Mexborough and Swinton Times March 19, 1937
Mexborough Social Worker
Mr Chris Ward
Mexborough has this week lost one of its most popular and prominent citizens by the death on Tuesday, at the age of 82 of Mr Christopher Ward, 33, Cross Gate, Mexborough.
Mr Ward was welcome wherever he went, and his cheery and kindly manner won him many friends. He took an active part in the activities of the town.
Mr Ward was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Lawrence Ward, and was born at Boughton, Notts, where he spent the early part of his life.
He motor Mexborough at the age of 18 to take employment at the Denaby Main Colliery. Shortly after this he married a Miss Sarah Anne Todd at Mexborough Parish Church.
He was only 21 when he sustained an injury in the pit, which necessitated the amputation of one of his legs. Even this did not preventing working, and shortly after the start of surface work at the pit. He continued at this until 1903, but he did not return to work after the “bag muck” strike in that year.
He then secured a position with the Royal Liver insurance company, and about the same time started coal business in partnership with Mr Matthew Taylor. He gave at the first position in 1919, but carried on the business for two or three years longer.
Mr Ward took a seat on the Mexborough Urban District Council about 1910 as a “Citizen” and held it for about 15 years. He was chairman twice a proved a useful member.
When he came to Mexborough, Mr John what he then called the Mexborough Free Church, and he had been connected with Methodism in the town ever since. He was always an energetic worker for the Sunday School Union, and he was president several times. He was a familiar figure at the Whit Monday gatherings of the Sunday School Union, and he was usually the leading marshal.
Mr Ward was a key member of the local branch of the Royal Ancient Order of foresters, and he was secretary for over 50 years until about four years ago; he was also district treasurer for some years, a position he filled until a year or two ago. He served on the Old Forts Treat Committee ever since its inception and he was elected vice chairman a few weeks before his death.
His first wife died in the last year of the war, and some years later Mr Ward married again. He had two daughters, Mrs Chilton of Doncaster, and the late Mrs T Ford, and four grandchildren of whom two are in Canada.
Mr Ward was perfectly healthy until very near the end, and there was nothing you like better than a short walk round the town he had served so faithfully and well.