The 20th Century

Spurley Hey - 7th May 1930 Born in Stocksbridge In 1900 he was the Head of Rotherham Pupil Teachers' Centre. He was the first teacher representative on the Education Committee, and first Director of Education in Rotherham. He was important in the development of central schools in the country.

Charles Stoddart

8th October 1839 - 24th May 1913

Born in London

He was Chair and Managing Director of the Parkgate Iron & Steel Co. He was described as "the town's greatest benefactor, its first knight and its first freeman".

Fred Hall

23rd September 1855 - 18th April 1933

Born in Staffordshire

Worked at Aldwarke Main Colliery, Parkgate and for John Brown's. Active in the Miners' Union, he was a checkweighman. In 1885 he was elected to Rawmarsh Local Board. He was MP for Normanton.

George Gummer 12th September 1855 - Born in Rotherham He joined his father's firm the Effingham Brassworks. In 1887 he entered the Council. As Chair of the Gas Works Committee he was an advocate of "municipal enterprise". He was an alderman.

George E. Caine

1876 - 1969

Born in Leeds

In 1906 he was elected to the Council for East Ward and served up to 1955. He claimed to be the town's first "Socialist" Councillor. He was an important person in the improvement of health and housing in the town in the 20th century.

William Keble Martin 9th July 1877 - 1969 Born in Radley He was ordained in 1902, and became vicar of Wath-on-Dearne in 1909. He was a skilled botanical artist, and did the paintings for his 'Concise British Flora'. He also wrote a history of Wath.

Willie Milnes

22nd May 1877 - 1963

Born in Rotherham

He was apprenticed in the glass trade. He was General Secretary of the National Bottle Makers' Society, and was prominent in the formation of the Federation of Glass Workers.

Alexander Hutchison

24th December 1864 -

Born in Falkirk

In 1908 he was one of the organisers of the National Union of Stove-Grate Workers, which was formed in Rotherham. He was their General Secretary in 1909.

F. Wilson

- 31st January 1910

He was a Rotherham postman. He was the first in Sheffield or Rotherham to be awarded the Imperial Service medal for his work. It was estimated that he walked 200,000 miles delivering letters in the town.

Thomas W. Burgess 15th June 1872 - July 1950 Born in Rotherham He was the 2nd person to swim the Channel on 6th September 1911. His bust was put up in Sheffield Road Baths until its demolition. To this day his nose is rubbed by children for good luck. His work took him back to France, where he lived.

J.R. Taylor

1883 - 22nd October 1913

He was a champion swimmer. He competed in the 1908 Olympic Games. There was a memorial to him in Sheffield Road Baths until its demolition. "A True Sportsman"

Mrs Pearson

In 1913 she became the first woman delegate to the Rotherham Trades and Labour Council.

First World War 1914-18

Thomas Jackson

- 27th September 1918

Born in Swinton

In 1916 he was a cleaner at the GCR loco depot at Mexborough when he enlisted in the Coldstream Guards. He was awarded the VC for most conspicuous bravery in the attack across the Canal du Nord near Graincourt where he was killed.

Bill Chafer

1895? -1966

Born in Hepworth, Lincolnshire

He lived at Bramley. He was a private in the East Yorks Regiment. In the First World War he rescued an important message from a wounded soldier, and made sure that it was delivered in spite of three serious wounds. He was awarded the VC.

Charles Sargeant Jagger 1885 - 1934Born in KilnhurstIn 1907 he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art. He joined the Artists' Rifles in 1914, and won the MC during the War. He later made his name creating war memorials. His major commission was the Royal Artillery Memorial London.

Thomas Grundy 23rd May 1864 - 28th January 1942Born in GreasbroughHe was active in the Miners' Union. He was elected checkweighman at Rotherham Main. In 1915 he was the town's first Labour mayor, and in 1918 he became first Labour MP for Rother Valley.

After 1918

Tom Gummer Born in Rotherham, he boxed for the York & Lancaster Regt. He was holder of a Lonsdale Belt. In 1922 he knocked out Ted Lewis the then European Welter and Middle Weight Champ.

