Mexborough and Swinton Times July 7, 1939

Eighty Now

Mr. John Jones, who is a familiar figure with all the old residents of the district at both Darfield. Wombwell, Low Valley, and Brampton, celebrated his eightieth birthday on Wednesday.

A native of South Wales he came to England at the age of 19 and for the past 61 years has resided in Yorkshire.

In his youth he worked for a number of years in the mines at Cortonwood, Lundhill and Darfield Main. He then went into the green-grocery business and for forty years was a hawker in the districts mentioned.

Interested in gardening he grew a good deal of his own vegetables to sell in his plot at the back of his business establishment at Stonyford Road. Mr. Jones was able to carry on with the greengrocery business until he reached the age of 75 and was the oldest hawker in the districts mentioned.

He attributes his open air life as being responsible for the good health he now enjoys.

” It strengthened my lungs, shouting,” he said,”and it certainly increased my appetite being out in the open.”

His wife Mrs. Alice Jones, who died four years ago, had been’ his partner for 57 years.

For thirty years Mr Jones was a prominent member of Wombwell Salvation Army.