Rotherham’s oldest charity is hosting a Christmas charity concert for the first time in its almost-700-year history.
The Feoffees of the Common Lands of Rotherham will be presenting their inaugural festive concert on Thursday 5th December at Rotherham Minster to raise funds for their charitable giving.
A selection of local musicians will be performing on the night, including teenage harpist Alejandro Barnett, professional singer Nicola Cutts, Bramley Brass Band, and Emmerdale’s Dean Andrews.
Over a hundred children from four school choirs will also be taking part, including Ravenfield, St Bede’s Kimberworth, St Mary’s Herringthorpe and Wickersley Northfield.
The concert is the idea of this year’s Little Greave, Hazel Yarlett, who is hoping to make the town’s oldest charity more relevant for the 2024 community and widen its reach across the borough.
All money raised will help the charity continue in its pledge to give back to the people of Rotherham through Christmas doles and education scholarships.
“If one pound was donated by every person in Rotherham, we could be doing an awful lot more for even more people, especially if more was known about the work we do,” says Hazel.
Since 1328, the Feoffees has been run by the people of Rotherham, for the people of Rotherham. They were once effectively the town’s council who controlled the common lands and things like water supply, health, welfare, education, law and order and even distributing ale and beer.
The Feoffees had their powers and the common lands confiscated when King Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538, but this was returned when Elizabeth I came to the throne 20 years later.
They continued in this role and were responsible for many aspects of civic life in Rotherham for over four centuries. Since Rotherham became a municipal borough in 1871, the Feoffees have carried on in their charitable works to support the aged, poor and impotent in Rotherham.
Having been granted the Royal Charter in 1589 by Queen Elizabeth I, their portfolio of land and property continued to grow. This income has been invested over the last five- to six-hundred years and is still being used today.
Each December, the Feoffees distribute doles to up to 100 elderly, infirm or disadvantaged people at a ceremony at Rotherham Minster. People can write in and nominate themselves or someone else, with all doles given out in good faith.
They also have five scholarships and bursaries for students from the Rotherham area who are either studying an apprenticeship, are going to university to do a science, arts or humanities degree, or have completed their teaching qualifications and have gained employment at a Rotherham primary school.
The Feoffees are also developing links with Shiloh and other charities to help provide firmer foundations for the long-term homeless.
“Rotherham has given me a lot over the years, so it is great to be giving something back. Needs have never been more than in recent years,” says Chris Hamby, the current Greave.
Influential businessman Chris, who championed the regeneration of many of the town’s historic buildings, is the chair of a board of 12 trustees. You must be asked to be a Feoffee and either be living or working in the town, and the Greave and Little Greave roles are changed annually.
Hazel is the second woman to be appointed as a Feoffee. Before 2010, there were no women on the board and now there are three. She’ll take over as greave next year and hopes to continue with new ideas about how to generate more revenue.
The Christmas concert will take place at Rotherham Minster on Thursday 5th December 7pm-9pm. Tickets are £10 for adults and £2.50 for children. To book, email rotherhamfeoffees.events@gmail.com
You can find out more about the Feoffees on their website or by following them on Facebook.
