Mexborough and Swinton Times November 8, 1895

Conisbrough Conservative Association

Celebration of Mr Fison’s Return
Congratulatory Dinner to the Member for The Division

On Tuesday night at the Red Lion Hotel Conisbrough, the members of the Conisbrough Conservative Association gave a congratulatory banquet to Mr FW Fison, M.P.in honour of his return to Parliament as a member for the Doncaster Division.

The assembly at the festive gallery was a record for Conisbrough, the host and hostess, Mr and Mrs T Nesbitt, being called upon to dine 180 guests. For these they catered in their usual liberal style, and spare themselves no trouble to give satisfaction to everyone present.

The following is the menu: joints, roast beef, roast mutton, boiled mutton and caper sauce; removes: roast veal, ham and tongue, jugged hare, roast duck’s, boiled fowls, rabbit pies; sweets: plum puddings, apple tarts, raspberry tarts, lemon tarts, jellies, trifles, cup custards; celery and cheese.

After the repast, on the cloth being removed the guests assembled in the clubrooms for the customary convenient evening.

Mr Godfrey Walker J.P., president of the Association, occupied the chair, and was supported by Mr FW Fison, MP, Mr GT Nicholson, vice president; Mr JT Storey (Hooton Roberts), Capt HS Witty, Mr J Dykes (Mexborough), Mr WW Norwood (Hon Sec), Mr J Gillott, Mrs TR Booth, Mr H Taylor, Mr J Fisher, Mr F Forest, Mr H Senior, Mr JW Milner (Clayton), Mr H Tonkinson, Mr R Crowcroft, Mr J Crossley, Mr F Whitehouse, Mr W Bonnett, Mr R Fern, Mr J Kitchen, Mr J Twiby, Mr G Rodney, Mr H Saville, Mr J Appleyard, Mr T Appleyard, Mr F Ogley, Mr H Of The Mr O Wilson, Mr G Hargreaves, Mr G Haigh, Mr G Richards, Mr G Harrison, Mr C Porritt (registration agent), Mr J Roper, Mr W Why Be, Mr J Hall, Mr J Chadwick, Mr E Bullock, Mr J Brian, Mr C Tinker, Mrs J Price, Mr T Oxley, Mr WJ Goodlad, Mr J Stacey, Mr W Barlow, Mr F Story and Mr W Wheatcroft.

The Chairman gave the usual loyal toasts, which was drunk with enthusiasm, the get singing the national anthem in honour of the first and “God bless the Prince of Wales,” in honour of the second of the loyal toasts.

Mr GT Nicholson gave “the Army, Navy and Auxiliary Forces.” They need, he said, only refer to history to discover the share which the Army and Navy at Bourne in establishing the glory of the English Empire. (Hear, hear) and the whole when a future issue of the country had to be written they would find records of the Army and Navy as bright and as glorious as they had ever been. Sooner or later the Army and Navy would be called upon, he hoped the day was very far distant, but it was certain to come, when England’s defensive forces would have to be employed to protect England’s interests abroad. Unionists, however, looked to the Prime Minister (applause) and believe that under his guidance the evil day would be long postponed. (Applause). He wished to couple the toast with the name of Mr HS Witty. The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm.

Mr J Stacey sang “The Empress of the waves,” and at the conclusion of his song was greeted with well earned applause.

Capt HS Witty responded and then Mr C Porritt so “Let me like a soldier fall,” his effort meeting with the heartiest approval.

Mr W.W.Norwood proposed “Our Member.” He said they had had members of Parliament before, but the Radicals had told them that they possess no right to regard them as their member, and I always told them they could not have a member of their own party. Now, however, they had a member of the right sort. (Hear, hear and loud applause.” During the few months Mr Fison had been a member of Parliament for the Doncaster division he had carefully noticed the records of members attendance in Parliament, and he found that Mr Fison had been present in a larger number of divisions than any other member in Yorkshire, outside the Cabinet. (Applause.) For a colt he thought that spoke very well, and he was sure he would prove a thorough stayer. (Laughter and applause)

Mr Fison was not only promising politician but a large employer of labour in the county of West Yorkshire. They had had eminent financiers brought to them by their friends, the radicals, as for instance Jabez Balfour (laughter) and they had had other carpetbaggers put forward by the opposite party, but a Mr Fison that a genuine Yorkshire gentleman, and a large manufacturer in the county. (Hear, hear) for the benefit of the farmers present, you might say that Mr Fison was a large buyer of wool, and he was pleased to say the price of wool had risen very greatly of late. (Laughter and hear hear) Mr Fison had other tributes he could do more than touch upon, he was a well-known amateur scientist, a fellow of the Chemical Society, and at Oxford had taken a first-class honour in science. (Applause)

you are sure everyone of them would work for him at the last election that he could assure Mr Fison that they had worked in that contest (hear, hear) will work for him again if he was spared to come before the elected again, and they would next definitely returning to Parliament, not by a majority of 141 but 1441. (Loud applause). The health of the only member was drunk with great enthusiasm, the company singing: “For he’s a jolly good fellow,” with rare heartiness.

Mr FW Fison, MP, reply to the toast said that he felt very great of the high honour they had done him in asking him to come there as a guest on such a happy occasion as a present. (Hear, hear.” There was some customs in which perhaps might bear some alterations. For instance when they had a football match or a cricket match, and had a dinner afterwards to celebrate their victory they did not expect the players to commence a game on the table. (Hear, hear) but when they had a member of Parliament for the guest and wished to celebrate a political victory, although they had listened to his talking over and over again and read in the paper columns of his opinions, they were not content with inviting to dinner, they still insisted on hearing a speech from him. However he hardly suppose they wished him to take a long spin through the dreary subjects talked about at the late election. Yet he felt there were some things that he must say. (Hear, hear and applause.) He must expresses his hearty thanks for the most excellent work they had done in this part of the division. (Hear, hear.) He felt that a majority such as they obtained at the last election, in a large division that contained so many varied interests, such a result could only have been obtained by every part of the division doing its very best. (Hear, hear and applause.)

He felt convinced that their victory in the Doncaster Division was not a victory in one part of the division only, or of one interest in the division, but of all parts of the division and of all interested in division also. (Hear, hear and loud applause)

Mr Fison went on to talk about his role in Parliament and the opposition and after several other speakers had spoken the convivial evening ended.