FORMER EARBY SCHOOLMASTER

[Stanley]

FORMER EARBY SCHOOLMASTER
Tributes to Mr. J. Lindley, of Doncaster
OLD CRAVEN FRIENDS
From The Craven Herald 20/11/1936
The interment took place at the Friends Burial Ground, Doncaster, on Saturday, of Mr. James Lindley, of Doncaster, for 35 years resident in Earby.
Mr, Lindley underwent a further operation a few months ago, and he had since been almost wholly confined to his room, and on Wednesday of last week his life quietly ebbed away. He was 76 years of age.
It was in July, 1885, that Mr. Lindley moved to Earby to occupy the position of headmaster of the Wesleyan School, there was only another small school in existence at the time, and fully three-fourths of the Earby children came at once under his charge.
From the first day of his entering upon his new duties, he captivated the children by his personal charm, and the affectionate esteem he won was retained by him to the end of his career.
For 25 years he was at the Riley Street School, and when the Alder Hill Council School was opened he was ap-pointed headmaster, a post which afforded him intense gratification.
He was always enthusiastic in the dis-charge of his scholastic duties, and he generated the same spirit in the atmosphere of the school. He rejoiced in the progress of the staff and the scholars as "one that had won great spoil," and he always manifested a personal interest in the welfare of the children.
His memory will be cherished with affectionate regard by those who were brought into association with him.
THE MOURNERS
The chief mourners were Mr. and Mrs., James Lindley, junr., and their two sons, James and Albert. The other grandson David is in residence at Ackworth School.
The old staffs at Riley Street School and Alder Hill School were represented by Mr. David W. Reed, of Wigton (headmaster of the Friends' Residential School); Mrs. Joseph Smith (Miss Maggie Greenwood), of Cowling; and Miss Jennie Calverley, of Bradley. There were also present Mr. G. S. Green and Miss Green, of Bradley, and Mr. John Hartley, chairman of the Earby Education Sub-Committee.
The Friends associated with the Doncaster Meeting House were largely represented, and there were also representatives from other churches in the district.
At the graveside there was a brief com-mittal service, when Mr. Oswald Clark read the selected portion of Scripture (I Cor., chap. 13), and Mr. F. Walker offered prayer.
A memorial service was afterwards held in the Meeting House. Mr. H. Clark gave a very appropriate address, in which he eulogised on Mr. Lindley's qualities as a Christian gentleman in the various relation-ships of his life, especially in his vocation as a schoolmaster.
Mr. F. Walker referred to the ministry which Mr. Lindley had exercised since he entered into fellowship with them at Doncaster, and especially to the kind manner in which he was accustomed to greet his fellow worshippers.
Mr. G. S. Green briefly referred to his long friendship with Mr. Lindley, and to the service which Mr. Lindley had rendered to the villages of Craven in various ways.
Mr. J. Hartley also voiced a personal tribute, and expressed a sense of indebtedness on behalf of hundreds of Earby children who had been influenced for good by their schoolmaster friend.
The devotional service was very im-pressive, and closed with prayer by one of the lady ministers of the church.

Transcribed from the Craven Herald 20 November 1936 written by John Hartley. From a collection of newspaper cuttings made by the author kindly loaned by Mrs.E. Wilkinson.
594
jct