Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 05 June 1931
Footballer Married.
Wombwell Bride for Jack Wilkinson of Newcastle.
Jack Wilkinson, the popular young footballer, of Newcastle United, was married at Wombwell Parish Church on Monday to Miss Irene Hirst, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hirst, 58, Lundhill Top, Hemingfield, Wombwell. The event aroused much interest and a large congregation assembled.
Wilkinson is a son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Wilkinson, 43, Barnsley Road. Wath-on- Dearne, and, of course, is well known to football followers in this district. His football career started when he played for Dearne Valley schoolboys, and after playing two seasons in the Yorkshire County team he appeared in local football under the Hearne Valley Old Boys Association.
He had had only a short run with Wath Athletic when his outstanding capabilities were recognised and the Wednesday picked him up as a very young player. After a successful run of five seasons at Owlerton he was transferred last year to Newcastle United. Among the football colleagues present at the ceremony were his old club-mate. Bernard Radford, of Sheffield United, Harold Watson, of Stoke, and Sam Weaver, of Newcastle United. The bridal party made a very pretty spectacle, there being no fewer than seven bridesmaids. The bride looked very charming in ivory crepe Cairo and embroidered silk lace with wreath of orange blossom. Her shoes were of white crepe de chene and she carried a bouquet of cream tea roses.
The bridesmaids were in pairs presenting Dresden pastel shades. Miss Hilda Wilkinson, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Elsie Hinchcliffe, niece of the bride, bad chosen primrose yellow; Miss Emily Hinchcliffe, niece of the bride, and Miss Edith Chapman wore pale blue. Mrs. F. Dawson and Mrs. E. France were in bottle-green satin. The bridesmaids carried baskets or bouquets of carnations and irises. The bridesmaids’ hate were of beige lace. The little maid of honour, Miss Vilma Hirst, niece of the bride, looked a dainty picture in pink satin with cream Dutch bonnet underdrawn with pink ribbon and carrying a basket of pink carnations.
The page boy, Master Kenneth Hinchcliffe, wore a cream blouse and trousers of blue velvet. The best man was Mr. Clifford Wilkinson, brother of the bridegroom, with Messrs. Joe Hint, brother of the bride, and Mr. Geo. Lawton as groomsmen. The bride was given away by her father and the ceremony was performed by the lector of Wombwell, the Rev. J. St. Leger Blakeney. Wedding music by Mendelssohn and Wagner was played by the organist, Mr. Joseph Harrington.
A large company assembled at the Sir George’s Arms Hotel, Wombwell Main, and later the couple left for Torquay, where the honeymoon is being spent.