THE FEATHERSTONE ........CHRONICLE....... ...........the 1990s..........: 1990

A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE

1990

THE COUNCILS

JANUARY The Featherstone Labour Party voted out Keith Wilson as the candidate in May for Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and decided to put forward Peter Wroe. Keith Wilson had been on the council for 15 years and was chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Authority. He would now have to resign that position. Mr Wroe said "I have nothing personal against Mr Wilson and everybody has a right to stand if they wish to".

The district council's transport and highways committee agreed to support proposals by the West Yorkshire Transport Authority to reopen the Pontefract to Wakefield line to passenger trains. They would also have talks with British Rail to enable the line to be extended to Wakefield Westgale Station which would give access to the Leeds to London line.

FEBRUARY The Government abolished the rates and the replacement was the Community Charge on each adult, commonly known as the poll tax. Wakefield Council fixed it at £305, £27 more than the Government recommended.

MARCH The district council approved a £12 million bypass for Ackworth and Pontefract which would use part of Went Lane and cross Coach Road and Pontefract Road near the crematorium. Crs Vickers and Isherwood wanted the decision differed for further discussion but were turned down.

The district council Labour group ordered Vickers and Isherwood to appear before them to explain why they didn't vote for the bypass which was group policy. The Featherstone Labour Party said they were only reflecting the views of Featherstone which is what they were elected to do, and they fully supported both councillors and called a public meeting over the affair.

More than 150 people attended the meeting at the Community Centre. Vickers and Isherwood were praised for their stand against the district council, and a petition was signed pledging to fight against the plan because there had been no consultation with Featherstone. It was feared the bypass end at the Queens Hotel in Pontefract would be a bottleneck, and traffic would turn left at the Marlpit Hill roundabout and go through Featherstone to the motorway.

APRIL Wakefield Council highways officials agreed to hold a public meeting in Featherstone to discuss the proposed bypass.

MAY The district council introduced bylaws against dog owners who allowed their dogs to foul pavements and verges. A fine of up to £100 could be given. Stray dogs would be rounded up and returned to their owners or destroyed after seven days.

In the district council election the result was:

Peter Row (Labour) 4,232

Thomas Patrick Steele (Conservative) 314

AUGUST The district council said plans for the bypass would be delayed for a year until the Government plans, just announced, for upgrading the A1 to motorway standard became clear.

OCTOBER The Sun Inn and the Featherstone Hotel, plus other places in Pontefract and Castleford, were in trouble with Wakefield Council for erecting a satellite receiver without planning permission. The planning committee said they would have to be removed, and they were given a month to comply with the regulations.

NOVEMBER The district council's draft unitary development plan for Featherstone proposed industrial sites on the Ackton Hall Colliery site and Green Lane; housing sites at Kimberley Street, Pretoria Street and south of Girnhill Lane; a new railway station; environmental improvement east of Station Lane and in the Post Office Road area; and more land for playing fields. The plans would only be finalised after public consultation.

DECEMBER The Pontefract and Castleford MP Geoff Lofthouse was to call for action from the Government to ease the housing crisis. He said when he was the district council's housing chairman the waiting list was only a fortnight, now it was up to eight months. He blamed the right to buy scheme and the council being unable to build new houses. He said there were 2,631 council houses in Featherstone and 485 people on the waiting list.

The district council announced a £55,000 facelift for the market precinct in Station Lane. Trees would be planted, litter bins provided plus two raised areas with eight garden seats. The market traders would be moved to the car park for up to eight weeks while the work was carried out. Mr Richard Lee, a council planning officer said "This has never been attractive in recent years and it is the focus for the community".

THE ROVERS

At the half yearly meeting in January chairman Eric Gardner explained the club were having difficulties signing players because the other clubs did not want to lose their stars, and if they did they wanted a Rovers star player in exchange. It was hoped improved crush barriers would raise the permitted attendance from 6,245 to 10,000.

In May Jane Williams of Featherstone Lane was chosen as Featherstone Rovers Queen. Photo - The Express.

