Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevmen such as the Hon. and Reverend W. H. Howard who for many years presided over the meetings, Messrs. Wm, Moorhouse, John Guest. Robert Marsh, Henry Wigfield, John Styring, Parker Rhodes, and William Law, of Maltby, a veteran who retained his seat up to a few years ago. The Reverend A. Fullerton, J.P., of Thrybergh Hall, Mr. H. Otter, J.P., of Ravenfield Park, and Mr. H W. Verelst, J.P., of Aston Hall, were ex-officio members of the Board. For many years the grand father of the present Earl Fitzwilliajn closely identified himself with the Poor Law Institution and acted as chairman. In those days he also interested himself in the charities of the town, and giving with a liberal hand he endeared himself to all men. Rotherham’s admiration of such a noble character and sportsman was evidenced by the resolve to show their appreciation in the form of a life size portrait in oils. The presentation took place in the Mechanics’ Institute, In 1900 I was induced to offer myself for the position of Guardian and, having secured election, entered on the work at the same time as the two first lady Guardians, Mrs. Arthur Habershon and Miss Hirst, Finding the work distasteful and a hindrance to my municipal duties, when my term of office expired I did not seek re-election. At one period many unruly scenes occurred at the meetings, in which Mr. Benj. Sorsby and Mr. William Badger took a prominent part. During the re-furnishing of the Board Room, new chairs were provided for the use of the members, and were said by Sorsby to be too luxurious and the cost much too high. As a protest against this extravagance he refused In use one and, I believe, provided his own.
SCHOOL BOARD
To Alderman Geo.Wragg belongs the credit of being the first to take the initiative to secure a School Board for the town. His agitation in 1873, when less than 5000 children. were attending the elementary schools, succeeded in a School Board becoming an accomplished fact in 1875. The Right Hon. W. E. Forster, M.P., once stated in the House of Commons that compulsory education would not cost more than the equivalent of a three-penny rate, In his advocacy for the establishment of a Board in Rotherham, Alderman (then Councillor) Wragg went one better than the M,P. and said it might cost a little more than a half-penny rate. Fifty years and more have passed, and to-day the rate for educational purposes is 3s. 9d. in the £.The first Board consisted of nine members, viz., Mr. Geo. Wilton Chambers, J,P., Ald. Wigfield, Rev. W Newton, MA., Rev. W. Blazeby, BA., Rev. F. I. Falding, D.D., Rev. Thos. Eyre, Rev, W. Cutts, Mr.Councillor Kelsey, and Mr. Geo. Wragg. They were elected without a contest. Thus we obtained a Board consisting of two Churchmen, two Wesleyans, two Independents, a Unitarian, a Catholic, and a Primitive Methodist. At their first meeting the Board elected Mr. Geo. Wilton Chambers, chairman; Mr. Thomas Swann, clerk; and Messrs. Firth and Youdan, attendance officers. There were 10,000 children at that time under 13 years of age, the parents of some of these being in a state of poverty. An Appeal Committee was appointed to deal with petitions from parents unable to pay their children’s school fees of 2d. per week under seven years of age and rising to 6d. for the upper standards. The Rev William Blazeby undertook to pay the fees of the children attending the Hollis Schools (Unitarian), On referring to an old report which will no doubt interest many of my readers, I find the income and expenditure of the first year was:
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