Mexborough and Swinton Times February 8, 1929

Mr W.R.Dale

Swinton Glass Bottle Manufacturer

We greatly regret to record the death of Mr. William Rupert Dale, which occurred on Monday afternoon at his home, 9 Priory Road, Sheffield at the age of 55.

Mr. Dale had been in failing health for several months Last summer he took a holiday in Switzerland, and immediately on his return developed symptoms which demanded an operation, but in spite of the best medical and surgical skill no improvement in his condition was possible. He endured his illness and the prospect of an early and untimely end with the serenity and fortitude which was characteristic of him.

He was a sincere and earnest Christian, as cheerful, considerate and unselfish in sickness as in health.

Mr. Dale was a member of the firm of Dale. Brown and Co., Ltd., proprietors of the Swinton Glass Bottle Works, which they acquired in 1913 from the South Yorkshire Glass Bottle after they had been derelict and disused for two or three years. The works were completely reconditioned and developed, up-to-date machinery was introduced, and an industry which was once of considerable importance to Swinton and had been apparently lost, was not only revived, but entered upon a greater measure of prosperity than ever before.

Mr. Dale was born at Stroud Green, North London, and was educated in London. As a youth he secured a post as traveller for a London firm of glass bottle manufacturers; has been in the industry all his working life, and was thoroughly conversant with every branch of it. At the age of nineteen he joined the staff of Alfred Alexander and Co. Ltd and eventually became London manager of this firm.

Mr. Brown, his future partner, was at that time works manager for the same firm at Hunslet, and the two became associated in this way and ultimately decided to establish themselves in business on their own account.

The opportunity occurred just before the war, when they bought the derelict works at Swinton, and made them what they are to-day. For convenience of supervision, Mr. Dale came to live in Sheffield, and Mr. Brown settled at Wath-this on-Dearne, but is now resident at Wetherby.

Outside his business interests, Mr. Dale’s only association with this district was through the Mexboro” Rotary Club. He was a, fonder member of this club, the first vice-president, and became president in March, 1926, holding the office with distinction and with great satisfaction to the club, for two years. He remained to his death a member of the club, and a very earnest member. Though his illness prevented him from attending the luncheons for the last few months, he kept closely in touch with the movement throughout. He was a convinced supporter of Rotary principles, and particularly the sixth object, which is the promotion, through international fellowship among business and professional men, of world peace. He was also a verb enthusiastic supporter of the League of Nations and lost no opportunity of furthering its cause in public and in private.

As president of the Mexboro’ Rotary Club, he “adorned the office,” as his successor, Dr. Briggs (the present president) remarked in paying a tribute to him at the annual dinner of the club on Tuesday. He was an able and interesting speaker, graceful, humorous, and wise, and was always listened to with attention and pleasure. To the Rotary Club he represents a bitter loss, and is the club’s first bereavement.

He was a zealous member of the Wesleyan Church, and did much good work both in London and Sheffield for the Wesleyan I body. He was a Sunday School superintendent at the Endcliffe Wesleyan Church.

He was a man of wide culture’, fond of literature, music, art and travel.  He rarely missed spending a few weeks on the continent each year. The holidays he spent with his wife in France, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany were a great joy to him, and he was never tired of urging his friends to adopt that form of holiday. Mr. Dale leaves a widow and no family.

For Mrs. Dale, who was very well known and greatly esteemed by Rotarians in Mexboro’ and elsewhere, the deepest sympathy is felt.

Mr. Dale’s death cast a shadow over the annual dinner of the Mexboro’ Rotary Club on Tuesday, and if it had been possible this function would probably have been postponed, though, as the president pointed out, it was highly improbable that the family’ would have desired this.

Rotarian Dale was a familiar figure at most of the Rotary Clubs in South Yorkshire, and at various times had addressed most of these clubs. At the weekly luncheon of the Rotherham Rotary Club on Wednesday, sympathetic reference to Rotary’s loss by his death was made by the president, Mr. Charles Hodgson, and a vote of condolence was passed.

The funeral takes place at the City Road Crematorium, Intake, Sheffield, at 2-15 p.m. to-day (Friday).