BERWICK ADVERTISER, 24 DECEMBER 1920

25/12/2020 by Northumberland Archives

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CUSTOMS PECULIAR TO BERWICK

(LET’S US HOPE!)

Dear Sir, – This old town, in many things, seems to be “a law unto itself.” To an incomer there are, now and again, what might be termed “different ways of doing things”; but, really, the other evening there came “a startler.” Thus am I compelled to write, in order to convey to these “Christmas Waits” (?) how such extraordinary conduct appears to a stranger.

To be informed that there were men waiting at the door, begging a Christmas Box, for doing work they are PAID to do – making a house-to-house visitation – came as a surprise. Ugh! I refer to the scavengers of the town. Their work, no doubt, is lowly – but mighty useful all the same. Still, surely when night comes on, ‘tis a pity to go around doing still more lowly work. Can they not trust to the generosity of the inhabitants, who surely would remember those to whom we owe so much, in the same way as the postman, milk boy, baker’s boy, et., or any other dependent, whose faithful services throughout the year are never forgotten?

Or is it that the salaries of the scavenger are so meagre and inadequate that they resort to begging? There must be something wrong somewhere. Surely real Scotch pride might be expected to be found amongst workers in the Borderland – I am, Sir,

“ASTONISHED RESIDENTER.”

LOCAL NEWS

In response to an urgent appeal for the Russian Relief and Reconstruction Fund, to relieve the distress in Russia, the pupils of the Girls’ National School on Monday last took a collection at their school concert, amounting to £1 1s 6d.

© Author: Unknown. Source: International Committee of the Red Cross. Wikimedia Commons.

In Russia the conditions of the people are terrible, says the appeal, owing to the shortage of food, the scarcity of clothes and the expensive fuel. Typhus ravages the people, and the death rate has averaged 30,000 per month. The shortage of fuel is more especially felt just now when often the thermometer registers 25 to 27 degrees below zero.

The leasing of the Mariner’s Cottage on the North Road, Berwick, to Mr Lyal Irvine, Tweedmouth, calls to mind how these two cottages got their name. Many years ago, in the time of the Lamberton Toll marriages, an old sailor, named Capt. Sharpe, becoming tired of a life on the ocean wave, came to live at the cottage, and being a bit of a sea lawyer he took up the duty of “Lamberton Priest.” On the end of his cottage facing the road he put up a board, which announced that he was prepared to tie the happy knot, and each day he attended at Berwick station to ascertain if any couples had arrived wishful of being tied up at Lamberton Toll.

Pictured is Lamberton Toll, REF: BRO 515-296.

When given notice, he was prepared to hire the carriages to convey the contracting parties to “Gretna.” Sharpe was known to the people of Berwick as the “Ancient Mariner,” and the cottage soon became known by the name it now bears.

Next week, commencing on Monday, the Northern Entertainments Coy. will present in the Queen’s Rooms their smart revue musical comedy “Lizzie.” A treat is certainly in store for patrons of the “Queen’s” as this talented Company have performed to large houses recently. A special matinee will be held on Monday first, when, owing to the limited accommodation in the gallery, intending patrons should make sure of a seat by booking early.

NOTES FROM SPITTAL

In the November number of the “Lifeboat,” the journal of the R.N.L.I., there is a very interesting article on a new device used for launching lifeboats, known as the “Platform Lift Launching Method,” which, we understand, is to be adopted at Spittal when the new motor lifeboat comes to the river. The platform system has been adopted at Sunderland, and it is specially suited to rivers where the difference between high water level and low water at spring tides is over twelve feet. Shortly the system is this. The boathouse is built on piles above the river with a well channel between the side piles in which the boat will float at any state of tide. The lifeboat is placed on a platform inside the house, which can be raise or lowered from or to the “well” by wire ropes and winches manipulated by man power or by petrol engine power. When the boat has to be launched the crew enter the craft in the boathouse, and at a given signal the winding gear is released, and she sinks down into the well between the piles. The boat is still moored to her platform carriage, but when a slip chain is released and the landward end of the platform tilted up by the winches, she glides into deep water down between guide rails. The motor can be started as soon as the vessel leaves the platform. When the boat returns she is backed in on to her platform, and once secured with the slip chain can be raised to the boathouse above by the winches. When man power is used to lower and raise the boat, two men at the crank handles can lower her safely, but it needs eight men to raise her. When funds permit, however, the Institution intend to put in petrol engines at the boathouse, where this system prevails, and this will save a great amount of manual work.

SPORTS, AMUSEMENTS, & C.

