18th April 1974
Happy Hobby Despite War Wounds

Despite having had 40 operations in eight different hospitals - all due to wounds received in the First World War - a Pontefract man still makes toys for children, writes Express Reporter Robert Evans.

Mr. Cyril Clarkson, who prefers to let people guess at his age, started making toys when he left the Army in 1919. On April 3rd and 4th a roundabout which he made appeared in an annual exhibition at the Leeds War Pensions office. He has now learnt that it won first prize in its section and will go on to an exhibition in London as one of the best exhibits of the year.

He has sent samples of his craft to the exhibition in previous years, and in 1969 a doll’s cot he made also went forward to the "best exhibits" show in London.

Mr. Clarkson, of Lime Tree Avenue, believes he is the only retired toymaker in Pontefract. Small and slim, he looks far suited to making toys than fighting wars, but his hospital record shows that he was in the thick of things for most of his wartime service - when he was being treated for wounds.

At the age of 17 he went to France with the West Yorkshire Rifles, was injured and had to return to England where he was admitted to Manchester Royal Infirmary. He then went to Dublin, at the time of the Dublin riots, before returning to his regimental depot near Mansfield where he was put in the prison for a fortnight for missing all parades; he says he’s been through it all before!

In July, 1916, he joined his regiment back in France.

On the way they got into some heavy shelling and he was injured again, and the stretcher bearers were killed. He lay in the mud for over a day with multiple wounds before being picked up by some Australians who had relieved his regiment.

Eventually he reached a casualty clearing station where he was operated on and then taken to Boulogne for more operations. He was transferred to Birmingham General Infirmary and finally to the Royal Victoria at Southampton where he was discharged.

He had to have an examination at Becketts Park Hospital near Headingley where he was told he should never have been discharged. After being admitted he underwent more operations. It was now 1923. His operations included having both arms and legs put into splints, a dislocated neck reset, acute appendicitis, the removal of one kidney and two operations on the other, one for twisted bowels, dilated arteries, pneumonia and pleurosy. He now suffers from spinal arthritis.

Cyril was born at Robin Hood near Wakefield, and worked at County Hall, Wakefield. After being discharged from hospital he lived in Pontefract for 15 years.

After all his time in hospital he says; "I’ve had some marvellous nurses and doctors, I can’t speak too highly of them." and he still goes on managing to make toys which bring delight to many children.

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