Hunshelf Chat Issue 65 - April 2011
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Hunshelf Chat Issue 65 - April 2011 Well Hill Walls, especially our dry stone walls are an essential heritage feature of our parish. Kathryn Austin raised concern at a parish council meeting that the sycamore saplings on Well Hill were in danger of destroying our walls. Not immediately of course, but over time. So, on a grey day, six good men and true, well four men and two valiant ladies, attacked the worst bits of Well Hill and removed and hopefully killed off a batch of saplings. When we got to the bottom of the mass of sycamore, bramble, and rubbish, we realised just why this bit of verge was never flailed by the council. It was mainly old tree stumps that had re- generated into a coppiced hedge. This must have been done some years ago. There is still more to be done, but it will have to wait now for next year. Many thanks to the six tree fellers, Barnsley MBC for their support and Alan Crookes and Philip Watts and family for the use of their fields. Would you buy a heap like this? See article on page 8 Hunshelf Chat - March 2011 in some of the most well- NEVILLE ROEBUCK known musicals and operettas: Show Boat; White Horse Inn and On August 27th last year, Neville Roebuck, “Uncle Carousel being among Nev’” sadly died in Barnsley & District General his favourites. In addition Hospital, following a yearlong battle with cancer. to acting, Neville wrote It was only a few weeks after his 73rd birthday, for the stage and was and although he was residing at a nursing home instrumental in the in the days before he passed away, his family and was an able student and community of Green Moor friends managed to bring him home to his beloved passed an entrance exam staging performances. He Green Moor to celebrate his special day. Neville into Barnsley Technical composed Pantomimes was a true Yorkshireman; he loved the county: the College, where he studied for the Sunday School; people; the places; the traditions and heritage, but Business and Commerce. compiled a pageant it was Green Moor that he truly held dear. He was However, his passage into detailing local history involved at the heart of the village and committed the world of work was from the Domesday Book much of his life to serving the community and interrupted by his call to the twentieth century preserving its integrity. to National Service and as part of the school’s Neville was conscripted centenary celebration Neville was born on houses of Castle View. into the army. He didn’t (for which I had to 4th August 1937 in Neville attended Hunshelf enjoy his training or being wear a very itchy and Chapeltown Nursing Infant & Junior School away from home but did uncomfortable wimple in home near Sheffield. He to the age of 11, before make the most of his my role as ‘Joan of Dean spent his early childhood moving to Stocksbridge posting to the War Office Head’!) and in his later at Office Fold, Green Secondary Modern – even claiming that years wrote a short play Moor with parents Ben School. At this time, the he visited 10 Downing and even a musical! There and Ethel Roebuck and journey to school involved Street on occasions on was no end to what he older brother Rex. A children from Green official business! Whilst in would have a go at. The sister, Jean, completed Moor walking over the London, he indulged his centenary of the school the family in 1945. When fields to Stocksbridge passion for live theatre, was a focus for the whole Neville was about 15, each day, whatever the galleries, museums and village and celebrated in the family moved up the weather: come rain, historical sites, and as different ways to bring as village to the newly built snow or shine. Neville anyone who knew Neville many people together as would acknowledge, he possible. Neville was one continued this interest of the founding members throughout his life. of ‘The Centenary Players’ However, the lure of who performed a string Yorkshire was too strong of plays and musicals: and on completion of Me and My Girl; The his conscription, Neville Importance of Being left the bright lights of Earnest and ,memorably the capital and returned for me, The King and I, home to Green Moor. which brought adults and He began work at children from the village Samuel Fox and Co in together. Stocksbridge, starting The Methodist his career in the steel church was central industry in the stainless to Neville’s life and he sales office. It was here was actively part of the that he became involved organisation for most of with Stocksbridge Works this. The church calendar Amateur Dramatics incorporates many special Society (S.W.A.D.S) and events and festivals took roles in a variety of and Neville always productions in the late participated wholly in 1950’s and throughout the preparation and the 60’s. He was also a presentation of services: member of Penistone from his ambitious SWADS (Stocksbridge Works Amateur Dramatics Society) Operatic Society and floral arrangements delighted in participating and displays to serving Hunshelf Chat - March 2011 at the Men’s Effort. He his life, he catalogued revitalised the tradition an enormous amount Census of carol singing on of material for not Christmas Eve. Dressed only Green Moor Barnsley got 98% of its Census in Victorian costume, the and Hunshelf, but papers back in 2001. Looking carollers and musicians for Penistone and its at the results for 2001 on travelled to all corners of surrounding communities the government web site, the parish to entertain too. In the months Hunshelf must have had – singing (and keeping before his death, Neville 100% return. Hopefully we alive) the local tunes. The set up the Penistone & will had the same level of highlight of this annual District Communities response this year on 27 March. event was when the group Archives Trust. With was invited to sing at the funding, he has had the Why did we have to fill in this long and clumsy form? Look North news studio. collection digitised and This is the main data base for the distribution of Neville’s professional the committee is hoping services. If Barnsley as a whole gets every one of its career was prematurely to have access to this citizens recorded, then BMBC will get more government cut short when he was unique resource available money. It is as simple as that. faced with redundancy for public viewing. as the Sheffield steel Neville showed industry went into great enthusiasm and decline. Despite the commitment to everything short term employment he involved himself with; opportunities that none more so though Maunday Thursday followed, he struggled than in his affection and to secure a permanent support for family and Maunday Thursday is on April 21st this year and, as post and decided to take friends. He was always usual, at 8 30pm, many people will meet in Green early retirement. But on hand for advice and Moor Church to take part in the Service organized Neville was never idle, encouragement and took by Churches Together in Stocksbridge and District. and always had a project an interest in others. After a brief Service there the congregation will on the go. One of the As I used to say to my process up to the cross at Hill Top Farm. You may lasting memories that colleagues at Springvale remember a few years ago when the cross had to many people will have Primary School, ‘Everyone be moved from Windy Bank Farm where the Taylor of him, is his interest should have an Uncle Family allowed it to be erected well over 50 years and knowledge of local Nev’. He seemed to ago, it was feared there be no cross that year. The history. He was a wealth have the answers to Godley Family at Hill Top Farm stepped in and, at of information. Over his all our questions and short notice, erected the cross currently on their life, Neville was a prolific the solutions to all our land. It is not possible for this cross to be lowered collector of artefacts and problems. As children, and last year, when many damaged bulbs had to be historical material. He Uncle Neville’s was like a changed, Greg Godley and a friend faced being swung worked to realise his second home for myself about in high winds and driving rain to do this task ambition of a museum and my brothers; he - therefore it was decided to replace the existing for Green Moor, and for welcomed us always cross with one which could be lowered. A collection some years a collection (even at half past seven outside Stocksbridge Co op, in January, raised well of pieces was displayed on Christmas morning, over £500 towards the anticipated cost of £1000. in a school outbuilding. desperate for more Many people said how much they looked forward to Unfortunately this presents!). He was always seeing the cross each year shining out over Easter. was disbanded when pleased to see us, and Since then many more donations have been received Hunshelf School was make us ‘a bit of food’. and money is still coming in – most recently from a closed. However, his The arrival of the next Coffee Morning at the home of Elsie Steele - Greg’s passion for local history generation filled him with Grandma! continued, along with pleasure as he adored all his acquisitions and our children, and we are Thank you to all who have contributed and especially eventually his archives pleased that they were to the Taylor and Godley families who have given so were established.