South Yorkshire Times February 25, 1967
From an Acorn it has Grown
Supported by three pits at a cost of one penny a man a week, Dearne Community and Miners Welfare Scheme started 15 years ago with a small band of men met in the old Bolton on Dearne Council Chambers.
Now membership numbers many hundreds, and everyone, be he miner or otherwise, is eligible to join.
It costs miners at Highgate, Goldthorpe and Barbara colonies of the Crown to join each of the eight sections within the scheme; others can join at a cost of five shillings a year and 2s 6d a section; under 13’s pay one shilling to join and one shilling a section; and teenagers (under 17) to shillings and two shillings.
One of the first acts of the committee formed almost exactly 50 years ago, for the anniversary was this Monday, was to relay a cricket pitch at Goldthorpe, to reshape the football field, and to set about laying out a bowling green and tennis courts.
Week End retreat
About eight years ago, a pavilion was open for the tennis and ball sections. It was a splendid affair, redbrick, bright and attractive. Big windows gave a view onto the bowling green, and it became a very popular weekend retreat.
So much so, that within months of opening, it was converted into a clubhouse, with licensed facilities, and the necessary tables and chairs.
Since then, it has been very, very popular.
Major criticism, though, was lack of space – all in one room downstairs and one above. So, last year, work was started on a scheme which will make all the other effort of the club seem only so big.
Work began on extensions to the prevailing costing about £15,000, and stretching the single room to make 480 seated people and adding another room, “the parlour” capable of holding another 60 to 80.
Nine yard bar
New toilets are also included in the scheme; there is a new 9 yard long bar in the main room, with luxurious posh polish would and glass fittings and a bar in the parlour, also with luxurious fittings.
At a cost of £1600, new furnishings, including Marquette covered armchairs and wall seats in the parlour, and vinyl chairs, stools and wall seating in the main room.
On Wednesday, keys were handed over to the committee, led by the Chairman, Councillor Ernest last week, founder member and Chairman of Dearne Urban Council Parks committee, and Mr Alfred Taylor, General Secretary since the scheme’s inauguration 15 years ago.
“These extensions will make the club much bigger and better than before,” said Mr Taylor this week,
“In the 15 years that the scheme has been in operation,” he added, “the social life of the community as increased 100%. I think it is fair to say that we have the cheapest and finest scheme in the country.
“There are eight separate sections in the scheme – fishing, football, cricket, tennis, bowls, athletics, theatrical, and the social club.
“The football team won 3 cups last year; and women’s bowls won 4 cups; men bowls 2 cups, and the tennis section 4 cups.
“For the fishing, especially, we have fabulous facilities. We stock Bolton ponds at a cost of £700, and now the fish have bred so much they must be worth about £10,000. We can fish up to 300 persons at once.”
Official opening
The new extensions have been designed by Sheffield architects Mr CK Hemingway, and he will be present at the official opening ceremony on Tuesday (starting at 6 PM) together with the Colliery managers, Mr J Kenning, Divisional Social Welfare Offices for C.I.S.WC.O., members of Dearne Urban Council and committee men.