South Yorkshire Times, May 26th 1951
Husband and Wife Both Honoured
Denaby Couple Earn Coveted S.J.A.B. Award
Mr and Mrs. J. W. Cooke, of Denaby, learned on the sane day in February, 1946, that they were to be made Honorary Serving Brothers of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
Mrs Elsie may Cooke received her ensignia two years later. Mr. James William (Pop) Cooke received it last Thursday. But there were compensations.
Mr. and Mrs. Cooke, of 10, Wheatley Street, “made a little holiday of it.” They went to London on Wednesday, ready for the investiture on Thursday in the Great Hall of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. After that they toured the South Bank Exhibition.
Mrs. Cooke, Lady Supt. of the Denaby Division, was presented with a “utility” model of the insignia at her investiture. Ambulance Officer Cooke received a “pre-war style” Insignia in silver and black and white enamel. The investiture was carried out by the Lord Prior, Lord Wakehurst, The Duke of Gloucester, the Sub-Prior who, it had been hoped, would have conducted the investiture, was unable to attend.
Besides Mr. Cooke at the ceremony there were three other Denaby men, Corps Officer George Willams Staff Sergt. Frank Ward and Sergt” L. Johnson, who were also all Hon. Serving Brothers.
Mr. Cooke’s investiture differed in only one respect from It Cooke’s—there was no music at the service. Afterwards, recipients and their guests were entertained to tea at “The Gate,” headquarters of the Brigade in London. There Mr, Cooke and his Denaby contemporaries all signed the Homage Roll using special ink and a special pen
Next day came’ the Cookes’ tour of the Festival. Says Mrs, Cooke: “It really is grand. It’s worth anybody’s while to go and see it.