BERWICK JOURNAL, 3RD DECEMBER 1925

05/12/2025 by Northumberland Archives

BOARD OF GUARDIANS

Xmas Presents For Poor Children

Miss Greet said that Miss Henderson and Mrs. Millar were collecting subscriptions of 1s from the Guardians for Christmas presents for the children in the Workhouse. Mrs. Millar would take the subscription.

It was agreed on the suggestion of Miss Greet that the annual additional Christmas relief be given to the outdoor poor.

Christmas and New Year Dinner

The Clerk said they would require to appoint a Committee to look after the question of the Christmas an New Year’s Day dinners

Mr. Bolas moved accordingly.

Capt. Collingwood said he would like to move that they follow the old custom. every inmate received a glass of beer on Christmas Day.

Mr. Summerfield said the custom was to give them a pint.

Mr. Clerk said he was very much against the Guardians providing any inmates with liquor. They should not encourage drink.

Mr. Walker said he would support Mr. Summerfield and give them a pint of beer.

Capt. Collingwood said the Guardians supplied the Christmas dinner and there was a subscription taken for the New Year’s dinner.

Mr. Bell said he wished to know whether it was a free gift or if it came off the rates

Miss Greet- It was provided by the Board at Christmas.

Capt. Collingwood said he wishes to say onward. people in the house got what they wanted in the past. he thought one glass of beer on Christmas Day would do no harm to anybody. he thought a glass of beer just makes all the difference to their Christmas.

Mr. Bradford asked how many in the house would take a pint of beer.

Mr. Banks- 50 all told.

Capt. Davidson said it was hardly fair to take it off the inmates.

A vote was taken and resulted 6 off the rates and 15 against.

Capt. Collingwood said seeing there was no generosity about them he asked if they would accept the offer from him to supply the liquor.

CHRISTMAS CHEER

Dr. Saleeby writes- It would be swell for most of us, dietetically as well as economically, if dried fruits, particularly sultanas, currants and raisins, were to play a larger part in our diet. For this reason I am pleased to see effort is being made to induce British house wives to use Australian fruits this year for their Christmas puddings.

The grape, the fruit of the vine, is an age-long friend of man, if rightly used. It notably retains its virtues when dried; the water is gone, but the precious ingredients-chief among them sugars, a prime source of energy and heat-remain. Sultanas, raisins, and currants are highly to be commended for their rich food value and digestibility, and we are fortunate in being able to obtain large supplies of them from Australia, where our British ideas and sanitary conditions obtain.

The Christmas pudding is a most nutritious innocent, and digestible achievement of the culinary art, and I have never discovered why we can only have it once a year. Those who say it is indigestible forget that, before we reach it, most of us have already eaten too much; the pudding is not to blame. the various dried forms of grape are amongst its most agreeable and beneficial ingredients, ad I only wish all grapes were so wisely used.

SNOW, FROST, THUNDER and LIGHTNING

On Friday morning the inhabitants of Berwick were surprised to see a flash of lightening and to hear a loud peal of thunder.

On Sunday morning and afternoon there were heavy falls of snow and the district was covered in snow. The frost broke, however on Sunday night, and much of the snow had disappeared by Monday morning.

The “blizzards,” the culminating achievements of the month, began in the small hours of Wednesday, when a storm burst out of the North-East and swept the Cheviots. From that morning till Sunday afternoon frost and snow have been alternating, the snow being for the most part, drifted by strong wind. In the country there were scenes that reminded one of old-time Christmas cards.

The roads were badly blocked in the Alnwick district. Vehicles wee stranded in snow drifts and had to be dug out.

Two charabancs left Alnwick for Felton on Saturday night, but had not got very far before they were embedded in a deep bank of snow. Help was secured, and the vehicles were dug out. The shivering occupants had to return to the market town, where they were stranded until the road was forced at midnight. The snow ploughs were kept constantly at work. roads to the surrounding villages were in an even worse state, snow lying hedge high. Motors and horse drawn vehicles were frequently trapped in the snow, and volunteers were kept hard at work digging them out.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 5TH NOVEMBER 1925

07/11/2025 by Northumberland Archives

BERWICK WAR MEMORIAL

FINAL MEETING OF COMMITTEE

What may be regarded as the final meeting of the War Memorial Committee was held on Wednesday last, 28th October. The Mayor presided, and there were present Councillors Bolus and Robertson, Dr W. B. Mackay, Mr R. Dickinson, Mr D. Hebenton, Mr J. W. Boal, Mr P. M. Henderson, Mr J. W. Carmichael (Hon. Treasurer), and Mr J. W. Porter (Hon. Secretary).

