South Yorkshire Times January 18, 1947

Mr Sam Silverwood, twice chairman of Mexborough Durban Council, died at his home “Neilgarth,” Doncaster Rd, Mexborough, on Tuesday at the age of 64.

Surmounting the handicap of a brief education he became the proprietor of his own business and one of the towns most popular administrators.

Born at Barnburgh in 1883 he was the son of a Fairground amusement caterers, and because of this was only able to receive four month’s tuition per year. At the age of eight he had to cease school attendance altogether.

He assisted his parents and their business until he joined the Army Service Corps in 1915 and was invalided out three years later.

On returning to Mexborough he went into business as a haulage contractor and in 1923 he was elected to Mexborough Council. He was always truly independent supporting the point of view which he personally considered right, and in 1928 he was elected the Council’s chairman. He was made chairman again about seven years ago.

He served on most of the constituency bodies including Swinton and Mexborough Gas Board and Conisbrough Joint Isolation Hospital Board, but retired from public life, for health reasons, a year ago.

In his younger days Mr Silverwood was a member of Mexborough Fire Brigade.