South Yorkshire Times, March 28, 1964
Fine Record.
Ald B.Roberts 30 years on County Council.
County Ald Ben Roberts of “Aberford,” Doncaster Road, Conisbrough, is well-known, not only in Conisbrough and Denaby Main, but in a much wider field in the County, which he served for so long in so many capacities. Some of these duties he will be relinquishing in the near future because of advancing years.
At the end of this month he will retire from his county duties and on obtaining the age of 75 in July he retired from the West Riding Magisterial Bench on which he has served since 1940.
Ald Roberts began his working life at an early age at Cadeby Colliery, underground.
As a young man he took an interest in the rights of the working man and was soon appointed to union committees. In course of time he held most of the official branch positions in the N.U.M.
He worked underground for 25 years and later became the men’s Checkweighman, a position from which he retired in 1957. He won a seat on the local Council and has been four times Chairman of Conisbrough U.D.C.30 years ago, he was elected to the County Council, and appointed a County Council Alderman 12 years ago. He has served with honour and dignity the high posts to which he has been appointed.
He has served on the County Health, Highways, Finance, Civil Defence and other committees, was Chairman of the Local Taxation Committee at one period and vice-chairman for 25 years.
For 15 years he served on the standing Joint Committee and was a one-time chairman. He has served on many other important committees and subcommittees and was chairman of the Mental Health Deficiency Committee for about 10 years.
Road Safety Work.
At the section of Conisbrough Irving Councils Road Safety Committee, Ald Roberts was appointed chairman and he resign only a few years ago. He still serves on the committee. He has been chairman of division three of the West Riding Highways Section for many years, and in addition to this post. He found time to serve on a Visiting House Committee and served on Hospital Committees (before the changeover) at Wakefield, Conisbrough and Mexborough
he has lived an active and strenuous life on us assisted many invading walks of life.
In all his endeavours. He had been conscientiously encouraged by his wife, at one period. Mrs Roberts also took part in public life and shares her husband’s keenness for public service.
Ald Roberts has been a keen churchmen and in Denaby Main served with the writer as a Sunday School Teacher at the Parish Church.
He can look back on a very considerable record of service to the public, which he can be proud. His many friends will wish him good health and a happy retirement stop