Mexborough and Swinton Times December 9, 1927

Mr. and Mrs. John William Saville.

Mr. John William Saville and Harriet, his wife, of 6, Smith Street, Wombwell, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding day on Monday. They were married on December 5, 1877, in a little private church on the estate of Lord Allendale, in Bretton Park, near Wakefield.

Mr. Saville is 74 years of age and his wife is. 70: Mr. Saville does not enjoy robust health and Mrs. Saville confessed that she was not quite so well as she looked. The ” bride,” however, has “worn ” exceedingly well. Her complexion is as fresh as that of a woman 30 years her junior, and she has not a grey hair in her head, a fact of which she is as proud as thankful.

The old couple have lived iu perfect harmony, and would certainly have qualified for the Dunmow flitch in open competition.

Both Mr and Mrs. Saville were born at Bretton, and at an early age Mr. Saville went to work for Lord Allendale along with his father, James Saville, who was a plumber on the estate. His brother was the house carpenter. Having served his apprenticeship he obtained employment with the firm of Baxraclough’s founders, of Barnsley, and then came to Wombwell to set up in business as a moulder on his own account. For 33 years he was associated as a partner with the firm of Saville and Downend, whose works were situated on the site now occupied by the Wombwell Urban District Council gasworks. The other partner in this concern was Mr. Thomas Downend.

When the Wombwell UDC required the site for gasworks’ extensions the plant was disbanded, and Mr. Saville obtained employment with the Wombwell Foundry and Engineering Co., where he remained 11 years. Messrs. Saville and Downend did a great deal of work for the Wombwell Urban District Council and local builders, and the mark of the firm is still to be seen on lamp standards, metal street traps, and other property of the local authority.

In his line of engineering, Mr. Saville was credited with a high degree of practical skill, and his advice was frequently sought by the Council.