In July Bob Ashby said he would not stand again for the Rovers committee so he could concentrate on his post of Rugby Football League chairman.

Rovers chairman Eric Gardner said the last 12 months had been a busy time. Times have changed and the running of a club like Featherstone Rovers is a full time business. It can no longer be done by evening work alone.

Lin Pac decided in August to withdraw from sponsoring the Rovers. A new deal was arranged with Copy Consutants Group, a subsidiary of RICOH who manufactured photocopiers and fax machines. A new club strip was part of the deal.

At the annual general meeting a profit of £81,769 on last season was announced. The income included £70,000 insurance for the burnt down social club, £137,328 from the cashline scheme and £12,305 from the club shop.

Chairman Eric Gardner said "Featherstone Rovers is now big business. We want to be successful so we have to pay top wages". The players wages had increased from £44,251 last in the previous season to £211,638.

THE POLICE AND FEATHERSTONE

Last November the police commissioned a survey about residents anxieties after a request from the town council and the residents' association. The survey from 300 houses in south Featherstone was released in April and showed more bobbies on the beat were wanted in trouble spots to tackle gangs of youths roaming the area at night in Station Lane and Purston Park. Crimes highlighted were burglary, sex assaults, car thefts, inconsiderate motorcyclists, verbal abuse and speeding on the main road.

Inspector John Kiddy said he found the comments surprising, but there were now more patrols, a "cop shop" and another town community constable. There would be speed traps on Pontefract Road.

West Riding Police Authority Keith Wilson said talks were going ahead with the Home Office to introduce special constables - although the police did not favour the scheme.

Last November, after a request by the town council to the police, an independent team of researchers visited 300 homes in south Featherstone to see what their concerns were. The results showed there was a need for heavier policing to tackle gangs of youths roaming the streets at night, and to curb drivers speeding through Featherstone at all hours. Station Lane and Purston Park were said to be areas where youths met up and made a nuisance of themselves until the early hours. Solvent abuse was also a problem. Pontefract community liaison officer, Inspector John Kiddy, said we are conscious of the problems after mounting pressure from residents in the area.

TWO YOUNG LIVES LOST

In May two Purston children who had battled against illness lost their fight. Scott Smales age eight had leukaemia. His mother, Mrs Bridget Taylor, said he fought against his illness for a long time, but at the end I think he had suffered enough.

Four days later Amanda Hollis age 16 died. She had the rare blood disease A-plastic anaemia. A bone marrow transplant from sister Tracy gave an improvement for a while, but then she deteriorated and a second transplant from sister Nicola was done, but complications developed and she succumbed to the disease.

Newsagent Mrs Rhoda Randall, who was a friend of both families, said "Featherstone is stunned to have lost both these smashing young people in the space of a few days. Amanda and Scott were very well liked and people in the town helped raise money for both of them. Their deaths have left us all in a state of shock".

THE SPRINGFIELD OPENCAST MINE

   Graham Isherwood a councillor on the district and Featherstone Town Council's, said in June people living around the opencast site had to clean their windows twice a day because of the dust produced. People coming back from their holidays couldn't see through the windows. He also mentioned various health problems. British Coal said the problem was caused by dry and very windy weather and it would happen even if no blasting was taking place. A lot of the dust was from spoil tips left by Ackton Hall Colliery.
   David Hunter, British Coal Opencast Executive regional operations manager said Cr Graham Isherwood was being alarmist by only presenting one side of the argument. The health problems he quoted were from an opencast mine in Wales. The inquiry in that case concluded there was insufficient evidence of medical problems from the dust.
   People became very emotional about this issue. He said "My windows at home get dirty, but I'm not living up against an opencast mine. We can't say where the dust comes from, but I would be extremely surprised if it came from here. Within two or three years the whole area will be entirely green, and the people of Featherstone and Ackton will have something they would not otherwise have enjoyed".

