South Yorkshire Times May 18 1957

Man, 90, and Wife, 87 In Early Morning Fire

AN elderly Newhill couple, Mr. Benjamin Winder (90) and his 87-years-old wife, Mary Ann, were found dead in their Wath Urban. Council bungalow 212, Cemetery Road, Newhill, early on Wednesday morning following a fire in the bedroom of their home.

Mt. and Mrs. Winder, probably the oldest and best known couple in Newhill, had been married 68 years.

Their bodies were found in the living room, Mrs. Winder apparently collapsing only a yard from the door, which it appears she intended to open to let out the smoke.

Five a.m. Glow

The couple had lived in the bungalow since it was first built in 1939. Mr. Winder was a retired miner, but at one time they had a shop now demolished, on a site near the Crown Inn. They had 11 sons and two daughters and numerous grandchildren.

First, person to discover anything was amiss was Mrs. Mary Whitham, a home help, of 197, Cemetery Road — just across the road from the bungalow. Looking out of her window about 6 a.m. she noticed a glow coming from the front window of the bungalow. She informed Mrs. Harriet Greaves, a daughter of the couple, who lives a few doors away in Grange Road, and Mrs. Greaves and her husband and her sister, Mrs. Evelyn Cutts, who lives at 22, Grange Road, went to the bungalow.

They were joined by Coun. Thomas Hailworth, who shortly after leaving his home at 16, Wombwell Avenue, Newhill, for work at Waterstone Glassworks, where he is a foreman, had noticed smoke coming from the bungalow.

Coun. Hallworth told a “South Yorkshire Times” reporter shortly afterwards that his only fear when he opened the door was that the whole place would burst into flames when air rushed in. -“Fortunately this did not happen. I have been In the N.F.S. and I kept as close to the floor as possible hand got through to the windows, which Mr grieves and I hope to let out the thick smoke, said Councillor Hallworth

Yard from Door

He said that Mrs. Winder was gripping a curtain only a yard from the door and she was dead.

Mrs. Cutts and himself pulled Mrs Winder outside. He thought Mr. Winder was unconscious, but he  must have died shortly afterwards.

Mr, Paul Cutts. a grandson, said his grandmother was devoted to his grandfather. He thought she was trying to reach the door to save themselves, but could not quite make it. Mr. Winder was on the sofa and both were fully dressed.

Mr. Cutts said that both his grandfather and grandmother were poorly last year and neither had been out Of doors much since. They both had some difficulty in walking.

Mr. and Mrs. Winder’s daughters have looked after them. Mrs. Cutts was with them on Tuesday night.

A neighbour said: “These two old people have been very devotedly eared for by their family and it is a great tragedy.”