Conisborough’s Oldest Man – Survivor of The “Hungry Forties” (picture)

November 1926

Mexborough & Swinton Times November 26, 1926

Conisborough’s Oldest Man
Christmas Gift of 85 Years Ago.
Survivor of The “Hungry Forties.”

dsc01038-old-man

“85 years of age come Christmas Day and still well and hearty.” That is Mr Charles Christopher Tinker, Conisborough’s oldest male inhabitant, who resides with his daughter at 38, Northcliffe Road. He was born at Oldcoates, left school at the age of seven, and launched on a career of scaring crows at 6p per day, seven days a week. At the age of 14 years he entered farm service at Roche Abbey, for which he received £5 per year. After two or three years, he procured employment at the Doncaster G. N. R. Works, where he stayed for 10 years, then on he went to Chesterfield as an iron worker. He stayed in Chesterfield for 16 years, and started business as a greengrocer. 38 years ago he came to Conisborough and carried on the same business until he was 70. He married Mary Anne Harrop, of Edlington, 53 years ago, and has had a family of 13, of these seven daughters and a son are living.

When Mr Tinker was asked by a “Times” reporter how he was feeling he answered, “Oh, all right for running in a handicap. I’m ready to start training for one.” He remembers clearly the Crimean War, also the Sheffield flood, and told of the experiences they had in the winters during his youth. He remembers when they could lead horses and carts on the frozen rivers, and great snowdrifts were on the roads. He also remembers the Haymarket at Sheffield when it was the fruit market. He used to have to drive goods to this market, and said that before 5 o’clock in the morning one could see women there buying and bargaining. It was very rare to see a man.