South Yorkshire Times, April 26 1947

Invalid Girl’s Pluck

By Wheel Chair and Car from Mexborough to Train for Job

20-years-old Mexborough girl, Miss Mary Thornton, daughter of  Mr & Thornton, and the late Mr. John Thornton, of 86. WindbIll Crescent, Mexborough, has overcome infirmity caused by infantile paralysis and Is now training at the Cleckheaton works of the British Belting and Asbestos Company, with a view to becoming a supervisor when the firm’s Mexborough branch is opened, She travels to Cleckheaton each day, and goes from her home to West Street, Mexborough’s on the first stage of the journey in a wheel chair,

Determined to succeed

Miss Thornton contracted infantile paralysis when only 15 months old, and now wears iron leg irons, and uses crutches or a wheelchair. Her determination to succeed in spite of this handicap prompted her to take him Ministry of Labour training course at St Loye’s College, Exeter, where she learned dressmaking. Miss Thorneton’s skill at this job earned her an extra six month at the college as an instructor, and after that time she was taken on to the college staff.

During her stay she was sent to exhibitions at Manchester, Leeds and Bradford to demonstrate dressmaking, and made all these journeys alone. In 1944 Miss Thornton decided to come nearer home, and successfully applied for a job at the Manchester works of Messrs. Charles Ashley, of Ardwick Green, Manchester, but she was finally compelled to return home last year for health reasons.

Still undaunted, she attended a interview with representatives of the British Belting and Asbestos Company, who are opening a branch factory at the Central Hall, West Street, in the near future, and was accepted for three months training at Cleckheaton with a view to becoming a supervisor at Mexborough.