Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 05 December 1942

Goldthorpe Headmaster’s Sudden Death

Collapsed at Dance

The death occurred suddenly late last Thursday of Captain Wilfrid Leggott, of High Street, Goldthorpe, headmaster of Goldthorpe Junior Boys’ School and Sub-Divisional Commander of the Mexborough Sub-Division of the West Riding Special Constabulary.

Captain Leggott, who was 69, died while attending a dance organised by the Goldthorpe Section of the Special Constabulary. He had just been dancing, and was talking with friends on the edge of the ballroom floor when he collapsed and died shortly afterwards.

Promoted Sub-Divisional Commander In January, 1939, he had been a member of the Special Constabulary since 1937, and previously held the position of Section Commander at Goldthorpe. The Special Constabulary have lost a conscientious and hard working officer by his death.

Captain Leggott was appointed headmaster of Goldthorpe Junior Boys’ School in November, 1990, coming from South Milford, where he had held a similar position since March, 1921. He received his early training at Goole, and later attended the University of Birmingham. After leaving there he taught at Bradford and Goole, and took courses in biology, zoology and geography at Leeds University, where he also made a study of farming end agriculture.

His teaching career was interrupted by the outbreak of war, and in 1914 he Joined the Army, helping to raise and train a company of the 2/5 K.O.Y.L.I. at Goole. He was transferred to the Royal Fusiliers (Sportsmen’s Battalion), and served with them as a private and N.C.O. at home and in France and Belgium. He was commissioned on the field to the K.O.Y.L.I., and served with the 9th Battalion until transferred to the Staff.

In 1919 Captain Leggott was attached to the General Staff for educational purposes and served In the Eastern and Northern Command. He retired from the Arnie in 1922 with the permanent rank of Captain. On leaving the Forces Captain Leggott joined the supply staff of the West Riding and served as head in various schools before his appointment to South Milford. He had done good work for education In Goldthorpe.

He was always keenly interested in sport, particularly cricket, rugby, hockey, swimming, water polo, walking, tennis and golf. He played cricket in the Yorkshire Council and took part in Yorkshire Water Polo League game, and in county trials. He was interested in amateur theatricals and the production of amateur plays, and took part in the productions of the Selby Operatic and Dramatic Society. He produced school playa and operettas at South Milford.

While at South Milford, Captain and Mrs. Leggott started a child welfare centre which was later taken over by the County Council and of which Mrs. Leggott was President until she came to Goldthorpe with her husband. They also organised a district nursing association, of which Mrs Leggott was secretary for some years.

Captain Leggott, while at South Milford was vice-president of the local Scouts Association, and Mrs. Leggott had charge of the local Guides. His wife was also Guide Captain at Goldthorpe for six years.

Another organisation in which Captain Leggott was deeply interested was the British Legion. He was President of the South Milford branch and had been chairman for several years of the Goldthorpe branch, retiring four or five years ago from that position. Captain Leggott was a member of the Unity Lodge of the R.A.O.B.

He leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter, the last named being a nurse at Sheffield.