Home Industry and Commerce Town Council & Government Darfield Urban District Council – New Chairman

Darfield Urban District Council – New Chairman

April 1919

Mexborough & Swinton Times, April 26, 1919

New Chairman

T. W. Illsley

Darfield Urban District Council.

Mr T.W. Ilsley is a native of Swadlincote, Derbyshire, and was brought to Wombwell as an infant. He received his early instruction at the Low Valley Wesleyan Day School.

Leaving school at the age of twelve, he commenced work as an errand boy. His career in the mine began at the age off 14 when he commenced, at the Darfield Main’ Colliery, leaving there at the age of 20, when he went to Houghton Main, where he is now employed. He took an early interests in the work of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association and Labour politics in the Wombwell and Darfield area.

After serving as a member of the committee of the Houghton Main Branch of the Yorkshire Miners Association he was ultimately chosen President; and he was elected Secretary, which position he still holds. In 1917 he was elected check-weighman. He was recently elected to the Joint committee of owners and workmen of the coal industry of South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

As a young man Mr Ilsley was captain of a successful football team known as Park Hill Hovers (Wombwell). He also played. At times for the Wombwell Town avid Wath Athletic clubs, and later he followed the sport as a referee. He was for some time a member of the Barnsley Football Association, and was several years on the Executive Committee of that body. Councillor Illsley held the position of Chairman of the Darfield Council in 1913 and 1914, and has served continuously as a member since 1905. As a public man his zeal for the welfare of the industrial classes is combined with an abundance of sound common sense.