South Yorkshire Times, December 25th 1943
Diamond Wedding
On Christmas Day an old Wath couple will celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding. They are Mr. and Mrs. John William Clamp of 125, Doncaster Road, Wath.
Mr. and Mrs. Clamp were married at Crofton, near Wakefield, on December 25th, 1883, Mrs. Clamp being formerly Miss Sarah Jane Smith, of Crofton. From the age of 12 until her marriage, Mrs. Clamp was in domestic service at the home of a millowner whom she believes to be still alive at the age of 94.
Mr. Clamp was born at Mount Pleasant, Staffs., and started working at the age of 10, running tubs in Crigglestone Colliery. A year later he went to Nostell Colliery as a pony driver, and when the Act was passed stopping those under 12 from working down mines, he had to “play ” for five weeks. About two years later he went back to Crigglestone, stayed until he was 19, and then returned to Nostell. When he married at the age of 22 (his wife was 21), the couple went the couple went to Hoyland and Mr. Clamp worked at Hoyland Silkstone Colliery for about 13 years, first as a miner and later as a deputy. Mr. and Mrs. Clamp then came to Wath, Mr. Clamp securing a deputy’s post at Manvers Main, but after three years they went to Rotherham, Mr. Clamp finding work at Rotherham Main. He returned as a deputy to Manvers where he remained until his retirement at the age of 69. In his youth Mr. Clamp possessed a very fine voice. Since he was leading choirboy at Nostell Church at the age of 12, he has been a member of several choirs and has been leading singer at churches in most of the places at which he has lived until he came to Wath. Mr. and Mrs. Clamp have raised a family of six sons, four of whom are living, and two daughters.
They have 15 grandchildren five of whom are in the Forces. and six great-grandchildren. Mrs. Clamp is 81 and Mr. Clamp will be 83 in February. Among messages of congratulation received was one from Manvers Main Collieries Ltd.