When “Nobby” Guest drove his Donkey Cart in Denaby.

South Yorkshire times, August 31.

When “Nobby” Guest drove his donkey cart in Denaby.

Our Denaby correspondent this week, received a letter and a picture postcard from Mr William Astbury, late of Denaby Main and Conisbrough and now living at Scarborough.

The postcard was of a well-known figure in Denaby Main and Conisbrough, many years ago, we refer to Mr “Nobby” Guest. He was a distinctive and popular figure, and was often seen riding about in his little donkey cart between Denaby and Conisbrough and sometimes further afield.

At the bottom of the postcard the words are printed “Like Charlie’s Aunt, still going strong.”

Many of our older readers will recall Mr Guest, a character of over 50 years ago.

Mr Astbury states, “he was a father of Harry, Jack and Fred Guest, who are all employed at Denaby May Colliery, many years ago when the late Mr John Soar was the under manager. Jack Guest was the head horse keeper, Harry was the pit bottom foreman and Fred was a horse keeper and I think you will recall that the Guests lived at the Ferry Farm, Low road, Conisbrough.

A daughter of Mr Guest (Mrs Beaumont) lived for several years in Wheatley Street, Denaby, with her husband and family.

Home Coal Deliveries.

The older residents will also recall the miners home coal. This was delivered to their homes by horse-drawn carts and this work was done by the Guests, of Conisbrough, which family. “Nobby” was the head. They delivered coal, writes our correspondant, beyond the Wesleyan Chapel in Denaby Main, and also in Conisbrough, and the West family of Mexborough delivered coal to residents in Denaby Main up to Rossington Street and in the Mexborough area.

This is, of course, going many years before the Workman´s Home Coal Carting Organisation came into being, but it is interesting to recall those days, and to remember that well-known figure “Nobby Guest.”

Incidentally, Mr Astbury referred to my recent references to farmers, shops and their Christmas Joy Fair and he states, “you were quite right about Farmer´s Christmas Toy Fair held at the shops opposite the Denaby Main Hotel years ago, the “fair” was held as you stated, in Wray´s Buildings and my sister Dorothy (Mrs Coates) remembers being taken around the fair when she was a young child and can recall the dolls and toys bought for her.