Berwick Advertiser – 100 years ago

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 27TH OCTOBER 1921

by

WOOLER’S FUR AND FEATHER SHOW

RECORD ENTRY-MANY LOCAL WINNERS

The promoters of the Wooler and District Fur and feather Show may be warmly congratulated on the success of their third annual Show, which was held in the Archbold Hall on Thursday last. Since the Society was inaugurated three years ago a number of shows have been held, but for entries and quality this Show surpassed all previous ones. This year it was confined to utility classes only, the exhibition classes being suspended. The Committee were fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr Powell-Owen, London, as judge in Poultry Classes, one of the best judges in the country. When his name appeared on the schedule sent out his was sufficient to bring a record entry. In the Bantam Class Mr G. Hall, Mindrum, was also an efficient judge. He was a wide experience I the poultry world and is an adept breeder of poultry, as those who have visited the poultry farm at Mindrum can testify.

Archbold Hall, Wooler Ref: BRO 426-1255

The large hall was filled with poultry, only space being left for the people to pass down, and the small room was used for the housing of the ducks. The Show, being an “open” one brought entries from all over the country, and it is pleasing to report that many of the local fanciers figured largely in the honours list. In the breeding pen class Mr W. Brown, Haugh Head, Wooler, lost the silver cup by one point, Mr Huntley, Hirsel, taking away this coveted prize. In this class two pullets and a cockerel constituted the pen. In each case the pullets were awarded equal points, but the decision was given to Mr Huntley as his cockerel gained one point more than the local. A very fine Wyandotte hen was on view belonging to Mr Wm. Harbin, Ashington, which was awarded first prize and four specials; also Mr G. F. bell, Mindrum, for a white leghorn cockerel was awarded first prize and three specials. Some of the classes were of such excellent quality that the judge awarded almost every bird a ticket. Mr Owen gave entire satisfaction throughout and had a most strenuous day. Starting his duties at 10am, he went on without a break until 4.10pm. Mr Hall also gave of his best as judge in the Bantam Class. It fell to a Woolerite to gain the special prize for the best bantam of the Show. This was with a white Wyandotte hen. Mr J. Wilkinson, Ashington Villa, Wooler, in the game cock or hen class, took first, second and third prizes with his well-known winning birds.

After the judging, Mr Owen, when asked his impressions on the Show, said: “It is one of the best I have attended of its class. The quality of the poultry was excellent, the white Leghorns and white Wyandottes being a very strong class. One of the special features of the Show was the ducks. It was evident they had not been handled much, as it was difficult to get them to stand up. Taking advantage of the ante-room, where they were shown. I took them out on the floor so as to get at their good qualities. I was quite pleased to see that, although produce had come from all over the country, the members’ poultry were much in evidence and to a very high standard.

In the evening Mr Owen gave a demonstration on a pen of five Rhode Island Red hens belonging to Mr G. bell, Mindrum, which had been awarded second position in the national laying list at Bentley, Suffolk. This test was open to all England. The total eggs laid by these five hens were 905 eggs for 48 weeks. It was explained, that, during the first two months, only 17 eggs were laid and 888 in 31 weeks, a record being kept on each hen during the test. Mr Owen demonstrated in in a most lucid manner, took each hen singly, and explained the merits and demerits of each of them. Many of the points he touched were invaluable to the large number of fanciers who were listening to the lecture. Out of the 905 eggs laid during the test only 75 eggs were second grade. After addressing the meeting for an hour, Mr Owen answered a number of questions asked him.

BERWICK SANITARY AUTHORITY

MEDICAL OFFICER’S REPORT

Dr P. W. Maclagan, medical Officer of health, in his report to 30th September, stated there has been little infectious disease in the Borough during the past quarter, one case of scarlet fever and four cases of diphtheria. Three cases of diphtheria occurred in Scremerston and were removed to Berwick Fever Hospital under the agreement with Norham and Islandshires. The Child Welfare Centre has been visited weekly and the attendance of mothers and children is well maintained. The question of the insanitary houses in the Borough on which Demolition Orders were served in 1914 has been reconsidered by the Public Health Committee. Some of them remain in habited and in view of the house shortage no action can be taken in the meantime. The others are to be dealt with. Water closets are being introduced in to several houses in Spittal and Tweedmouth, and as the cost of these improvements decreases this work should be carried out more freely in the future.

MOTOR CARS IN CASTLEGATE

The Mayor mentioned that the magistrates had recently been called upon to deal with a case of motor cars left standing in Castlegate. In that case the magistrates felt that it was an unpleasant duty to perform, for no one inside or outside the Council wished to do anything to prevent people coming into the town. At the same time the Magistrates had no other option but to administer the law. It had been suggested by the solicitor in the case that the magistrates might ask the Council to appoint a small committee to meet with a committee of the National Farmers’ Union and discuss the matter.

