The Reight Neet Aht was a unique charity gala with a distinctly Yorkshire flavour that put Castleford on a global stage.
From 1936 to 1957, the star-studded annual marbles contest attracted famous faces and international media interest.
Read on to discover how appearances from
stage, screen and sporting stars brought the glitz and glamour to Cas.
Explore each event in more detail with our interactive timeline!
 |
| Participants in the first All-Ladies Reight Neet Aht in 1955 Image courtesy of the Wakefield Council Libraries Photographic Collection |
Knuckling off
Local journalist Sid Colclough started the Reight Neet Aht
in 1936. Sid wrote a regular column inspired by the grumblings of a group of
former miners known as the ‘Fed Ups’. One of the group joked about challenging
councillors to a marbles match so Sid made it happen! He turned it into a charity
fundraiser and added other games and entertainment for a full night out.
 |
| Souvenir ribbon from the first Reight Neet Aht in 1936 |
He held the event at the Cooperative Ballroom in Castleford. Guests were invited to come in their “glad-rags” and were treated to a packed programme. The marble contest “knuckled off” at 7:30pm.
There were also contests in shuttlecock, skipping and whip and top, plus hours of dancing.
Guests bought
slices of a giant pie for supper and there were clay pipes for the gentlemen.
 |
| Marble used by 90-year-old William Furniss in the first Reight Neet Aht in 1936. William won the 1937 tournament. |
Patrons and prizes
Over the years, Reight Neet Aht supported a number of local
charities and good causes. Sid set himself a fundraising target of £50 for the
first ever Neet Aht with the proceeds going to Leeds Infirmary.
Reight Neet Aht raised money through ticket sales and
selling refreshments on the night. Reight Neet Aht often took place on Shrove
Tuesday and organisers prepared piles of pancakes!
Local companies and celebrity patrons also helped the
fundraising by donating trophies, souvenirs and prizes for auction.
Bagley's Glass in Knottingley made a special marble for the first competition in 1936:
 |
| Bagley's Glass special marble for the first Reight Neet Aht |
They also supplied the trophy for the final event in 1957:
 |
| The trophy for the 1957 Reight Neet Aht, also made by Bagley's Glass |
Singer, actor and comedian, Gracie Fields, was a huge star in
the 1930s. She never made it to Castleford but she was a key supporter of
Reight Neet Aht, putting her name to the prizes and donating memorabilia.
 |
| A special commemorative marble decorated with the signature of Reight Neet Aht's celebrity patron Gracie Fields |
Star signings
Sid Colclough was the driving force behind the success of Reight Neet Aht. He had a flair for publicity and turned the event into a national occasion.
Famous cameos added glitz and glamour. Newspapers, radio and even cinema newsreels reported from Castleford.
 |
| George Formby and his wife Beryl were the special guests at the 1940 Reight Neet Aht - the only wartime edition of the event. Image courtesy of the Wakefield Council Libraries Photographic Collection |
Star entertainer George Formby came to the 1940 Reight Neet Aht with his wife Beryl. The couple had met in Castleford.
The George Formby Society have kindly lent this signed banjolele to Castleford Museum, where it is currently on display:
 | ||
A banjolele signed by George Formby, currently on display at Castleford Museum George Formby also signed Reight Neet Aht’s special visitor book along with other famous faces. This page is signed by lots of people from the world press. The guest book is kindly lent by Wakefield Council Libraries.
|
 |
| Photographers capture the action. Image courtesy of the Wakefield Council Libraries Photographic Collection |
 |
| A cameraman films as Councillor Ezra Taylor plays his match at the 1953 event. Image courtesy of the Wakefield Council Libraries Photographic Collection |
Twists and turns
Sid kept interest high by adding a new twist to each year’s event. |
| Advertising poster for the 1955 All-Ladies Reight Neet Aht event. Image courtesy of the Wakefield Council Libraries Photographic Collection |
Here, the 1956 zebra-striped Reight Neet Aht event is captured on canvas by H.J.S. Henson. The glamorous socialite Lady Docker is once again the star guest - she is pictured in the centre, in a white dress:
 |
| H.J.S. Henson's painting of the 1956 A Reight Neet Aht. Image courtesy of the Wakefield Council Libraries Photographic Collection |
 |
| Lady Docker with Reight Neet Aht's mastermind, Sid Colclough. Image courtesy of the Wakefield Council Libraries Photographic Collection |
Interactive timeline
Castleford on the map
The last Reight Neet Aht took place in 1957. Sid invited a team of international students from Leeds University to play in the tournament as Yorkshire took on the world.
It was a fitting final outing. For 20 years, Reight
Neet Aht had put Castleford on the global map.
 |
| University of Leeds students played on special marble boards decorated with world maps at the 1957 Reight Neet Aht. Image courtesy of the Wakefield Council Libraries Photographic Collection |
Nearly 70 years after the last Neet Aht, we're proud to celebrate this surprising local claim to fame.
Visit Castleford Museum to uncover more of this fascinating, unexpected tale.
You can even revive the spirit of the Reight Neet Aht with your own game of marbles.
And we’d love you to leave us a message in our special replica guest book!
 |
| The Reight Neet Aht interactive display at Castleford Museum |
Visitor information for Castleford Museum
The 1957 Reight Neet Aht trophy marble was one of our 100 Years of Collecting objects! Browse the 100 Years of Collecting online exhibition here.
No comments:
Post a Comment
We would love your comments - though they may take a day or two to appear.