South Yorkshire Times March 10, 1956

Vandals in Conisbrough Garden.
So Ernest Will Have to Start from Scratch Again

Mr Bonnett, a 75-year-old pensioner, of 29 March Street, Conisbrough, was a happy man until recently. Contentedly cultivating a small plot of land on his allotment each day, he was happy to see the fruits of his labour bringing good results.

But now hooligans have pulled up and destroyed his young seedings, wrecked his home-made greenhouse, and stolen almost all his garden tools.

“It’s been going on since October,” he said, “and now there’s almost nothing left.”

A keen gardener since he retired from working at Baker and Bessemer (Kilnhurst), eight years ago, Mr Bonnett has steadily built stock of equipment from his small old age pension. Now he estimates his loss at more than £30 – “And it’s a lot to make up for my action,” he said.

So when this season is ended Mr Bonnett will give up his little ground in the allotment opposite the Lime Grove cafe, and he will start all over again with a plot of Park Lane.

“And I shall have to start from scratch,” he said.