World War.” Database. Army Roll of Honour 1939-45. Soldiers Died in World War Two. (WO304). CD Rom. Naval & Military Press."

I must admit I was rather surprised that Reginald appeared on a WW2 Roll of Honour in Tinsley given his "activities" relating to planning his own demise a few years earlier.

Hi died in Hammersmith Hospital on 12th May 1941 but we do not know the circumstances leading to his death, and the cause of death. Reginald's death is listed in the BMD Registers but to order a certificate from the GRO now costs £9.25, which is bit of a steep price just to satisfy my curiosity.

The court appearances that are mentioned in the mail certainly point to Reginald being a person of interest. I managed to access one court report from the Times dated 6th August 1938 which is certainly entertaining but to access the others I would need to subscribe to the British Newspaper Archive which also costs £10.95 a month. Still it is cheaper than a trip to the National Archives!

   

Walter Hasland and the Runaway Horse - Infirmary Road, Sheffield - January 1935

I've just posted an article to the site that I have been meaning to do for a few months but have never got around to it, The title "Walter Hasland and the Runaway Horse -Infirmary Road, Sheffield - January 1935"
does not reflect the full horror of the accident that led to Walter losing his life whilst standing outside a shop window with his fiance. The incident even made the pages of  The Times

     

The Times dated 23rd January 1935

It must have been quite literally carnage - "in crashing through the shop window the horse's head was almost severed" gives an indication of the mayhem that occurred.

"Exciting Scenes" at William Haigh's Funeral - Bard Street Sheffield 1926

I came across this cutting from The Manchester Guardian dated 26th August 1926

I am unsure that the word "exciting" in appropriate in this context given that two women were seriously injured. Terrible may have been a better word in this context.I must admit that the name of the deceased raised a slight smile

Bard Street incidentally is in the Park district of Sheffield - the street is still there but much altered since the events described in the report

Ralph Skelton (1816-1877) - Attercliffe, Sheffield

I came across this memorial a few years ago. It is dedicated to the life and works of a Mr Ralph Skelton and is situated in the churchyard in Attercliffe

When I finally got around to researching Ralph, I came across this article on a genealogy site that appears to be written by a descendent of the family. It gives an excellent description of Ralph's family.

"Ralph SKELTON: -Buried: 20 MAY 1877, Sheffield, Attercliffe Cemetery

Ralph Skelton (Spade & Shovel Maker aged 61), buried 20 May 1877 in Consecrated Ground, Grave 2172, Section D, Attercliffe Cemetery, Sheffield. (Source: Sheffield Indexers).

Notes:

1851 census, Spade Maker aged 35 with wife Frances and 3 children + servant Sarah Bagnall aged 12, at School Hill, Attercliffe Cum Darnall, Sheffield. Ref: 2342/folio 510/page 49.
1861 census, Shovel maker employing 6 men & 6 boys, aged 45 with wife Frances and 3 children + Chas & Sarah Cooper, at 19 Church Street, Attercliffe Cum Darnall, Sheffield. Ref: 3500/folio 115/page 20.
1871 census, Spade & Shovel Maker aged 55 with 2nd wife Elizabeth (nee' Tyler) and 3 children + son in law John Maltby, at 27 Church Street, Attercliffe cum Darnall. Ref: 4699/folio 93/page 54".

 

Man Killed by a Mouse Sheffield October 1928 - Another Seriously Injured

The report is again from the Manchester Guardian dated 31st October 1928. Unfortunately it does not give the name of the deceased or his colleague who was severely injured or even where the incident took place. All we know is that the lorry was parked on an incline which is not really that helpful considering the topography of Sheffield, and that the two victims worked for the Corporation.

Similarly the names of the two screaming women are not noted which is a shame. It is a case that I hope to investigate further the next time I am in the Local Studies Library

The Bravery of Blanche Deffley - Ford Ridgeway Sheffield 1928

I've just posted an article to the site about the terrifying death of Alice Deffley who was the daughter of the licensee of the Bridge Inn at Ford Ridgeway Sheffield.

Blanche Deffley died on Friday 8th August 2014. Her funeral is on Thursday 21st August 2014 at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium

I came across the report of the tragedy on 18th August 2014. Co-incidence?   

