Belford

This Week in World War One, 8 October 1915

08/03/201809/10/2015 by Northumberland Archives

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 8 OCTOBER 1915

BATHING POND IMPROVEMENT SUGGESTED

One of the items alluded to by the Medical Officer of Health was the dangerous state of the two swimming ponds. He did so in connection with the healthy and invigorating effect such exercises as swimming have on a community. He called attention to the need of a catch rope round the walls of the ponds in case of accident. It was a most proper recommendation, but unfortunately not the slightest notice was taken of it. The bathing season, it is true, is now finished for another year, but at the same time there was no harm in the doctor mentioning the matter to the public body he so faithfully serves. In Montrose, for instance, there are life lines on the beach where bathing is indulged in, and it is very necessary. The plain fact is that the chief difficulty apparently in carrying out improvements in Berwick is the lack of sufficient money, but it is nevertheless the business of public officials in their reports to urge the absolute need of certain improvements being accomplished, allowing the Town Council to take the responsibility of giving effect to these.

BRO 1636-9-42 Berwick Bathing Pools 1950's — BRO 1636-9-42 Berwick Bathing Pools 1950’s

BELFORD

Fined for Shooting a Plover- Robert Linklater, Westoe, South Shields, was charged, at Belford Petty Sessions, with shooting and killing a green plover, at Warenford, on the 9th September. When charged with the offence by P.C. Pike, the accused said he did not know that these birds were protected. Superintendent T. Bolton, Alnwick, who prosecuted, told the Bench that the Order had been in force for several years, and it was astonishing the number or persons who pleaded the same excuse. A fine of half a crown was inflicted.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Educational Entertainment for Berwick School Children- The Directors of the “Playhouse” have arranged with Berwick Educational Committee for a programme of educational films to be shown free of charge to the school children of the Borough on Thursday and Friday afternoons, October 7th and 8th, at 2.30p.m. The balcony will be reserved for the public at admission 6d. The programme is :- How Eggs are Tested; Malta; the Making of Motor Tyres, the Kestrel and the Harvest Mouse; the French Army in Alsace; Chrysanthemums; the Octopus, Children of Tulip Land ( coloured); Switzerland; and Alpine Soldiers.

Berwick Playhouse, 1959. BRO 1250-123 — Berwick Playhouse, 1959.
BRO 1250-123

SCREMERSTON

Presentation- On Saturday evening last, the night workmen at Scremerston Colliery presented Mr and Mrs Richard Collins with tokens of their good will and appreciation on their leaving the district for Pegswood, where Mr Collins has received another appointment. Mr Collins received the present of a fountain pen and an umbrella, while Mrs Collins was the recipient of a nice dressing case. The presentation took place in the large room of the Miners Arms, kindly lent for the occasion by Mrs Cuthbert. Mr Carson, in making the presentation, expressed his deep regret and that of the men in losing the company of Mr Collins, who for the last six years had taken a keen interest and a prominent part in the social life of the place. They would all wish him success in his new sphere of work at Pegswood. Mr Collins briefly replied. A social evening was afterwards spent, the following being the programme:-

Selection-“Old Melodies, “ Concertina Band

Concertina solo– “March, the Liberty Bell, “ T. Cameron

Song– “My playmates of long ago, “ H. Drysdale

Step Dance- “Hornpipe,” Geo. Mason

Song– “When you and I were young, Maggie, “- T. Cameron

Violin and Concertina Duet– “Norma, “ Messrs Mason and Cameron

Selection– “Scotch Melodies, “ Concertina Band

Presentation

Selection– “Favourite Airs, “ Concertina Band

Concertina solo– “Alice, where art thou?” T. Cameron

Song- “Tom Bowling, “ T. Hill

Song– “The Pitman’s Courtship, “ T. McLeod

Concertina solo– “The Bagpipes, “ Geo. Forsyth

Song– “Mary, “ T. Cameron

Song– “Flora McDonald’s Lament, “ T. Mcleod

Selection– “Reels, Jigs, Strathspeys, Hornpipes, “ Concertina Band

“God Save the King.”

This Week in World War One, 10 September 1915

08/03/201811/09/2015 by Northumberland Archives

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 10 SEPTEMBER 1915

PILGRIMAGE TO LINDISFARNE

On the anniversary of the death of Saint Aidan a party of pilgrims, mainly composed of clergymen from Newcastle, visited Holy Island to attend a service of Holy Communion in the Old Priory of Aidan. The pilgrimage was organised by the Rev. Finkay Sanderson. The party travelled by train to Beal, and crossed to the island – some by conveyances, and others by “plodging” over the sands. At the ringing of the “Peace Bell” at noon calling all people on the island to pray for our soldiers and sailors and all in peril or mourning during the war, the service commenced.

