Berwick Advertiser – 100 years ago

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 2 APRIL 1920

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BERWICK POLICE

From yesterday (Thursday) the County Council assumed control of Berwick’s police, and on Tuesday we understand Capt. Fullarton James, Chief Constable for the County, came to Berwick to consider the draft agreement for the transfer. A new Inspector or Chief Constable for the Borough will have to be appointed some day, and there is the question of the Police buildings. We understand that the Borough is bound by law to provide certain cell accommodation, and that if the buildings are taken over the County they will have to guarantee to discharge this liability for the town. Again, the Borough gets an annual contribution of £30 for the use of the Court by the Norham and Islandshire justices. Is the Borough Rate still to get the benefit of that payment? These are only crumbs of information which have fallen from the great men’s table. We are satisfied that the County Council authorities are above trying to steal a march on the Borough, but again, we ask the members of the Council to disclose the agreement to their principals, the ratepayers, in time to give them an opportunity to discuss it before it is sealed.

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

Catherine Curry, the two month old daughter of George Curry, hawker, 25 Walkergate, was found dead in bed at 6.30 a.m. on Saturday morning, and as the result an inquest was held on Saturday evening by Mr P. M. Henderson, acting coroner. Catherine Curry, the mother, said she and her husband slept in the same bed as the child, the husband being at the back of the bed and child at the front. The child cried at about 4 a.m., and after she had fed it it went off to sleep again. Witness also went to sleep and at 6.30 was awakened by her husband, who noticed the child was very still, but its body was quite warm. She was very anxious, and went immediately for a doctor. Witness was a total abstainer. George Curry, the husband, corroborated his wife’s evidence. Dr P. W. Maclagan said he was called to the house shortly after 6.30, and found the child dead. There were no suspicious circumstances, and no external marks of violence. On a later examination he came to the conclusion that death resulted from asphyxia. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.

BORDER O.B.E’s

COMMANDERS (CIVIL DIVISION)

Lieut. Col. C. W. Brims, M.C., T.D., was the Director of Extensions Department of Controller General of Merchant Ship-building. He is the son of the late Mr B. M. Brims, contractor, who was formerly at Berrington House, Beal. Lieut. Col. Brims was awarded the M.C. in October, 1918.

Mr T. W. H. Inskip, K.C., M.P., who has been head of the Naval Law Branch of the Secretary’s Department at the Admiralty, contested Berwick-on-Tweed Division in the Unionist interest.

The Duchess of Northumberland was the Commandant and Donor of Syon House Hospital, Brentford, Middlesex.

Capt. Alistair Houston Boswell Preston, who is Assistant Director of Road Transport, Ministry of Food, is the son of Col. T. H. Boswell Preston, Tweedhill, Berwick.

OFFICERS (Civil Division)

Mr J. Gilroy was Potato Distribution Adviser in the Northern Division. He is the son of the late Ald. Jas. Gilroy, Berwick, and was for some years resident in Ravensdowne before taking up business in Newcastle.

Mr W. T. Rainbow who was Fish Distribution Officer and Assistant Commissioner for Demobilisation, is well-known in Berwick as the handicapper of the Athletic Society’s Sports.

Miss E. M. H. Storey, who was Recruiting Commandant of the Northumberland and Durham Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John, is a grand-daughter of Mr Samuel Storey, of Sunderland.

Miss Annie Louise Simpson, who was made an Officer of the Civil Division, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in June, 1918. She is the daughter of Mr Chas. Simpson, London, and grand-daughter of Mr Alex. Simpson, Coldstream. Miss Simpson is personal shorthand writer to the Prime Minister, and is raised to this high class of the Order for services rendered in connection with the Peace Conference.

MEMBERS (Civil Division)

Dr Alex. Dey, M.B.C.M., who acted as Medical Officer, 12 Northumberland V.A.D., at Fowberry and Heton Hospital, and the 13th Northumberland V.A.D. Hospital at Etal Manor, is the Medical Officer of Glendale, and a well known and popular figure in Wooler, where he has been practising for a long time.

Robert Yelloly, awarded the Order for services as Supt. of Newcastle Police Force, has been associated with criminal investigation work for many years. He is the son of the late Mr Robert Yelloly, High Court Bailiff, Berwick, and is married to a Berwick lady.

THE EDITOR OF “COUNTRY LIFE”

Mr P. Anderson Graham, writing in “The Times” against the proposed removal of the Scotsgate, says :- “The excuse put forward is that this well-known gate was reconstructed in 1858, and the claim is made that it is not an integral part of the wall. The truth about the matter is that in 1850 the Ordinance Department proposed to pull down the ramparts from the Scots Gate to the Flagstaff.

