Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 19 August 1932
Mr W. Hazard
Secretary of Hickleton Main Colliery Company
A Life of Public Service
We regret to record the death, which occurred on Monday evening of Mr. Walter Hazard, of The Grove, who for about 36 years had taken a keen interest in the social, religious and public life of Thurnscoe.
Mr. Hazard, who was 62 years old, had been in failing health for several months. He was a native of Brimington, near Chesterfield, was educated at the Staveley Grammar School, and commenced his career in the offices of the Silkstone Colliery, Sheepbridge, where he rose to the position of cashier.
About 36 years ago he came to Thurnscoe, when it was a colliery village of 3,000 inhabitants, as assistant secretary to the Hickleton Main Colliery Company, and succeeded the late Mr. A. Badger as secretary is 1909. The following year he became a member of the Thurnscoe Urban District Council, and except fora brief break in 1923 retained his membership until 1927. The previous year he had been chairman of the Council.
Mr. Hazard gave most of his leisure to the welfare of Thurnscoe, and was a leading figure in the township’s development. He had an interest in all its organisations. For many years he represented Thurnscoe on the governing body of the Mexboro’ Secondary School, the Wath, Bolton and Thurnscoe Joint Gas Board, the Doncaster and Mexboro’ Hospital Board, the Dearne District Light Railway Committee and the Montagu Hospital Management Committee.
Mr. Hazard was also a vice-president of the Thurnscoe Institute, treasurer of the Hickleton Main Institute, treasurer of the Hickleton Main Cricket Club, trustee of the Spencer Charity, a member of the Thurnscoe Miners’ Welfare Committee, and a director of the Thurnscoe Cinema Co., Ltd.
All religious and charitable organisations in Thurnscoe received Mr. Hazard’s full support. He was especially interested, however, in St. Hilda’s Church, in the building of which he took an active part, and he served it as a churchwarden and a member of the Parochial Church Council.
By the death of Mr. Hazard, the employees of Hickleton Main Colliery and the residents in general, have lost a kind and sincere friend. Mr. Hazard took a deep interest in the colliery company’s housing estate, and was ever ready to assist the tenants. Indeed he delighted in public service and will be greatly missed.
He leaves a widow and two unmarried daughters.