Mexborough & Swinton Times, April 8, 1932

Wath

Mr. Frank Bailey has been actively connected with the Labour movement for forty years, but, this is his first success in a Council election though he has fought on three previous occasions: in. 1912 and 1920 under the old system, and in 1929 when he was defeated in the East ward by Mr. M. R. Swift.

Mr. Bailey’s early life was spent in Derbyshire. For three years he was a pony driver in one of the Staveley pits, during which period occurred the 1893 strike. He left the colliery for the railway and in 1900 became a goods guard, and saw service at Worksop, Lincoln and. Penistone. At Penistone he was a co-opted member of the District Education Sub-Committee for three years.

He was transferred to Wath in 1909. There his interest in trade unionism was quickly recognised. For eleven years lie was secretary and treasurer of the Wath branch of the N.U.R. He then relinquished the secretarial duties but continued as treasurer, a position he still holds. For nine years be represented Wath on the Rotherham Guardians and was vice-chairman in 1930, the last year of the Board’s existence.

During the war he served on the War Pensions Committee for three years and also sat on the local tribunal.