Mexborough and Swinton Times, January 29, 1937
Life of Devotion and Service
Ardent Hospital Worker
Mrs T.R.Flather
We regret to announce the death, which took place in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday) morning, of Mrs T.R. Flather, of “Arndale,” Cemetery Road, Mexborough.
Mrs Flather who was in her 69th year leaves a husband and grown-up family of one daughter, Mrs J.E.Leach, of Mexborough, and six sons, one of whom made the voyage from South Africa to be at his mother’s bedside at the end
Mrs Flather spent her childhood at Hoyle Mill and lived in South Yorkshire all her life. She dedicated herself to her home and family and for the greater part of her married life sacrifice everything to the interests of her husband and children.
She was loved and respected by her family all whom bears the impress of her gentle nature, upright character and courage. She made friendships easily and outside her home was known to hundreds of people in South Yorkshire particularly in Barnsley, Hoyland and Mexborough.
During the many years she lived at Hoyland and for the first few years in Mexborough she identified herself with the Wesleyan Church, but latterly she joined the Church of England to which her husband originally belonged, and worked hard as a member of the Mexborough Parish Church.
She was closely associated with the Y.M.C.A. scheme in Mexborough, and later threw herself energetically into the Toc H. movement.
But it was for the Montague hospital that she reserved her greatest enthusiasm. She worked harder for the hospital than for anything else she had ever taken up. As a member of the Ladies Committee she began house-to-house collecting in a small way and she and a fellow collector were successful in raising over £500 in five years, mainly from the poorest quarters of the town.
Despite her illness, Mrs Flather continued this fatiguing work of collecting right up to the end of last year and it was only when sheer physical weakness compelled her to take to her bed that she relinquished it.
A fatal illness was born with patience, fortitude and Christian resignation, as she leaves behind a memory that should be an inspiration not merely to children but to all respect the high standards she achieved.