'Glitz and glamour' of marbles contest celebrated

George Formby (seated, centre) and his wife Beryl were special guests at the 1940 Reight Neet Aht in Castleford

A town's annual marbles competition which ended up attracting interest from some of showbiz's biggest names is being celebrated in a new exhibition.

Castleford's Reight Neet Aht was held between 1936 and 1958, except for a pause during World War Two, and raised money for good causes.

Starting out as a game between councillors an ex-miners, it eventually won major media coverage and gained interest from stars such as Gracie Fields and George Formby.

Wakefield councillor Hannah Appleyard said the exhibition at Castleford Museum, featuring Formby's signed banjolele and a marble signed by Fields, told a “brilliant story full of local character and international glitz and glamour".

Hannah Appleyard says the exhibition at Castleford Museum is full of “brilliant" stories

The Reight Neet Aht began at Castleford’s Cooperative Ballroom in 1936 and was started by local journalist Sid Colclough.

While it was originally a game of marbles between former pitworkers and local politicians, it became an annual charity event featuring music, dancing, entertainment and food.

Trophies and souvenirs of the competition were made by local glass factories and potteries, with workers also taking part in the matches.

Interest in it eventually went global, with Coldclough securing celebrity patrons and adding new twists.

In 1940, film star and banjo player extraordinaire George Formby and his wife Beryl even appeared as special guests.

Meanwhile, singer, actor and comedian Gracie Fields also sent signed marbles to the competition.

Film star Grace Fields signed a special commemorative marble for the competition in Castleford

While the tournament was paused during World War Two, special themes were introduced when it returned in 1946.

One year, the theme was America versus Yorkshire, with representatives of the US Army playing against Castleford councillors.

In 1953’s all-women’s contest, a team of Castleford factory girls took on famous socialite Lady Docker.

The exhibition at Castleford Museum includes archive footage of the event and visitors can even take part in their own game of marbles.

Other objects in the exhibition include a ball kicked by Castleford's record-breaking rugby league captain Arthur Atkinson and a cricket bat signed by Yorkshire's legendary opening batsman Len Hutton.

Both British Pathe and Movietone covered the event each year and visitors to the museum can see clips from their reports.

Ms Appleyard said: “Visitors will be amazed to find out about all the stars who took part and to discover all the quirky details.

"It had everything from pork pies and pancakes, to zebra stripes and sequins.”

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