Mexborough and Swinton Times April 22, 1927

Mrs Anne Bateman, aged 88, who was the oldest recipient of the hospitality of the Thurnscoe Old Folks Treat committee on Monday, was unable to attend the Church Hall, but like many others, had tea taken to her.

She is a native of Thurnscoe, and resides at 8 High St, keeping a typical old village shop which suggests “the old-fashioned Street, in an old-fashioned town.”

She has been in the shop for 44 years. In her  childhood Thurnscoe was a quaint little village of about 250 souls. “Hardy sons of the soil,” unspoiled by the grime and dust of a colliery.

Mrs Bateman was married at St Helen’s Church. She has 21 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Mrs Bateman’s parents both lived to an old age (85 and 84 respectively). Her father was also a native of Thurnscoe and her mother was a native of Clayton.

Though Thurnscoe has progressed much, Mrs Bateman has much more confidence in the old-fashioned means of travel. She has yet to make a first journey in a tram or omnibus, but she has travelled in a train. The pictures of no attraction for her and she still has to see her first film.