MR LEACH AT WAKEFIELD
Continuing my recollections of the late Mr James Leach. I remember
accompanying him as "valet de sham"--as the old gentleman was pleased to
style me to inquiring friends--to Wakefield. The occasion was the annual
visit of inspection which a deputation from the Board of Guardians was
making to the asylum there. I recollect Mr Richard Hattersley telling me
on the platform at the Keighley station to look well after Mr Leach. The
deputation comprised, among others, Mr James Walsh, Mr Middlebrook, Mr R.
A. Milner, and Mr R. C. Robinson. On arriving at the Bradford Midland
Station, Mr Leach, on the plea of "takin' t' twist out on 'em," sent me
for an open landau and a couple of horses and a coachman, and thus he
proceeded "in state" to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Station. The train
again entered, the journey was soon completed to Wakefield. The
deputation in general did the distance to the asylum--about a mile--on
foot, but for Mr Leach, I had again to requisition a two-horsed landau.
We were driven up to the asylum entrance, and ushered into the reception
room. The governor of the asylum asked me who the old gentleman was, and
I told him he was "James Leach, Esquire, a Guardian, from Keighley."
"He's a funny fellow," said the governor, "I couldn't tell whether he was
coming in as a patient or not." By way of re-assurance I told the
governor that Mr Leach had had a stroke, which rather accounted for his
"acting funny." The other members of the deputation had now arrived, and
the whole were shown into a private room. There the Guardians sat as a
Board, with Mr Middlebrook as chairman, and the thirty-six lunatics from
the Keighley Union were brought in. One or two of the patients I
recognised. Several of them were ready to be discharged, having been
passed by the doctor. The inspection over, Mr Leach expressed a desire to
see the patients dine. He was introduced into the large dining hall, and
took a great interest in "watchin' t' lunies feed," as he put it. At the
close of the repast, Mr Leach commissioned me to distribute 1lb. of
tobacco among the men--0.5lb. in twist, and 0.5lb. in shag. No sooner did
the lunatics see the tobacco than they commenced a vigorous attack on
me--I had lunatics to the right and to the left of me, and in front,
behind, and on top of me. There must have been no less than half-a-dozen
on my shoulders at one time, and some of the fellows obtained a good deal
more than their share of the tobacco. Mr Leach had apparently witnessed
the distribution with much interest, and when I came up to him he said,
"been in Wombwell's menagerie, but ah've nivver bin i' sich a furacious
attack as this before." He then retired, and on leaving the asylum I
heard him ask the governor if he would allow himself and his "valet de
sham" to stay a few weeks in the place, promising to pay all dues and
demands. The governor, however, said he would not be able to do that
without a certificate. So, after bidding the Asylum governor good day, Mr
Leach and I took our departure. I had again to obtain an open carriage to
take us to the Bull Inn, where dinner was to be served. Dinner was
waiting when we got there. "Isn't it a bonny shame" said Mr Leach, "for
us to be hevin' a 7s 6d dinner aht o' t' rates?" "Nay," says the
landlord, "you do your work for nothing." "Hahivver," said Mr Leach,
"Ah'll hev my dinner, but this 'valet de sham' o' mine weant hev owt
here; Ah'll be beyont suspicion." With that he handed me 4s and I went
down into Wakefield and got a good repast. On my return to the Bull Inn,
I found Mr Leach sat on a basket of potatoes at the door. It transpired
that he had been turned out of the hotel, and a chair having been denied
him on which to sit and wait at the door, he had bought a basket of
potatoes from a hawker who was passing, and utilised it as a temporary
seat. Whatever had taken place, Mr Leach was greatly excited, and it was
with no little difficulty that I got him to the station. We reached
Keighley safely, and then, with the aid of a cab from the station, I was
soon able to restore my old friend to "their Sarah." I received 10s for
that day's services.
SLACK-LANE BAPTIST CHAPEL
Many people will remember the old shake-down trap which Mr Leach used to
run some years ago. He often drove up to Tewitt Hall, Oakworth, and
Slack-lane Chapel. For some time he seemed to set his mind on purchasing
Tewitt Hall. About the Chapel, he told me some wonderful stories. He used
to say that his relatives founded Slack-lane Chapel, and that his mother
received in their house the first parson who came to the district.
A VISIT TO CLIFFE CASTLE
Mr Leach, I know, fondly treasured in his memory a visit which he paid to
Cliffe Castle, in 1886, on the occasion of the "White Ball" given by Mr
Butterfield. I was not a little astonished when Mr Leach told me one
morning, "Tha'll hev ta goa wi' me ta t' ball, Bill; ah've bowt thee a
ten-an'-sixpenny ticket." However, I did not care to intrude my presence
on such a "flash" gathering as I knew there would be, and when the time
arrived for my "master" to start, I was missing. Mr Leach was,
nevertheless, determined "ta visit t' Cliff," and as a last resort he
summoned his old friend "Little" Barnes to accompany him. The two
attended the "White Ball;" but I don't think either of them participated
in the dancing. Mr Leach afterwards told me that they were nicely
entertained by Mr Butterfield, who had a long chat with him, and
expressed a wish to have a chat with him at some other time on public
matters. One of the topics which engaged Mr Butterfield and Mr Leach was
a public park for the town.
MR LEACH AND DEVONSHIRE PARK
It is an acknowledged fact that to Mr Leach was due no small measure of
credit in connection with the securing of Devonshire Park for Keighley.
His pet idea for a public park was originally the Showfield in
Skipton-road. On one occasion Hawkcliffe Wood came into the market, and
was suggested as a suitable park for the public. Mr Leach opposed this
scheme tooth and nail--"ther wor too monny hoils an' caves abaat. They'd
be capt if somebody gat dahn one o' t' hoils an' wor nivver seen ageean."
A public meeting was held in the Drill Hall to test the public feeling as
to the purchase of Hawkcliffe Wood. Mr W. A. Robinson, I believe, was the
principal speaker on the affirmative side, and Mr Leach strongly opposed
the scheme of purchase. Next day, however, the question was settled by
the announcement that Mr Butterfield (whose estate agent, Mr James
Wright, had attended the meeting) had successfully negotiated with Messrs
Dixon, of Steeton, for the purchase of the Wood. Having practically
scored on this point, Mr Leach next turned his attention very vigorously
to the Showfield. He superintended the making-out of a petition to the
Duke of Devonshire, asking his Grace to make a grant of the Showfield for
a town's park. The petition was numerously signed, and was duly forwarded
through the Local Board to the Duke. His Grace could not see his way to
accede to the petitioners' wishes, but it was some gratification to Mr
Leach to hear that the Duke would probably see his way to do something
later--a promise consummated in the presentation to the town of what is
known as Devonshire Park. Mr W. Laycock (the Duke's steward) assured Mr
Leach that he was the first man whom the Duke of Devonshire had
recognised in this way, and that he was the means of securing the first
public park for Keighley.
MR LEACH'S EPITAPH
The last request which Mr Leach made to me was to write an epitaph to be
engraved on the south side of the tombstone over his grave. I have penned
the following lines:--
O! Passer-by, pray cast an eye
Upon this ponderous dome,
Where lieth one of nature's sons
Inside the vaulted tomb.
For weel, I wot, it took a lot
To weigh him from his birth,
But nature thought she'd send him back
To join his Mother Earth
So now he's quiet, both day and night,
No one can hear his speech;
And waiting to be reckoned up,--
Alas! poor Mr. Leach.