South Yorkshire Times, February 15, 1969
Undismayed, Four Heroes Entered The Bungalow ‘Jungle’
Brambles to the left of them, hawthorn to the right of them. Onward, onward strode Fred, Jim, Les and Ernest, Swinton Urban Council’s four man heavy brigade never flinched at the overwhelming’ odds as they were ordered Into the wilderness which engulfed the gardens of 30 old people’s bungalows at Kilnhurst.
And in less than a month t no battle was won, Fred, Jim, Les and Ernest, average age 53. had covered themselves In glory, slashed two years off a Council improvement project—and proved to the critics it doesn’t take a young man to do a good job.
Now they are pressing on with the plan to clear the massive amount of weeds and rubbish which have accumulated on the gardens of the local authority’s 16 pensioners’ bungalow schemes.
Hand Picked
The team was handpicked from dozens of applications for the jobs, many of them from men half their age.
Until January, when the work started on the first gardens at Russell Road, Beighton Road, and Springfield Road, Kilnhurst, years-old Fred Dawson, of 11, Brookside. Swinton had been out of work for eight months. He was made redundant last May after over 30 years at Park Gate Iron and Steel Works.
Lem Robinson (55), of 6, Ladycroft, Wath, was a demolition worker, Ernest Dickinson (55) of 17,HaIl Street, Barn burgh, was a Coal Board gardener at Hickleton Colliery, and the team’s junior member, the only bachelor, Jim Crawshaw (46), of Hatherley Road, Swinton, had worked many years with the Council’s refuse disposal department.
Experience That Counts
“I was grateful to be given the chance. At our age you can’t let things slip by,” Ernest said on Monday,
“But we proved that youth isn’t everything, and that it’s experience, and knowing how to tackle a job that counts,” chipped in Les.
He explained, “It gave us a real shock when we saw what a terrible state the gardens were in. There must have been six acres of absolute wilderness covered with brambles, hawthorn, bedspreads and all sorts of old junk. But I was always confident we could succeed—and we did.
“We levelled the lot. It is surprising what we found. Now the land is ready to be flattened and grassed. The pensioners were pleased as punch and even passers-by stopped and commented on the improvement.”
Warden of the 30 homes at Kilnhurst, Mrs. Edith Taylor, declared, “The gardens were so bad before, I couldn’t see the old people coming out of their back doors, They couldn’t even hang out their washing properly.
“But the men have done a remarkable job, and everyone’s looking forward to the time it’s finally complete,”
Marvellous Job
Coun. Jack Haythorn, chairman of the Council’s housing committee, and Kilnhurst Ward member. added: “They’ve done a grand job. We thought it would take four years to improve all our bungalow gardens in the area. At this rate it will take two.”
The team would be kept together, he said, estimating a £4,000 a year bill to maintain the gardens in tip top condition. But it was well worthwhile.