Berwick Advertiser

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 6TH MAY 1921

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ORD WAR MEMORIAL

As will be seen from our advertising columns, Ord War Memorial will be unveiled on Sunday, 8th May, at 2.30 by Vice Admiral Sir Dudley R. S. de Chair, K.C.B., M.V.O. The memorial has been erected in the centre of the village green and is 18 feet in height. It is on a concrete base with steps all round, and is of local rock-faced freestone coursers built in block with teethed plinth. A marble tablet with the names of the fallen is set into a framing of Northumberland whinstone. From the whinstone arises an octagonal column finished with a white marble cross. The work has been carried out by Messrs M. Gray & Sons, builders, and W. Wilson & Sons, sculptors, from plans prepared by Mr Lake, Surveyor, East Ord.

The Ord War Memorial  ©  Author: Stafford Little –  Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic — CC BY-SA 2.0

In addition to the contractors’ work a large amount of gratuitous service and labour has been given, and the War Memorial Committee feel deeply indebted to all these who so generously assisted in the carrying out of the work. Sir Dudley de Chair was born in 1854 and was educated on H.M.S., Britannia and entered the Navy in 1878. He served in the Egyptian War and was appointed Naval Attache to U.S. America in 1902. He commanded H.M.S. Bacchante, Cochrane and Colossus from 1905 to 1912 and was appointed Assistant Controller of the Navy in 1910, and Naval Secretary to the First Lord of Admiralty in 1912. In 1914 he was appointed Admiral of the Training Services, being also made a C.B. that year. He commanded the 10th Cruiser Squadron and 3rd Battle Squadron during the war from 1914 to 1916 and went with Mr. A J. Balfour’s Mission to U.S.A. in 1917. 

LOCAL NEWS

For several hours on Wednesday morning snow fell heavily in the hill districts of Berwickshire, where in some quarters it lay as deep as half an inch, much to the concern of the flockmasters, with whom the lambing season is not yet over. Fruit trees were severely blighted by the severity of the weather. 

They say it is very bad luck to turn back. A man who had started out with his wife to the pictures suddenly remembered that he had left his coal shed unlocked. He risked his luck, went back, turned the key in the door, and put it in his pocket. On returning three hours later he found a neighbour in a state of great indignation. “What’s the matter?” he asked innocently. “What’s the matter!” was the retort. “Do you know that you have locked my wife up in your coal shed!” 

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

CORPORATION FOREMAN USES VIOLENCE

William Gardiner, Wallace Green, Berwick, was charged with unlawfully assaulting Gordon McLean on the 30th April 1921. Mr Peters prosecuted, and Mr Gregory defended. Gardiner pleaded that he was guilty of gripping McLean, but not with striking him. 

Gordon Mclean said he lived as 6 Hatter’s Lane. On last Saturday night he was standing at the end of Walkergate with other men when two dogs started to fight and came against his legs. He put out his foot to keep the dogs back. He never kicked the dogs, and never knew anything more until Gardiner seized him by the throat from behind and bent him backwards nearly to the ground. Witness was exhausted when Gardiner was called off by the police. 

REF: LB.9.6.24 Hatter’s Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Peter Robson, rabbit-catcher, corroborated, and said McLean, after holding the dogs off with his foot, stepped back. He never kicked the dogs and gave Gardiner no provocation. 

John Flannigan, Hatter’s Lane, gave similar evidence, and this was borne out by William Wilson. 

William Gardiner, on his own behalf, said he was coming up the street with his brother-in-law, who had his terrier with him. Witness’ dog was playing with the terrier, when there was a blue dog ran at them. They chased it, when he saw McLean lift his foot and make a swinging kick at it. He caught McLean as he spun round, but he did not bend him back. 

By Mr Peters-witness admitted that there was a little fight with the three dogs. He was not in a temper when he gripped McLean, only a little excited. The police came on the scene and Sergt. Wilson said “William, go home!” 

The bench found the case proved and imposed the fine of £1 with witnesses and fees, 28s 5d, or 13 days’ imprisonment. 

NATURE NOTE

The first swift arrived in Berwick this year on April 30th. It was first seen at 9 p.m. Fifteen minutes later it joined by another over the town. In 1920 the first swift was also seen on April 30th “hawking” over Church Street. In 1919 the first swift was not seen in Berwick until May 8th; in 1918 the first arrived on May 9th. The first martins were seen on April 21st, 1921 at Canties Bridge. On the 24th the sand martin was seen behind the Pier. On the 24th terns were seen passing over the Pier bound to their more northern nesting grounds. A few remained on Sunday, and there are now several in the river. Several migrants such as the willow-wren and the chiff-chaff have been heard, also on April 24th. A month earlier, the earliest of all migrants, the wheatear was seen on Scremerston banks. Several solan geese have been observed flying quarter of a mile off the end of the Pier, and a few beautiful eider ducks are frequent visitors off the Pier end. They will shortly move to their breeding quarters on the Farne islands. The buds are setting on the hawthorn, promising to burst by the middle of May, which is very early for Northumberland.  