Tommy James 1898 - 1971 Born in Rotherham workhouse He was a Communist, and in the 1920's he took action on behalf of the unemployed. He fought in the Spanish Civil War in 1939. Through his work on the Trades Council he was important in local politics. After his death he was made a freeman in recognition of his achievements.

Frederick W. Lindley

1879 - 1924

Born in Rotherham

He went to school at Masbrough National and Thornhill Council Schools. He was on the National Executive of the Carpenters' & Joiners' Union. In 1923 he was elected as Rotherham's first Labour M.P.

Sandy Powell 30th January 1900 - 26th June 1982 A truly great, innovative and well loved comedian, whose famous catchphrase was "Can you hear me mother?". The 'Comedian' public house was named in his honour and was opened by him.

Mary MacLagan

In 1924 she was the first woman to be elected to the town council representing Clifton Ward. She was nominated by the Rotherham Women Citizens' Association.

Frances Lindley Green Born in Rotherham She was a keen worker for women's political rights. She was elected to the town council in 1928. She was the first woman to become mayor of Rotherham in 1943. She was also the first "free woman" of Rotherham.

Mabel Smith

14th July 1870 - 1951

She was a radical socialist and Christian. Lady Mabel was a well-known social worker. A leading member of the WEA she organised classes at Maltby.

Fred Kitchen 1891 - 1969 Born in Edwinstowe in Sherwood Forest He worked on farms in Sandbeck and Hooton Levitt, and at Maltby Main. Largely self-taught, in 1933 he joined the WEA and began his book "Brother to the Ox", based on his diaries. He was a journalist and radio broadcaster.

Herbert Chapman

1878 - 6th January 1934

Born in Kiveton Park

Although he worked in mining he was a keen footballer. After a career as a player, he moved into management - Northampton, Leeds, Huddersfield and Arsenal. At Arsenal he managed their run of success in the early 1930's.

Second World War 1939-45

Donald Coleman Bailey 1901 - 1985 Engineer born in Rotherham and graduated from Sheffield. During the Second World War, he designed the famous Bailey Bridge building system. This was said to have helped to shorten the war.

H.M.S. Rotherham

21st March 1942 - 1949

1949 - 1976 Indian navy

1976 scrapped

One of eight 'R' Class destroyers that served during the Second World War. The "Rotherham" was famous as the site of the surrender of about 30,000 Japanese in Singapore. Its fine war record included no fatal casualties to the crew, and taking no direct hits from enemy fire.

After 1945

A.A. Eaglestone

1892 - 1980

Born in Parkgate

He was a steel worker and mine worker, who became a writer and teacher. He was inspired by the experiences of local people, and local history. He wrote some of his books under the name of Roger Dataller.

Edwin La-Dell

7th January 1914 - 1970

He attended South Grove School and won scholarships to Sheffield School of Art and the Royal College of Art. He later became head of printmaking there, and one of Britain's most highly regarded and influential printmakers.

Mike Haywood

20th February 1934 - 10th November 1973

Born in Bramley

After several jobs, he went to university. Then he became tutor with the WEA. He was an active supporter of the arts in Rotherham. He contributed himself by writing stories, plays and poems. Many of these were based on his own experiences.

Marco

- 1975

He is Rotherham's "great bear". He lived at Norwich Zoo. After his death he was mounted by Graham Teasdale. He was made to look like the county symbol of Warwick. They did not want him. Luckily he was bought by our schools' museum service. He has worked here since.

Brian O'Malley

22nd January 1930 - 1976

Born in Mexborough

He became Labour MP for Rotherham in 1963. He worked in the Whip's Office in the late 1960's. He was Minister of State in the Department of Health and Social Security. He is said to have invented SERPs. Barbara Castle spoke highly of his work.

Ian McKay 7th May 1953 - 12th June 1982 Born at Wortley His family moved to Rotherham. He was in the Parachute Regiment. In the Falklands War, Sgt McKay relieved his comrades, who were pinned down by enemy fire. He was killed in this attack, and awarded a VC for his bravery.