The officiating clergy were Bishop Ormsby, assisted by the Rev. Irvine Crawshaw, Vicar of

The Old Priory, Holy Island, Northumberland. © Christine Matthews - Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license. — The Old Priory, Holy Island, Northumberland. © Christine Matthews – Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.

Holy Island. The service opened with the hymn, “O God of Bethel.” Then followed a portion of Psalm 44 and Psalm 61. These were followed by the service of Holy Communion, taken by the Bishop, who gave his address on the text, “He being dead yet speaketh.” Bishop Ormsby pointed out that 1,264 years had passed since Aidan breathed his last. During this period two voices and been continually heard; one calling us to remember the days that are past, the other exhorting us to listen to the lessons which Aidan would teach. The offertory was given to the Holy Island medicine chest.

The pilgrims had lunch on the links, and tea at the Northumberland Arms. A visit was later paid to Bamburgh. Some of the pilgrims availed themselves of a motor boat, and crossed over to the “Beacons,” walking thence to Bamburgh, where evensong was held in St. Aidan’s Church.

BELFORD

On Thursday morning, while the eight-year-old son of Mr Pascoe, coastguard, Ross, was cycling out of Nursery Lane, Belford, he came in collision with a motor car. The boy’s leg was broken below the knee, and he was taken into the house of Dr Macdonald near by, who conveyed him home in his motor car.

Circus – On Monday night, Pinder and Ord’s Circus visited Belford and gave a performance in a field at the top of West Street. Several of the turns were really good, in particular the performances of the elephant. No bright lights were allowed outside the show by order of the military authorities, but inside all was bright as usual

Image of Pinders Big Top 1890s © George Pinder

GIFT JUMBLE SALE

As will be seen from our advertising columns, Mr A. L. Miller will sell in the Corn Exchange, on Wednesday next, a quantity of miscellaneous effects, the proceeds of which will be applied to the British Red Cross Society. The Auctioneers and Estate Agents Institute has purchased the famous “Star and Garter” Hotel on Richmond Hill, and presented it to Her Majesty the Queen, who has graciously accepted the same, to be used as a permanent home for paralysed and totally disabled soldiers and sailors. The members of the Institute have contributed liberally to the purchase money (£21500), and

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

any sum received in excess of the purchase money will be given to the Red Cross Society, which has undertaken the necessary alterations, equipment, and maintenance of the Home. Mr Miller has received a large number of articles for the sale, including some good household furniture, electro-plated goods and china, some fine old cut glass, 100 volumes of books, poultry, fat lambs, tea, flour, rolled oats, a waggonette, and a number of sundries, which will yield an acceptable contribution to the Fund, if the sale receives the measure of public support which the good cause it seeks to promote fully entitles it.

This Week in World War One, 27 August 1915

08/03/201828/08/2015 by Northumberland Archives

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 27 AUGUST 1915

EARLY SHOP CLOSING IN BERWICK

Although it may appear on first examination to be inflicting a hardship on some people to close the merchants’ shops at six o’clock in the evening still it has to be borne in mind that we are living in very abnormal times. It is a time when sacrifices have to be made, and the man or woman who exhibits any hesitancy in adapting himself or herself to the special and exceptional times manifest a want of true consideration to help their country in the hour of its direct necessity. The highest and supreme sacrifice has been paid by many a family during the terrible times we have passed through. The closing of business establishments a few hours earlier is a small matter in comparison therewith, and if it is to safeguard the lives of the community and frustrate the cowardly intentions of an unseen enemy nothing should stand in the way of adopting the most stringent and exacting precautions. There is no reason why a shopkeeper should not be able to close early if the public determine to assist in this direction. If the public resolved to discontinue patronising a particular shop they would very effectively close that shop altogether.