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 7TH APRIL 1921

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JUBILEE OF THE BORDER UNION LODGE OF GOOD TEMPLARS

Although drastic changes in licensing are more likely today than have been at any time during the last fifty years, the Good Templars are not nearly so enthusiastic as they were in the eighties and nineties. Partly this is due to the fact that the Temperance movement has made good, and the general public is much more abstentions than in the early Blue ribbon days. The old stalwarts, it is complained, are dying out, and the young ones are not coming on. Still it was only a small gathering that met to celebrate the jubilee of the Border Union Lodge in the Good Templars’ Hall Berwick, on Thursday night. The Mayor was in the chair, and supporting him were the Mayoress, Mr R Taylor (District Chief Templar), Alderman Boston (Spittal), Mr G Piercy, and the Rev. Moffat Gillon, Edinburgh, Grand Chaplain of the Order.

The remains of the entrance to the former Good Templar Hall (1874), in Coxons Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed.  ©  Billy Wilson – Sault Ste. Marie, Canada.  Creative Commons – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

The company sat down to tea at 6.30, and after had been disposed of, “Rescue the Perishing” was sung, and then the Mayor rose to speak. He congratulated the Lodge on attaining its jubilee, on the good work it had during its existence in spite of ups and downs. They were ment that night to carry on the good work which had begun in the town fifty years ago. He was glad to know that the Board of Education was helping them by making provision for temperance education. The Board was making known the act that drinking of beer, wine, and spirits tended to weaken the muscles of the heart, and had a weakening effect on the body generally. It was a step in the right direction to show that alcohol was not normally necessary for the upbringing and health of human beings. Last year they spent £479,000,000 on strong drink- over a million pounds a day. Could any country be expected to prosper while it did that? The number of days’ work in the year that was lost through drink, said Sir G. B. Hunter, was appalling, and it tended to cripple all trades. Drink was answerable for three-quarters of the crime of the country. It was answerable for one half of the pauperism of the country, and drink was answerable for one-fourth part of lunacy in the country. This sum of £479,000,000 was spent to produce crime, pauperism, and lunacy. The profits of the drink trade were not sufficient to pay for the upkeep of the prisons, the workhouses, and the asylums, which the trade made necessary.

The entrance to the Berwick Workhouse just off Castlegate, where some of those suffering from the effects of too much alcohol ended up. Ref: BRO 1541-01.

It was their duty to do their utmost to bring about prohibition. It was 51 years since the Order was introduced into England, and they were glad to have with them that night one jubilee member- Alderman Boston, of Spittal-the oldest member of the Good Templar Order in Berwick today. They hoped he would be long spared to carry on the good work, with which he had been so long associated.

FIRE AT LAMBERTON THRESHING BIG QUANTITY OF GRAIN DESTROYED

On Wednesday afternoon a rather serious fire took place during threshing operations at Pit Houses, Lamberton, on a portion of the estate recently split up by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland for small holdings for ex Service men. The crops on the whole of the Lamberton estate were harvested and stacked by the Board of agriculture, and it was a portion of this harvest which was destroyed.

The fire was discovered at the dinner hour, one of the men employed at the threshing, observing a cloud of smoke rising from behind a stack of straw. He gave the alarm and the conflagration was at once tackled, but the straw being dry and a stiff breeze fanning the flames, the blaze had too good a hold to be put out. Hampered by the scarcity of water, practically nothing could be done to save the threshing. The mill caught fire and was practically reduced to scrap, but happily it was possible to save the engine, which was backed away from the blaze. On the field there was stacked the produce of 124 acres, and as far as can be gathered 101 bags of newly threshed grain were entirely destroyed. Several other bags were severely scorched, and about 59 bags of barley were saved.

How the fire originated has not been definitely established, but it is believed that a spark from the engine may have set up smouldering in the stack, which ultimately burst into flame. The damage, which has not yet been fully assessed, it considerable, but is covered by insurance.

The threshing mill belonged to Messrs Howey, of Reston, and it is fortunate for the owners that one of the men helping with the threshing was able to save the engine. Mr Howey’s men were at dinner at Lamberton farm when the fire broke out, but the engine had been backed clear of the fire before they reached the scene. The blaze fortunately did not reach the stack of roofing timber lying near or else this would have gone too. The timber was alone worth over £600. The fire was still smouldering on Saturday, but the burning heaps were isolated.

