Reminiscences of Rotherham
by Alderman Geo. Gummer, J.P.
« « previnformation that would lead to the exposure of the perpetrator of this insult, but nobody split and Flintham’s usual luck held good.
There were some very fine tradesmen in these shambles. I remember a few, such as Thomas Day. John Gillott,R. Hunter, Robert Spendlove, Henry Bingham,Henry Deakin. and William Goodwin. The last-named lived in Whiston Grove,and by his courteous and considerate manner, coupled with his genial bearing and mode of living, might properly be termed the Gentleman Butcher. He had three children - a boy and two girls. The boy, who eventually became manager of the Sheffield Bank in the Market place, and I were together at the Grammar School; one of the daughters married Mr. Charles Laycock, chemist and the other Mr. Edward Fawley, ironmonger.
CURIOUS CHARACTERS
I now propose to mention a few curious characters familiar to those who lived in Rotherham sixty years ago. One of our prominent tradesmen, a fruit and potato merchant named Harry Flintham, commonly called Spud Flintham, and by some Dare Devil Dick, had the reputation of being the most mischievous young man in the town. He had a hardly less distinguished friend in George, the eldest son of Sammy Oldfield. Flintham’s vagaries were so notorious that the Press often referred to them in their columns. Larks or practical jokes were indulged in, the wanton perpetrators evidently wishing to prove themselves great men.’’ Smashing windows, removing and misplacing signboards and sundry other achievements appeared to be their delight. One of their pranks, verging on the irreverent, consisted of taking down, late one Saturday night, the sign from the building of the Prudential Insurance Co., who then had an office in Wellgate, and transferring it to the main entrance of the Parish Church, where no doubt it would appeal to the worshippers on the Sunday morning in the spiritual sense. Evidently the perpetrators of this joke had an unbounded faith in the far-reaching influence of the activities of the Insurance Company.At this time, I believe, there was only one policeman in the town he lived in the gaol on the bridge, so no wonder such diverting tricks could be played upon people without the performers being discovered.
At another time these inconsiderate and irrepressible young men removed the brass name plate from the door of the office of a well-known solicitor and fixed it on the gate of the residence of his sweetheart. I prefer the old word sweetheart to that of fiancée.
On another occasion their attentions were transferred to the licensing trade, and the landlord of the Black Horse ‘ in High street rubbed his eye-s in astonishment when one morning on opening his house lie found the name had in the night been changed to Blue Bell
Another story is told of friend Flintham removing from the club room a prize won by a prominent fisherman, who, on account- of his success in the competition, had done himself over well- In a few days the owner of the prize received a letter in which he found enclosed a pawn ticket for the sum of ten shillings. A little later, having redeemed his prize from the pawnbroker, he received a further letter containing a remittance for the sum of ten shillings.
OTHER CHARACTERS
I remember the renowned eccentric Joe Walton, a big half-witted fierce looking fellow.standing over six feet high and weighing not less than 20 stones.
He lived with his mother in the Crofts, and the only work of which he was capable proved to be turning the mangle and delive ring the washing to his
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