Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevaside to make way for grimy industrial money spinners, whose very unloveliness is a badge of prosperity and commercial progress. Strangers passing through and seeing the town from the railway, think it a twin sister of Sheffield and never suspect it of being in the romantic-steeped country of Ivanhoe. To be elected a Mayor of the town you love and that town the place of your birth, is surely one of the greatest honours man can aspire to. As such I esteemed it, when in 1899 my colleagues in the Council selected me as their chief.
MAYORAL DUTIES
To do one’s duty in this high office means the sacrifice of many of the delights of a quiet life. It also entails a deal of self-denial and plenty of anxiety and care. You have for twelve months to forfeit much of the happiness that flows from a life of comparative leisure, compensation for which is found in the pleasure derived from the official and social functions you take part in. When in office there is a danger of invoicing yourself above your real value, while on the other hand it is necessary to remember that you must not underrate your real worth. You are constantly under the vigilant observation and candid criticism of the people whom you have undertaken to serve. It is for you to see that the dignity and prestige of your office do not suffer by any act of yours. The heavy obligations and numerous engagements may irritate you; to achieve success coolness and civility are essential. Without these qualities even men of great ability and charm have been known to fail. The strongest are but human and require encouragerment. If it does not come your way you must not be disconcerted or discouraged. In other words, you must be true to yourselfThese references to a Mayor and his duties remind me of a story told of one of Rother ham’s Mayoresses of the Eighties, who, very proud of the important social functions her husband was invited to attend, said to a friend: My word! but isn't our E ... sluthering into society? SOMETHING ATTEMPTED. I look back with pardonable pride on several things I inaugurated during my term of office, such as the introduction to the sympathies of the townspeople of the London Watercress and Flower Girls’ Mission. Although other Mayors had been approached and their influence solicited, for some reason they had not seen their way clear to help this deserving institution. I also had the pleasure of inaugurating the Life-boat Saturday in the borough. The procession which took place had not been paralleled in the previous history of the town, nor do I think it has been equalled since. We had to thank the Chief Constable (Mr. Enright) and a committee of willing workers, including manufacturers and tradesmen, for the part they played in the success of the effort.
LIFE-BOAT SATURDAY
In the procession, which was partially spoilt by rain, were mounted police, the Rifle Volunteers, Church Boys’ Brigade, and ex-Service men recently returned from South Africa, followed by several tableaux, including:Brittannia,Rock of Ages, Grace Darling, and Perils of the Deep.
Pit ponies formed on attractive addition and the presence of the Bridlington life-boat and its crew created the necessary atmosphere to stir the generous impulse of thousands of people who lined the streets. I should weary my readers if I gave full details of what was described as the largest and most interesting and imposing procession the town has ever produced, excelling the efforts of much larger towns in variety and excellence of exhibits. It represented every interest in trade and commerce, the Services, and the professions. It was a grand inaugoration of a local effort on behalf of the Life-boat Institution funds, which has since been sustained year by year by the enthusiasm of voluntary workers.