Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevus, or that. any disloyal act was intended. My belief is that Mr. Morgan simply wished to shake hands with us, and I can assure you that we should not have thought this very extraordinary, for it is a thing that has before happened to us. I must mention to you that I requested one of the constables to desist from rough handling Mr. Morgan and confess I felt much annoyed at the utter disregard with which my request was treated. I beg of you, in Princess Mary’s name and my own, not to cause us to look back to our passage through Rotherham with regret, by taking proceedings which would tend far more to injure us than any trifling incident of the kind. Trusting that we shall not appeal to you in vain,
I remain,
Your obedient servant,
TECK.
The Worshipful the Mayor of Rotherham.
The alderman retired into private life in 1887.
ALD. KELSEY, J.P.
At one time, Edwin Kelsey was easily the most popular and influential of our public men. Possessing a rare gift of speech and a remarkable grasp of figures, he was usually conclusive in argument and powerful in debate, qualities which quickly brought him to the highest position the town had to offer. No man need hang his head because of the humbleness of his birth or his vocation. Few men realised this more than Edwin Kelsey, who, commencing life in humble fashion, rose from the rank of a worker at the Flax Mills in Millgate, to be the chief magistrate of the borough. No doubt he entered public life as others have, resolving to do the right in the right way. Unfortunately, owing to some infirmity of judgment, he created such a bitter feeling against himself that it eventually brought about his downfall. The attitude he took as chairman of the licensing Committee in refusing thirty-five off-licences at the Brewster Sessions, will long live in public memory. So incensed were the people by its injustice that his business declined from that date and eventually closed down. He did not confine his interest and energy to his own immediate business and municipal concerns. Other public movements appealed to him, the chief of these being the temperance movement. As a speaker, his services were in great demand by this organisation, and no doubt the position he had attained in the town added great importance to his views. his reputation of being strong-willed, plucky and indefatigable became of priceless value to him. He was one of the most plausible men I ever met, but after all, it is what a man does that is the real test of what he is.
In the 1885 General Election, wielding great influence in local affairs, he sought to impose his will on Mr. Arthur Dyke Acland, the Liberal candidate, assuring him he had the control of several thousand temperance votes, which would go against him unless he voted for some temperance measure then before the country. Refusing to act on Mr. Kelsey’s instructions, Mr. Acland still managed to secure the respectable majority of 4043. There is an old saying that he that will have friends must himself be friendly. Unfortunately, Mr. Kelsey’s ambitious spirit prevented him on several important occasions from carrying this axiom into effect. The favouritism shown to his supporters and the malicious manner in which he treated those opposed to his policy lost him many friends and admirers.
During his Mayoralty, a prominent London daily paper complimented Rotherham on its choice of a chief magistrate. It said: In their Mayor, they possess a functionary who next »
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