FOOTBALL

BERWICK RANGERS’ MATCH ON CHRISTMAS DAY

The Rangers hope to be well patronised on Saturday, as they have gone to considerable expense in securing a visit from the Edinburgh Civil Service Strollers – one of the best amateur teams in Scotland. The kick-off will be at 2.15. The Rangers will put a good team into the field, the majority of them cup players, but names cannot be given yet, as the Committee are waiting to see what players are at home in the town for the holidays. The Rangers are holding a whist drive and dance in the Corn Exchange on the 27th, and are looking for a bumper house.

ISLANDSHIRE FOR LOWICK

Lowick Rovers engage Holy Island at Lowick on Christmas afternoon. A good game is sure to be the outcome. Rovers: – E. Henderson; Carr and Foreman; Swan,Weddell, and Waters; Dalgleish, Henderson, Robertson, Harmiston, and Murray. Kick-off 2.30 p.m.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 10 DECEMBER 1920

11/12/2020 by Northumberland Archives

TEA TO OLD LADIES IN BERWICK

The “Advertiser” Opens a Fund

Captain Douglas, the local commanding officer of the Salvation Army, is arranging to give a free tea on Wednesday afternoon, January 12^th, to all women in Berwick, Tweedmouth and Spittal, who are in receipt of an old age pension. The tea will be given in the Salvation Army Hall, Quay Walls, and will be followed by a musical entertainment.

The Captain is handing over the work of organisation to the troop of Life-saving Guards, which has recently been started in connection with the Army’s work. This troop is composed of girls between the ages of 11 and 18, and the girls may be recognised in the street by their light grey uniform and red trimmings. The motto of the troop is “To Save and to Serve.” The girls will visit old and sick people in their homes, will be trained in domestic and nursery work, and can be called upon by any in the town who are in need of free domestic or nursing assistance.

It is felt that the work of the Guards will be brought before the ladies in the town who have very few to look after them if they are given the chance of meeting together at the tea and entertainment on January 12. Old folk who are not able of themselves to get to the tea will be helped there by the Guards. The Army is taking the financial responsibility for this tea, but it feels that it can rely upon the generosity of the public of Berwick to subscribe liberally. It is estimated that the tea will cost about 1s 6d per head, and that there will be about 200 old ladies present – a total expenditure of £15. We have agreed to open a fund in the “Berwick Advertiser,” and will acknowledge next week and the following weeks the subscriptions we receive.

LOCAL NEWS

At mid-day on Monday morning, Mr J. A. Young, of the Pier Road maltings, Berwick, had a narrow escape from drowning. He was running along the pier and fell into the water at crabwater corner.

Berwick Pier, the Crabwater corner © Ian Capper – Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

He struck out for the steps, and although the tide was fast running out, he managed to catch the hand of Miss Bella Stewart, who works at his own malting. Great praise is due to the prompt way in which Miss Stewart rendered assistance, and there is a feeling in the town that her gallantry should be recognised. We understand, up to the time of writing, Mr. young, who was able to walk home has suffered no ill effects of his emersion.

On Friday evening, Messrs Millers, F.A.I., offered for sale by auction in the Long Room, Corn Exchange, several lots of property in Berwick. The attendance was small, owing no doubt to the very stormy night. The first lot comprised all the freehold shop, dwelling houses, workshops, stables and stores, Nos. 13, 15 and 17 Woolmarket, at present occupied by Messrs Steel, Thompson and Patterson, Miss Phillie Bruce, Mr John brown, Messrs John Brown and Sons, and Mrs McAllum.

The total rental for this lot amounts to £52 16s. Bidding started at £300 and rose fairly quickly to £750, when the lot was withdrawn. No. 1 Ivy Place held on leases of 150 years, dating from 1859, from the Corporation and with an annual rental of £22, only brought one bid of £200 and was withdrawn. A similar fate befel No. 2 Ivy Place, which is a slightly larger house, with a rental of £24. Only one bid of £200 was forthcoming, and the lot was withdrawn. It was intimated that No. 3 Ivy Place had been disposed of privately. The conditions of sale were read by Mr J. Bate, solicitor.

Corn Exchange building in Sandgate, Berwick,© Ian Capper – Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

While walking along the beach at the Sandybeds, a mile and a half north of Berwick, on Monday afternoon, Alexander Manuel, sen., 19 Low Greens, picked up a drop end flask sealed with a black solution and bound round the neck with a two-feet strand of copper wire. As the bottle had a printed enclosure (in four languages), Mr Manuel handed it oever to the Receiver of wrecks, who opened it. A half-penny was found between the seal and the cork of the bottle, and inside was a printed postcard asking the finder to return it to the Scientific Superintendent of the Marine Laboratory of the Fishery Board of Scotland, Bay of Nigg, Aberdeen. It is the practice of the Fishery Board to liberate these bottles from time to time at various places to test the set of ocean currents, etc.