The Scotsgate Arch. @ Copyright: Michael Dibb, Creative Commons License (cc-by-sa/2.0).

The negotiations were divulged at a meeting of the council held in July of 1850, but public opinion took fire at once, and in deference to the remonstrance made the scheme was abandoned and the walls handed over to the local Board of Health on condition that they should be maintained as a walk for the public convenience. If the proposal had been  to rebuild or widen the gate no fault would have been found with it. But it is an unhappy proposal to destroy this feature in Berwick for the purpose of putting up a war memorial on the stumps of the mutilated wall.”

LOCAL NEWS

The Compton Comedy Company from all we can hear reached high water mark last week in “The School for Scandal.” We cannot recall a performance which gave more pleasure, and  the writer has seen Forbes Roberston, Mrs Patrick Campbell, Mr Charles Terry, Lewis Waller, Walter Farren, and Cyril Maude, all appearing together one evening at the Lyceum in this immortal comedy. We were particularly pleased with Rowley, and Joseph Surface was also very well done.

Playbill for Sheridan’s ‘The School for Scandal.’  Scanned from The Dramatic Works of Richard Brinsley Sheridan. © In public domain

Generally Joseph is made so oily that any one can see through him, but on Thursday he was bluff enough to deceive a saint. Sir Benjamin Backbite was a real maccaroni, and the behaviour of Sir Peter Teazle, with all his temper and in all his mistakes could not fail to command the sympathy of the audience. Here was an English gentleman. We also much enjoyed Sir Oliver Surface, – we should imagine a fairly easy part to play. The costumes of Sir Peter and Sir Oliver were also most artistic. Both of them looked like old masters when the curtain drew up. In our opinion the gentlemen were superior to the ladies, but that was all. It was an excellent company, and we hope Mrs Mather will be able to arrange for their return. We feel sure that, even if it were necessary to raise the price of the seats, Berwick people would support companies of a similar standard.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 19 MARCH 1920

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BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

MONDAY

Before T. M. Morrison and Thos. Purves, Esqs.

George Davis, a private in the K.O.S.B., appeared charged with being an absentee from Bangor Military Hospital. He admitted coming on a visit to his wife, but when the Clerk asked him if he admitted being an absentee, he replied “I admit nothing.”

P.C. Robson gave evidence of having apprehended Davis at his house in Church Street, where he admitted having come away from Bangour without permission.

He was remanded to await an escort.

The old hospital buildings at Bangour, taken in 2014. © Copyright: Kim Traynor, and licensed for reuse under This Creative Commons License  –   Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic    

Cissie Gormley, single woman, Chapel St. Berwick was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Chapel Street on Saturday night. She pleaded guilty.

Sergt. Smith proved the case, and four previous convictions having been put in, the Bench imposed a penalty of 10s 6d or 10 days, warning accused that if she came back again she would be sent to prison without the option of a fine.

PROPERTY SALE

WATERLOO HOTEL GOES FOR £3,200

On Wednesday Mr H. M. Young, of Messrs Millers, offered for sale 5 lots of property, within the Long Room, Corn Exchange, before a good attendance, including a large representation of the Berwick Cycling Club, who were naturally interested in the sale of their club premises. Mr J. Gray, solicitor, represented their interests. The conditions of sale were read by Mr Mitchell from Messrs Keenlyside and Forster, Newcastle, solicitors for the vendors.

The first lot consisted of the Waterloo Hotel, High Street, the two front shops occupied by the Singer’s Sewing Machine Company, and others, and the stone built hall at the rear, occupied by Berwick Cycling Club, all let a rental of £175.

BRO 426-322b

In his opening remarks for this lot Mr Young stated that the future prosperity of the  old town was assured, as despite rumours to  the contrary, the new bridge was to be begun soon, and the harbour was to be developed. There was a great demand in Berwick for first class hotel such as the Waterloo.

Bidding started at £1,500 and rose to £2,600 by bids of £100 when £50 bids were taken. The lot was ultimately knocked down to Mr J. Ewart for £3,200. Bidding was very slow.

Lot 2 consisting of the Freehold shop and dwelling house, 37 and 39 West Street, received no bids and was withdrawn. Lot 3, consisting of freehold shop and house, 33 West Street, had only one bid of £200 and was withdrawn. These two lots were then put up together, but receiving no offers were withdrawn.

Lot 4, 15 Chapel Street, a stone-built tenement opened at £40 and advancing very cautiously latterly by £2 bids, was knocked down to Mr J. Ewart at £82.

