Mexborough Times, May 13th, 1916

Miners Gifts
Presentation At Denaby
Tribute To Mr J Cocks

There was a large gathering of the DenabyMain Hotel on Saturday night, when the officials and workmen from the Cadeby Pit presented to Mr J Cocks, their late manager, a handsome silver tea and coffee service, together with a gold wristlet watch for Mrs Cocks. Mr J.Kelsall presided, and among those present were Mr Cocks, Mr W.H.Chambers (managing director of the Denaby and Cadeby colliery Co.) Mr Harry Hulley (Mr Cocks successor and Mr H Watson Smith (manager of the Denaby pit)

A Man Of Ability

The chairman said they had met to show their appreciation of one who had been amongst them as manager for three years. He well remembered his first interview with Mr Cocks, and he thought there that they had got a stern man to deal with. But Mr Cocks had not ben long at Cadeby before they recognised that they had got a man of ability, a man of good meaning, and a fair, and an honourable and an upright man. (Applause)

Mr Cocks came soon after the deplorable disaster of 1912, when it meant an uphill fight for both manager and men to bring things together again: but Mr Cocks went about his work in a manly way and with a determination to win. He always tried to play the man with everyone who came in contact with him. Sometimes they had met him with different grievances, and they must admit that whenever they had not got what they thought was a satisfactory settlement immediately, Mr Cocks had always been willing to keep an open mind, and reopen any controversy if the men thought they had not had fair play (hear, hear).

Those presentsfor which they had subscribed were there as a memento of Mr Cox good qualities and of the respect which the men held him in (hear, hear). They were very pleased to see amongst them that night their late esteemed under manager, Mr Cook. (Loud applause) Mr Cook, in conjunction with Mr Cocks, did their very best to bring Cadeby up to what it is now; both of them won the esteem, respect and affectionof everyone who was employed on the place. In conclusion the chairman said Mr Cocks was a straight dealing in his private life as it was in his dealings with the men, and they will remember with pleasure the interest he took in the matter of assisting the dependence of the lads who had gone from the colliery to fight for King and country (applause)

The Presentation

Mr W.A.Chambers said he heartily welcomed the opportunity that had been offered to express a sense of the esteem in which Mr Cocks was held by the directors and officials of the company as well as by the men. He was delighted to hear from the chairman of the esteem in which Mr Cox was held by the men, and he could assure them that the directors were perfectly satisfied with their late manager (applause) Mr Cocks came to Denaby at amost difficult time, when all the most important officials were lost in the dreadful catastrophe of 1912. It was a very arduous tasks that he had undertaken with a comparatively new staff, but he came out completely successful from that severe time (loud applause)

Mr Cocks had merited the esteem of the workmen by just and fair treatment of them and that was just what the directors wished their officials to do. They all knew his abilities as a Pitman, and the directors very much appreciated his foresight and general supervision, and the way in which he hadset things out for future development and economic all working of the colliery. They did not wish to say much about the terrible catastrophe of 1912, but he would just like to refer to briefly. They all knew that what led to it was the underground fire which originated from spontaneous combustion, but since that catastrophe, and under Mr Cocks management, there had not been much of that sort of thing. They got on the top side of those underground fires. (Hear, hear)

Experience had taught them how those fires occur, and what were the conditions that originated them to a very large extent. Mr Cocks had taken care that such condition should not exist, and if even there had been a danger of an outbreak he had been prompt in dealing with and removing those conditions before anything serious had occurred. There have been very great hope that there would never be anything of that sort again at Cadeby: and if there were they could not rest until it was ensured that it would be beyond human power to avoid (applause) He (Mr Chambers) particularly alluded to this, because the example and experience of Mr Cocks would be transmitted to those who followed him. They had the utmost confidence that the procedure of Mr Cox will be followed by his successor, Mr Hulley (applause) who had worked himself up by his own studies, and who, the directors felt, ought to be given the opportunity to climb still higher.

Mr Cocks Appreciation

Mr Cocks, was received with musical honours, said it was very encouraging to know that his efforts were met with appreciation. He had a rather stiff proposition to tackle when he first went to Cadeby three years ago, and if it had not been for the help he had received from the officials and the men’s representatives he would have cut a very sorry figure indeed. He would like to thank Mr Kelso and his colleagues for the straightforward way in which they are met him from the outset, and for the reasonable attitude then invariably shown any question they had to discourse. Even when they’re not be able to see eye to eye they parted of friends, and they have never been really unable to surmount the various difficulties that cropped up. (Applause)

he also wanted to thank one and all for thehelp they hadgivenhim in his attempt to put down bad practices. If they had been trouble it had been in cases where individuals have been unable to foresee the danger of their actions; but in such cases he had always had the backing of the majority of men in carrying out the work as it should be done and trying to prevent trouble in the future. (Hear Hear)

The whole of the staff of officialshad loyally supported, and the welfare of the colliery have been the sole object. They had all pulled together, and that, more than anything he himself may have done, was the reason why they got in such a short time order out of what was more or less chaos.

Mr Chambers need have no qualms about the future welfare of Cadeby main, because theyhad such aregister officials as he (Mr Cocks) never expected to equal, let alone beat. (Applause)

It was with many regrets that he decided to sever his connection with Cadeby, for he had taken a deep interest in the work that had been accomplished there, and had been proud to be associated with Mr Chambers in the task of combating those underground fires.

Mr Chambers had initiated method of dealing with them, and he (Mr Cocks) had simply been the means of putting the method into effect.