NORHAM AND ISLANDSHIRE RURAL

DISTRICT COUNCIL

Overcrowding at Beal

When the Council considered the various items in the doctor’s report, Dr McWhir asked to be allowed to supplement what had written regarding the overcrowding in the cottages at Beal. In one cottage six people lived – a father, mother, a young woman of 22, a young man of 20 and two lads of 15 and 12 years. The father and mother slept in one bed in the kitchen, the young man of 20 and the lad of 15 in another bed, and the lad of 12 in a bed chair. The young woman slept in the other room. The kitchen, where the five people slept, was 15ft. 6in. By 17 ft. and 7 ft. 9 in. High. This meant 2042 cubic feet of air for five persons. This family had, said Dr McWhir, gone to Beal Faram with Mr Davidson from Cornhill 30 years ago. In another cottage there were living a woman 64 years of age and a young woman of 34, three young men of 29, 25 and 19 years, and a girl of 12. In this instance the three men slept in one room, and the woman and the girl in the other. Asked as to what condition the empty cottage was in, Dr McWhir said it was very bad and had not been occupied for 30 years.

As this was the first time the cottages had been reported upon, it was agreed to send a copy of the Doctor’s report to both the agent and the tenant. It was also agreed that steps could very easily be taken to remove the earth from the back of the cottages and have the ashpits attended to.

UNEMPLOYMENT IN BERWICK

As far as we can gather there are 200 unemployed men in Berwick. There is a slump in trade all over the country, men are out of work, and industries are going on short time. In Berwick just now seasonal unemployment is at its height, but the great majority of the unemployed in the Borough are unskilled workmen. Is it not time for those in authority to begin working out a scheme for providing employment? It is being recognized generally that each industry should bear the burden of its own unemployed, and this is being arranged for, for instance, in the transport and building industries. This, however, will not help casual labourers, who are not affiliated to any special industry. As we have already pointed out, the work at Mordington, the steel factory, the Tweedmouth housing scheme, and even the new bridge, when it is started, if they absorb all the unskilled labour in Berwick while they are in operation, will not permanently solve the problem. On the other hand, a proportion of the men now unemployed never have done regular work and will need a lot of coaxing and training before they take to it. They prefer to work for two or three days and take a rest, or perhaps for a little longer, but always with a rest at the end of it. Men like this are a very real difficulty. The vigorous insistence on decent housing conditions will help us here. In eighteen months’ time we hope to have 68 new houses up in Tweedmouth. That will enable the medical Office of health and the Inspector of Nuisances to have some of the worst houses in Berwick pulled down. The people who leave these houses will have to go into more expensive houses, which means that they will have to work something like a full week to pay the rent and keep themselves in comfort. Gradually society will realise that the man who does not put in a fair week’s work, be he rich or poor, is a public danger. That, however, is for the future. We know what has happened in other towns which are suffering from unemployment and we have 200 unemployed unskilled workmen in Berwick. The time, we think, has come for the mayor to call a public meeting to discuss what can be done in the way of starting relief measures for those willing to work. It is for such a meeting to decide on the particular measures to be taken. May we suggest- we do no more- that the Borough might set the unemployed to make bricks or concrete block for housing. They are already being made at Mordington by practically unskilled labour with a few skilled supervisors. We have still hundreds of houses to put up in Berwick which can use them, and new houses are to be out up in Belford, Glendale and Norham and Ilandshires. The Government would give financial aid to such can be offered to the unskilled workmen, we shall have provided a test which will give a job to every man willing to work. When we have sifted out those who prefer irregular work or not to work at all, and are sure of our ground, we shall no doubt be able to solve that problem too.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 26 NOVEMBER 1920

28/11/2020 by Northumberland Archives

MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED AND DEDICATED

The evening service at St. Aidan’s Church on Sunday last took the form of a War Memorial service, the silver tablet bearing the names of the members of the congregation who fell in the war, being unveiled and dedicated. This tablet has been affixed to the front of the handsome oak pulpit which the pipe organ has been placed along with in the Church as a Memorial. The organ was opened in the end of August last year by Dr Ross, Edinburgh, and is one of the latest type, with an exhaust pneumatic action, which gives the greatest effect and makes the touch on the keyboard of the detached console very light. The pulpit was dedicated a few weeks later, and now that the tablet has been added, the memorial is complete. On Sunday the pulpit was draped with black and purple hangings, and a vase of white chrysanthemums placed between graceful palms on the table in front lent an added artistic touch.

During the service, the Rev. J. M. Miller gave a short address, based on words “It was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter, and Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch,” taken from John 10, verses 22 and 23. St. Aidan’s had, said Mr Miller, given 20 men in the sacrifice for freedom that we might go about in comfort and peace. That was a great contribution, which we and generations unborn, would greatly appreciate. The tablet was unveiled and dedicated by the Rev. J. M. Miller, who before reading out the names, removed the covering Union Jack. Then followed the “Last Post,” sounded from outside, followed by an interval of two minutes’ reverent silence broken by “Reveille.” The congregation remained standing throughout the unveiling ceremony, and after joining in the National Anthem, listened to the “Dead march in Saul” rendered in fine manner by Mr Marshall, organist of the Church.

