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Tuesday, September 17, 2024

A Reight Neet Aht: Castleford’s famous fundraiser

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!

A group of ten young women wearing elegant evening dresses, all sat around a marble ring and ready to roll their marbles
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.

A worn white ribbon with the words 'Castleford's first Reight Neet Aht - 1936' on it, and a safety pin to attach it to your clothes
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.

A white marble with blue patterns swirling across the surface
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:

A glass marble with 'Castleford, Reight Neet Aht, April 21st 1936' painted on it
Bagley's Glass special marble for the first Reight Neet Aht

They also supplied the trophy for the final event in 1957:

A large golden ceremonial marble on a black circular mount which is embossed with 'Reight Neet Aht - 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 matt grey-green marble with Gracie Field's signature on in gold
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 preparing to roll a marble onto the board, watched by his wife Beryl and a crowd of well-dressed attendees
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 well-loved banjolele, a type of small four-stringed instrument with the neck attached to a tambourine-style drum, signed by George Formby
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.

A lined guestbook open on a page featuring lots of signatures from members of the world press
A page in the Reight Neet Aht guestbook signed by members of the world press

Three photographers crouched by the marble ring taking photos as competitors play a marbles match
Photographers capture the action. Image courtesy of the Wakefield Council Libraries Photographic Collection

Councillor Ezra Taylor crouched down rolling a marble as a crowd watches on, and a camera operator films the marble action from close-up
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. 

When the Reight Neet Aht restarted after the Second World War, each year had its own theme. 

One year was America vs Yorkshire with the U.S. Army playing in the marbles matches. Another year was an All-Ladies contest.

A long thin poster advertising the 1955 event, reading 'The world-famous Yorkshire Reight Neet Aht, established 1936. Annual Charity Ball and the World's First All Ladies Marbles tournament.  Lady Docker's Team versus Castleford Factory Girls.
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:

A painting of the 1956 Reight Neet Aht zebra-stripe themed event, with a large crowd watching on from the floor and balcony as Lady Docker plays marbles
H.J.S. Henson's painting of the 1956 A Reight Neet Aht. 
Image courtesy of the Wakefield Council Libraries Photographic Collection

Lady Docker in an elegant evening dress, holding aloft a large ceremonial marble, with an arm around Sid Colclough, who is dressed in black tie and smiling
Lady Docker with Reight Neet Aht's mastermind, Sid Colclough. Image courtesy of the Wakefield Council Libraries Photographic Collection

Interactive timeline

Explore our Timeline of the Tournaments to discover all of the themes, guests and highlights of the Reight Neet Aht events! You can view it below, or launch the timeline in a new window here


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.

Three university students crouched around a marbles board decorated with a world map, ready to roll their marbles, as a crowd watches on
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!

A museum display with a case containing commemorative marbles, George Formby's signed banjolele, a signed cricket bat and photos. There is a dressing up box and guest book to sign.
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.

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