Poignant reason why the church bell tolled

HUDDERSFIELD’S streets are to get an early spring clean ... on New Year’s Day.

On Monday about 50 volunteers from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association (AMA) Huddersfield will clean the street using bin bags and litter pickers.

Mr Fatihul Haq, president of the AMA Huddersfield South said: “Our members have enjoyed living in Huddersfield for decades and so any opportunity to help our local community is a much welcomed one.

“Cleaning the streets of Huddersfield also presents us with an opportunity to contribute back into the community and teach everyone that cleanliness in Islam is an important part of a Muslim’s faith.”

Other initiatives undertaken by the AMA over the Christmas break included distribution of Christmas presents to children in hospital, visits to elderly care homes with presents and providing a free taxi service to elderly people over the holiday period. A BELL bell was rung in Marsden this week in memory of a local man who died on active service on Boxing Day, 1917.

The bell at St Bartholomew’s tolled on December 26 at noon to remember the sacrifice of Private Thomas Topping, who died at the age of 34 in France after suffering head wounds, leaving a wife and family behind.

The church remained open until 12.30pm for people to pay their respects.

His story is told on Facebook by Marsden Remembers, which said Thomas ran a business as a plumber and glazier at Towngate, Marsden.

He was also a popular comic singer much in demand at local concerts.

The son of John and Ellen Topping, he enlisted in Huddersfield in April, 1917, and was posted to France in October.

He was serving with the 2nd battalion South Staffordshire Regiment when he was seriously wounded in the head on December 18.

He died on Boxing Day at a casualty clearing station, leaving a widow, Annie, and one child.

He is buried in the British cemetery at Manancourt on the Somme.