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 When I started trying to
remember the local characters in the area the name Fred Kelly was one of the
first to spring to mind. Thanks to information supplied by his Children we have
the life story of a local Legendary Figure Mostly remembered for playing
the big bass drum in Silverwood Brass Band Fred was also involved in other
aspects of the community. When you learn that Fred's Father
was quite a
character of Irish linage then it is hardly surprising that Fred himself grew to
be quite a character. Fred's son Raye tells this little story concerning
Granddad
Kelly
Granddad Kelly had a fight outside the Grapes Hotel
with Ian ( iron ) Hague from Mexbro, it was just before Haigh was due to fight
Sam Langford for the title I don't quite know which title, anyway the
tale goes that due to his poor performance outside the Grapes, all the
betting went off him and sure enough he lost.
Granddad Kelly died in the Great War 1914-1918
Fred was featured in the newspaper article below which is more than likely
from The Rotherham Advertiser. The article relates just some of the many
involvements he concerned himself with during his life. The photo above is
from the article.
My Father like most people had a great respect for Fred and
his final comment on Fred would always be "Nobdy played that drum like
old Fred". There is no doubt that Fred was one of the best known figure's
locally during the last century, and you are left in no doubt that Fred was the
kind of person who would have succeeded at anything he chose to get involved in.
Sincere thanks to Raye Kelly,
Nadia nee Kelly and her husband
Ken Simpson for the information and photos regarding Fred
presented on this site. I have been in
contact via phone to Nadia, Fred's daughter here in Australia, learning that
Nadia is the family historian and has published a book of her memoirs I asked
her to relate the story of her father's life, to which she kindly consented.
Nadia and her husband Ken are two very nice people and Nadia has not lost her
Yorkshire sense of humour.
John Doxey
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 Frederick William Edward Kelly was born on the 21st of November
1905. He lived on Doncaster Road side of Whinney Hill from being
two years old. He was the eldest of eight children. His father
worked at Silverwood. He went to an infants school in Dalton and
then St. Leonards Church school in Thrybergh. Fred's father
enlisted in the army during the first few weeks of the Great War
in 1914 and was killed in France. His mother married Jack Baughan
in 1918. She opened a second hand furniture shop in Dalton. She
later changed it to a general store and kept it until mid 1940's.
Louie Simpson came to Thrybergh from East Ardsley. She met Fred
who worked
at Silverwood Colliery but was also a lay preacher at
the Wesleyan Chapel on Doncaster Road. They married in April
1926. They had five children, two girls and three boys but two
boys died when babies.
Fred started Thrybergh Wheelers Cycling Club when he lived down
Chesterhill Ave. (China Town) together with some other young men.
A few remembered names are : Ron Longmate,
Jim Slater, George
Dabs, Jack White, Harold Saunders. It was a very active club
until World War Two.
Fred had a good bass baritone voice and used it to earn extra
money singing in clubs around Rotherham.
The pit-head baths opened in the 30's and he landed a job as
attendant. When baths opened at the Notton Colliery he left
Silverwood and went there as superintendent. Next he went to
I.C.I. in Huddersfield and worked in the boiler room. As the 2nd
world war progressed, ex coal miners were sent back into the
mines to dig coal. Fred did not want to go back into the pit. He
tried to join one of the armed services but he was forced to
return to Silverwood. That or jail for the duration.
The Mine Workers Union became his great interest from then
onwards. He was in turn president, delegate and secretary of the
Silverwood branch. For many years he served on the committee
making both friends and enemies along the way.
Cricket was a favourite hobby. The crowd in the Dalton cricket pavilion cheered the runs and the ducks with equal enthusiasm.
Fred was a born showman.
He was a founder member of the Miners Welfare Club in Dalton.
Later he became a life time trustee.
For years Fred M.C'd every dance held in Thrybergh. They were
family affairs, kids and all. He dressed and acted the part with
aplomb.
Fred took an active roll in local activities. In the early days
there were big May Day Parades. In one he rode a bicycle with a
steering wheel, borrowed from Siddalls in Rotherham. In another
he rode a penny farthing. For some years he helped to organize a
big sports day on Whitsuntide Monday in the Fullerton field.
Later he played the Big Drum in the Silverwood Band. There was a
well attended parade on Remembrance Day. He was active in all of
these events.
It is important to note that for years Fred visited old mates who
were in nursing homes. He did a round, taking tobacco or ciggies,
mint imperials or humbugs or whatever was their fancy.
His wife died in 1982 and when he was 80 years old he went to
live in Australia with his daughter, Nadia but he couldn't stay.
He needed to be among people he knew best. His son, Raye and his
wife, Wendy took him under their wing and he lived his last years
in Greasbro'. He died in a nursing home in 1992, aged 87.
Fred would be very proud to read this biography and would enjoy
it enormously. John Doxey asked me for a profile on my dad for
the web page. I could write a book but I've tried to keep it
short. He was a a real man and lived in a real man's world. I
loved him very much.
Nadia Simpson (nee Kelly)
Sunshine Coast, Qld. Australia.
February 2004
e-mail address
nadiasim@westnet.com.au
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1900 - 1994