The names on the tablet are :- Robert Bell, Robert Bremner, Christopher Burns, Thomas Crosbie, George Henry Evans, James Evans, Adam Gladstone, Thomas Grieve, William Grieve, Thomas Heslop, William Heslop, George Hogg, Thomas Logan, George Macleod, Thomas Laing Robson, John S. Scott, Richard Scott, Strafford Wilson, Hugh White, John R. White.

The tablet is of polished silver mounted on oak, and the inscription reads: – “St Aidan’s English Presbyterian Church, Berwick-on-Tweed. To the honour and glory of God, and in proud memory of the men of the congregation who fell in the great European War, 1914-1919, the organ of this Church is dedicated.” Afterwards follow the names, and at the foot are the words;- “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.”

FELLING A RAILWAY BRIDGE AT BERWICK STATION

On Sunday morning about 8 o’clock, the old bridge over the railway at Berwick Station which has been stripped lately ready for felling to make way for the new bridge which is being erected was reduced to a pile of stone and mortar. The news that the key-stones of the bridge were going to be pulled by the St. Margaret’s crane having leaked out, there were large crowds of townspeople near the bridge when the operations commenced.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is High-Greens.jpg — This image shows the High Greens area of Berwick, which in 1920 felt the shock waves from the demolition of the nearby railway bridge. © James Allan, Creative Commons Licence (CC BY-SA 2,0).

The initial work was gone through smartly and at ten minutes to eight, when the big railway crane had drawn the key-stone on the arch over the north lie, the structure came down with a crash, which shook the houses situated in the High Greens, Garden City, and Railway Street.

The “piling cranes” erected at each side of the bridge immediately got to work with their heavy steel rammers, knocking down the portion of arch which still remained, and a large gang of workmen were engaged meantime in clearing up the debris, which was trimmed into steel buckets and raised by the cranes to be tipped into wagons.

All day long the work continued, the traffic being run on the single line system. The 8.20 p.m. express from Edinburgh was brought down the “lie” behind the station and shunted back to the platform. The lines were clear in the early hours of Monday morning, but workmen were still busy trimming off the broken masonry from the side pillars.

DR PHILIP MACLAGAN ON “HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING.!

Members of Wallace Green Literary Society were privileged on Monday night to have the subject of “Housing and Town Planning” explained to them by the Medical Officer of Health for the Borough. Naturally there was a large and interested audience. “The fact of the matter is, “said Dr Maclagan, “that the housing question is by far the most serious matter before the country at the present moment , and I am afraid must remain so for many a long day. The size of the question may be indicated by the example of Northumberland and Durham. In 1901, there were in the two counties 20,928 one0roomed houses and 99,156 of two rooms. Again, of 70,000 working-class houses in the same area, nearly 5,000 were occupied by two or more families. When one realises the size of the rooms and the type of house so occupied, the effect on the health, comfort, and morals of the community may be imagined. I have no hesitation in saying that the main cause of the labour unrest and of the deterioration in moral character, which has been so evident during the last few years, is largely to be found in the unhealthy, uncomfortable, dark and inconvenient houses of the working classes. To a certain extent, the people who live in them make the houses what they are as regards dirt and lack of comfort; but, on the other hand, anyone who is constantly in the houses of the poor will be struck by the great, and more or less successful effort which many of these people make to render their homes habitable. What can you expect the housewife with a large and growing family to make of some of the small dark rooms of the closes and alleys of Berwick?”

“In any housing scheme, it will be necessary to ensure that the houses are of sufficient size, are comfortable, easily worked, light and well ventilated. If unlimited financial means and unlimited space were available, the question would be easy. All that a Local Authority would have to do would be to build sufficient houses on a new site, then close and demolish all the unhealthy houses in their area and rebuild at their leisure.”

SCREMERSTON

The second of a short series of lantern services was held in St. Peter’s Church, Scremerston, on Sunday evening, and was as largely attended as on the previous Sunday night. The subject of the lecture was “The Message of the Church Bell,” the various aspects of worship, prayer, thanksgiving, penitence, meditation, and praise all being dealt with.

The illustrations were explained, and their suggestive appeals voiced by the Vicar, who spoke not from the pulpit but from among the congregation. The varied scenes shown were very clearly depicted, and included both reproductions of great paintings, representing the Gospel story, and also scenes from common life, on which the subject of the lecture threw an interesting and helpful light. Tissot, Millais, Plockhorst, T. Faed, de la Roche, and Pettie were some of the artists represented. Suitable hymns were shown on the screen and sung by the congregation, whose interest in the service was evidenced by the excellent order maintained throughout the night.

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