Mexborough & Swinton Times – June 9, 1939

Pit Lad Wins Scholarship

From Billingley To Oxford

To Study Economics

Eric Ashwood (22), of Pond House Billingley, near Darfield, who has worked on the surface at Houghton Main Colliery, near Barnsley, since he was 14, has won a scholarship tenable at Ruskin Hall, Oxford.

He is the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Ashwood. He was educated at Darfield Church School, Wombwell Modern School and later attended evening classes at Wombwell and Great Houghton.

He is to study economics and it is his ambition to become a tutor.

“He was never satisfied with pit work,” his mother told a reporter “and he has always had an ambition to go to a university.”

Ashwood also won a scholarship tenable at Sheffield University, and a few days ago was invited to an interview in connection with a third. His scholarship will be tenable for twelve months, and he will go to Oxford next September.

He was at work on the pit top as usual during the week and received many congratulations from his workmates. He also received a message from Mr, Jack Lawson, the miners’ M.P., who is a friend of Mr. Lionel Brown, of Great Houghton, at whose house he sat for the examination.