At the outset the Mayor referred to the death of Mrs Steven, and paid a tribute to the excellent services rendered by her in connection with the raising, through the columns of the “Berwick Journal,” the money required to complete the Memorial. He added that but for the keen interest by her, the Fund, instead of showing a credit balance as was the happy position at present, would probably have indicated a debit balance. In addition, it would not have been possible to provide the improved type of railing, flagging, etc., necessary to complete the Memorial. he moved that a letter of sympathy be sent to Mayor Steven expressing the Committee’s appreciation of the service rendered by her. The Committee agreed to this by standing.

Unveiling of Berwick War Memorial – Ref: BRO 1555-01

The Hon. Treasurer submitted a statement showing a credit balance of £33 9s, and he was instructed to supply to the Press a complete statement after all the accounts have been paid.

It was agreed that the Mayor and Mr Dickinson should be authorised to obtain suitable tubs and trees for the memorial. It was reported that the flagging had been completed, and that steps were taken to have the turf re-laid.

The Secretary intimated that the Mayor elect proposed to lay a wreath on the memorial on Armistice Day, and that a short service would be conducted by the vicar of Berwick. It was agreed that as the memorial was now practically completed, the Mayor, as Chairman of the Committee, should hand over to the Mayor-elected at the conclusion of the ceremony the key of the gate leading to the Memorial.

Dr Mackay moved a vote of thanks to the Mayor for the services rendered by him in connection with the War Memorial, and intimated it was pleasing that the Memorial should be completed and free from any financial liability during his year of office. He also moved a vote of thanks to Councillor Bolus, who had taken an active interest in the Fund during the years he held office as Mayor.

A vote of thanks was also passed to the Hon. Secretary and the Hon. Treasurer for the services rendered by them.

ARMISTICE DAY AT BERWICK

The Mayor-Elect of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Ald. Alexander Darling, J. P. will place a wreath on the War Memorial at 11am on Armistice Day. It was been arranged to form a procession, which will leave the Town Hall at 10.40am and proceed by Marygate and Castlegate to the War Memorial.

On arrival there the Mayor-Elect will stand at the foot of the steps facing the Memorial, and those accompanying His Worship will form a circle facing the Memorial. The local school children will be in attendance, and the inhabitants of the Borough are cordially invited to be present at the short service, which will be conducted by the Rev. R. W. de la Het, Vicar of Berwick-upon-Tweed, supported by the local clergy and ministers. The Mayor’s Chaplian will deliver a short address. the time table is as follows:

10.40 – Leave Town Hall

10.45 Arrive at War Memorial- Hymn, “O God our help in ages past.” Prayer-The Vicar. Short address by the Mayor’s Chaplain. “The Last Post”

11.00- Silence

11.02-Reveille. It has been arranged for two rockets to be fired, marking the two Minutes’ Silence-one at 11am and one at two minutes past 11. The Chairman of the War memorial Committee (Ald. Wilson will hand over to the Mayor-Elect the key of the gate leading to the Memorial. The National Anthem will be sung and afterwards an opportunity will be given for placing of wreaths on the Memorial. At the conclusion of the National Anthem the Mayor-Elect will return to the Town Hall.

The War memorial has now been completed. The paths have been laid, and the grass inside the circular wall of the War Memorial has been re-laid recently, and the public, in passing round the memorial on Armistice Day are urged to use the paths, and to refrain from walking upon the grass.