Anthrax at Sheffield - Shaving Brushes Suspected - Summer 1916

I came across this article whilst I was researching material for our last book "Long Shadows Over Sheffield". I was astounded to say the least!

The cutting is from the Manchester Guardian dated 26th August 1916. It appears from the report that a man actually died in March from anthrax which he contracted from a shaving brush. The person who contracted the disease in August recovered but the threat remained. It is interesting to note that the blame was placed firmly on cheap foreign imports. Nothing ever changes!

Incidentally Sheffield Trading Standards have a fact-sheet on Anthrax but fail to mention shaving brushes

The Grave of Thomas Armitage - Walkey Cemetery

 

Photo taken Sunday 6th July 2014

Thomas Armitage was a professional footballer for Sheffield Wednesday F.C. who died on New Year's Eve 1923, after suffering an injury whilst playing for Sheffield Wednesday Reserve team against Rotherham United Reserves on Xmas Day 1923. It is a magnificent memorial with a laced football carved into the base plinth.

His brother Len also started his soccer career at Sheffield Wednesday before moving on to Leeds United, Wigan Borough, Stoke City, Rhyl, and Port Vale

His grandfather also called Thomas holds the distinction, alphabetically sorted, of being the first capped England cricketer

There is an excellent article on Thomas Armitage's life on CricketWeb  

7 Northumberland Road Sheffield

7 Northumberland Road Sheffield - June 2014

This mighty fine Victorian Villa lies within the Northumberland Road Conservation Area. But if it had been up to the previous owners of the building it would have been demolished and the whole area grassed over.

However for once Sheffield City Council refused the owner's application to demolish the property. And who were the thwarted owners - none other than the University of Sheffield.

 The University of Sheffield have garnered a poor reputation for building conservation in Sheffield over the years but even by their standards this was truly a case of "cynical neglect." In fact it was inferred that the University deliberately allowed the building to fall into a state of decline and structural disrepair so that it could fulfill some long-term plan. However their blatant ploy was spotted by the Planning Board who refused the University permission to demolish the building.

The University's assertion on movement and that "repairs cannot be carried out economically and without the almost total loss of the building" was totally incorrect as the photograph shows. Repairs were carried out and the result is a fine Victorian villa. Yes as the chairman of the Planning Board remarked "Sheffield University ought to be ashamed of itself"

    

 

The Son of the Reverend Duncan Grant - Sheffield

At the same time as I came across the article on Annie Elliott (see previous blog) I also noticed this report.

 

 

1911 Census

It was unusual inasmuch as it does not mention his name - he is just the "son of the Rev. Duncan Grant." Nevertheless he must have undergone quite a harrowing ordeal and to be "wonderfully cheerful" at the end of it says a lot about the Rev Grant's only son 

As for his church there is a very good overview on the Burngreave Messenger website 

The Death of Annie Elliott - 17 Clun Street Pitsmoor Sheffield September 1915

When I was at the Local Studies Library researching our book "Long Shadows Over Sheffield" a few months ago, I came across this very small note at the bottom of one page. It was from the inquest that was held to inquire into the death of a young girl, Annie Elliott. The date of the inquest was 13th September 1915

 It suddenly struck me that death and despair was not the sole preserve of those who were dying in their droves in the Great War. It happened on people's doorsteps as well, as it always has done

Clun Street, Pitsmoor, Sheffield

Annie was laid to rest on 15th September 1915 in the nearby cemetery in Burngreave

ELLIOTT, Annie (daughter of H Elliott, age 2).
     Died at 17 Clun St; Buried on September 15, 1915 in General ground;
     Grave Number 90, Section K of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.

Jake and Charlie Hobbs - Rest In Peace

Very sad time at the moment - our cat Charlie died suddenly on Wednesday evening, just a month shy of his 16th birthday. His brother Jake died two years earlier in May 2012. But unlike Jake who was put to sleep at the vets, Charlie died at home which made it more distressing for us. But for Charlie it was a lot better for he hated going in cars, and he certainly was not that fussed with vets. And he spent his last hours with the ones who loved him

My daughter first brought them home from the Sheffield Cat Shelter in 2000. They had been locked up and abandoned in a flat, and both had nearly starved to death through the reprehensible actions of their "owner". The Sheffield Cat Shelter brought them back literally from the dead, and was trying to find them a home. My daughter obliged but as daughters do they leave home and live in flats, houses etc around the country where pets are not allowed.

