Ward, Oswald Alleyne (1891-1958)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

OSWALD ALLEYNE WARD: born in 1891 at Allestree near Derby. During the first World War he served in the ranks with the R.A.M.C. from the Battle of Mons onwards. In 1925 he entered the Primitive Methodist Ministry, coming to the work rather late in life. He served in the following circuits : Colnbrook, Harringay, Shotley Bridge, Clayton West, Gainsborough, South Bank, Rotherham, Bolton, and Oldham East. 

During his ministry in Oldham he played a big part in the activities of the Old People’s Welfare Organization, of which he was the treasurer. Many tributes were paid to him for his humble and devoted work at Women’s Meetings, where he was a constant visitor and welcome friend. In addition he was a talented writer to the local press. His extensive library revealed among other things his devotion to English verse and prose. 

In his circuit work he was highly esteemed as a pastor and a friend, being always deeply interested in his people and ready at all times to do them service. He was a good colleague, happy in his place in the brotherhood of the Ministry. He had a wide experience of men and his friendly manner made it easy for others to approach him. He was at once kindly and gentlemanly, a man whom people intuitively liked and appreciated. During his long illness he displayed throughout all those characteristics of kindness and goodwill and unselfishness with which his many friends were so familiar. 

He passed to higher service on 21 December 1958, in the sixty-seventh year of his age, after thirty-three years of service to God and Methodism.

Family

Oswald was born on 2 August 1891 at Allestree, Derbyshire, to parents John Thomas Ward, an elastic band maker (1891), and Fanny Fernyhough Tipper. He was baptised on 2 August 1891 at Allestree.

Before entering the ministry Oswald worked as a surgical elastic bandage maker.

He married Florence Susannah Linnett (1895-1983) in the summer of 1917 at Mansfield Street PM Chapel, Derby, Derbyshire. Birth records identify two children.

• Marjorie (b1920) – a milliner’s assistant (1939); married John G Lovell in 1948
• Florence M (b abt1933)

Oswald died on 21 December 1958 at Oldham, Lancashire.

Circuits

• 1925 Colnbrook &c
• 1926 Harringay &c
• 1929 Shotley Bridge
• 1932 Clayton West
• 1936 Gainsborough
• 1939 South Bank
• 1944 Rotherham
• 1947 Bolton Moor L
• 1950 Ringsash
• 1954 Oldham E

References

Methodist Minutes 1959/189

W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers