Mexborough and Swinton Times, June 16, 1939
Civic Sunday.
Salvationist Service at Denaby.
Impressive Parade.
The Conisborough Urban District Civic Sunday service was held on Sunday morning and Cllr T.Shephard, chairman of the Urban Council must have felt gratified at the response to his invitations to attend divine service. There was a particularly large attendance of various public bodies and prominent residents of the urban area.
The service was arranged under the auspices of the Salvation Army, which the chairman was at one time a member and, in which he still maintains an interest. Mrs Shephard was recently commissioned as the Home League Secretary of the Denaby Main Corps and Cllr Shephard’s daughter also is an interested worker for the cause.
The Army Citadel was too small to accommodate the number expected, and so by special arrangements with the Trustees of the Epworth Hall, the service was held there.
The Methodist Church has a large seating accommodation and was well fitted for the occasion.
The service was conducted by Lt Col Polley, the Divisional Commander from Sheffield, and Sgt Maj Postlethwaite of the Denaby Corps.
Col Polley before commencing his address expresses pleasure have been present upon such an occasion, and expressed his greetings to the Chairman and members of the Council President, and to societiesand organisations represented, they had all directions to fulfil, problems to consider and duties to perform, and he asked them to accept their good wishes and prayers, that God would direct them in all, they did for the good of the district, and bless them in all their labours which they did for the good of others and the area in which they lived.
He gave an helpful address from the text Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 17, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.”
He appealed for the Christian religion to be maintained in spite of all the adverts still live on what might seem theological uncertainties and ungodliness.
The collection service amounted to £4 18s 2d, and this was devoted to the work of the Salvation Army and an apportionment to the Epworth Hall. There was an extremely good parade of public bodies, which began from the Council Offices.
The Chairman, Cllr T.Shephard, and the head was accompanied by the following colleagues councillors D.Sheldon, R.H.Shephard, G.Oldfield, F.Kelsall, J Humphreys, B Roberts (vice-chairman), A Robinson, I Houghton, P Knowles and A.M.Carlin.
Officials of the Council present were Mr Spencer Baker (Clerk), Mr A Birch (Chief financial officer) Mr Whitehead (treasurer), Mr A Shelton (Rating Officer)
many of the Council employees were also in attendance. The St John Ambulance Band took part in the parade, and they were conducted by Bandmaster R Whittington. Also in the parade with a St John Ambulance Brigade under ambulance Offices, R.Ross, J.W.Cook, L.Moss, and Sgt major I.L.Mosley.
Members of the nursing division with lady superintendent Yates of the Mexborough. Division and acting lady superintendent Mrs Cooke, the Conisborough Branch of the British Legion, the Denaby Scouts, under the command of Group Scoutmaster G.W.Slater, and the Cubs with Cub Master J.Westwood and the Assistant Cubmaster. Miss Venables, the members of the Urban Council Fire Brigade and members of the, auxiliary Fire Brigade, a representation of the Denaby branch of the Yorkshire Mineworkers Association, members of the local Labour Party, and of the Women´s section of the Labour Party and members of the Police Force