Golden Wedding

August 1935

South Yorkshire Times August 9, 1935

Golden Wedding

Two former Denaby residents Mr. And Mrs. J. Kelsall, of Horse and Jockey, St Sepulchre Gate, Doncaster, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last Thursday.

They were married at Smallthorne Staffordshire in 1885. Both are natives of Staffordshire. Kelsall being born at Burslem in 1886 and Mrs. Kelsall in 1864 at Smallthorne. They have six of their seven children living (one being killed in the Cadeby explosion in 1912), 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Kelsall was engaged in the pottery trade at Burslem, specialising in decoration. Mr. Kelsall belongs to a family of 10 sons, all standing 6 feet high. He began work at a cold mine in Staffordshire at the age of 11, and worked 10 hours for a shilling a day, he rose to the position of under manager at Shelton before being transferred to Shotton, Durham, where he was made seam manager while sinking operations were still being carried out. Leaving Shotton he returned to Shelton , but did not stay long before coming to Denaby Main in April, 1903, to obtain work at Cadeby Main colliery, where he held the position of treasurer and secretary of the Cadeby Main branch of the Yorkshire Mineworkers Association for three years.

A serious illness and in operation ended Mr. Kelsall’s 40 years underground service and recovering from his illness he became a licenced victualler, at the Hill top Hotel, Conisbrough, for 14 years. Leaving Hilltop, Mr. And Mrs. Kelsall went to reside at Wheatley, but the quiet life did not suit them. They were asked to take over the Horse and Jockey refused, but persuaded their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. And Mrs. H. Cranidge to take it, and they have assisted them.

In an interview Mr. Kelsall said: “We have had some rough and had times. People complain of the hard times they are now experiencing, but they are better than my early days.’ Talk about ‘good old days,’ I do not want to go through them again.”