Reminiscences of Rotherham
by Alderman Geo. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevprogramme. Just imagine, if you can, the hush that could be felt when the strains of 'Just a Song at Twilight', 'Mv Pretty Jane', and 'Scenes that are Brightest' fell on our ears. ‘rho audience consisted largely of elderly people (retired from business) and probably were, like myself, visualising scenes of the past. As the old songs were rendered a sense of satisfaction, soothing and comforting, seemed to pervade the air.
Would that more musicians and singers would give to us, elderly folk, some of the old songs our mothers used to sing, instead of fox-trots and jazz, which are the rage of to day.
SAM BENNETT
No reference to the happenings of sixty years ago would be complete without the inclusion of Mr. Sam Bennett. Few occurrences with the spice of adventure attached to them took place without his having a hand therein. A familiar figure at athletic meetings, often officiating as starter, and a strong supporter of football at home and away, he was often seen at the semi finals and finals of the English Cup. Racing, boxing, swimming, in fact every kind of clean, wholesome sport, Sam Bennett patronised. he neither gambled nor drank, being a staunch teetotaler all his life. In all he did Sam Bennett was straight and honest and I always found his company at any kind of sport most exhilarating. During the last 25 years of his life he chiefly devoted himself to golf, and on most days could have been found on the Thrybergh course, ready to assist and advise a beginner, or to make up a game for anyone without a partner. What Thrybergh Golf Club would have been with out Sam Bennett it is difficult to imagine. His daring and adventurous spirit led him to do things few other townsmen would have ventured upon. When Clifton Park was opened to the public in 1891, part of the entertainment provided consisted in a balloon ascent by Captain and Mrs. Whelan, well-known aeronauts. When the time for starting arrived, nobody expressed surprise at finding Bennett taking a seat in the car. How he had managed this I cannot say. He was evidently to be one of the party. A disaster was only just averted at the outset; Councillor Charles, whilst assisting with the casting it became entangled in the ropes and was draggedseveral yards from the ground before he could be released. Rising rapidly, the balloonists soon found themselves in a thunderstorm, and when over Wharncliffe crags the Captain suggested making arrangements to land. Sam’s local knowledge saved them from making what would have been a futile attempt. Sand was thrown out, and rising, they got beyond the storm clouds into glorious sunshine, with thunder and lightning under them as they crossed the Yorkshire Moors. Deciding to land, they descended, only to find the grappling iron balled with the heather and failing to hold. Eventually, they dropped into a ravine, and were held by its overhanging shelves. They had landed on the moor between Isle of Skye and Marsden. After a four hours’ journey they were anxious to communicate with their friends and allay anxiety. Before they could do this, however, they had to pack up the balloon and walk several miles across the moors in the darkness to Marsden, where they obtained a conveyance and drove into Huddersfield. The only person they encountered ou their way was a policeman, who had formerly served in the Rotherham Force, It was not until the following morning that their friends were acquainted of their safety. The moors had then again to be tramped in order to find the balloon which they had left overnight.DARING ESCAPADE
I recently read some reminiscences of Cunliffe Hynes, the novelist. He describes that whilst some repairs were being made to the weathercock on the church of Brierley, near Bradford, he, as. a boy, climbed to the roof of the church, up a ladder to the curve of the dome, and so to the weathercock. He got astride and swung round with it. A similar incident took place in Rotherham. Mr. Sam Bennett,whilst some repairs were » next
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