Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevCOMMANDER KENWORTHY
When the election came in 1918, the Liberal Party were unprepared and divided amongst themselves. Some of the leaders favoured supporting a Coalition candidate, whilst others were determined to run a candidate of their own, which they did with disastrous results. Bailee Walker, of Glasgow, who had nursed the constituency for several years in the Labour interest, was a formidable opponent to any nominee of the Conservatives or Liberals, and in a three-cornered fight it was thought his success was certain. However, Major Kelley, the Coalition candidate, was returned by a majority of 1716 over the Bailee, whilst Commander Kenworthy, the Liberal candidate, and now the Socialist Member for Central Hull, was a bad third, only polling 3805 out of 25,599 cast at this election. In the 1922 election the Liberal Party, once the dominant factor in the constituency, stood down, leaving the field to Major Kelley and Bailee Walker. The latter was defeated by 644. In the 1923 election Bailee Walker, after all the spade work he had put in for his party, and when success seemed assured, was superseded as a Labour candidate by Mr. F. W. Lindley, who headed the poll with a majority of 2448. My readers are fully acquainted with the result of the last election, when the state of Sir Frederick Kelley’s health was such as to render it impossible for him to be a candidate. Again the Conservative Party had to provide a candidate, the Liberal Party, unfortunately, not being in a position to take a part.LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH
This reference to the decay of Liberalism in the district reminds me of its enthusiasm and strength in the eighties. When the funeral of Lord Frederick Cavendish, who was murdered in Phoenix Park, Dublin, took place, the Rotherham Liberal Association was represented at the funeral at Edensor by over twenty of their leading members. I have witnessed few more touching sights than this funeral, which was attended by the aged Duke of Devonshire and a host of Members of both Houses of Parliament, amongst whom was the venerable figure of the Right Hon. W. B. Gladstone. It was an impressive and historical occasion, representing a nation’s sorrow. The memory of the simplicity of the funeral arrangements and the beautiful surroundings still linger in my mind. A few years later I re-visited the scene and found on a plain and unimposing tombstone the following simple and touching inscription: Born to Albion,
Sacrificed to Erin.
AN IMPROVING TOWN
Before I conclude these reminiscences, I should like to draw my readers attention to the improving conditions of the town. More elbow room is to be given us. Streets which served their purpose years ago are no longer spacious enough for present-day traffic. Always a busy and prosperous town, we cannot claim to have kept pace with war prosperity. At last it has been determined to alter this and make the town more worthy of its status as a County Borough. College yard is to become a street 75 feet wide; the old County Hall and St. George’s Hall are to disappear for, let us hope, more palatial structures. College street is already in a state of transition that will soon be general. Bridgegate, once the most crowded business street in the town, will soon be finished, and should then regain its lost prestige. This and the re-building of Bow Bridge and Chantry Bridge, when completed, will so transform the town as to make it difficult to recognise. Why we have put up with the old conditions so long it is not easy to realise. Bold ideas and faith in our future are necessary if we are to take our proper place as one of the important towns in Yorkshire.During the last ten months it has been my privilege and pleasure to refer to events that happened years ago. If I have interested the older inhabitants of dear old Rotherham, and not bored the younger generation, I am more than repaid for any trouble I have next »
prev « «
©2004