FUNERAL OF CAPT. A. R. W. S. CLARK KENNEDY

The funeral of Capt. A. R. W. S. Clark Kennedy, who died at Chillingham on the 14th of October, took place the following Friday there and was attended by his father , General Kennedy, the Earl of Tankerville, Lord Ossulston, the Rev. F. Long of Chatton, Capt. E. G. Pape, Dr Jaboor, of Wooler, and many others. The service was performed by the Rev. Dr Bowick, Vicar of Chillingham, and the grave was covered with wreaths from the Earl and Coutess of Tankerville, Capt. and Mrs Pape, Lord and Lady Ossulston, Mr and Mrs A. Clark Kennedy, Mr and Mrs T. H. Robb, Miss Waddington, Mrs Rutter, Mr Henderson, Nurse Wilson, etc. The deceased officer served in the early part of the late war with the armoured cars, and was present at the battle of Ypres. After being in hospital with a broken arm, he went out to the Dardanelles as an aviator, also on the Egyptian Western Front, and down the Red sea, where he contracted the disease which eventually proved fatal. He was lent to the French command in Morocco at their special request, in order to help to locate the place where the Germans were landing arms to raise the Southern tribes. This was successfully accomplished after several French officers had failed to do so. Capt. Clark Kennedy, who was formerly in the Scots Guards, was in his 42nd year. He is descended from the old family of Kennedy, of Knockgray, in Galloway.

BERWICK JOURNAL, 1ST OCTOBER 1925

03/10/2025 by Northumberland Archives

BERWICK’S MAYORALITY

ALD. ALEX. DARLING

In connection with Berwick’s Mayorality for 1925-26, we understand that Ald. Alex. Darling has been approached to accept office.

Ald. Darling is a native of Berwick, and a prominent member and office bearer of Wallace Green English Presbyterian Church. He has been and is conspicuously identified with Border Sports and Pastimes. As President of Berwick Rangers Football Club, he has rendered valuable service in support of one of the most popular pastimes. He is an official of the North-eastern Amateur Athletic Association he holds high rank in the Masonic world. He has been Worshipful master of St. Daid’s Lodge of Freemmasons, W. M. of St. Cuthbert’s mark Master Lodge of Freemasons and is a member of other branches of Freemasonary. He is an ex-official of Berwick St. Andrew’s Club, Berwick Athletic Society, Ravensdowne Bowling Club, Berwick Amateur Rowing Club, Berwick and District Motor Club, and is connected with almost every sporting institution in the town. He is a Vice-President of Edinburgh Borderers’ Rugby Club. He has been Chairman of Berwick Salmon Company and is a Director of Berwick Gas Company and other companies.

He has an extensive experience of Council work, having presented the Middle Ward on two different occasions; he held the office of Sheriff, 1908-09; and is a Justice of the peace. He was elevated to the Aldermanic Bench in Nov. 1922, to fill the vacancy created by the retiral of the late Ald. Richardson.

Ald. Darling belongs to a family who has a fine record of municipal service. His father, the late Adam Darling, was Councillor, Sheriff, thrice Mayor, Alderman and County Alderman; has brother, County-Alderman Thomas Darling, J. P., has been Sheriff; and another brother, Mr Adam Darling, Bondington, is an Ex-Councillor.

REPORT ON BERWICK MUSEUM

BY MRS W. B. DICKINSON

The following is the report on Berwick Museum by Mrs W. B. Dickinson, prseneted to Berwick Town Council:-

The Museum is in a very neglected condition. This is not the fault of the caretaker, who does his work conscientiously and well. It is in departments not pertaining to his duties that much work and care is required to make the Museum a place that the town may be proud of. The co-operation of the public is also much needed. Perhaps the best way to gain this would be to make a list of the exhibits required, which, with the consent of the Committee, I would be pleased to do after the work of cleaning, re-grouping and re-classifying is finished. For instance, we have no specimens of locally found prehistoric implements. The local historic objects could almost be counted on one hand. We have scarcely half of the British wild animals, and many of the very component birds such as blackbird and robin are needed in the case of British birds. There are no specimens of needlework and only one or two literary exhibits. There is only one exhibit in connection with the Border marriages at Lamberton: none in connection with the Battle of Halidon. There are no exhibits in connection with the Great war, nor anything to remind future generations that the German Zeppelins visited Berwick. These are only a few examples to show what lines the list of requirements might be compiled. On the other hand, we have too many cases of stuffed pheasants, and examples of such monstrosities as two-headed lambs are out of place in a local museum.

In the meantime, the primary work to be done, and which is now proceeding, is as follows:- When the workmen left, the cases were full of dust that had sifted in, covering everything with a thick layer of dirt. The caretaker has scrubbed out the cases and polished the glass, but careful cleaning of all the exhibits is required.

Many of the exhibits have got mixed and require re-grouping and re-classifying.

Some objects are damaged or broken and require careful; mending.