William Elder & Sons, 1904. Ref: BRO 1497-025

Councillor Campbell suggested that the committee might consider the removal of portion of the paved footpath and the cement block which marked the footpath near Messrs Elders’. This portion was where the police found difficulty when cars left standing encroached on that paved line, and he thought if necessary the committee might even consider the removal of the enclosed plot in front of Messrs Elders, so that an open space could be made and they could fall back on the old market character of the ground.

It was agreed that a committee consisting of Ald. Elder, Ald. Wilson, Councillor Darling and Councillor Campbell be appointed to meet with the Committee of the N.F.U. and report back to the Council.

War Memorial, Castlegate, Berwick-upon-Tweed. © Copyright J Thomas – (cropped image) Creative Commons Licence 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).

The question of carrying through matters in connection with the War Memorial site was remitted to the Parks Committee with powers, and it was also agreed to grant permission for the temporary placing of a diagram barometer on the Scotsgate showing the position of the War Memorial Fund.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 14TH OCTOBER 1921

by

HORNCLIFFE MEMORIAL HALL

OPENING CEREMONY

What may be termed as Horncliffe’s completion of her memorial schemes to her fallen sons was the opening of the Memorial Hall on Thursday. Favoured by delightful weather, there was a crowded attendance within the building when Mr Alec. Ritson, Thornton, declared it open in fitting terms.

There still remained a debt of £200 to be cleared off, however, and immediately after a sale of work, for which preparations have been going on for many months, followed. Business was very brisk during the afternoon, which augured well for the effort being successful.

Horncliffe War Memorial © Eric Musgrave (WMR-33471)

THE OPENING CEREMONY

Capt. F. C. H. Allenby, R. N., presided, and in calling upon Mr Thornton to declare the hut open, made fitting reference to those who had returned after enduring hardships for the sake of those at home. He mentioned that they had collected the sum of £583 to date for the Memorial and the Hut, and he hoped that at the end of the day they would be able to raise the greater part of the £200 to clear off the debt still standing on the building. They could not, he proceeded, have selected one more fitting than Mr Ritson to declare the Hall open. He was always willing to help and serve the community. He much regretted that he suffered from ill-health, but he had served his country to the best of his ability in the War. He knew he felt deeply he was unable to serve in the trenches. He remembered a service friend of his telling him that he wished all men would only do their duty in the sphere they were told off for, and Mr Ritson had always done his duty in his own sphere, rather than call on other people to do it. (Applause).

VISCOUNT GREY AT BERWICK

A LONG AND THOUGHTFUL SPEECH

For some weeks Berwick has been a centre of political interest, on account of Viscount Grey’s return to active politics in support of Mr Walter Runciman in his candidature for the Berwick-upon-Tweed Division, and on Monday night the Corn Exchange was filled with an audience drawn from all classes of opinion in the constituency. The daily and Sunday newspapers have been prophesying that Viscount Grey was to assume the leadership of the Independent Liberals, and again that he was to announce an alliance with Lord Robert Cecil. Neither of these things came off. The meeting was arranged in support of Mr Runciman, and the main thing that came out of Viscount Grey’s speech was that he was in entire sympathy with the Independent Liberals and Mr Runciman. Whether he will be able to remain in the background time will show. There was a large gathering on the platform, and the list we give of those present will also be interesting for its omission of some who have been prominent Liberals in the past, but who are not at the moment “Independents.” In addition to the two prominent speakers there were: – Mr. R. C. Bosanquet, president of the Berwick-upon-Tweed Liberal Association ( in the chair) and Mrs Bosanquet; Mrs Runciman; Sir Walter and Lady Runciman; Mr G. W. Hindmarsh, chairman of the Executive; Ald. T. Wilson. J. P.; Messrs Gerald France, M.P.; Wm. Macdonald, Rock; Rutherford, Seahouses; A. Mitchie, Alnwick; J. Clark, Belford; the Rev. C. L. Stowe, Berwick; D. Elliot, Belford; Mrs Richardson, Berwick; Messrs R. Boston, Spittal; J. Boston, Spittal; Ald. P. Boston, Spittal; W. Nelson, Lowick; J. H. Culley, Kirknewton; T. L. McAndrews, Amble; Miss Boston, Spittal; Messrs F. R. Padley, Wooler; J. Seals, Berwick; A. Younger, Allerdean; Councillor Dudgeon, Berwick; T. Elder, Berwick; Ald. J. Elder, Berwick; Miss Hume, Alnwick; Messrs H. Dowsett, Northern Liberal Federation; D. Elliot, Alnwick; C. Hindmarsh, Alnwick; H. W. Willits, Berwick; J. Cleghorn, Wooler; F. Hindmarsh, Alnwick; J. B. Beveridge, Tweedmouth; T. Morrison, Berwick; J. J. Simmen, Berwick; lady Robson; Miss Gregson, secretary Women’s Liberal Association; Mr W. A. Edwards, secretary Berwick Divisional Liberal Association, and Mrs Edwards; Mr J. Macnab, Beal.

