“Gretna” couple wed at Denaby

September 1956

South Yorkshire Times September 15, 1956

“Gretna” couple wed at Denaby

Two happy Denaby mothers saw what they considered a “fairytale ending” to the story of their “run away” Gretna Green children as the young couple were married on Monday.

The young couple, 16 years old Francis Woodhouse, seventh child of Mr and Mrs Henry Woodhouse, of 24 Edlington Street, Denaby and 18 years old Colin Wilcox, third child of Mr and Mrs Audrey Wilcox of 37 Bracewell Street, Denaby, were married at Denaby Parish Church on Monday morning by the Rev R.E.Bracewell, vicar of Conisbrough.

“It is like a fairytale ending two weeks of worry,” said both the mothers. Five weeks ago the young couple went off to Gretna Green to be married after the girl’s parents refused consent to the marriage on the ground that the daughter was too young. They returned only when the parents promised to allow them to get married at Denaby.

The bride, who wore a gown of white nylon net over satin, a short veil and an apple blossom head dress and carried red roses, was given away by her uncle Mr J Milnes. Her father was unable to attend the ceremony because of illness.

The couple planned to spend their honeymoon at the house where they stayed in Gretna Green, but their host has since moved. They now intend postponing the honeymoon until next year when they will go to Blackpool.

The young couple will live with another newly married couple Mr and Mrs Frank Woodward in Blyth Street Denaby, friend of the bridegroom. They will share the house.

The wedding ring which was bought in Carlisle for the intended Gretna Green wedding was the one used at the Denaby ceremony.

“I am glad it has ended like this when I can be married among my friends and I am now very happy” said the radiant bride she left the church.