But fortunately for Jake and Charlie they were not abandoned a second time. Far from it! They became full-time residents of Spring Hill and lived there for the rest of their lives. Their earlier experiences did effect them but time, as they say, is a great healer. Both were "characters" and both were strong-willed to the point of obstinacy at times. They both enjoyed life and spent the bulk of their lives in a safe and secure environment where they were loved and cared for. In return Jake and Charlie were very affectionate in their own particular ways and we will certainly miss them.

 Jake and Charlie waiting to be fed

Jake and Charlie being fed

Jake is the one with the white front. Charlie was black.

Re-united

Rings of Steel - A Social History of Sheffield Boxing

I had this note from my co-author Matthew Bell last week

He is in the process of writing a book with Gary Armstrong) on boxing in Sheffield. Or to be more precise A Social History of Sheffield Boxing. The title of the book is Rings of Steel and includes chapters on John Sullivan and Alfred "Squint" Milner, both of whom appear on my website

 Matt sent me two chapters which I will incorporate into the articles in the next few days 
 
"The first (chapter) is more about John L. Sullivan's visit to Sheffield (did you know he came again the following March?) and quite a bit on Alfred Milner, who brought world champion contenders Jem Mace, Tom King, Jem Smith and Charley Mitchell to Sheffield before Sullivan came here. Mace could even claim to be unofficial world champion when he visited Sheffield twice in 1864, the second time to raise money for the Sheffield Flood victims".

Matt would love to find a picture of Milner but to date he has had no luck. If anyone can help please contact me .

John and Pauline Jeffries - - Stansfield Suffolk

I spent last week on holiday in Suffolk. It is the first time we have had an "inland" holiday for quite a few years. The village we stopped in was Stansfield and I had a wander around it one morning. I visited the very pleasing church which is located on the outskirts of the village.

 

Surrounding the church is the graveyard and to the rear is a section that has more recent burials. One which caught my eye is the grave of John and Pauline Jeffries who are remembered as a composer and violinist respectively. I had never heard of them and so when I got back I "googled" them and found this rather interesting obituary in TheGuardian dated Thursday, 21st October 2010.

There is also a fulsome tribute on the Music-web site as well as this one

JOHN JEFFREYS

Obituary
As published in International Record Review
The song composer John Jeffreys, of Welsh parentage, died suddenly in Suffolk on 3rd September 2010, aged 82, only four days after the death of his wife Pauline, whom he had met when she was a violin student at Trinity College of Music in the 1950s. He was one of several composers of a traditional bent who were discouraged by a perceived antipathy to their art, particularly at the BBC, in the 1970s. Consequently he destroyed much of his earlier music, including a symphony, two violin concertos (an earlier one written for his wife survives), a cello concerto, a string quartet, a piano sonata and some 200 songs, and he then concentrated on his other interests, including the reclamation of ponds, gardening (he published two books on perennials), the making of elaborate fishing rods, fine cuisine and musicology (his biography of Philip Rosseter ran to two editions).A revival of interest in his music was kindled by the publication by Kenneth Roberton in 1983, 1984 and 1990 of three large volumes of his songs, in reproductions of his own tiny but
exquisite calligraphy. Many of these were reconstructed from old recordings, but there were new songs too.

His literary sensibilities had been formed in early childhood from the library of his father, a Congregational minister, and the family's move from Cliftonville, near Broadstairs, to Exeter instilled in him a love of nature, both of which are reflected in his song texts - the Georgian poets and early English lyrics predominate. The music is melodious and refined but often with surprising harmonic twists. The songs are usually slow-moving - clear enunciation was of paramount importance to him and it is no coincidence that the recordings of his songs are all by male singers (Ian Partridge, James Gilchrist and Jonathan Veira) rather than sopranos.

