South Yorkshire Times, February 5, 1949.

The funeral took place at Swinton Parish Church last week of a former chairman of Swinton Urban Council and church warden at Swinton Parish Church, Mr James sharply (75), who died at the home of his laughter, Mrs W Thickett, of Elm tree farm, Kilnhurst, on February 4th.19390400

A native of Penistone, and of farming stock, Mr Sharpley was himself a farmer. For 30 years until 1939, he farmed Manor farm, Swinton. After leaving Manor farm, he went to live at old Denaby Intel April last year, when he took up residence at Elm tree farm.

He went to Swinton from Penistone 60 years ago. And was a keen worker for Swinton Parish Church. A churchwarden for 17 years, Mr Sharpley was responsible for organising many church efforts to raise funds for a new church, when Saint Margaret’s Church, Swinton, was burnt down. He served on Swinton Urban Council for many years.

Mr Sharpley was for a time chairman of the Association of felons at Wentworth, an organisation for the protection of farmers from theft of property, and up to his death was a member of Rotherham farmers Union.