South Yorkshire Times, June 3rd, 1944
Golden Wedding Celebrations – Mr. And Mrs. H. H. Wray
Congratulations will be extended by many friends in South Yorkshire to Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Wray, of “Strathmore,” Conisborough, who will celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary on Monday. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wray have notable records of public service.
Mr. and Mrs. Wray were married on June 5th, 1894 at the Queen Street Wesleyan Chapel, Scarborough, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Walter Fletcher, one of Mrs. Wray’s brothers. Mrs. Wray was born in 1872 at Oxenhope, near Keighley, the seventh daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Fletcher, who later moved to Scarborough. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wray lived for a few years at York, where Mr. Wray had a business, and in 1895 came to Denaby where Mr. Wray opened a business as a pawnbroker and clothier. Their connection with the district has been maintained ever since.
Mrs. Wray has always been interested in social service. She was for some years Lady Superintendent of Conisborough St. John Ambulance Brigade, and also served as Secretary of the Queen’s Nursing Association for Denaby. In the former capacity one of the tasks she recalls most vividly is washing the bodies of the victims of the Cadeby Colliery disaster before they were identified. This task was undertaken by Mrs. Wray with the help of three of the women of the brigade.
Mrs. Wray has made a valuable contribution to public health work in the West Riding as a member of the County Public Health Committee and County Mental Deficiency Committee for some 21 years, and she was also one of the original governors of Wath Grammar School. Her ability was further recognised in 1933 when she was appointed the first permanent woman magistrate on the Doncaster West Riding bench. Mrs. Wray has brought a vigorous independence of outlook and characteristic energy to all her public work and her services have been widely appreciated throughout the West Riding. Among early evidences of her emancipated turn of thought it may be mentioned that she was the first woman resident to ride a bicycle in Conisbrough and Denaby nearly 50 years ago.
Mr. Wray was born at Barnsley in 1868. His father, the late Mr. Charles Wray, was a Freeman of the borough and several times Mayor. On coming to Conisborough Mr. Wray took an interest in local government and was for many years a member of the old Parish Council. Later he served for a period on Conisbrough Urban Council, and also had a long spell as a manager of the non-provided schools at Denaby and was for a time a governor of Mexborough Secondary School and for eight years a governor of Ackworth School. Mr. and Mrs. Wray have been members of the Society of Friends for many years and Mr. Wray has for a long period been a Director of the Friends’ Retreat at York. In 1938 he was made Justice of the Peace and has discharged his magisterial duties with a conscientious application which has characterised his public service Mr. Wray has also interested himself in the work of the Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society and is treasurer for the Doncaster Division while he still regularly pays fortnightly visits to Wakefield Prison in the performance of this useful welfare service.
Mr. and Mrs. Wray have had a family of three sons, all of whom have achieved distinction in their chosen careers. They are Mr. Jack Wray, who is Educational Secretary to the Trades Union Council, Maxwell Wray, the well-known theatrical producer and Mr. Kenneth Wray, who is an architect. All will be present at the small family gathering on Sunday at Mr. and Mrs. Wray’s home when the Golden Wedding anniversary is to be celebrated.