outh Yorkshire Times August 20, 1949

Mexboro’ Canal Rescue Hero

Did Not Give His Name

A rosy-cheeked Mexborough schoolgirl, seven-years-old. Dorothy Olbison, 72, High Street, owes her life to an unknown railwayman. On Tuesday Dorothy was playing on the canal bank with her friend, Brenda Hughes. “We were throwing stones into the water,” said Dorothy on Wednesday, ” and suddenly I slipped and fell in.” She screamed, and a few minutes before the railwayman had passed the children. He quickly ran back and dragged out a very frightened Dorothy.

He carried the child into the nearby home of Mrs. Rose Clarke at 9, Leech Row, Mexborough, and said, “I was just in time. She was going down for the second time. He then explained that he was on his way to work and would have to go. He did not leave his name. Mrs. Clarke described him as being “small and elderly. I should say he was near to retirement age,” she added.

After a hot drink of peppermint, prepared by Mrs. Clarke, and a change of clothes, again provided by Mrs. Clarke, Dorothy was taken home, no worse for her unhappy experience.

Dorothy is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Olbison, 72, High Street, Mexborough. A non swimmer, she is a former pupil of Park Road Infants’ School and starts at Mexborough National School after the holidays.

Mrs. Olbison said on Wednesday: “My husband and I are very, very grateful to the railwayman. We would very much like to see him and thank him personally.”

Mr. Olbison said that he had repeatedly warned his daughter about playing near the canal.