Howdenshire History

Mayor of Goole, Yorkshire: Robert Plewes

Goole History > Goole People & Families > Robert Plewes

 

From the Goole Times, Thursday, 31st December 1981:

 

DEATH OF FORMER MAYOR OF GOOLE

The death occurred last Tuesday [22nd] of Mr Robert Plewes, of Cambridge Avenue in Goole. Mr Plewes, who was 91, was a former Mayor of Goole and served on Goole Borough Council for six years.


His death in St John's Hospital, where he was admitted the previous evening, brought to an end a career and active retirement which made Mr Plewes one of the best known men in Goole and the surrounding area.


Mr Plewes was a native of Reedness but moved as a boy to Rawcliffe and then to Goole, where he was educated. He served for most of his working life of more than 40 years as a local government officer, retiring in 1958 as surveyor to Goole Rural District Council.


He had held this post for 35 years and received his early training under his father, also Mr R. Plewes, who was surveyor to Goole Rural Council before the First World War. His eldest brother, Mr H. Plewes, was surveyor to Thorne Rural Council.


His first appointments were with the Wath and Ripon Rural Councils. In 1914 he enlisted for Army service and went to France in 1915, where he gained a commission in the Northumberland Fusiliers.


Mr Plewes maintained his friendship with his Army colleagues and, as recently as July, received a visit from a friend with whom he served in the First World War and who was the best man at his wedding.


After serving with the Worksop and Mayfield Rural Councils for two years, Mr Plewes returned to the Goole area, where he was appointed surveyor and sanitary inspector to Goole RDC in 1921.


It was during that year that he married his wife Nellie, who was a native of Ripon and former mistress of that town's High School for Girls.


During the Second World War, Mr Plewes was the rural council's chief billeting officer and had to find homes for hundreds of evacuees who arrived in the rural area. Some of the evacuees have kept in touch with Mr Plewes and his family since that time.


He will also be remembered for the position he held for many years as registrar of births, marriages and deaths.


Mr Plewes was closely connected with Goole Parish Church - as a member of the choir for 20 years, as a churchwarden for 10 years and as treasurer for 12 years of the Parochial Church Council.


In his capacity as chairman of the PCC, he played a large part in raising money for the renovation and repair of the church.


He was also a keen spectator and staunch supporter of Goole Town Football Club, whose matches he attended until about two years ago.


In his younger days he was a footballer and cricketer, as well as a well-known competitor on local running tracks and a Rugby Union player with the former Goole club.


He was secretary and treasurer of the former Goole Trinity AFC and for many years was a member of Rawcliffe Cricket Club.


Mr Plewes was first elected to Goole Borough Council in May 1955 when he stood as an Independent candidate for the North Ward. During his six years on the council, he was chairman of the council's Town Planning committee, and was Mayor from 1962-3.


He was a former chairman of the Goole Historical Association and its outing secretary. He was also a member of the Hook and Goole Charity trustees and of the local Samaritans. He was also associated with many other local organisations.


He leaves four daughters, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.


A funeral service was held at Goole Parish Church on Tuesday, followed by interment at Goole Cemetery.

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