South Yorkshire Times, December 25th 1943

Diamond Wedding

On Christmas Day Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Webster of 54, Rookery Road, Swinton, celebrate their diamond wedding. Mr. Webster is 84 and a native of Swinton and Mrs. Webster is 79 and a native of Rawmarsh.

They have lived in Swinton since they were married in 1883, at Wath Parish Church.    Mr. Webster was born in Rockingham Road and started work in 1872 at the age of 11 as a door trapper at Warren Vale Colliery for 1s. a day. All his working life has been spent in the mines and he has been a member of the Yorkshire Mineworkers’ Association since he drew his first wage.  He left Warren Vale after the strike of 1904 and started at Manvers Main in 1906 where he remained until he retired in 1930.

Mr. and Mrs. Webster have been connected with the Swinton Wesleyan Reform Church for many years.  After their marriage they lived for a while at Piccadilly.  Mr. Webster recalls that there was no proper road from Swinton Piccadilly and all drinking water had to be carried from a well in the lane. Moving into Swinton, Mr. and Mrs. Webster lived for 39 years in the same house in Queen Street and came to their present old folk’s bungalow in March this year.

They have three sons and two daughters, seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. The family have arranged a celebration of the anniversary in the New Year.