South Yorkshire Times — Saturday, 2 January 1954
South Yorkshire Review of 1953
July
It was announced that a new drift mine was likely to be developed near Hoober Stead.
A new cricket league for reserve sides of Yorkshire Council clubs came into being at a meeting at Wath.
New pithead baths at Highgate Colliery were opened.
Mexborough unemployment figures were stated to be the lowest since May.
The introduction of television and increased fares were given as the reason why Rotherham Corporation Transport Department carried fewer passengers last year than in the previous two years.
August
The first new pillar box with the E II R cypher in the Barnsley Postal Area was erected at Newington, Cudworth.
A scheme for restoring, beautifying, extending and improving the comfort of Great Houghton Church, and ultimately adding a Church Hall, was approved in general principle.
There was a miniature heatwave in mid-August. On Wednesday, August 12th, a temperature of 91 was recorded in Mexborough.
A freak storm occurred about tea-time.
In Mexborough two ’teen age gunmen held up and shot at a Mexborough shopkeeper and escaped on cycles. Police dogs were used in an unsuccessful hunt for them.
Work commenced on the pegging out of 20 of 88 new houses at Brampton.
September
A new Central primary school at Wath came into commission.
The Queen visited Doncaster on September 12th to see her horse, Aureole, run in the St. Leger. (It was third: The race was won by Premonition).
It was announced that vandalism at Newhill Hall had made demolition necessary.
The Bishop of Leeds (Dr. J. C. Heenan) dedicated and opened the new Catholic Church of St. Michael in Park Street, Wombwell.
It was announced that “Elsecar by the Sea” would be encroached on by opencast mining.
A Rotherham youth employment report showed more employment for girls as a result of light industries operating in the borough.
October
It was announced that in the near future opencast coal experts were to commence prospecting at three Conisborough farms and on an acre of ground owned by British Railways.
The Yorkshire N.U.M. executive endorsed the national scheme for apprenticeship of mining engineering craftsmen and agreed to appoint representatives to area committees.
November
It was announced that because of withdrawal of clubs the South Yorkshire Cricket League would be suspended next season.
T.V. Note: It was announced that Yorkshire had 246,875 families with sets, a jump of 28,463 during the past three months.
The Mexborough and Swinton Traction Co. received official notice from Rotherham Corporation terminating the agreement through running of trolley buses over the routes of the two undertakings from Conisborough and Mexborough to Rotherham.
The agreement was entered into in 1929, when trolley buses began to operate on the through service.
Most remarkable feature November—and the beginning of December—was the phenomenally mild weather with summer-like temperatures and a wealth of flowers—roses among them.
December
The new Central County Primary School was opened at Wath by Ald. H. Cutts, M.B.E., J.P.
A 17th Century coin was found in a piece of coal by a South Kirkby housewife.
A plaque bearing the names of all the chairmen of Swinton Urban Council since its inception in 1894 was unveiled in the Council Chamber by Mr. W. P. Turner, of Swinton.