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| William and Elizabeth Taylor - 1918 |
Diamond Wedding Anniversary and Honorary Serving Sister of St John
The year 0f 1918 was a big year for the residence of No. 9 Duke Street, Colne. On 17th July William and Elizabeth celebrated 60 years of marriage and just prior to this celebration Elizabeth received the honor of being awarded the Honorary Serving Sister of St John of Jerusalem. Elizabeth describes this auspicious occasion with a little excitement in her journal.
To start with she talks about receiving a medal for 15 years service in 1909 with a number of other nurses.
"I was appointed Lady Superintendent in 1894 and resigned in 1922. In 1909 for 15 years service a medal that was pinned me by the Hon. Prince of Wales, now King George the 5th. After this ceremony, I with other Ladies, who attended Head Quarters for the same purpose had a first class lunch and a Waggonetee drive to view the principle sights of London.
On being made an Honorary Serving Sister of St John of Jerusalem, in 1918 I was met by the Chaplain, who Prayed, and went through all the Services appropriate for the occasion"
Her rather formal summary of what must have been two amazing experiences makes me smile.
I think I shall finish this blog by sharing with you an article that was posted in the Colne Times on the occasion of William and Elizabeth's Diamond Wedding anniversary.
"Hearty Congratulations will be extended this week by many people in Colne and district, and particularly by those connected with the ambulance movement, to Mr and Mrs William Taylor of 9 Duke Street, Colne, who celebrated their diamond wedding on Wednesday. Both Mr and Mrs Taylor are well-known and highly-respected in the town, in which they have lived for about 32 years.
The aged couple were married at Gill Church, Barnoldswick on July 17th 1858, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. J.C. Miller. Mrs Taylor was born Greenbank, Barnoldswick and was the daughter of the late George Rushworth, of Whitemoor, Barnoldswick. Mr Taylor was born at Burnley and is the son of the late Mr Richard Taylor of Lower Hood House, Burnley. Mr and Mrs Taylor have had 16 children, six of whom are still living and they also have nine grandchildren. Mr Taylor is now 85 years of age and his wife is 77. They have been connected with the Colne Parish Church and the Mission Churches - St James, Waterside and St George's, Alkincoates - since they came to Colne and it is an interesting link to the past to recall the fact that Mrs Taylor's parents were married in the Colne Parish Church over 100 years ago.
Despite their advanced ages Mr and Mrs Taylor both enjoy fairly good health and although the later has recently had a severe illness we are pleased to state that she has now recovered. Mr Taylor was formerly in the employ of the Colne Corporation and prior to the incorporation of the borough, of the old Colne Local Board as Building and Streets Inspector. He held that position for a period of about 20 years, retiring about 10 years ago.
Mrs Taylor worked for the ambulance movement in Colne - of which fuller particulars will be found below - is well-known. She has been connected with the association for 28 years and for 20 years has been lady superintendent of the Nursing Division.
Mr and Mrs Taylor will entertain a number of relatives and friends in the Ambulance Hall tomorrow, when a social evening will be held to celebrate the notable event. we feel sure our readers will join with us in wishing Mr and Mrs Taylor a happy and pleasant time during the remaining years of their married life.
AMBULANCE HONOUR FOR MRS TAYLOR
It is surely a happy coincidence that we are able to announce Mrs Taylor has received a well deserved ambulance honour at the same time as we record the 60th anniversary of Mr and Mrs Taylor's wedding anniversary. The secretary of the Colne Ambulance Association has received information that Mrs Taylor has been elected an Honorary Serving Sister of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England, which is one of the highest honours that can be granted for Ambulance work. It will be remembered that Alderman Hewitt-Dean, President of the Colne Association and Mr E. Scott, the superintendent of the Brigade were elected Honorary Serving Brothers of the Order sometime ago. Some years since, Dr Dickey was elected an Honorary Associate of the Order, so that it will be seen that the Colne Centre of the St Johns Ambulance Association has been highly honoured by the recognition given by the headquarters of the Association to the valuable work done for the movement by several local stalwarts.
Amongst these Mrs Taylor, along with Superintendent Scott and Miss Hartley, has played a prominent part. she joined the ambulance movement in Colne in 1891, and has an unbroken membership down to the present. She has passed all the inspections and re-examinations. She served in the capacity of First Officer and Inspector of Stores for two or three years before she was appointed Lady Superintendent in 1898. She has held that position since and had taken a prominent part in the development of the movement in Colne, including the organising of work and collection of funds for the new Hall in Swan Croft, and in all the social efforts arranged by the Association for the purpose of raising funds to carry on its work.
Since the opening of the Colne Military Hospital, Mrs Taylor has done much useful work in connection with that institution, and has done a great deal to make the lot of the patients as happy and pleasant as possible during their stay in the town. During her ambulance career Mrs Taylor has rendered first aid in over 100 cases, some of which were very serious. In onc instance the promptitude and skill of Mrs Taylor and Drill Sergeant Burrell of the Colne Association undoubtedly saved the life of a boy at Morecambe who had his arm run over by tramear, and who would probably have bled to death but for their timely assistance.
The honour accorded to Mrs Taylor is certainly well merited, and reflects credit not only on herself, but also on the organisation with which she has been connect so long."
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