THE DARFIELD HOSPITAL SING.
There is a long tradition of villages in the Barnsley area holding "Sings"
to raise money for some good cause. In particular">
THE
DARFIELD HOSPITAL SING.
There is a long tradition of villages in the Barnsley area holding "Sings"
to raise money for some good cause. In particular, "Hospital Sings"
were held to raise money for local hospitals when these were voluntary
institutions dependant upon public subscription. The holding of regular money
raising efforts in the area were vital if the local hospital, in our case the
Beckett Hospital in Barnsley, were to be maintained and available to all who
needed its services.
(It should be noted
that before the advent of the National Health Service, Darfield had its own
Nursing Service whereby subscribers of a copper or so a week could call on the
service of the Nurse to assist in the home when illness or injury struck members
of a family. The Nurses Home is now a private residence and may be found on
Barnsley Road in Darfield, still bearing a stone above the door noting the donor
of the house and its purpose. The museum has examples of photographs and
accounts of the Darfield Nursing Service.)
In its hey-day,
Darfield`s Hospital Sing took the form of a parade round the village with a
piano and pianist drawn on a horse and dray. Hymns were sung at various stops in
the village. The culmination was a service with a speaker, usually on the
cricket field in the centre of the village. The congregations of all the various
places of worship played their part.
The advent of the war in 1939 put a stop to the Hospital Sing and it remained
merely a memory until 1985. Its original purpose had disappeared after the war
years of course with the advent of the National Health Service. In 1984 however,
members of the Amenity Society felt that the event could be reinstituted as a
village event using the second Sunday in July, and this has proved a popular
move with "Sings" being held each year since then.
For the first six years after its reinstitution, the "Sing" was held
outside in the old quarry on the Inkerman Road playing fields. The quarry formed
a natural theatre and hearty singing with a view over the Dearne and Dove
valleys was quite inspiring. Older members found the walk to the site difficult
though; there was difficulty in getting a piano and chairs to the site; and wind
and rain proved to be great handicaps. From 1991 therefore, the "Sing" was held
indoors at the Old Peoples Centre on Illsley Road. The year 2000 saw another
change in venue as we moved to the Barnsley Road Methodist Chapel. For the year
2001 we were in the Parish Church, and 2002 sees us in the Low Valley Methodist
Chapel - 3.00pm 0n Sunday
July 7th. EVERYBODY IS VERY WELCOME. The Hospital Sing 1986 on The Inkerman
Road Playing Fields.
Each year, we now collect money which is devoted to some local medically related
charity. Over the years we have thus been able to help: The Don Valley Scanner Appeal; The Friends
of Barnsley District General Hospital Minibus Appeal; The Barnsley
Hospice; (Several times). The Amenity
Fund of Kendray Hospital, Barnsley; (Several times.) Purchase of
Nebulisers for Darfield Health Centre; Purchase of
equipment for Darfield Health Centre; The Macmillan
Nurses;(Several times.) The British
Heart Foundation; The
Chemotherapy Unit Appeal at Barnsley District General Hospital; The Sue Ryder
Foundation.
This year 2002, we aim to help the Robert Ogden School for Autistic Children at
Thurnscoe. Visitors will be very welcome to join us on JULY 7TH. at 3.00pm in the
Low Valley Methodist Chapel - A Hearty Sing; A cup of tea and biscuit; A
chance to meet old friends, make new ones, and enjoy a gossip!