Image from the Berwick Advertiser 4 December 1858, opening of the newly erected Corn Exchange, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

When the party filed onto the platform, amid cheers, there was a pause for a flashlight photograph, and then Mr Bosanquet welcomed Viscount Grey on his return to the constituency from which he had been taken during the war, assuring him that their love and pride and confidence in him were unabated. A rapturous welcome greeted Viscount Grey when he rose. There was a marked improvement in his appearance since he last spoke in Berwick at the War Memorial Meeting. He was more vigorous in his gestures, and had much less difficulty in referring to his notes, which were brief. At one point he was speaking with uplifted arm, and there was another disturbing flash from the camera, which should never have been allowed. We give below a full report of the speech. There was no lack of ability in the Government, he said, but great ability was combined with extreme instability of policy, which had shaken the confidence of people both at home and abroad. We saw it in their treatment of Russia, Mesopotamia, the French Government and the Labour Party, with whom they had played fast and loose over Nationalisation. His most important remarks were on Ireland, and it is a pity that they were not made months ago. We should clear our minds, he said, of sentiment and gush and face the facts of the situation, instead of pretending to be generous after our policy of reprisals had failed. His only reservation to admitting Ireland as a full partner to Dominion partnership was that the naval defence of both islands should be under one naval authority. His last topic was unemployment, and the only permanent remedy in his opinion was good trade. Nationalisation was not the remedy but labour should have its share in the management of industry- an important admission. The speech was well received. There was silence while Lord Grey spoke of nationalisation, loud applause when he said that time had shown the South Africans that in negotiating with them we had been speaking in good faith and that what we had promised had come true. References to Mr Gladstone and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman were also cheered. Indeed one felt that at the back of Viscount’s Grey’s mind was the thought of what a difference it would have made if Home Rule had been accepted, as it was first offered by the great leaders he had a served under.

TWEEDMOUTH RATEPAYERS’ MEETING

In the absence of Alderman Elder, Councillor Brewis presided over a large and orderly meeting of Tweedmouth ratepayers in the Mitchell memorial Hall on Wednesday night. Supporting him were Councillor Watt, Mr T. Douglas, Mr D. Watson, Mr Eales, and Mr Bradford. Apologies were sent by Councillor Lockhart and Mr Trainer.

Councillor Brewis, in his opening address, touched on various topics. With regards to the Glasgow Steel Company he thought the non-Freemen were wrong in commencing their activities when the negotiations with the Council were at a critical stage. He thought it was only when the Company saw that the Freemen and non-Freemen could not agree among themselves that they decided to go elsewhere. He could assure any industrial company that wanted to establish themselves in their neighbourhood that Tweedmouth could supply them with a site and equal railway facilities.

The opening of the housing scheme on Monday was a great event for Tweedmouth. The cost to Tweedmouth was a penny in the pound, and the income taxpayers in the country found the rest. They welcomed the new residents. Unfortunately they would not see the whole scheme carried out; in fact, full consent had not yet been obtained for the present addition of twenty-four.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 30TH SEPTEMBER 1921

by

BERWICK LICENSE HOLDERS WANT AN

8 HOUR DAY

Mr P. M. Henderson appeared on behalf of the majority of the members of the Licensed Victualers’ Association and made proposals for the consideration of the Bench in regard to the fixing of what is known as “permitted hours” under the new Act of 1921. The Act fixed these hours temporarily until things were brought into working order. On 17th August these orders were put in force in the Borough. Under the old Ac of 1910 the hours were from 8 o’clock in the morning to 10 o’clock at night. In many cases, of course, license holders did not take advantage of these hours. The new Act recommended the hours per week-day at 8½, but the license holders in the Borough proposed 8 hours day. The Act recommended that the sale of intoxicating liquor should take place between the hours of 11.30 and 3pm, and 5.30 and 10pm on week days and what the license holders proposed as reasonable hours from 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 9pm. This of course, only affected week days. The license holders did say that they found the hour of 9 o’clock in the evening was late enough to keep open, and it was not an unreasonable closing hour either for the public.