Although the songs will be his main legacy, there are several beautiful orchestral scores (including elegies for his friends John Fry and André Mangeot), a quantity of organ music (he used to visit local churches on his motorbike to try out the organs) and several works for recorder (an instrument he studied at Trinity College under Edgar Hunt) including arrangements of Welsh folksongs recollected from the pure singing of his mother in his early childhood.
John Turner, November 2010
Recordings:
‘The far Country’songs performed by James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook Divine art dda25054
‘Northumberland and Beyond’ – songs performed by Ian Partridge and Jennifer Partridge
Idylls and Elegies’ orchestral, piano and vocal music performed by Jonathan Veira, Shelley Katz,
Paul Bateman, Orchestra da Camera, the Philharmonia Orchestra Divine art dda 25

 

    

 
    

My First Football Match - Sheffield United v Burnley 10th March 1962 FA Cup Sixth Round

I've just posted to the site an article I have been meaning to do for over eight years!. I scanned the match programme in November 2005 and then forgot what I set out to do - post an article on the first football match I attended

At the Eagles Nest - July 1976

I came across these photos the other day. Taken in the infamous summer of  1976, it shows me as a rather youthful 23 year old at The Kehlsteinhaus in the Obersalzberg. It is of course better known as the Eagles Nest, Hitler's mountain-top retreat.

The Eagle’s Nest was originally designed by Martin Bormann as a birthday present for Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday on behalf of the NSDAP (Nazi Party). In fact, Hitler seldom visited the Eagle’s Nest.
In the end, Allied bombing at the end of World War II did not damage the Eagle’s Nest and thanks to the intervention of former Governor Jacob, the Eagle’s Nest was spared being blown up after the war.
Today the Eagle’s Nest remains in its original state.

At a height of over 6000 feet, it is also the highest place I've actually been, and the views are sublime!


 

Beauchief Estate Bought By Sheffield Corporation - Feb 1931

I just came across this newspaper cutting from The Times dated 19the February 1931 

At today's prices that would be approximately £1,780,000.

New Heeley Voice June 2014

 

There is an article in this months edition of  The New Heeley Voice which mentions our latest book and remembers the life of John Raynes V.C. who spent his childhood in Heeley     

George Arthur Nicholson died 27th February 1904

Just posted an article to the site about George Arthur Nicholson who died on Saturday 27th February 1904
outside the Moseley Arms in Westbar Sheffield

Apart from the incident that caused George's tragic death, there is also quite a detailed history of the Nicholson family which certainly did see it's fair share of tragedy

Ernest Brownhill 1893 - 1918

I've just posted a couple of photos of Ernest to the article on the site. They appeared in the previous blog but until they appeared in the Sheffield Star on Saturday 31st May 2014, I had never seen a photo of Ernest.

 This was taken on his wedding day in late 1917. He married Annie Tanner at St Barnabus Church in the Highfields area of Sheffield. Eight months after this photo was taken Ernest was killed in action whilst flying over Mannheim in Germany

Shadows cast by war for generations

The following article appeared in the Sheffield Star dated Saturday 31st May 2014

The article mentions my grandfather Clem - the is an article on my site about Clem. It is in the family history section

Fred Holding - A Barnsley Boxer

This photograph fell out of a book I bought at a sale a couple of years back. On the reverse someone had written "Fred Holding Barnsley 9st 0lb." I did not place it on the site as I could not find a Sheffield connection and his boxing record shows that he never fought once in the city

The statistics of his boxing career reveal that Fred could be classed at best as a "journeyman" boxer. He won just 7 of his 23 fights in a career that lasted 13 years. He lost 14 fights, 5 of which ended in knock-outs. He drew 2 fights. And all of those fights were in either in the North or the Midlands - the furthest south Fred traveled was Smethwick Market!!    

Ted Catlin's medals - May 2006

I have just come across this cutting from The Sheffield star - May 2006

 

I was going to  post an article about it but when I checked on-line there was quite a bit of information on Ted and his career  and so I decided to put the cutting on the blog instead

 

After the war Catlin returned to Sheffield and became chief scout for Sheffield Wednesday for a time. He then became a pub landlord, running four pubs in the area, "The Anvil" at Malin Bridge, the "Rose and Crown" at Wadsley, the "Kelvin Grove" at Upperthorpe and the "The Magnet" in the Southey area of Sheffield.[7] He also ran a boarding house in Blackpool for a time. Ted Catlin died aged 80 on 28 November 1990. In May 2006 Ted's 1935 FA Cup winners medal came up for sale at Sotheby's in London and sold for £3,600, also in the same sale was Catlin's first England cap which sold for £1,100

