South Yorkshire Times, May 2nd 1970
A Police Award For Thurnscoe Ex-Miner
A partially blind Thurnscoe ex-miner is to receive a Provincial Police Award for courage worthy of considerable commendation. Former fly-weight boxer, Mr. John Henry Groves (59), of 116 Merrill Road, was passing a house in Thurnscoe in February last year when he heard the sound of fighting and a person screaming, states the citation accompanying the commendation. It adds “he ran into the house and saw a man and his son struggling for possession of a knife held by the son. Nearby was the son’s mother who had been stabbed in the struggle.
A Struggle
Mr. Groves tackled the son and in the struggle which followed, he sustained a wound to his wrist, which later required stitching. After the man had been disarmed, Mr. Groves attended to the woman until police arrived, but she later died of her wounds. The son was later arrested and charged with murder, but was found unfit to plead and was ordered to be detained in a mental institution.”
Provincial Police Awards are made annually by the Association of Chief Police Officers to members of the public for acts of bravery in support of law and order and this citation on the certificate awarded to Mr. Groves adds “In an extremely dangerous situation Mr. Groves displayed a degree of courage worthy of considerable commendation.”