ALL SAINTS SCHOOL FETE

All Saints Church of England Junior and Infants School held a fun afternoon and fete in June. Entertainment included a country dancing display, an It's a Knockout contest, go-cart races, games and stalls. Featherstone High School Band played, and youngsters from St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic High School took part in the It's a Knockout contest. The photos are from the Express. No names given.

THE GALA

The July Gala began with a procession from St Wilfrid's Catholic High School and included Gala Queen Amanda Rogers of Featherstone High School. The winning float was from Purston First School decorated as liquorice allsorts. In Purston Park there were sports competitions, Maypole dancing, an army climbing frame and a fancy dress competition. The Express photos show, from the top, Last year's Queen Leanne Eaton with this year's Queen Amanda Rogers; Queen attendant Lee Crane with brother and sister Jonathan and Michelle; and Julie King, Deborah Pattison and Shelly Cookson.

GETTING TO SCHOOL PROBLEM

In September there was a demonstration of parents of schoolchildren on the Ackton Estate about the lack of room on buses for children who were going to North Featherstone Junior and Infants School. The bus was already full with children going to St Wilfrid's Catholic High School so the parents stopped it leaving and the police were called. They arrested Colin Willock and moved the other protesters aside to allow the bus to leave.

His wife Margaret said "My husband was the only man there, so they made a beeline for him and arrested him. I took my nine year old daughter and sat in the police car with him. They told me to move, but I wouldn't go without him so they dropped the charges".

The parents vowed to repeat their protest but said they were told no more buses would run on the Ackton estate if they did. Mr Brian Jackson, for the West Riding Automobile Company, said "It is totally untrue that such threats were made. We will provide the service advertised".

Cr Steven Vickers told the Express "I have suggested the town council should pay for a bus. it is the kids education that is suffering". On the next school day the bus returned to Ackton after dropping off the St Wilfrid's pupils. The problem was caused by the special bus for St Wilfrid's being discontinued.

GARDEN AND SCULPTURES

The £20,000 Garden and Sculptures feature at the corner of Girnhill Lane and Wakefield Road was opened in October by Town Mayor, Cr Peter Wroe. A crowd had gathered to watch Knottingley Youth Brass Band play before the ceremony.

The Wakefield based charity Public Arts had done the design work after consulting the local community. Mrs Chris Cowen, for Public Arts said "The garden adds to the town's sense of identity. We have had a lot of wonderful comments from people and it showed at the opening when townsfolk turned out in force".

Designer Julia Barton moved from London to be on hand. She sculptured the carvings at fired them at Ibstock Brickworks in Nostell. The wrought iron seats were made by David Poskitt at Ackton Hall Forge. Photo - The Express.

The following three photos of the project are by Dr J Gatecliff.

DISTRICT HEATING PROBLEM

The boilers for the district heating system on the 1914 council house estate were in need of replacing. The district council decided in November it would cost too much so the individual houses would go back to having their own heating system.

Most chose gas, but British Coal said those who were entitled to a coal allowance would have to take their solid fuel or lose their allowance. The money in lieu would be stopped.

DEATH OF NORMAN LONGBOTTOM

Norman Longbottom died in December age 74. He was a former Ackton Hall Colliery overman, a councillor, bandleader, and owner of the Clock Café and two other cafes. At all three cafes pensioners could get cheap meals.

He took dancing lessons and passed exams and opened a dance school in Leeds. He then started Norman Longbottom's orchestra and played at dances in the Miners' Welfare Hall and the Lister Baths to create a lively atmosphere during the dark days of the war. His trademark clothing included a ten gallon hat and a dickey bow.

Geoff Lofthouse MP said "As characters go, he was in the big league. Norman was good company No-one could be depressed with him around. He could lift anybody's spirits. He strove hard and was always the life and soul of the party. I'll remember him with affection".

His daughter Joan and husband John Thomas had sold their own home in North Featherstone to move in with Norman who had a long illness. Now the council said it was a bungalow for the elderly and disabled and they would have to take alternative council accommodation by January 2. The Express photos show Town Mayor Norman with has daughter Mayoress Joan Thomas, Norman and his orchestra, and Norman with TV personality Sabrina.

