Weddings

The Bride: Clara Louisa (Louie) Towers, aged 26, of 141 High Street, Yeadon, – a Woolen Weaver at William Murgatroyds Woolen Mill, High street, Yeadon.

The Groom: Walter Long, aged 24, of 3 Rockville Terrace, Yeadon, – a Mill Furnisher at William Murgatroyds, High Street, Yeadon.

Location: The Weslayan Methodist Chapel, Yeadon.

Officiating: The Minister William T Pullan and Registrar Henry Mounsey.

Witnesses: Frank Hustler (Friend of Groom) and Elizabeth Ann Yeadon (formerly Hardwicke) – friend of the Bride and future Sister-in-Law, (married Rennard Towers – July 1905).

Also in the photograph are, left to right:

Back Row: Clara Long (Groom’s Sister), Percy Myers and wife Sarah Jane Myers (Bride’s Sister)
Bride and Groom, Harry Towers (Bride’s Brother) and wife Florrie Towers, Elizabeth Anne Yeadon, (formerly Hardwicke) – witness.
Seated: Freddy Towers and Rennard Towers, (Brothers of the Bride).
On the ground: Unknown man and on the right, Frank Hustler, (friend of the Groom and Witness).

Note: Between 1908 and 1916, Walter and Clara (Louie) were joint Licensees of the Nags Head Beerhouse, Town Street, Rawdon.

A Poem written by Val Ryan of her Gran:

I have her photo on the wall,
And many memories I recall.
On her wedding day she stands,
Oh so serious, gloves on hands.

She did not know what lay ahead,
Bright thoughts of a future in her head.
Possibly wondering how she’d cope,
Embarking on a life of hope.

Her life was hard and filled with pain,
Lots of loss and little gain.
Two wars and two husbands too,
Determination pulled her through.

Five babies, only three survived,
Were never of her love deprived.
Stepchildren too were given care,
All equal in her love they’d share.

We’d play and read and knit and sew,
Her inner thoughts I came to know.
In life my guardian, in death my Guide,
Protecting me here by my side.

This pretty girl within the frame,
Finally my gran became.
With snow white hair and knowing smile,
Survived a life of toil and trial.

For sixteen years she was my friend,
A special person ’till the end.
The sepia image is wearing thin,
She’ll always be my heroine.

By kind permission of Val Ryan.