Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevHis political prejudices were very strong. In his early days he was reported to have held extreme views, and to have actively associated himself with the Chartist movement. Mr. Eskholme always took a keen interest in the town’s welfare, associating himself with other business men who did so much for Itotherham Hospital, the Mechanics’ Institute, and the School of Science of Art. He subscribed liberally to these and other efforts. Rotherham has reason to be proud of such men.
ALD. GEO. CLARKE, J.P.
My earliest recollection of Alderman Geo. Clarke dates back to the days when he kept a butcher’s shop in Bridgegate, which at that time was the best business street in the town. All the traffic to and from Masbro’, Parkgate, and Greasbro’ had to pass through this narrow street. I remember quite vividly his early aspirations to become a member of the Corporation, his first contest being in the North Ward in 1883, when he opposed ex-Alderman Neill. Truly, it is said the roads taken by public men are various. Some, on entering upon their sphere of labour, resolve as their supreme effort to reach the highest office; others, amongst whom the Alderman may be classed, resolve to do that which is right in the right wny, nod they almost invariably succeed. It is said that Alderman Clarke has fought more municipal contests than any other man in Rotherham. Some could have been avoided if the Alderman had cared to compromise. This he refused to do, and being a strong-willed and plucky man he made up his mind on a course and stuck to it, often to his discomfort. His courage never failed him; he never sought the plaudits of the community, believing the real test of a man is what he does and not what he says. On one occasion after representing the rate-payers a few years he was placed in an embarassing position. His name through some informality was removed from the list of voters and upon his term of office expiring he was unable to offer himself for re-election. Besides losing his seat on the Town Council he was deprived of his vote for any election. Probably his toughest task was in the Masbro’ Ward, where he had as an opponent Mr. Hadyn Sanders, a Labour leader and an accomplished platform speaker, who had recently come to the town, and had succeeded in securing the ear of the working men.
With an invincible determination and with a fixed and honest purpose, he accepted the challenge, eventually securing a handsome victory. He never cried as some do, 'I am too low in the scale, it is no use for me to try to rise; I cannot and never shall be anybody'. On the contrary he devoted intellectual and physical effort to the work, and in the end succeeded not only in gaining the confidence of the colleagues, but in receiving the highest honour they had in their power to give. Entering the Council in 1885, he would long ago have been the senior member but for several breaks in his service. Some 30 or more years ago he had a serious illness which compelled him to retire. After a few years’ rest he re-entered the Council, and has continued to hold office to this date. He was appointed Mayor in 1903, made an alderman in 1904, and a Justice of the Peace in 1905, and a Feoffee in 1907. Although a man of a most forgiving nature and bearing no malice, I doubt whether he ever overlooked Alderman George Neill’s offence in describing one of his speeches as 'a lot of maudlin sentimentality' .
Ald. Clarke left the Council on November 9th, 1926, when he was defeated in an aldermanic election.
He succeeded Alderman Woodhouse as chairman of the Watch Committee. The Council having decided that a magistrate should not sit on the Watch Committee, Mr. Woodhouse was compelled to relinquish his chairmanship. After Alderman Clarke had occupied the chair a few years he was made a Justice of the Peace, and in consequence of this resolution next »
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