1990 NEWS ITEMS

JANUARY The police opened premises in Station Lane to be used by local community police to meet the public. It would also be used by patrol officers on duty and traffic wardens. Featherstone councillor Keith Wilson handed over the premises to Chief Constable Peter Nobes. Photo - The Express.

Fifth year business studies students at the High School set up two "companies" - Pop Shop to sell snacks and soft drinks, and Krimbo Deco for greetings cards, wrapping paper and other accessories. Both were showing a profit. Nat West branch manager Ron Peck and local shop manageress were invited to talk to the business class. Both gave the class an informative talk and praised there efforts and initiative. The Express photo shows Mr Peck with the pupils.

FEBRUARY David and Josephine Hodgson lived in Huntwick Crescent. One day Mrs Hodgson saw smoke pouring from under the floor boards. Firemen hacked at the floor to find charred wooded joists directly under the grate. Council workmen turned up and removed the joists and built a fireproof retaining wall. Later, housing manager Graham Edwards said other residents should not be alarmed. About 100 of the other similar houses were being checked, and not one had been found with the same fireplace design. He thought it possible the Hodgson's house could be a one-off.

MARCH Paul Emery, managing director and co-founder of Ace Precision Engineering in Post Office Road wanted to combine two buildings to expand the business. "We can't stand still in this business" he said.

St Thomas Church of England Junior School were putting on the pantomime Aladdin. A dance routine in it was scrapped because it included boys dressed as girls. An anonymous phone call to the district council education department said it was sexist. head teacher Peter Cork said "It was pointed out some might take offence, so the scene was changed to make sure we didn't leave ourselves open to complaint. The panto went on and it was a marvellous success".

Cameras were to be installed at North Featherstone traffic lights to catch drivers who jumped the lights. There had been 13 accidents involving injury in the past five years. In the last two years police had been called to 14 non-injury accidents, eight of them blamed on red light jumpers. The cost would be £14,000. The photo is from the internet.

Featherstone and District Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society, and another society, were chosen to perform the night-time cabaret entertainment at the annual conference of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association at Bridlington in April. For the society, Jenni Fieldhouse said "It is a great honour as we will be judged by our contemporaries in the entertainment field".

All Saints Church of England Primary School held a book week to raise the children's awareness of the value of books and reading. It included visits to the library and talks by children's book authors. There was a Paddington Bear party for the nursery children. Wakefield Council's chief schools librarian, Tom Williams, spoke at assembly and joined in the fun by dressing as Alice in Wonderland character the Mad Hatter. The happy crowd dressed as book characters is from the Express.

In one three day period eight vehicles were broken into in Featherstone and Purston. The police said "We had a similar situation a few month ago in the town which was cleared up, but it seems to have started up again".

Bryn Jones of Katrina Grove age 51 won a gold award for giving 50 pints of blood. He started when he was 18.

APRIL Old folk living in bungalows off Halfpenny Lane were used to their relatives bringing a car up the footpath to pick them up. Now the Council had installed a bollard to stop it. The residents said it made them prisoners in their own homes. A council spokesman said an application was made for a service road two years ago but it was turned down. The Express photo shows pensioners Mrs Gladys Crabtree and Mr Joseph Tomlinson.

The first customers at the newly opened Victoria Garden Centre were students from St Wilfrid's Catholic High School. They bought a tree funded by their collection and sale of waste paper. On this Express photo are students Elizabeth Kitchen, Pippa Crewe, Madeline Peacock and Sarah Grey together with Belinda Taylor with son James of the garden centre.

Town Mayor Lesley Berry congratulated members of Featherstone Gymnastics Club on a successful time at the Abbey National novice and intermediate competitions for the Yorkshire region held in York. Medal winners were Kate Osiecki, Kelly Shepherd, Karen Richardson, Samantha Dear, and Tracy Jefferies. Photo - The Express.

