The 20th Century

Spurley Hey

Spurley Hey was born in Stocksbridge and died on 7th May 1930.

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

Charles was born in London on 8th October 1839 and died on 24th May 1913.

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

Fred Hall

Fred was born in Staffordshire on 23rd September 1855 and died on 18th April 1933.

He worked at Aldwarke Main Colliery, Parkgate and 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

George was born in Rotherham on 12th September 1855.

He joined his father's firm, 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

George was born in Leeds in 1876 and died in 1969.

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

William was born in Radley on 9th July 1877 and died in 1969.

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

Willie was born in Rotherham on 22nd May 1877 and died in 1963.

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

Alexander was born in Falkirk on 24th December 1864.

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

Mr Wilson died on 31st January 1910.

He was a Rotherham postman and was the first in Sheffield and 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

Thomas was born in Rotherham on 15th June 1872 and died in July 1950.

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

Mr. Taylor was born in 1883 and died on 22nd October 1913.

He was a champion swimmer and 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

Thomas was born in Swinton and died on 27th September 1918.

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

Bill was born in Hepworth, Lincolnshire around 1895 and died in 1966.

He lived at Bramley and 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

Charles was born in Kilnhurst in 1885 and died in 1934.

In 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

Thomas was born in Greasbrough on 23rd May 1864 and died on 28th January 1942.

He 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 Regiment. He was holder of a Lonsdale Belt.

In 1922 he knocked out Ted Lewis, the then European Welter and Middle Weight Champion.

 

 

Tommy James

Tommy was born in the Rotherham workhouse in 1898 and died in 1971.

He was a Communist, and in the 1920s 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

Frederick was born in Rotherham in 1879 and died in 1924.

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 MP.

Sandy Powell

Sandy was born on 30th January 1900 and died on 26th June 1982.

He was 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 and was elected to the town council in 1928. She was the first woman to become mayor of Rotherham in 1943 and was also the first "free woman" of Rotherham.

Mabel Smith

Mabel was born on 14th July 1870 and died in 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

Fred was born in Edwinstowe in Sherwood Forest in 1891 and died in 1969.

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

Herbert was born in Kiveton Park in 1878 and died on 6th January 1934.

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 1930s.

Second World War 1939-45

Donald Coleman Bailey

Donald was born in Rotherham in 1901 and died in 1985.

He was an engineer who graduated from Sheffield and, during the Second World War, he designed the famous Bailey Bridge building system. This was said to have helped shorten the war.

H.M.S. Rotherham

21st March 1942 - 1949

1949 - 1976 Indian navy

1976 scrapped

This was 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

Mr Eaglestone was born in Parkgate in 1892 and died in 1980.

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

Edwin was born on 7th January 1914 and died in 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

Mike was born in Bramley on 20th February 1934 and died on 10th November 1973.

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 which were based on his own experiences.

Marco

Marco died in 1975 and 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

Brian was born in Mexborough on 22nd January 1930 and died in 1976.

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

Ian was born in Wortley on 7th May 1953 and died on 12th June 1982.

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.

Edward Dunn

Edward Dunn was Born in Dudley, on 21st December 1880, and died in Maltby on 8th April 1945.

He moved to South Yorkshire at an early age and then to Maltby in 1911, where he was employed as a checkweighman at Maltby Main Colliery. In 1991 he was elected as Yorkshire Miners' Association secretary for Maltby local area which he held until 1935. 

 

In 1913 he became a member of Maltby Parish Council and served as chairman from 1916 to 1924, and when Maltby became an urban district he was elected chairman. He was secretary of the Rother Valley divisional Labour Party from 1926, until he became M.P for Rother Valley from 1935.