Presentation to Agent at Denaby and Cadeby Club

At Denaby and Cadeby Collieries Official’s Club on Saturday, a presentation was made to Mr J. Halford, until recently agent of the two collieries. He has now been appointed group manager in No. 5 area.

Mr D. J. C. Maccaskill (group manager, Denaby and Cadeby collieries) presided.

The presentation of the gold watch inscribed “to J. Halford with our esteem from the officials and clerical staffs of Denaby and Cadeby Collieries and Providence Officers,” was made by Mr J. Hall, Undermanager Cadeby Colliery. Mr Hall said he had known Mr Halford before he came to Cadeby. They had been to school together and he had therefore been very interested in his career and watched him progress and he had been very pleased because his life and character were such as merited success. He said Mr Halford in his early days had known hard times but he had persevered and success had been his reward. He had given loyal service and had also shown an interest in the life of the communities in which he had lived. The gift was a sincere expression of their good wishes.

Mr Halford gave a short but interesting account of his early life and progress to his present post. He expressed sincere thanks to all for their support and the gift he had received which he would always treasure. The manager of the Denaby Main colliery (Mr N. Irving) was away and unable to attend and Mr R. Fairhurst (under manager) spoke of the loyal service, help and advice Mr Halford had always given.

A similar tribute came from Mr E Slater (manager of Cadeby Colliery) who spoke of the personal help and advice Mr Halford had given him. He had many good qualities and outstanding amongst them was that that he knew how to deal with the men who worked under him.

The final tribute came from Mr T. Holcroft who spoke on behalf of the clerical staff’s. He paid a personal tribute to the interest Mr and Mrs Halford had shown in the church at Denaby Main and any other organisations which had been for the welfare of the village. He referred to the splendid work Mr Halford had done for the Fullerton hospital where he was treasurer before the change to the National Health Service and had continued as treasurer to the Voluntary Aid Committee.

Mr Macaskill said he had been pleased to preside and see so many people present, which was another tribute to the respect and esteem in which Mr Halford was held.