Mexborough and Swinton Times March 16, 1940

Obituary – Mr. S. Hardwick

Fine Record of Public Service

Work for Thurnscoe

Last Thursday Thurnscoe lost by death the man who, more than most gave Thurnscoe an urban character — social machinery to replace the village ways that had perished. He was Mr. Samuel Hardwick. of Common Road, who had given of his talents and energies to the public for at least fifty of his 86 years.

Founder of Cricket Club.

Mr. Hardwick, who would have been 87 next month, came to the district from his native Wakefield to take up an official position before the sinking of the Hickleton shaft began. In 1893, the following year, his passion for cricket led him to set in motion a movement for the forming of a club. In one of his old Mr. S. Hardwick. diaries is to be found the following entry:

“1893, called a public meeting in the old Butchers’ Arms and formed the present Hickleton Cricket Club; arranged to play a full list of matches this season.”

Thus, the Hickleton Main Cricket Club was born in March, and Mr. Hardwick became the first captain. Later he was the Club’s second secretary and during his long and conscientious association with the club he saw the membership rise from 20 to more than 400. The growth of the organisation was very largely due to his exceptional talent for leadership and to the passionate enthusiasm that always characterised his relations with the game. He made Hickleton Main an important club, and when his playing days were over he took pleasure in its successes in the Yorkshire Council. As a cricketer and an administrator of the game he became known throughout South Yorkshire.

For many years he was president of the Mexborough and District League, and later the Barnsley and District League conferred a similar honour upon him. He could never do too much to advance the interests of the game and its players, and he gave lavishly of his time to all the offices he undertook.

One of his more serious interests was education and here he brought the same industry and zeal to bear. He was first appointed a member of an education body in the days of the School Board, when the 1870 Education Act was still in force. It was not until three years ago, when Thurnscoe was merged with Bolton to form the Dearne Urban District, that he gave up active association with local education. For seventeen successive years he was re-elected chairman of the Thurnscoe Education Committee, and one of his proudest recollections was the opening of the Thurnscoe Hill School by Lord Harewood.

As an educationalist Mr. Hardwick always showed his gift for balanced judgment, and he won and held the respect of men of all views. When the time came for his retirement —he felt he had to relieve himself a the burden of public offices he had carried so long—the Thurnscoe Education Committee placed on record their appreciation of his services to the community.

Many Interests.

There were many flourishing organisations in the district which had the advantage of Mr. Hardwick’s interest and leadership. He was the first treasurer of the Working Men’s Medical Fund: a Parish Councillor; secretary to the Sports Association, flower shows, and the first Choral Society; chairman of the local Conservative Association, the Bowling Club, a Sick and Dividing Club, the Angling Society; a representative on the Board of Management of the Mexborough Montagu Hospital, on the local committees of ambulance classes, mining classes. and Thurnscoe Institute.

He also did much work for Sunday Schools, and was associated with the Hickleton Golf Club and the Ploughing Society. This brief record will indicate the important part Mr. Hardwick played in the development of the town of his adoption; but all those who worked alongside him and those who benefited from his public spirit will need no reminders of the services he unstintingly gave.

He leaves three sons and four daughters. His wife died in 1918.

The Funeral.

The funeral took place at Thurnscoe ‘Parish Church on Monday. the Rector, the Rev. D. E. Hughes, o fficiating. Captain J. Morris also took part in the service