Labels are lost in many cases, also there are labels with no exhibits to correspond, and groups of unlabelled objects with groups of labels beside them that have to be sorted out and re-attached.

As most of the labels are too dirty to read clearly, practically the whole of the exhibits need re-labelling.

Spoiled and unsuitable exhibits need weeding out.

DAVID ATKINSON

The photograph here reproduced is a known face in Berwick, at least to the football fraternity. Davie Atkinson, Berwick Rangers’ captain, is one who has done his bit to help the club along. The backbone of the team, he has many a time carried them through on his own broad shoulders. Davie is an earnest worker, and though he may, at times, be rather robust in his methods, it is but an excess of zeal. Glasgow born, Davie first showed his paces with Jordanhill, a juvenile team. Clyde F. C. spotted the lad, and right away he was transported from the juvenile ranks into senior league football. The Second Division of the Scottish League was formed at the end of the season, and Armadale, who were on the look-out for a good half-back, spotted Atkinson. At the end of the season Davie transferred his services to Dunfermline Athletic, and in May 1923 came to Berwick Rangers as player manager. This season the Club decided not to have a player-manager, but Davie is captain. Atkinson scored the goal which secured his side’s entry int o the Scottish Cup in the qualifying tie against Gala Fairydean.

LOCAL NEWS

Spittal-by-the-Sea grows in popularity on Borderland and far beyond. This noted health and holiday resort was the objective of 70 pupils, who filled 3 char-a-bancs drawn up at Denholm School gate last Friday at 9.30am. Route was by Jedfoot,[sic] Heiton, [sic] Sprouston, Cornhill, Tweedmouth to Berwick. After dinner the company motored to Spittal Beach. There they had Promenade and beach at their disposal. To half of the children this was their first sight of the sea.

One wonders what their thoughts were. Unfortunately, visibility was poor, and the water was sufficiently stormy that no fishing was in progress. In a trice over 100 bare feet were in the brine, and nearly 2 hours the wave and the sand arrested the attention of every boy and girl. Later the rocks, Spa Well, spade works etc attracted attention. Returning to Berwick at 4pm, harbour, town walls and pier were explored. Tea was served at 5pm Some time remained to wander about the town before starting for home at 6.15pm Returning, the route was Coldstream, Birgham and Kelso. By 9 o’clock they had returned safely to Denholm. The desire to have this outing originated with the pupils a year ago, and since September, the teachers have been receiving from them” offerings” for the trip. Each scholar made up his own fare, besides contribution towards cost of dinner and tea.

Driver T. Douglas, and Fireman John Waite, both of Tweedmouth Loco Sheds, N.E.R., have each received from the directors of the company, a bronze medallion for service rendered by them, as the oldest driver and fireman of Tweedmouth, during the recent commemoration of the centenary of British Railways at Stockton and Darlington. The souvenir, for such it is, is a fine piece of work and well worth its place amongst whatever other relics of the past they may have preserved in their possession. Fitted into a neat little case with a cavity for its reception, the medallion bears the following on the obverse side: “Portraits of Edward Pease, Chairman and guiding influence in the management of the first public railway, and of George Stephenson, who built the first engine on the railway, and actually drove it on its historic journey on Sept.27, 1825.”

TWEEDMOUTH RAILWAY STATION, 1936. Ref no: BRO 2482-001

There are also shown the coats of arms of Stockton and Darlington, the two towns between which ran the world’s first passenger train, the arms of Stockton being on the left hand, and those of Darlington on the right. On the reverse side is a figure of Vulcan holding in his hand Locomotive No.1, the first engine to be employed on public railway, with in the background, one of the London and North Eastern Railway Company’s famous 1925 type, “Pacific” express locomotive. A letter has also been received by the two men mentioned, which is as follows;- “Divisional General manager, North Eastern Area, L. and N. E. Railway, York, 24^th Sept. 1925. Dear Sir, – On behalf of the Directors of the Company, I have great pleasure in sending you herewith a medallion struck by-in connection with the recent commemoration of the Centenary of British Railways at Stockton and Darlington, which I hope you will accept as a souvenir of the events- Yours faithfully, George Davidson.” Needless to say, both gentlemen are quite proud of the distinguished honour conferred upon them by being presented with so unique and interesting a souvenir, for services rendered ion such an occasion

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