These are the history pieces which appeared in the Batley St Mary of the Angels and Birstall St Patrick’s bulletin during November 2025. As the parishes are jointly administered and a single bulletin produced, the history pieces are not solely focused on St Mary of the Angels, although St Patrick’s was not formed as s separate parish until 1905. Prior to that it was part of St Mary’s.
As part of the St Mary of the Angels One-Place Study I have written in more detail about some of these events, and where this is the case the link to the fuller piece is included.
01/02 November 2025
On 3 November 1988 St. Mary’s Theatre Club was praised in the local newspaper for their first production for 30 years – A Musical Cabaret. In the show produced by Colin Brannan, the group who had rehearsed since May, performed a variety of songs from the old-time music halls, hits from shows such as Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, and Jesus Chris Superstar, along with some dazzling dance routines choreographed by Pat Howden. A few comic acts were thrown in for good measure. The atmosphere of a cabaret nightclub was created with candle-lit tables set round the main floor of St. Mary’s Social Club, where the entertainers, of all ages, performed. Soloists were Pat Armstead, Jan Dawson, Alan Doherty, Mary Eames, Dora Harrison, David Lovell, Nora Naughton, Terry Norton, Joe Hill and Mary Scargill. The chorus included Shiela Barber, Jayne Gill, Andrew Hill, Arthur Lockwood, Frances Lovell, Dave Mellor, Janet and Steve Walker, Maria Rogers, Julia Callaghan, Shirley Davies and Denis Walsh. Ben Wrigley, Tom Armstead and Ken Gill were front of house.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
08/09 November 2025
At the 10 November 1918 meeting of the Birstall (Dan O’Connell) Branch of the Irish National League Club, Birstall Council Chairman Councillor A. J. Flynn was congratulated on his appointment as the Yorkshire organiser for the United Irish League of Great Britain. A full-time appointment, assurances were given that this role would not necessitate Councillor Flynn’s removal from Birstall, nor interfere with his public work.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
15/16 November 2025
On 20 November 1928 a whist drive and dance in the Drill Hall raised a substantial sum for the St. Patrick’s Catholic School Renovation Fund. Mr. J. Lyons was M.C. for the whist drive, with prizes being won by Miss B. Gleeson, Miss M. Skally, Miss A. Skally, Mr. H. Tailford, Mr. G. Battye and Mr. C. Speight. Dance M.C.’s were Mr. J. Cunnhane and Mr. J. Halloran, and music was provided by St. Patrick’s Dance Band. The organisers were Miss Janie Snee and Miss Kathleen O’Brien.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
22/23 November 2025
St. Mary’s schoolboys were historically renowned for their rugby league teams. One school teacher deserving credit for this was the boys’ coach, Deryck Brown. This week in 1951, the school’s 24-year-old the sports master and senior assistant master was recognised locally for the role he was playing in developing rugby league stars of the future across the district. Nephew of Wigan RL Club chairman Harry Lowe, he came to Batley with his parents in around 1941. A former pupil at St Bede’s, Bradford, he was an all-round sportsman. Alongside his teaching, he played for Huddersfield RUFC. He also played cricket, being in the Batley second team which won league honours in 1944. A spin bowler, his best feat was 9 for 15 against Ossett in a Crowther Cup semi-final. In terms of his local rugby league role, besides his work at St. Mary’s, he was Treasurer of the Dewsbury and Batley schools’ rugby section where his duties included coaching local schoolboys. Alongside him at the Dewsbury and Batley schools’ rugby section was St. Mary’s headmaster Mr. J. T. O’Donnell, its secretary since the organization’s inception.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
29/30 November 2025
At Sunday mass, on 1 December 1889, a large congregation at St Mary’s listened to the sermon delivered by the Rev. John Earnshaw of St. Patrick’s, Bradford. The proceeds that Sunday were earmarked to go towards the erection and inauguration of stained-glass windows in the Sanctuary and Nave.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
Past To Present Genealogy 