Early 1900s photograph of Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Berwick Record Office, BRO 1636-3-16

The early closing of business premises, therefore, depends wholly on the public being alive and educated to the fact. And as the early closing does not effect locally till the 1^st October there is ample time for all customers to realise the fact, as well as for the various merchants taking adequate steps to meet the inauguration of the new hours. The easiest way to meet the new situation is either for the customer to send in a list of his orders early, or else for the merchant to call at the customers’ residences and take a note of these. On Saturday evening there should be no hardship inflicted, for all will surely manage to purchase there weekend provisions before nine o’clock. Indeed, at the Town Hall meeting, there were no real solid arguments adduced against closing earlier, and as soon as the public can thoroughly comprehend the hours the new method should be found to work quite smoothly in a small borough such as Berwick. No merchant need be afraid of losing his customers, as these will quickly respond to the altered circumstances, and they will not desert patronising a particular shop where they think they have an inducement to buy. Although there was a small minority against the motion which became the finding of the meeting it was very gratifying to observe how whole-heartedly they fell in with the majority. Unanimity means success, and all that is now required is that the various merchants should take full advantage of the reasonable interval before 1^st October in reminding all their customers of the changed hours to suit the exceptional needs of the country’s peril.

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

Friday

Before Captain Norman, R.N., and J.McNab, Esq

Hanselling of Spittal Lock-Up- A large crowd gathered in the precincts of Spittal’s new Police Station on Thursday afternoon. The occasion was not the opening ceremony of the imposing building by the civic fathers but merely the new cells receiving their first occupant. The crowd again gathered on Friday morning with a view to seeing the delinquent take her departure to the more commodious quarters of Berwick Police Court. However the curious ones were disappointed for the prisoner was taken out by the back door while the crowd waited patiently at the front door. Following upon the foregoing events Mary Johnson, married woman Lanark, was charged with being drunk and disorderly near the Forge, Spittal, at three p.m. on Thursday afternoon. Defendant pleaded guilty, Sergt. McRobb said that upon receiving a complaint he proceeded to the Forge and on the grass

A half crown coin (2s 6d), the sum of which Mary Johnson from Lanark was fined, with the alternative of seven days imprisonment. — A half crown coin (2s 6d), the sum of which Mary Johnson from Lanark was fined.

near there found defendant lying in a drunken condition. Defendant had been creating a disturbance and on witness attempting to lift her to her feet she drew forth her hat pins from her hat, and by this action exposed witness to the hatpin peril by attempting to thrust the aforesaid pin into his leg. Foiled in this defendant refused to walk to the lock-up but witness obtained a trap and she was driven there in state. In defence defendant said she had met someone home from the Front. The Chief Constable said defendant had 2s 6d in her possession. Captain Norman-We will relieve you of that half crown with the alternative of seven days imprisonment. The Chief Constable said defendant was the first to be locked up at the new police station at Spittal.

Berwick Advertiser, 27 August 1915 Playhouse advert.

BELFORD CENTENARIAN

MRS ISABELLA LEARMOUTH OF ROSS

A happy event was celebrated at Ross, Belford, on the 5^th August, when Mrs Isabella Learmouth, wife of the late George Learmouth, North Sunderland, attained her 100^th birthday. Mrs Learmouth, who is the daughter of the late Mr Robert Geggie, is in good health, retains all her faculties and at present is always busily engaged knitting socks and comforts for the troops. On the morning of her birthday she received many letters of congratulations and birthday cards from the following- Rev. J and Mrs Miller, Belford; Mr J. and Misses Blenkinsop, Ross; Miss Arthur, Chathill; Mr David Black, Berwick; Miss P. Aynsley, Blyth; Mr Adam Jefferson, Spittal; Mrs Margaret Clark, Beal; Mrs Hunter, Ross; Misses Ross, Grange Mill; Mr John English, Bedlington; Miss M. Davison, Ross; Miss A. Heffen, Ross; Mr James Hoje,(sic) Ross; Mr George Hope, Ross; Miss M.G.Clark, Newcastle; Mr and Mrs W. Learmouth, Gosforth; Co-operative Society, Ltd, Wooler; Mrs Young, Ross; Miss I. Learmouth, Ross; Mrs Gibson, Bltyh; Mr J. Mole, Belford.

To mark the occasion a birthday cake was made and presented to Mrs Learmouth by Mrs Graham and family, Belford. Mrs Learmouth also sent a birthday cake to her grandson at the front, Lance Corporal George English, 7^th N.F., to celebrate the event with his comrades in the trenches. It will be the wish of all that Mrs Learmouth may be long spared to enjoy the quiet eventide of life.

In the 1911 Census, Isabella is living with Alexander Hope, her son-in law at New Shoreston in Bamburgh. According to the Census, she was born at Ayton in Berwickshire.

+ More