Harold John Marfell was born 13 Mar 1888 son of Hubert John Marfell 1861/1937 and his first wife Rhoda Aston 1865/1908 and was baptised at Knights Hill Chapel 13 Jun 1888. He died 21 Jan 1970. A coal miner, he became Under Manager at the Arthur & Edward Colliery. A Davy Lamp (converted by Lewis George Hale)that had been in use at the Arthur & Edward Colliery was donated by Harold John Marfell in 1958 and it is still displayed in St John the Baptist Church, Ruardean together with a plaque.

Harold John Marfell married Emily Clarissa Davis born 1888 on 16 Aug 1910. They only had one daughter Daphne Rhoda Marfell in 1913, whom I met in 2005, she died in 2007. She married Francis Geoffrey Hunter Booth born 1914 in 1970.

Also in St John the Baptist Church, Ruardean there is a plaque by the Lady Chapel which states "Dedicated to the Glory of God in memory of Emily Clarissa Marfell 1889/1965". The dedication was carried out by the Archdeacon of Gloucester The Ven. Walter T Wardle on 19 July 1966. I have photographs of the Davy Lamp & plaque, also the Emily Clarissa Marfell Dedication Plaque & Lady Chapel.

Having depicted the above couple - not a run of the mill couple, you might agree, I am now appealing for any photographs, particulary of Harold John, as a recent photograph showing an H J Marfell might be him and I would like to compare.

Jim Ashton