Lot 5, consisting of garden ground 720 square yards, running parallel to Scots Place, found a purchaser at £190 in Mr J. Cairns, bidding starting at £100 and rising fairly easily by 50 bids.

LOCAL NEWS

On St. Patrick’s night Berwick United F.C. Lancer Party held a special dance in the Good Templar Hall. Seventy couples tripped the light fantastic toe to the strains of the splendid orchestra under the conductorship of Mr Fred Stott. The responsible duties of M.C. were most efficiently carried out by Mr R. C. Jeffrey. The arrangements of the dance were, as usual, in the capable hands of the President of the Club. Mr A. A. Crisp, to whom, without a doubt much of the success of the evening was due. On this occasion he was ably assisted by Mr Anderson, Mr C. Pattison, Mr G. V. Nicholson and the following players: – T. Purves, B. Younger and H. Burgon. Special thanks are due to Mrs Henry, Mrs Kraft, Mrs Hood, Mrs Hunter, Miss Murray and Miss J. Casey for the efficient manner in which the duties in connection with the supper were carried through. The company present voted this to be the more successful dance of the series, no doubt owing to the introduction of the latest dances held under the auspices of Berwick United F.C.

ST. AIDAN’S CHURCH

Use was made last Sunday for the first time of the Individual Cup at Communion by the congregation of St. Aidan’s Church. The outfit has been purchased by voluntary subscriptions and presented to the congregation. This is now the third outfit for the Communion service possessed by St. Aidan’s people. One is on loan to a congregation in the Newcastle Presbytery. The one lately in use was presented some years ago to the congregation by Mr Whitehead, of West Hartlepool. The plates of the latter outfit are still used along with the new service, which consists of a number of trays of polished aluminium, each of which contains twenty-four crystal cups. Each cup fits exactly into a secure receptacle on the tray so as to avoid overturning. The tray is passed from hand to hand; each person partakes of the contents of the cup quietly and reverently and then replaces it in its place on the tray, which is passed on. Very convenient handles make the trays easy to pass from hand to hand. Furthermore, the bread is cut by a slicer into cubes, which ensures a minimum of handling. The arrangements for the day were in the capable hands of the Mayor, as Session Clerk, who had cards printed, assigning every elder his specific duty. Mr Alex. Robertson, Northumberland Avenue, acted as treasurer for the fund, and was largely instrumental in bringing this innovation into being.

MANY GOALS

BERWICK, 9; K.O.S.B., 2.

At their first venture in a match, the K.O.S.B.’s went down rather badly, but we hope they will not be discouraged thereby. They gave a most creditable display at forward and halfback, but the rear division was not fast enough to hold the nippy Berwick forwards. Thus the game was a discouraging one for the soldiers’ forwards to play while the halves were overworked. The score 5 -1 at the interval.

For the winners, Fish had one very good save. He had little to do, as Veitch was particularly safe. Smith was the pick of the halves, while at forward Hogarth was the star. All others of the quintette played well individually, though the combination left something to be desired at times. Hogarth had five of the goals, and the other forwards had one each.

The most prominent players for the Depot were Sergt. Dmr. Abott, who covered more ground than any two other players and played a sound game too; Sergt. Leslie, another of the halves; Lieut. Lewis, who was in capital form both as dribbler and shot; Staff- Sergt.- Major Lockyer, who combined well with him; also Sergt. Bell and Capt. Ogilvie, both of whom gave useful assistance throughout. The whole team was nippy in the first half, but fell off later. We hope to see some young blood introduced and coached for the return game – when Berwick would have to go all out for a win.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 5 MARCH 1920

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MILITARY NOTES

HOW R.S.M. R.J. SWANSTON, BERWICK WON HIS D.C.M

The official account has now been issued as how R.S.M. R. J. Swanston, 7th (Ind.) Div. M.G. Batt., M.G.C., Berwick, earned his D.C.M. R.S.M. Swanston, who was one of the original 7th N.F. mobilised at the outbreak of war, has been very reticent as to what he did to win the medal. He is the son of Mr and Mrs Swanston, Woolmarket, Berwick, and has recently returned to work with his former employers – Messrs W. Elder and Sons.

An early 1950s image of William Elder & Sons, a scene that would hardly of changed in the intervening years between the time the R.S.M., R. J . Swanston, DCM, worked there in 1919. BRO 1944-1-2661-17

The official record is as follows: – “For conspicuous gallantry during the attack on Beit Lidd on 20th September, 1918. When all his men had become casualties, he continued by himself to carry up ammunition to his sections under very heavy fire. Throughout the day he, by his coolness and gallantry, under trying circumstances, set a very fine example to all.”

