WHEN DAD MET DAVID NIVEN

ADDED 9 FEBRUARY 2007

I noted the remarks made by Norman Blackburn in the February 2007 issue of the Pontefract Digest magazine.

My father was the licensee of the Horse Vaults from about mid-1944 until the early 1950s.

He was elected onto Pontefract Council in the 1920s and served continuously until it was absorbed by the Wakefield Metropolitan Council. He was, so I am told, the longest serving member of the council, although it has never been acknowledged.

While serving in the R.A.F. he would attend council meetings when home on leave. He was made an Alderman, a Freeman, and became father of the council. He was stationed on an operational fighter station during the war and it was on this station where the opening and closing scenes of the film ‘Birth of a Spitfire / First of the Few’ were filmed. That was when Dad met David Niven, but I think I mentioned that in my article.

Dad was Mayor of Pontefract on two occasions; the first in 1949/50 and then again in 1971/72. On this last occasion I filmed the Mayors Church Parade and the Mayors Banquet on 8mm cine film. This is still held by my niece. It was mentioned in the Express at the time. On the first occasion he acted as mayor he officially opened the Valley Gardens!

Bill Wood

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