January
An influenza epidemic in January 1937
Claimed Denaby’s long serving Doctor Forde as a victim and caused the School’s to close
There are theatrical productions with the Church presenting ‘The Count of Como’ and the Salvation Army ‘Naaman’s little maid.’
And Maxwell Wray takes his career into films, as he spends 12 hours a day with Marlene Dietrich
There are breakdowns and stoppages at the pits with over 1,200 men stopped from working
There’s Annual Dinners and Christmas treats and a picturesque Wedding
And United have a sparkling month before their visit to Boston
February
The district was dealt another shock when Dr Forde’s wife died just a month after her husband in February 1937
Death was the mood of the month as another miner succumbed after he was caught by a stone, broke his leg and died in Fullerton Hospital
Then a lime burner fell and died and a former Conisborough man met a lonely death in a Darfield caravan.
The winter weather caused the Memorial Park to become a skating rink and the future of the residents in the Old Denaby wooden houses came under discussion
Two long serving sisters at Fullerton Hospital retired and the Bishop of Sheffield introduced the new Vicar of Conisborough
The Pit Boys caused a stoppage at Denaby Main and the Haulage rights of the Home Coal providers were restricted
and United have good and bad games in the snow and mud
March
In March 1937 the K.O.Y.L.I. Conisborough Detachment was over subscribed as War rumours gained strength
Burbanks, a former Denaby forward is on the verge of a Wembley appearance with Sunderland
Conisborough Inventor Guilliford produces another device for the safety of miners
Northcliffe win the Mexborough Montagu Cup in a cold, drab game at Hampden Road
and a Denaby nurse is commended for the way she had nursed her husband for 24 years
April
In April 1937 whether the name should be Conisbrough or Conisborough – or Cunsber
was to be decided by the Council – a Dundee newspaper reported !
and said – ‘They know where they live – But can’t spell it!”
A party of Schoolchildren visit a Council meeting and ‘little’ Marie’ makes her maiden speech
A typhoid stricken family are sent to the isolation hospital
The villages are gearing up to the May coronation and we can see the festivities planned and the generosity of the Pits and Council
The Wesleyan Minister is made the Scouts Deputy Assistant Commissioner covering several towns in the Dearne Valley
There’s details of the array of talent from our area in League football and United struggle in the Midland League but are helped out by Derby County
May
The big event in May 1937 was the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth which took place at Westminster Abbey on May 12th
We can read about the preparations and the celebrations, where heavy rain couldn’t dampen the people’s ardour
A decapitated body is found in the Railway tunnel, of a man with financial problems
There’s a mimic warfare display as events in Europe rumbles towards war
and the spelling of Conisborough or Conisbrough is discussed in Council- without a decision
There’s a Denaby Golden Wedding
and enough Silver paper to buy an artificial leg for a boy
United keep the Mexborough Association Cup
and we have the final Midland League Table
June
In June 1937 the Council’s Clerk resigns and a new man takes over
There’s a presentation for a Brave Denaby Woman and a new Sister in Charge at the Fullerton
Denaby’s most famous Sister passes away and the Medical Report states the Conisborough and Denaby birth rate is twice as high as the National Average!
There’s discussion on the Leper windows at Conisborough Church and a 5 year old raises the alarm for a fire in his house
Everyone receives a threepenny bit and an Alsation ravages and kills 5 sheep
July
In July 1937 the “Times” celebrated its 60th year and produced a potted history of Conisborough and Denaby during that period
It was also the 25th Anniversary of the Cadeby Disaster and the remaining survivor recalls his experience
There are stoppages at the pits as the young haulage hands expound their grievances and 7,000 are thrown out of work
There is an Hospital Demonstration and a picture of the Denaby Salvationists and their Queen
Denaby & Cadeby are going well and feature in some close exciting finishes
August
In August 1937 a Pit Boys strike rumbled on through the month, as 1,100 pit workers were summoned to Court and fined and more strikes broke out and the miners agreed to pay their fines
The 17 remaining widows of the Cadeby Disaster are relieved as the Home Coal Carting Committee and the Collieries agree to pay the pensions for the rest of their lives
There’s accidents on Clifton Hill, and Doncaster Road where a two year old child is knocked down by a ‘Non Stop Car’ and a man receives an ‘illuminated address’ for rescuing a boy from the canal
Conisborough is now officially ‘near Doncaster ‘ not ‘near Rotherham’ and St Albans have to find £1,000 a year to support their school
Denaby & Cadeby hit a losing streak as the season ends and United face wholesale changes as the season begins
September
In September 1937 there was a Gas Tragedy where a young baby died and the mother is taken to hospital
The Tragedy turned to sensation after the inquest found the dead mother guilty of both murder and suicide
A Denaby miner is killed on a motor bike hit by a lorry and another lorry reverses and crushes a Conisborough boy
Two miners sweep the board at the Denaby Allotment Show and another miner dies in Denaby Pit
The pit workers are awaiting the arrival of an old pit mate who left and made good in Australia
United have an up and down start to their season with a good cup win and victory against the Rovers but with comprehensive defeats at Mansfield and Shrewsbury
October
In October 1937 several accidents occurred;
a man died and two more were injured when scaffolding collapsed at Cadeby Main.,
over 190 men and boys had to leap to safety when the ‘Paddy Mail’ broke into two
and a 72 year old woman died when an upset candle set her nightdress on fire
With trouble rumbling in Europe the Council are debating the advisability and costs of Air Raid Shelters
There’s a new Headmistress at Station Road and poor school attendance is costing the Ratepayers money
The United supporters club run a trip to see the Blackpool illuminations and United have a poor month including being knocked out of the Cup by Yorkshire Amateurs
November
In November 1937 there was a large turnout for the Armisticetide
with a poignant photo to remember the fallen of the Great War
A 17 year old haulage hand is killed by a girder at Denaby Main and another miner is killed when crossing the railway line
10 skulls are unearthed by an excavator in a field between Conisborough and Tickhill
and there’s a series of crashes in thick fog and freezing conditions
Conisborough children are distressed when the playground dog goes missing
and United are having a difficult month
December
In December 1937 the Miners are boosted by a back dated pay rise and the news that their pension scheme is an example to British industry
A Denaby Midwife is about to retire and recalls the desperation of the ‘Bag Muck’ Strike
The Godfrey Walker Convalescent home is closing, and a good friend is lost as the headmistress of Denaby Main school retires to Nottingham
Parents share the Camp Fire experience at Mexborough
and there’s hopeful news of a permanent water supply at Old Denaby
United are playing well despite the loss of Leonard Massarella to Sheffield Wednesday