BRIDEGROOM AT 97 YEARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20740, 6 December 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

BRIDEGROOM AT 97 YEARS.

WIFE NEARING ALLOTTED SPAN. ENGLAND'S OLDEST CORONER. -Mr. John Graham, of Durham, tho oldest coroner in England, who was 97 years of age last July, was married on October 29 at All Saints' Church, Upper Norwood, London. His bride, Miss E. Ashton, of Durham, is nearly 70 years of age

Tho ceremony had been kept a close secret, and even Mr, Graham's most intimate friends were unaware of it. Only the two witnesses were present, apart from tho bridal couplo and the vicar.

The bridegroom is not only tho oldost coroner in England, but is believod to be tho oldest solicitor. lie was the last coroner to be elected by a public voto 57 years ago. He has been married twico before. Mr. Graham lives near Durham in a house which ho has occupied for 60 years. He is still actually coroner, although he dose not attend inquests, but carries out most of tho other duties connected with tho office. He has hold inquests on 31 persons hanged in Durham Goal, and has long advocated abolition of the death penalty. He suggested three years ago the alternative of penal servitude without hope of remission. t It was largely because of Mr. Graham's insistence on tho need for fireguards in homes where there are children that legislation to enforce this was introduced into the Children's Act. Mr. Graham, on one occasion, publicly praised the part played by the Daily Express in bringing about the regulation of the sale of flannelette, after a series of child tragedies caused by flanelotte clothing catching fire.