An Elephant on a Pub Roof

I was way on holiday last week in North Norfolk. We have been going there for over 25 years and for what it is worth it is one of the best places in the country, But I'm not sure whether I could live there on a permanent basis. I have lived in a city all my life and so I'm not sure if village life would suit me

But even in North Norfolk you can be surprised. The is a pub on the quayside at Wells next the Sea called The Golden Fleece. It is an old pub which for years served the local fishing community. But recently it has been "gentrified" and re-positioned as more of a gastro-pub for tourists than a pub serving the community.

But on the roof of the pub to the rear of the premises, the owners have positioned an elephant. But not content with that, they have painted a montage of flighty young women on the side of the elephant. The effect is stunning. My first impression was one of stunned surprise at the tackiness of it all. But after a while I began to laugh which can't be bad 

 But why did they put an elephant on the roof when the pub's name is the Golden Fleece, surely a sheep would have been more appropriate!

  

The Wrigley Family - Sheffield

I received  the following e-mail from someone who has read both the site and the latest book
Long Shadows Over Sheffield - Forgotten Voices of the Great War

"Congratulations on your website and also your excellent book "Long Shadows Over Sheffield. I notice you have a chapter on my grandfather's family the Wrigleys of Langsett Road. I thought you might be interested in some more info and a few additional pictures."

Needless to say I responded and thanked him for his kind comments and said I would be delighted to receive any additional information on the family.

John replied and sent me some marvelous photos of the family as well as more details about their lives both before and after the Great war

 

I have  updated the page on the website - John kindly gave me permission to post the photos as well. A tremendous gesture  

 

Events for Walkley Cemetery 2014

This is the calendar for events up to August 2014

Friends of Walkley Cemetery

Herbert Fretwell - Walkley Cemetery

It was our monthly workday at Walkley Cemetery last Saturday (26th April 2014).

We were clearing part of what is called the new section (opened 1922)

Whilst clearing the section I came across the grave of Mary Fretwell who died in April 1930 at the tragically young age of 21. The headstone was laid flat and as I uncovered the stone, I realised that firstly it was a beautiful stone and secondly that Mary's parents were buried with her.

But what struck me was that the headstone stated that her father Herbert was killed at work on 8th July 1941. And so the next time I am in the Local Studies library I am going to see if there is a record of how Herbert was killed.

His wife Eliza died less than two years later in 1943.

Victoria Hall Sheffield Monday 28th April 2014

I did another talk this week at Sheffield's Victoria Hall. It was for the Sheffield Townswomens Guild. The talk was based on our first two books on Sheffield's Shocking Past. I had not been in the Hall for over forty years and it is a great venue with good facilities.

 

The talk centred on material that did not make the books and the reasons why they were not included. It was very well received and the organiser was pleased and so all in all a successful event      

William Domkowicz (a.k.a. Wilhelm, and also Domkowies) 1820 - 1898

In April 2014 I received this information from someone who was researching Walkley Cemetery in Sheffield 

"Just came across your site, looking for information on those who are buried there. I attach a document giving a brief outline to William Domkowicz who was buried in the cemetery on 16 August 1898.

An unremarkable man, but interesting in that he was one of the first 28 refugees to arrive in Sheffield from Hungary in 1851. A newspaper article, to which he has put his name (amongst others) is also shown in the document."

I contacted the sender and he kindly allowed me to place the document on my website. 

In addition Hugh Waterhouse who has access to the records of Walkley Cemetery was not only able to add further information to the document but also locate William's grave in the Cemetery

C section no 444. - William's final resting place - That part of the section is in the most overgrown in the cemetery and as William was buried in a public grave there is no headstone/mi. It is just two rows behind the mostly covered headstone to the right in photos

Edith Dolphin nee Mills (1907 - 1961)

This small report appeared on the front of The Star dated Thursday 13th April 1961

 

Edith was my wife's great aunt. But what the report does not mention is that Edith had a severe hearing impairment and literally might not have heard what hit her. Even so it was a tragic death

Deaths Jun 1961   DOLPHIN     Edith A     54     Sheffield     Volume 2d   Page 211