Mexborough and Swinton Times, July 8, 1938
Ladies Bountiful
Mrs E.K.L.and B.M.R.Harrop at Swinton
Retreat Extensions Opened
Pouring rain did not mar the pleasure of over 70 members of the Rock House, (Swinton) Old Men’s Retreat who stood with members of the Swinton Urban Council and the public in Harrop Gardens yesterday afternoon and heard Miss Edith K. L. Harrop and Miss Beatrice M. R. Harrop officially open the extensions to the retreat.
Mr. B. L. Smith (President) as Master of ceremonies gave a welcome to the Misses Harrop on behalf of members of the retreat. He explained that they had outgrown the original retreat, but thanks to the generosity of the Misses Harrop they now had a fine building.
Miss B. M. R. Harrop thanked the Retreat members and the public ior the warm welcome given to her sister andr Miss Edith Harrop mentioned that they both approved of the club idea for both sexes. In their travels abroad they had seen several instances of satisfactory club life. She wished the old’ men of the retreat long life.
Councillor F. C. Myers (chairman of Swinton Urban Council) thanked the Misses Harrop for their generosity and also welcomed them to Swinton. He hoped their stay would be a very pleasant one. Mr. Myers outlined the commencement of the retreat idea in Swinton. In 1932, he said, Rock House was bought by Swinton Council for 11,000, which was considerably below its market value. Rock House was not a liability on the rates, but a source of revenue.
The Misses Harrop thought that they could add to the beauty and amenity of Rock House by giving to the people of Swinton the Harrop Gardens. Once the public were using the park, the Misses Harrop thought there should be suitable seatIng accommodation, so that they sent f50 to defray the cost of seats. Later they sent £250 to cover the cast of the first Old Men s Retreat and later they sent
£500 to cover the cast of the present extensions.
Coun. F. Tingle said at the time Rock House was being considered for purchase by the Urban Council, the Council deputation were asked to state the value they put upon the building and the gardens. They said £1,000 for the house and f750 for the gardens. The Misses Harrop had immediately said they would accept the offer for the house and give the gardens to the public. The idea of an old men’s retreat first came from the late surveyor Mr. Birks.
Mr. B. L. Smith announced that Alderman E. Dunn M.P., for the Rother Valley who had promised to attend was unavoidably detained in London.
Mr. H. Chadwick and Mr. H. Wood also added words of thanks.
Thanking everybody for the kind things said about them, Miss Edith Harrop said that the retreat and its extensions should rather be considered as a belated gift from their father, the late Mr. Fred L. Harrop and their uncle, the late Mr. Edwin T. Harrop.
The Rev. T. G. Rogers (Vicar) offered suitable prayers for the occasion.
The opening ceremony was followed by a tea in the retreat. Among those present were Messrs. H. Cormack and E. Beckett representing the Kilnhurst Old Men’s Retreat.
