January
The beginning of 1947 was a momentous occasion for this area as all pits became Nationalised – away from private ownership.
The transfer took place on a ‘vesting day’ and euphoria gripped the area as miners young and old celebrated and 5,000 miners at Denaby & Cadeby forsook their New Year’s day holiday to support the newly formed National Coal Board
The ‘South Yorkshire Times’ also printed a fascinating history of the 150 years leading to Nationalisation – ‘The Birth of a Coalfield’
It didn’t prevent yet another miner losing his life as Mother Earth claimed her next victim
Nor a Denaby woman gassing herself in a corner of her kitchen
But there’s electricity to be provided for the new Prefabs on the Oval
United provided thrills and spills and collected a cheque for £500 from QPR for the next player to find League Football
February
In February 1947 Snow was a ever present and still a foot deep, causing Unit’s third successive football match postponement.
A Conisbrough woman was found drowned at Blackpool and a Denaby miner killed after a roof fall.
Work was resumed on the Denaby Pit Baths and Tom Hill was developing his plans for the youth of the district
There was a presentation for Conisbrough Driver with a fine record and a Signalman retiring after 47 years with the Railways
Conisbrough Cricket Club have Ellis Robinson as their principal guest and the Modern School presents Mother Goose as their pantomime
A Barnsley footballer is driving too fast and a Ascot labourer is guilty of a double Bigamy and leaves a Denaby woman with two children
March
The big story in March 1947 was the Great Thaw which followed the freezing conditions of the past months
With flooded roads, animal and people rescues hitting the headlines
There was a tragic sledging accident as young boys took advantage of the freezing conditions
Despite the conditions the Pits were hitting the NCB output targets and United played the first time since early February
There was disputes over food as the Conisbrough area was missed from the mining areas list !
Conisbrough Modern School’s much respected headmaster retired after 38 years service
A Denaby family fly out to meet their father in Rhodesia, and another miner dies despite a valiant life saving attempt
A Yorkshire cricketer is fined for dangerous driving and we feature the Local Election candidates
April
In April 1947 United are prolific goal scorers, with Asquith and Killourhy hitting the headlines, scoring 7 against Mansfield and 6 against Hull City
The pithead baths are nearing completion, and silicosis claims another victim
There’s news of a Denaby Grandmother at 36 with 5 generations in the house
There’s a new Council chairman, a teacher in the pit
Smallpox precautions, council elections
and a plan of the towns and collieries in 1947
May
The big story in May 1947 was the visit of the American Ambassador and Coal Chiefs to Denaby Pit, with a warm welcome by Miners and their wives
Hospitality is also extended to German POW’s and to evacuees still in Conisbrough
The pits are enjoying the 5 day week with Denaby and Cadeby hitting their production targets
There’s a latent Military Medal for bravery in the War and Medals for a policeman saving a dog during the floods
A group of First Class scouts are bound for Paris and there’s a tragic suicide of an Octogenarian
There’s a good boxing bill at Denaby and the vicar tells us to ‘grow up’
Denaby United finish their season well and we have matches, their retained list and the final Midland League Table
June
In June 1947 the dangers of cough medicine were highlighted when a two year old dies from opium poisoning
A Denaby Man and a Constable are awarded Medals for saving a dog in the March Floods
A man returns from the USA after 20 years and recognises old friends
Tom Hill raises the question as to whether retired miners can vote in the NUM elections
Former Denaby United player, Sam Cowan resigns as Manchester City manager after 20 matches without defeat & winning Division 2 ! (now the Championship)
There’s news of a Denaby apprentice jockey and an unbeaten Denaby Rovers team
United finish with a flourish as Kilhourey gets 5 goals against Boston !
July
In July 1947 England was still recovering from the war, many things were scares and Newspaper stories were fewer
Over 3,000 went to Cleethorpes from the Pits and Clubs in one week !
There is a new headmaster at the Boys Modern School, but Armchairs for teachers are voted against;
“when young people are finding it difficult to get furniture”
A 27 year old woman dies 2 weeks after having all her teeth out
and a young delinquent is afraid to go home and receive a thrashing with comments from the chairman of the Bench
“you ought to take what’s coming to you.”
And prospects look bright for the cricket and football teams
August
In August 1947 a major rail crash at Balby saw a Conisbrough man helping the injured with the knowledge his wife and family could be on board
and a 60 year old woman loses her life, after an accident at the 5 Lane ends
Conisbrough is throwing open its doors to ex German POW’s and sending food parcels, and toys to families in Germany
A very successful show and Gymkhana is held on the Welfare fields with over 3,000 visitors and over £350 for the Fullerton Hospital
The Council hold a private conference over house letting and a Cadeby worker retires after 47 years service
The cricket season is ending with good performances by Denaby & Cadeby against Wath and Collegiate
and an improved United begin with wins against Forest Reserves and Shrewsbury Town (now a League club – and heading Division 1 !)
September
In September 1947 with War Memories still fresh a Conisbrough mother found the grave of her 17 year old son, in Normandy even though she couldn’t speak French and arrived in time for what would have been his 21st birthday
There’s a wartime odyssey of a Conisbrough doctor who finds his way to New Zealand via Singapore, Hong Kong. Manila, Celebes, Java, New Guinea and New Caledonia
Newly born triplets arrive , only one of which survives
There’s thefts while a Conisbrough couple are on holiday in Switzerland and by the son of the steward at the Comrade’s Club
The honeymoon of the new N.C.B. is over as a third of Yorkshire Miners are out on strike
The first Yorkshire Council Final is held at Denaby with help from the local Church
and United are scoring plenty of goals but conceding a few too !
October
In October 1947 History was brought to life at Conisbrough Castle with re enactment of Ivanhoe in a Scout Pageant
The were presentations to a long serving “Special,”and the Church’s long serving organist
There’s an infestation of crickets at the Burcroft Tip and the ‘Times’ suggests a Pest Match
Morley Place teachers are leaving after 32 years at the school
and United are having a good month, except for coming unstuck at Lincoln with a seven goal mauling
November
In November 1947 there was a major drive to increase National Savings with every street urged to have a Street Group Secretary
There’s a new Pit Manager at Cadeby Main and reports of a successful war effort from Conisborough Parks
The Council discuss evictions as 54 more new houses are approved at Conanby
A Denaby lad is thrown from a racehorse and killed
A Conisbrough Company Director appeals against a 12 months ban after a Doctor found him sober one hour after his arrest
A Conisbrough Grandma, who was an athlete in younger days, celebrates her 80th birthday
and the Denaby Institute erect a tablet to commemorate
their fallen members during the war
and as Billie ‘Paddy’ Windle makes his debut for Leeds United, Kilnhurst are upset over their £3 contribution from his transfer fee.
December
The year 1947 ended with a riotous Denaby burlesque pantomime, with grandfathers, grandmothers and a great grand father among the artistes
There are food parcels from Australia at Conisbrough
and as Britain prepares to withdraw from Palestine a Conisbrough girl returns to predict the future
The National Savings campaign is in full drive and United get a boost of £750 from Wally Ardron’s transfer
A doctor gets a reprieve from his Drunk Driving charge and there’s a new Ferry boat at Old Denaby
There’s a dispute as to who is paying for treatment of a child transferred from the Montagu to Conisbrough Isolation hospital
and United have good month with a win over Peterbrough United and scoring 10 goals against Ollerton