Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 6 July 1934
Village Politics
Old Denaby’s First Parish Council
Latterly the villagers of Old Denaby have taken an increased interest in the affairs of the parish. There was almost a hundred per cent. poll for the Rural Council election, and last Saturday, 96 out of the 111 voters polled for the first Parish Council election. Those who didn’t were ill or on holidays.
“It is this new interest which has led to the institution of the Council,” Mr. William Shaw, Church Street, Mexborough, an unsuccessful candidate, told me.
Mr. Harry Bennett, who topped the poll, was many years ago a member of the Denaby Main Parish Council. The newly-constituted parish council is the first Old Denaby alone has had.
Mr. Bennett will be 75 this month.
Mr. H. Harold Neal (elected) thinks the election “a great event, the beginning of Old Denaby’s municipal history.”
Mr. Jennings, Mr. Neal considers essential to Old Denaby’s development, a bridge over the river, a village hall, and an adequate supply of water and electricity.
“I hope we shall be able to end the antagonism and jealousy which is evident in the village. We were not always thus. We have had some happy days. Our ‘socials’ are always grand ‘do’s’.”
Mr. William Shaw considers that the fight was clean and that the villagers have decided whom they think most suitable to represent them. “We have confidence in those elected.”
The result of the first election was:
Elected: H. Bennett 63, G. O. Randerson 62, H. Harold Neal 61, W. H. Simpson 61, J. Wright 57.
Not elected: William Shaw 37, G. Downing 36, C. H. Bayes 34, H. Clothier 33.
Mr. Randerson has for some years represented the parish on the Doncaster Rural Council, and Mr. Simpson has been chairman of the parish meeting.