South Yorkshire Times, July 1st, 1944
A peal was rung on Swinton St. Margaret’s Church tubular bells while members and candidates of St. Michael’s Church Girl Guides formed a guard of honour for the wedding on Saturday of Miss Bernardine Lilian Hince, only daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. A. R. Hince, “Glenholm,” Station Street, Swinton, to the Rev. Frank Smedley, only son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Smedley, 11 Cobcar Street, Elsecar. The bridegroom, priest in charge of St. Michael’s Church, Swinton has been curate at Swinton for eighteen months. Mr. Hince is assistant priest at the Parish Church.
The bride’s father officiated at the ceremony and the Rev. H. W. Quarrell, Vicar of Swinton, was celebrant at the Nuptial Mass which followed, with the Rev. E. R. Gaskill (assistant priest, Wath-on-Dearne) as server. The combined choirs of St. Margaret’s and St. Michael’s churches, with servers, took part in the service. The bride wore a gown of white figured lace over silver and white taffeta. Her full-length veil was surmounted by a wreath of orange blossom, and she carried cream roses. She was given away by Mr. Edward Neale, of West Hartlepool, and was attended by L.A/cw. Ann Downing of Bolton-on-Dearne, who wore a dress of blue taffeta and lace, with hat to tone, and carried sweet peas. The Rev. Stephen Greaves, Rector of Whitwood Mere, Castleford, was best man, and the groomsman was Mr. Wilfred Taylor, churchwarden of St. Michael’s.
Merbecke’s setting of the Communion Service was sung, with the hymns “We Pray Thee Heavenly Father,” ”O’ Perfect Love,” “The Heavenly Word,” “And Now O’ Father,” and “Lead Us, Heavenly Father.” Organist was Mr. A. Mawson (organist at St. Margaret’s). At the church gates Girl Guides formed an arch with patrol emblems.
Guests were received by the bride’s mother at the Church Hall. She wore a two piece of royal blue cloque with navy accessories and a spray of pink carnations and the bridegroom’s mother had chosen a dress of brown silk marocain, with brown accessories and a spray of pink carnations. Mr. and Mrs. Smedley afterwards left for a honeymoon in Derbyshire, the bride travelling in a beige and brown coat, over a dress of old rose cloque with brown accessories.
The bridegroom, a native of Elsecar, was educated at Elsecar Church School, Barnsley Grammar School, Denstone College (Staffs.) and Kelham Theological College. He was formerly Curate of Redditch, Worcestershire. At Swinton he had done a lot of youth work, being chairman of Swinton Youth Council, president of the Swinton branch of the Anglican Young People’s Association and of St. Michael’s Social Club. He is an A.R.P. warden. The bride is secretary of Swinton branch of the Girls’ Friendly Society and is well known in the district as a singer. Employed by the Air Ministry, she is an old pupil of Doncaster Municipal High School for Girls.