past and present
Memories
The Origins of Gill Close
I am sure that there are a good number of Wickersley residents who are not aware of the origins of some of the road
names in their village. In the 1970’s the development of the once small village continued at a pace. Houses and bungalows
were built off Morthen Road and new names for the roads were needed.
When the parish council of the day was looking to name these roads it decided that it would be appropriate to honour
local people who had made a significant contribution to village life.
One was named after the Vicar of Wickersley Sorby Briggs (Sorby Way), one after Wickersley Parish Councillor Martin Almond (Almond Glade) and one after my father Eric Gill (Gill Close).
My dad certainly qualified to be included among those honoured as for many years before his death in June 1975 at the age of 65 he was well known for his unfailing service to the local community.
Born in Thrybergh in 1910 he worked all his life for the National Coal Board. He and my mum Evelyn married in 1937 and they lived all their life at 108, Melciss Road. For many years he was treasurer and secretary of Wickersley Agricultural Show, a governor at Wickersley Comprehensive School, chairman of Wickersley Old Village Cricket Club, a Village Councillor and chairman of Wickersley Parish Council. He was also chairman of the fund to raise money to build Wickersley Village Hall and he officially opened the building on its completion in 1974.
At his funeral service at St Alban’s Parish Church tribute was paid to him by the then Vicar of Wickersley Reverend Metcalfe. He said that the large attendance was an indication of the great part this friendly man had played in local community matters. He added that during his time as a Wickersley Parish Councillor he had worked with energy, devotion and understanding for the welfare of Wickersley and that the Village Hall for which he had worked so hard stood as a memorial of his concern for the welfare of life in this neighbourhood.
My mum and dad are buried in the churchyard at St Alban’s. Whenever I come over to Wickersley and I see the Gill Close nameplate it fills me with great pride that a road in Wickersley is named after my dad and that his name is remembered long after he has gone.
Don Gill
Tickhill, July 10th 2008
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