Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 28 August 1919

Swinton’s Veteran Clerk Resigns.

At last night’s meeting of the Swinton Urban Council the Finance Committee reported that the clerk (Mr. F. L, Harrop) had asked relieved of his duties owing to his advanced age, and the Committee had accepted his resignation with regret, recommending that the Council record their appreciation of his able and unremitting services during the 44 years he has held the office.

It was further recommended that Mr. Harrop be retained as solicitor to the Council.

Mr. Harrop, who is senior member of the firm of Harrop and Harrop, solicitors, Rotherham and Swinton, is 76 years of age and lifelong resident of Swinton. It was upon his initiative that Swinton Local Board was formed in 1875, and he has been clerk to the Swinton authority ever since. Before that he was clerk to the Mexborough Local Board, and the Rawmarsh Local Board. He was also an original member of the Swinton School Board, and has been for fifty years a manager of the Swinton National School.  He has been for over 30 years honorary secretary of the Rotherham Hospital, and has extensive professional and commercial associations with the Rotherham and Sheffield districts.

Mr., Harrop is surrendering possession of the beautiful residence known as Highfield House, Swinton, where has lived for 50 years, in order that Earl Fitzwilliam may dispose it to the town for the nominal sum of £4,000. The house and grounds are seven acres in extent. The building will converted into town hall, with municipal offices, and the whole of the contents the grounds and gardens, including some thousands of valuable plants and fruit trees, are conveyed by Mr. Harrop to the town as a free gift.

The Council heartily thanked Mr. Harrop last night.