1938 – McConnon, John
1938 – JOHN MCCONNON, Rope Greaser, 27
John McConnon of 14 Cross London Street, New Whittington married Olive Winifred Longmate, they had one child, John McConnon.
John was commemorated on 16th September 2019. The location of the artwork can be found in zone 15 on the trail map which can be downloaded here.
Family History Researched by Paul Burkitt:
John McConnon was born in the fourth quarter of 1911 at 201 Barrow Hill, Derbyshire. His parents were Patrick McConnon (1870 – 1954) and Mary Bunney (1874 – 1954). His father came from Ireland and his mother was from Barrow Hill, Derbyshire. John was their eleventh of fourteen children.
In June 1935 John married Olive Winifred Longmate (1908 – 1991) when he was 23 years of age. The wedding which took in New Whittington on the 8thJune 1935, was reported in the Derbyshire Times:
CHESTERFIELD
McCONNON – LONGMATE
The wedding took place at St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, New Whittington, on Saturday, of Mr. John McConnon, fifth son of Mr. and Mrs. P. McConnon, 201, Barrow Hill, and Miss Olive Longmate, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Longmate, 5 Bamford Street, New Whittington. Fr. P. Sweeney officiated.
Given away by her father, the bride wore a dress of white satin, with wreath and veil, and carried a bouquet of red carnations and fern. Her sisters Edna and Florrie were bridesmaids and they were attired in dresses of pink and blue suede georgette respectively, and both wore white satin gloves, white satin shoes, and head-dresses of cornflowers. They carried bouquets of cornflowers, forget-me-nots and fern. Two small attendants, both nieces of the bridesgroom, Brenda Caffrey and Monica Rooney, were dressed in flowered blue georgette, and carried small replicas of the bridesmaid’s bouquets. Mr Arthur Longmate (bride’s brother) was best man, and Mr William Caffrey (bridegroom’s brother-in-law) was groomsman.
After the ceremony, 80 guests attended a reception at the home of the bride’s aunt, Mrs. True, 29, London Street, New Whittington. The bride has been an attendant at Whittington Hall Institution for the past seven years, and on her resignation 14 wedding presents were handed to her by the Matron and various members of the staff.
In June 1937 John and Olive had the first and only child, John McConnon (1937 – 2011)
At the time of the disaster, John, aged 26, was working at Markham Colliery as a rope greaser and was living with his wife and new son at 14 Cross London Street, New Whittington, Derbyshire.
In May 1944 the family placed an ‘In Memoriam’ notice in the Derbyshire Times.
McCONNON– In loving memory of Jack, a dear dad, son and brother killed Markham Pit Disaster May 10th1938.
“Memories fad and life departs,
He lives for ever in our hearts”
Further Information can be downloaded here:
Further Information:
Markham Colliery 1938 disaster
List of miners killed and injured in the 1938 disaster
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