15th November 1947 SA
UNIQUE ANNIVERSARY
STAFFORDSHIRE as a whole will wish to join in felicitations to the Earl and Countess of Harrowby who tomorrow (Sunday) celebrate their diamond wedding. It will be the first time that a Lord Lieutenant of the county has attained such an anniversary while holding office. Owing to prevailing conditions the celebration will be of a purely family nature. Lord Harrowby’s diamond wedding coincides with the 20thanniversary of his appointment as Lord Lieutenant—he succeeded the late Earl of Dartmouth in 1927—an office in which he has endeared himself to Staffordshire folk in all walks of life. In her many public offices Lady Harrowby also makes a valued and gracious contribution to the county’s affairs.
There will be a house-party at Sandon Hall during the week-end to mark the occasion and in addition to Lord and Lady Sandon, Lady Frances Ryder and the Hon. Dudley Ryder, Lord and Lady Harrowby will entertain the Lady Forster and Mrs. Molloy, who were bridesmaids at their wedding 60 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ryder, (representing the Hon. A.D. and Mrs. Ryder, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ryder (representing the Hon. Edward and Lady Maud Ryder), Miss Katherine Acland (the Dowager Viscountess Hambleden), and Mr. and Mrs. Angus Campbell, who will be representing Lord Colerain.
Tomorrow morning there will be a thanksgiving service at Sandon Church at which the Bishop of Stafford (the Right Rev. L.D. Hammond) will preach and afterwards in the park Lord and Lady Harrowby will plant acorns taken from the oak which they planted on the anniversary of their golden wedding. The Lord Lieutenant and Lady Harrowby will be photographed with Mr. and Mrs. W. Alcock of 52 Hilderstone Road, Sandon, who will also celebrate their diamond wedding tomorrow.
The Deputy Lieutenants of Staffordshire will pay their tribute at a reception to be held at the County Buildings, Stafford, on Tuesday, when they will make presentations to Lord and Lady Harrowby. The gifts will be presented by the Earl of Dartmouth.
SANDON DIAMOND WEDDING
When the Earl and Countess of Harrowby celebrate their diamond wedding tomorrow (Sunday) those present at a thanksgiving service in Sandon Church will include Mr. and Mrs. W. Alcock, 52, Hilderstone Road, Sandon, who were also married on November 16th, 1887.
The eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Alcock, Mr. Alcock was born at Little Stoke 85 years ago, and his wife, who is three years his junior, is a native of Sandon, having been born in the house they now occupy. She was the youngest of seven children of Mr. and Mrs. J. Fradley. Her father was employed nearly all his life on the Sandon estate.
Mr. and Mrs. Adcock were married at Sandon Church by the then vicar of Weston, the Rev. S. Plant, deputising for the Vicar of Sandon, the Rev. W. Coldwell, who was attending the marriage of Lord and Lady Harrowby, at Henley-on-Thames. They first lived at Stoke-on-Trent, where Mr. Alcock was employed on the old North Stafford railway, and a few years later when he took up work on Lord Harrowby’s estate they moved to Sandon. They have lived in the same house ever since.
Mr. Alcock retired 15 years ago, and has since devoted most of his time to his garden. He is also interested in the village club, of which he is a former assistant secretary, and, for several years he held a similar position with the Earl of Harrowby Lodge of Oddfellows. For many years Mrs. Alcock was an active member of the Mothers’ Union, and she still maintains keen interest in its work. They have one daughter.
Lady Harrowby frequently visits Mr. and Mrs. Alcock.
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