Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 18 November 1939

Fifty Years On

Wombwell Couple’s Golden Wedding

A year ago, a Wombwell couple received a telegram congratulating them on the attainment of their Golden Wedding. This was a kindly gesture from an old friend. They took the thought for the deed, as it were, because it was not their golden wedding! The well-wishers, in their enthusiasm, were exactly a year out in their calculations.

The couple are Mr. and Mrs. Frank Morris, of 10, Summer Lane, Wombwell. They were married at Wombwell Parish Church on November 17th, 1889, and have never lived more than a stone’s throw away from it.

Mr. Morris is 72, and his wife 68. Both enjoy good health and hope to reach their Diamond Wedding. They are very happy in the care of their children, I though they like to think that as parents I they are both indispensable.

Mr. Morris was born at Tickhill and has one claim to fame in that his mother who died about eight years ago at the grand old age of 93, was the last surviving widow of the great Lundhill Colliery explosion of 1857. Her first husband was John Hawcroft, who was killed in the explosion. She then married William Morris who was a bellringer at Darfield Parish Church for a number of years. William Morris came to work at Wombwell Main Colliery and as soon as Mr. Frank Morris was old enough he started there also. When he gave up work eight years ago he had been at Houghton Main about twenty years. Mr. Morris used to be keenly interested in Wombwell Midland League Football Club.

Formerly Mary Jane Durn, Mrs. Morris was born in the Birmingham district but was brought up by her uncle, Mr. John Hanson. Wombwell’s old bellman, at Wombwell Junction. At the time of her marriage she was a domestic servant at the Royal Oak Hotel, Wombwell. The old couple have had eleven children, seven of whom survive—two sons and five daughters. Among them they hope to do something to gladden the hearts of their worthy parents to-day. There are also twenty-six grandchildren to shower them with congratulations.