Now, in regard to Sunday, continued Mr Henderson, the hours now in force are from12.30 to 2.30 in the afternoon, and from 7 to 10 in the evening. The license holders ask that the opening hour be 12.30 to 2.30 as at present, but that instead of from 7 to 10pm the hours should be from 6 to 9. At a recent meeting of the Licensed Victualers’ Association these were the hours agreed to by 38 out of 42 who attended the meeting. A Committee had been appointed, members of which would be prepared to give their views to the Bench and to say that 9 o’clock closing did not only meet their own views, but the reasonable requirements of the public.

ANOTHER VIEW

Mr H. R. Peters appeared for Mr Jas. Grey, wine merchant and said with the hours proposed his client could not agree. He was quite agreeable that the week day hours should be eight, and the Sunday hours as suggested, but he felt that in saying what these hours should be, a large part of the public had never been taken into consideration. There were the workers and visitor to the town and those who came into the town with the forenoon trains to do their shopping.

Hide Hill, showing the King’s Arms Hotel, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Ref: BRO 0426-355

To start at 10 o’clock was an hour lost to the license holder, as large numbers of men were at work then and did not need refreshment; while the morning trains had not arrived. He suggested that the hours his client proposed were the best to meet the needs of everybody. The hours he proposed on week days were from 11 am to 4pm and from 6pm to 9pm. That he held gave reasonable time for refreshment, and in fixing the hours the Bench should consider the reasonable wants of the steady man, not he man whose idea of a reasonable amount of drink was a full skin (Laughter)

Mr Scott, proprietor of the King’s Arms, was of the opinion that the hours recommended by the Act should be adhered to. He also mentioned he was applying under Section 3 of the Act for all the privileges extended to caterers and hotel keepers, to sell drink with food with the evening meal. This meant that if the ten o’clock closing remained in force anyone arriving in the hotel could have a drink with their food between 10 and 11, but no drink unless they were having food.

Ultimately, Mr Scott agreed to fall in with the proposals of the License Victuallers’ Association, letting his application under Section 3 go forward separately.

High Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed showing the Salmon Hotel Ref: BRO 318

The bench retired and on their return the Mayor announced that they had decided to fix the hours from 11 to 3pm and from 5 to 9pm on week days, with Sunday as suggested, 12.30 to 2.30 and 6 to 9. The Bench agreed to grant the application of Mr Scott under Section 3, he also having appeared for Mr Evans, of the Salmon Hotel.

GYMKHANA AND SPORTS AT SCREMERSTON

On Monday, Berwick’s Autumn Holiday, a gymkhana, arranged by members of Berwick Motor Club, and cycling sports, arranged by members of Tweedside Cycling Club, took place at Scremerston Institute track. The proceeds were in aid of the track fund and the gate amounted to £25, and there might have been far more people present had the char-a-bancs been running as advertised. The weather was ideal.

Those who did attend had a capital afternoon’s sport and amusement. The Tweedside members provided the serious racing and put up some good finished, too, while the Motor Club provided the thrills and fun. It was a “day out” for the motor cyclists, who did anything , at times, up to 60 miles per hour, while the “limb of the law” appeared to enjoy the sport as much as anyone.

The most interesting events were the lemon-slicing, especially when speed was introduced, the variety race, in which the passenger on the carrier had to dismount and pick up an apple in his teeth, and the “T.T.” race. This latter was a burlesque of the famous motor cycle trials in the Isle of Man. There were four competitors and the prize at stake was the handsome Cooper Eye Cup, a massive “carbon” trophy on which “diamonds” from Scremerston’s famous seam glittered. The first holder was W. Rowley, the Club’s Vice-Captain, who, on a small push-bike with miniature gear got up no end of a pace. In what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to knock him off, T. Lilburn, on his giant prehistoric cycle, had a spill himself, causing no end of laughter. He, however, pluckly remounted and at the finish forged ahead of the “lady” competitor (Mr A. Fish, jun.) and took second place. We understand some of the Scremerston fair sex condemned the “lady” as “a brazen huzzy” for smoking on the field!

There was only one spill in the cycling events, and this was not due to the condition of the track, Purves accidently touching Coulthard’s pedal and bringing both to ground, Purves being much bruised and shaken, and Coulthard’s front wheel beyond repair.

At the close, Capt Carr presented the Cooper Eye Cup to Mr Rowley and, on behalf of Scremerston, thanked the members of the Motor and Tweedside Clubs for the excellent afternoon’s entertainment they provided.

Scremertson Band, which had played selections all afternoon, then played “God Save the King.”

+ More