MAY Mrs Lynn Crossley was making a cup of tea at her home in Katrina Grove just after midnight when she smelt fumes. She went upstairs and found thick black smoke. She rouses son Robert age 6 and took him outside and raised the alarm. She had closed all the doors, and when the firemen opened a bedroom door there was a flashover igniting the whole bedroom. Station officer Gordon Chivers said she did the right thing and the flashover could not be avoided. Mrs Crossley's husband was on night shift, and the cause was put down to a faulty electric blanket.

At the Pontefract Music Festival, Featherstone and District Male Voice Choir won the Albert Ward Memorial Trophy. In the recorder ensemble section Featherstone High School won the awards for both the 17 and under and 14 and under. The photo of the recorder players is from the Express.

The ITV Telethon, a 27 hours fundraising marathon, raised over £24million for charity. Gwen Matthewman travelled to London when a wool company agreed to donate £2,000 if she could knit a sweater for TV presenter Frank Bough in six hours. She started at 7.30pm on the Sunday and finished it at 1.30am on the Monday. Photo - The Express.

This Express photo shows two young scallywags (not named) being bundled in the cop shop in Station Lane. It was actually part of a national Scout effort to raise £1million for charity.

JUNE Thieves stole about 1,500 Welsh blue tiles from the roof of one of the chapels at the cemetery, valued at more than £600. The police said there had also been a spate of stealing lead flashing in the Featherstone area recently. Lead sheeting was stolen from the roof of Huntwick Lodge.

Yorkshire Art Circus put on the play This is Featherstone at the Community Centre in the library. It was a series of sketches starting with the poll tax and then working back to the 1920s. The Express photo shows cast member Tom Doughty in the bath and around him are Audrey Haggerty, Ian Clayton, Janet Spears, Kay Doughty and Pat Dickinson.

Chesney Youth Club had been fundraising for a minibus to take disabled children out and about. Youth leader Glynn Smith, a British Gas mechanic, told his bosses about the good work of the Regent Street centre. They were impressed, and resprayed a parcel van, fitted it with seats and a wheelchair lift and handed it over. Youth tutor Helen Overton said "It will really benefit us. We were in a desperate situation". The Express photo shows British Gas regional deputy chairman Roy Parsons handing over the documents to Helen Overton.

JULY Featherstone High School took delivery of a minibus for its disabled pupils. It cost £18,000 which was raised by an Express appeal and £10,000 from the Children in Need appeal on the BBC. The Express photos shows the handover from Ian Tilson of Calderford Motors to Cr Keith Wilson chairman of the school governors.

A delegation from Pontefract Health Council visited health chiefs in London to try to stop Pontefract Health Authority closing Ackton Hospital to patients, but the Department of Health announced the closure would go ahead.

AUGUST Margaret Gill of Huntwick Crescent won first prize in a Normanton Lyons raffle. It entitled her to a time limited dash round the Star supermarket to grab as many groceries as possible, but she declined and accepted £40 of self-chosen goods instead. The Express doesn't say if it was this Star supermarket or one in Normanton. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff.

Caroline Dakers age 15 of St Andrew's Drive helped Leeds Swimming Club to win a bronze medal at the Esso National Age Group Championships. The Express photo shows Caroline in training with her father Eric.

SEPTEMBER All 22 houses in a private development in Allison Street were sold in one weekend. The agent said he had never seen anything like it in 25 years experience. Thieves broke into the show house and stole furniture worth £2,809.

Featherstone's British Legion flag was in the care of former treasurer Leslie Wagner who died last year. Nobody now knew where it was, and it was wanted for the Remembrance Day procession. It was a Union Jack with the name Featherstone on it.

OCTOBER Landlord Phil Johnson of the Ship Inn in Castleford said Featherstone Rovers fans going to the derby game had taken over a room before the game. When they had left it was discovered a glass case had been smashed and an Australian team jersey had been stolen. He said for next year's game he was considering closing the pub for the afternoon, or putting someone on the door. Either way Rovers fans don't get in.

