South Yorkshire Times, December 15, 1951

Dearne Urban Council By-election

Who’s Who in Tomorrow’s Contest in Four Wards

20 candidates will go to the poll tomorrow (Saturday) in the Dearne Urban Council by-election to fill 13 seats on the Council caused by the disqualification only King’s Bench Divisional Court decision of 17 past and present members of the authority.

Polling will be from 8 am to 9 pm, and will he followed immediately by the count at Goldthorpe Welfare Hall. The results are expected about 11 p.m.

Biographical Details

Brief details of the candidates are:—

East Ward

Mr. John Bell (Lab.)

Aged 41. Long-distance transport driver. First connected with Labour Party when at 14 he joined the Labour Guild of Youth in native county of Durham. Vice-president of Thurnscoe West Ward Labour Party and local organiser and collector for Transport and General Workers’ Union. Member of Dearne District Labour Party management committee and of Hemsworth Divisional Labour Party management committee. Brother of Coun. Norman Bell.

Mr. Clive Evans (Lab.)

Aged 34, Hickleton Main brickyard worker. Secretary of Dearne branch of the General and Municipal Workers’ Union and a member of the National Council of Labour Colleges. Labour Party member for seven years and has been East treasurer and delegate. Born near Saltburn and moved to Thurnscoe I27 years ago. Has been 20 years in present job.                Married, with no family.

Mr. Thomas McHugh (Ind.)

A ripper at Dearne Valley Colliery. Vice-chairman of Thurnscoe Community Centre and of Thurnscoe British Legion branch A native of Northumberland, but has resided in Thurnscoe more than 20 years. One-time member of the Labour Party Mr. McHugh left the Party more than 12 years ago.

Mr. James Frederick Oldham (Lab.)

Coalface worker at Hickleton Main, where he has worked from the age of 15. Member of the Checkweigh Committee and a student of the National Council of Labour Colleges. Active party member for over five years.

Mr. George Henry Rice (Ind.)

Well-known Thurnscoe farmer and shopkeeper. Resident of Thurnscoe for more than 15 years and previously owned a poultry farm at Bentley, Doncaster. This will be his first election fight.

Mrs. Elizabeth Wheeler (Lab.)

Aged 52, housewife. Mother of three and grandmother of five has been Labour Party member for 6 years. Vice-president of Thurnscoe West Ward Women’s Section., and secretary of Thurnscoe Cooperative Guild. Wife of Mr. Frank Wheeler, a miner, she was born at Hoyland Common and moved to Thurnscoe 22 years ago.

Mr. Barton Thomas Vince (Lab.)

Has his own window cleaning business. A member of the Labour Party for more than foul yetis. Secretary of the East War Labour Party and a co-opted men be of Dearne Urban Councl Library Committee. His first Council election contest. During the war served in the R.A.V.C.