Mexborough and Swinton Times December 9, 1939
Wombwell Main Romance
Wedding of Mr. Peter Roberts and Miss Judith Hempson
A lovely figure in a classical gown of heavy ivory crepe Ankara, with a coronet of small orange blossoms holding clouds of fine Malines lace, Miss Judith Randell Hempson, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randell George Hempson, of 60, Riverdale Road, Sheffield, was married at St. Michael’s, Chester Square, London, on Tuesday, to Mr. Peter Geoffrey Roberts, only surviving son of Sir Samuel Roberts, Bart., and Lady Roberts of Cockley Cley Hall, Swaffam, Norfolk, and Endcliffe Cottage, Sheffield.
The ceremony brought into closer union two families who have been associated continuously with Wombwell Main since the sinking of that mine over 75 years ago.
The bride is a niece of Mr. J. Bartholomew, a director of the firm, whose father was associated with Sir Samuel Roberts’ grandfather in the development of the mine. The names of both families are firmly imprinted on Wombwell.
Sir Samuel Roberts is present chairman of the company, and both Mr. Peter G. Roberts and the bride’s father are directors. Mr. Peter Roberts is also a director of the Barnsley District Coking Company, and has agricultural interests in Norfolk. He was called to the Bar in 1936.
The bride is a great-niece on her father’s side of the late Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford, one time Governor of Western Australia, and on her ‘ mother’s side of the late Sir Thomas Higham, K.C.I.E. She was born in L i Malaga, Spain, where her father spent I over twenty years in the shipping business, and was educated in Spain, Paris, Sheffield and London. At an introductory luncheon at Wombwell Main on Saturday, November 18th, the couple received a gift of a silver tea service from the officials and staff at Wombwell Main Collieries, each piece bearing the Roberts’ family crest. Another representative gift was a silver tray from the tenants and staff of Cockley Cley Hall.
Carrying the good wishes of the staff at Wombwell Main were six “ambassadors” elected by ballot among their leagues to attend the ceremony. They were Messrs. Alfred Fletcher and Ben Charlesworth (underground staff), Messrs. Alec Oxley and S. Hinchcliffe (office staff), and Messrs. H. Hallsworth, J.P. and Alfred Oxley (surface staff).
Sir Samuel and Lady Roberts were I present, the latter wearing a carnation red dress with a short cape of cocoa ermine and a red velvet toque, her bouquet being of red carnations.
The ceremony was conducted by Canon J. St. Leger Blakeney, MA., Rector of Wombwell and Rural Dean of Wath on-Dearne, great-uncle of the bridegroom. On the floodlit altar were vases of lilies and the church was decorated with yellow and white chrysanthemums, lilies and yellow roses in alabaster vases set on high pedestals.
The bride was given away by her father. She carried a spray of butterfly orchids and wore a diamond brooch, the gift of the bridegroom. There were six bridesmaids, and all wore slim cut dresses of hyacinth blue Romaine with small head-dresses and muffs of the same material, trimmed with posies of anemones. They were Miss Norah M. Hempson (sister of the bride), Miss Hermione Bartholomew (cousin of the bride), Miss Joyce Blakeney (cousin of the bridegroom), Miss Sheila Blakeney (cousin of the bridegroom and daughter of the Rector of Wombwell), Miss Rosemary Tabrum, and Miss Aline Sandford.
The best man was Mr. Mark Buxton, and the groomsmen Mr. Eric S. Roberts, Mr. Eric Blakeney, Mr. Charles Bartholomew and Mr. Edward J. Hempson.
Mr. Goss Custard was at the organ, and the service was choral, the hymns, “The King of Love my Shepherd is” and “Love Divine” being sung.
The bridegroom gave the bridesmaids pearl brooches.
The reception given by the bride’s parents was held at the Goring Hotel, Grosvenor Gardens. When the couple left for their honeymoon “somewhere in England,” the bride wore a fur coat and fur Cossack hat over a rust wool frock with brown suede accessories.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Roberts are to live at Ivy Wall, Cockley Cley, Swaffam, Norfolk.