Wigan Album

Harold, born in Wigan in 1879, was the son of Thomas Milner (the younger), a watchmaker, and Ann née Pollard. Lilian Kay Watson was the daughter of Joseph Watson, station master at Spring Vale Station, Darwin, Lancashire,, and Sarah Ann née Kay. The wedding took place at All Saint's Church, Hindley, on August 15th 1906. The bride had no brothers, so it is presumed that two of the young men may be Harold's brothers, Thomas and Arthur; Arthur signed as a witness, so is almost certainly on there somewhere. Harold had 4 sisters - Margaret Pollard, Annie, Lilian and Florence - and so these may also feature in the photo. The smaller, more elderly lady at the front is Harold's mother, Ann. Harold's father, Thomas, had died in 1894, while Lilian Kay's mother, Sarah Ann, had died in 1904. It appears that the photographer may have gone for symmetry rather than the traditional placing by relatives of the groom on one side and bride's relatives on the other. The outfits, top hats, ladies' hats and extravagant flowers make it, to my mind, a most splendid scene. This photo is by kind permission of Kristina Reading.