PEOPLE – METCALFE, William. Alderman J.P.

Accreditation Cleveland Standard 09/03/1933

ALDERMAN WILLIAM METCALF, J.P.

HIS VARIED AND INTERESTING CAREER – A KEEN SPORTSMAN AND GENIAL FRIEND

By HUGH W. COOK

   Alderman William Metcalf, J.P., Ex Mayor of Redcar, is a hard working citizen, a keen sportsman, and a believer in moderation in all things. His interest in sports has covered a very wide range and his happiest times is when he is engaged in public duties.
Born in Chape Haddersley, near Selby in 1856, the alderman can claim to be a real Yorkshire man and his wife, whose maiden name was Miss Kate Friskney, is a native of West Hartlepool. They were marries at Stockton in 1881. They came to Redcar 43 years ago after having lived in Stockton, and have seen Redcar grow from a fishing village into one of Yorkshire’s most up-to-date and enterprising seaside resorts
In spite of being nearly seven years over his three score years and ten (allotted to mankind by the Palmist) he wears very well.
Both being of jovial and active turn of mind they of course, get the best out of life, but in spite of the many calls upon their time they always make every effort to attend practically all the functions held for the benefit of the town an district.
First elected on the old Redcar Urban District Council in 1910, Alderman Metcalf served the town faithfully until the place was made a borough, and continued to give a “good account of his stewardship” on the borough council. He was elected an Alderman at the formation of the Borough in 1922.

A Great Event In His Life

   In 1928 Alderman and Mrs. Metcalf were elected Mayor and Mayoress of Redcar, offices they carried out very faithfully for two years. It was a great event in their useful lives. Looking over some of the Redcar town’s records I find that Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf have done much work for the place.
When Alderman Metcalf took office as Mayor he had not long recovered from a long illness, and his colleagues feared that he might not stand the strain of municipal duties. However, with Mrs. Metcalf as a valuable helper he wholeheartedly filled all calls, civic and social, of the Mayoralty during a most trying period.

A Man of Many Parts

   Looking fresher and younger every time I see him, I found when I called on him the other day, he was delighted to discuss about Redcar and in his unusual unassuming manner, he talked about some of the public offices – past and present, held during his 43 years residence in Redcar, and I can only, unfortunately find space for a few of them.
He was Chairman of the Redcar Urban District Council in 1915 and 1916, and was Vicar’s Deputy Warden at Redcar parish Church for 30 years. As one of the originators of the Redcar Bowling Club he has been a member since then, and has won several trophies. In politics he is a Conservative, and a leading member of the Redcar Constitutional Club, of which he is Chairman; and an enthusiastic follower of football since his youth, the alderman has prominently associated with the Middlesbrough Football Club as director for 22 years, and is still energetically carrying on with the good work.
For some years he held the position of Chairman of the Redcar Committee, and everyone recognised the valuable and un-stinted work he performed in connection with this part of his duties. As a Justice of the Peace, Alderman Metcalf has always carried out his duties most faithfully.
In 1919 he moves a resolution at a meeting of the Urban Council “that they memorialise the North Riding C.C. to make an order to extend the district so as to include in the urban council’s area the parish of Kirkleatham.” He was also the means of getting a separate petty sessional division for Redcar in the same year.
In early life our veteran was connected with the Volunteer movement, and was attached to the old Volunteer Rifles and later the Artillery, and took part with success i many competitions. During the Great War he once more threw in his lot with the Volunteers, and became Chairman of the Committee of the Redcar Volunteer Training Corps, and was attached to the National Reserve Movement.

A Keen Bowler

   He not only took a prominent part in the formation of the Cleveland and South Durham Bowling League, but was chairman and president for ten years.
In spite of his 77 years, Alderman Metcalf still enjoys fairly good health, whilst Mrs. Metcalf carries her years very lightly, and is always happy when actively engaged in home or public duties.
This good lady has a large stock of news paper cuttings, carefully cut out and pasted in three books. They are all dated, and chiefly refer to events which have occurred in Redcar and district during the past 25 years.
The cuttings form very interesting reading and I heartedly congratulated Mrs. Metcalf on her “records,” when I called at Coatham House, Coatham, a few days ago.
Of their family Miss Metcalf is living at home, whilst the youngest daughter, now Mrs. Charles Burge, Junior, resides at Hull.
Both Alderman and Mrs. Metcalf have a wide circle of friends and not only have they been useful and dutiful citizens, but they always bring a buoyant enthusiasm to all work in which they are interested.
I pay my humble tribute to them by including, “Faithful servants and you have always done your duty,” and as I have known them for 35 years I can speak from personal knowledge.