Featherstone's anti-poll tax union, chairman Ian Clayton, said more than 40 locals could not pay the tax and would take part in a peaceful protest at Pontefract Court. The non-payers were ordered to pay £15 cost, and liability orders were issued by the magistrates. A council spokesman said payment could be by detachment of earning from wages and benefits or by distress warrants.

Featherstone High School were refused permission to stage the musical Oliver at the school because Kippax Amateur Operatic Society had booked Castleford Civic Centre for the same show and objected to Musicscope, the national body for issuing licences to groups wanting to stage a performance. Headmaster Tony Warden said they only wanted to put it on in the school for three nights for parents and friends and it could not affect the Kippax production two months later.

The schools repairs budget for Wakefield District Council had been cut from £1million to £189,000. This meant many repairs would be delayed including £85,000 for Featherstone High School to renew curtain walling made up of glass and wood panels.

Candlelighters, a charity set up to raise £500,000 for a children's department in a new centre at St James's Hospital, had put a display in the window of Paul Chambers Cycle shop in Station Lane. He gave them a motorised cycle and two push bikes to raffle off. Photo - The Express.

NOVEMBER Carl Hill age 19 of Featherstone Lane saw a dog hit by a car in Green Lane and thought it was his. He picked it up but it wasn't his and it bit a chunk out of his nose. Surgeons at Pinderfields Hospital took a piece out of his ear to graft onto his nose.

Mrs Barbara Moran won an Express competition for a one minute supermarket trolley dash round Asda at Glass Houghton. She managed a trolley load worth more than £100. She said it was a good laugh and the staff were very helpful. She concentrated on food for Christmas. Photo - The Express.

Featherstone High School had to postpone its production of Oliver because the Kippax society refused to give way. It would now have to be put on next July and pupils leaving in the summer had volunteered to return and take part.

Fran and Kathryn Crossland ran the St Oswald Arms. His car had been vandalised six times in the three years they had been there and he didn't know why. He said "We're a local couple and we've done well the three years we've been here. You make enemies and friends in this business. I feel it's obviously some one envious of our success". In this last episode paints stripper had been spilt on it. Photo - The Express.

Thomas Cook Travel in Pontefract were opening a flight only centre. The staff got in touch with a similar branch in Scunthorpe, and it was decided a good way to publicise it was to arrange a 45 minutes flight from Manchester Airport for 70 sick children. Some were from Featherstone, but the number was not stated in the report.

A male voice choir and an orchestra offered to give the party a big send off when they left Pontefract Town Hall Hall on December 22 by coach for the airport. At Manchester the children would be given a Christmas present from Thomas Cook staff before they boarded the plane. On board they would meet Santa who would find more festive goodies in his sack.

Edith Blackburn of Sycamore Way knitted dolls foe charity. She started 15 years ago and had made thousands to sell for good causes. Cookridge Hospital, Leeds and Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, benefitted from her dolls, and Pontefract RAF Benevolent Fund were also grateful for her efforts. She said "I think of an idea and just do it". A full team of Featherstone Rovers dolls went to a fan in Australia, and a troop of soldiers were bound for Canada. Photo The Express.

Manjit and Nirmia Sidhu had a fish and chips shop Priory Road Fisheries. They held a charity Saturday night frying for good causes which raised £150. It was shared between the Cyril Kellett Fund (he had Alzheimer's disease), and 20 months old Laura Roebuck who had brain cancer. Photo - The Express.

Five Yorkshire schools, including Featherstone High, booked skiing holidays to France and Austria at easter 1988. When they got to Dover they were stuck because of a seamen's strike. After waiting hours, the coaches turned round and headed home. The insurance company wouldn't meet the claim so Wakefield Council decided to take it to court. The insurance company then gave in and agreed to pay £48,000 to cover the lost accommodation and transport costs, but not ski lessons or equipment hire.