This photo and the following article appeared in the Welwyn Times on 9 June 1938
“The local fire brigade under the leadership of Chief Officer J Dougherty, turned out in full force last Saturday, not for a fire, but the wedding of Second Officer John Henry Barnes when he married to Miss Lily Smith at St Francis Church.
The happy couple left the church beneath an archway of axes made by the firemen lined up either side of the entrance. Passing through the large crowd that had gathered and amid the showers of confetti the bride and bridegroom took their seats on the front of the fire engine and with a clang of the bell were driven to St Francis Hall, where a reception was held for about fifty guests.
The bridegroom is a member of one of the oldest and best known families in the Garden City, being the son of Mr and Mrs Frank Barnes of 17 Ravenfield Road. Mr Frank Barnes is the founder and proprietor of the well-known firm of that name in Bridge Road East. The bride is the daughter of Mrs Rose Smith and the late Mr Smith of 100 Guessens Road.
The bride was given away by her uncle, Mr W J Smith, wore a dress of lavender blue, with hat to tone, and carried a shower bouquet of Lilies of the Valley and Aquelegia. She was attended as Maids of Honour by Mrs P. Eagles (sister to the bride), Mrs C. Burnes and Mrs Nash (sisters of the bridegroom). All three wore dresses of clover -mauve.
At the ceremony which was conducted by the Rev. N. A. Lash of Lemsford the hymns “Lead Us Heavenly Father” and “O Perfect Love” were sung. The Lemsford choir, of which the bride is a member, with Mr Cooke at the organ, were in attandance.
Accompanying the bridegroom as best man was his brother Mr Frank Barnes.
Among the numerous presents received were an electric fire from the brides colleagues at Cresta Silks Ltd., a cheque from the bridegrooms colleagues at the studio, and a set of carvers from the Fire Brigade.”
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Thank you this is a picture of my 2nd cousin Lily Smith (known to me as Aunty Lily) on her wedding day. I remember her & Uncle Jack well as they lived next door to my grandparents William & Rose Smith. Jack was a keen bowler & a member of the club that played at the Cherry Tree for many years. Before reading this I was unaware he had been a fireman.
I met Jack Barnes and his wife when I researching my book on WGC in the early 1980s, and he spent a long time reminiscing about his time in the fire brigade. He was living in the Knella Road area at the time, and I believe he had been born in the area. A real gent.