LOCAL NEWS

During the last little bit they have been laying underground telephone wires in the Berwick streets and the officials of the Electric Supply Coy. have been trying to trace faults in their cable. To the outsider it seemed a lengthy and fairly difficult business. At Wallace Green Literary Society on Monday night, Mr A. C. A. Steven explained how they did that sort of thing at the front under shellfire. With the help of maps and diagrams, he showed what a huge network of lines there was, and how communication was always being interrupted by explosions. For the most part the cables were buried, and repairs were carried through at night.

English Electric Co motors 1920

As a captured German map showed, the positions of these cables was known to the enemy, who had their range and tried, with a good deal of success, to destroy them in the daytime, and to put the men repairing them out of action at night. Mr Steven’s modest narrative made plain how much the Army owed to its technical experts, and what a lot there was to do at the front besides fighting. Another of Mr Steven’s interesting exhibits was a parcel of German propaganda newspapers, which were floated across the British lines by balloon. Mr Jardine was evidently the fittest member of the audience to propose a vote of thanks, and the Padre fully rose to the occasion.

THE NEW TOWN CLERK

HIS QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POST

It is interesting to know that there were 12 applications for the position, and after the Committee had gone through all the applicants’ testimonials, a short leet of three was selected. Mr Douglas S. Twigg and Mr T. Ross Pratt were interviewed last Thursday at Berwick, when the Committee were highly satisfied with the information then laid before them.

Mr Twigg, who is a Yorkshireman, is at present Assistant Solicitor to the Corporation of the County Borough of Bournemouth, and he has previously held appointments as Assistant Solicitor to the Corporation of the city of York, and a like position coupled with the Deputy Clerkship of the Peace of Merthyr Tydvil.

He is 33 years of age, and has had sixteen years’ legal and local Government experience. While at Bournemouth he has carried through the purchase of two estates for housing purposes and has conducted the correspondence with the Ministry of Health and Housing Commissioner relative to obtaining of the necessary approval to the scheme and the sanction to loans. Mr Twigg has attended meetings of the Council and the Committees and has conducted the whole of the Police Court cases of the Corporation and is thoroughly familiar with the work of a Town Clerk’s office. Mr Twigg is expected to take up his duties in Berwick in about a month’s time.

LADY CONGREGATIONALISTS’ EFFORT AT SPITTAL

The ladies of the Congregational Church, Spittal, have every reason to congratulate themselves upon the success of an undertaking which, locally at least, was one of a unique and, at the same time, interesting nature. For some time past the need of laying on a water supply to the church, and with it the provision of other conveniences, had pressed itself upon the female section, and they determined on their own account, to put forth some effort by which their object could be accomplished. As one of the readiest means to this end, a concert suggested itself to their minds, together with the confiscation of the pulpit on the Sunday, where a lady was to be substituted for the pastor. No help of any kind was to be asked or accepted from any male member of the church; indeed, so much was this stricture to prevail that should any member of the  “nobler sex” be so indiscreet as to even offer a suggestion, he, poor unfortunate, was to pay the penalty for his folly with a fine. There were a few transgressors, who were actually made to stump up!

NORHAM AND ISLANDSHIRE

PETTY SESSIONS

GAVE ANOTHER MAN’S NAME

Peter McLaughlan, labourer, Berwick, was charged with riding a cycle without a light at Velvet Hall at 10.15 p.m. on the 2nd January. He pleaded not guilty.

P.C. Richardson proved the case and said when he spoke to the accused he said he had come from Berwick. He gave the name of John Spiers, vaman with Mr Scott, flour merchant, Berwick. Witness found that accused had given the name of another man and he later had some difficulty in tracing the accused to serve the summons at the house.

Accused – I was never on the road. I am not the man. I would like to ask the policeman how he did not recognise me when he passed me twice in the street.

P.C. Richardson – I never saw you in the street, otherwise I would have recognised you. I recognised you at once when I met you and warned you to be at Court, also informing you that the summons had been served on your sister.

Capt. Tippings pointed out to accused that if he was not the man he should have no difficulty in proving an alibi. He had been rather late in thinking about bringing witnesses.

Accused, in the box, gave a very contradictory story of his movements on the night in question. First he said he was at home all that evening and then stated that he had taken a girl for a walk. He refused to give the girl’s name and could not give the names of anyone he met. He knew the man Spiers, but he had never given Spiers’ name to the police.

The Bench decided to adjourn the case for a month to allow accused to bring witnesses in support of his alibi.

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