GOLDEN WEDDING

On Friday last Mr & Mrs Robert Ogilvie, Tower Road, Tweedmouth, celebrated their golden wedding. Both natives of the Fenham district, Mr Ogilvie was born at Greenside Mill, and his wife, Miss Elizabeth Ann Patrick, was born at Fenwick Granary. Married in 1871, they first lived at Mount Hooley, coming to Tweedmouth two years later. They have resided in Tweedmouth for 33 years in their present house. Mr Ogilvie, though having reached the advanced age of 76 years, still possess excellent health, and his wife, 71 years old, is also hale and hearty. The worthy couple have one son and four daughters. Mr Ogilvie is at present employed as a drainer with Mr Pearson, at West Sunnyside, and formerly worked on the N.E.R., finishing last year owing to having reached the age limit. He has been an active, energetic man all his life, and in his early years used to walk as far as five and six miles to his job, and later a heavy day’s work tramped home again. He has always been a keen football enthusiast, attending matches regularly in latter years as a spectator.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 18TH MARCH 1921

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BELFORD RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL 

Housing Scheme Held up for Want of Money 

At a meeting of Belford Rural District Council last Wednesday. 

Colonel Leather enquired how the Council were going to get the money to carry out the housing scheme. 

The Clerk explained that endeavour had been made to obtain the money locally, but so far he had had no replies from an advertisement asking for loans. If they failed to raise the money they could apply to the Ministry of Health, who would supply the money. 

Colonel Leather – The Ministry will probably not give us the money. I propose we postpone the whole scheme for three months till we see whether we can get the money. Everything is cut and dried, but we are not committed to anything and the time has come for us to mark time. No businessman would go on with the scheme, why should the Council do so?  

Mr Davidson seconded Colonel Leather’s proposal. 

Dr Macaskie explained that all that was necessary if they could not raise the money locally was to apply to the Ministry of Health who would lend the money. 

The Clerk – There is no fear of not getting the money. 

Colonel Leather – Look how the Government tried to wriggle out of the agreement with the farmers about the price of corn. I move we delay matters till, we get a definite and satisfactory answer about the money.  

On being put to the meeting the motion was caried unanimously. 

Mr Hunter – Will the plans be laid before the Council to be passed? 

The Clerk – The plans have been been passed. 

Mr Hunter – The original plans have, been cut down to get cheaper houses. Things have been taken out of our hands. The Surveyor ought to see these new plans before approved. 

Mr Clark – We are not providing the money and can’t grumble. 

Mr Hunter – We will ultimately have to provide the money from the rates. It is not right for the houses to be built and the Surveyor not to see the plans. 

Mr Davidson moved and Colonel Leather seconded that copies of specifications be submitted to the Council before any tenders were accepted. Agreed. 

Sir E. C. Haggerston – If the tenders were accepted the firm could carry on, but Colonel Leather’s motion stops this. 

Colonel Leather – It does not stop us going on with the details

WORKERS’ UNION MEETING AT NORHAM 

How Changes in The Minimum rate will affect the Worker 

At the branch meeting of Friday night, Mr. Borrell attended at the last moment, in the place of Councillor Buchan, who was unable to keep his appointment. 

Asked as to the position of the wages in case of a change in the wages Board rates during the year, Mr. Borrell explained that if a man hired for say 51s or 52s per week, he would receive that wage throughout the year, even if the Agricultural wages Board rate fell.

An early 20th century photograph of a Haywain. © Richard Mark Johnson. Creative Commons License (CC-BY-SA 2.0).

If the Agricultural wages Board rate went up, the total difference between the rate he hired for and what was due to him under the Wages Board increases would have to be paid to him in a lump sum on May 12th, 1922, if it had not been paid previously. If, however, a man hired at the wages Board rate without specifying any figure his wage would naturally go up and down with that rate. He did not think there was any likelihood of a reduction in the wages Board rates. They had to find a subsistence basis, and they still stood much below other industries. There was only a slight reduction in the cost of living. The railways were 21 millions to the bad, and they would have higher transport charges. Coal was going up, and it was an important item in the farm workers’ budget. His house required a deal of warming, and his cooking arrangements were wasteful and extravagant of fuel. There was often a quantity of wet clothing to dry, which entailed the fire being kept up after the household had retired. He could see little prospect of any material lowering of their household expenses, and he urged them to put aside all thoughts of a reduction of wages as impractical at present. 

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS 

THURSDAY

EXTENSION OF HOURS FOR DANCING OVERDONE. 

Mr W. B. Dickinson applied for an extension of hours to 2.30 for the Good Templar Hall, on the occasion of a whist drive and dance on Thursday 17th, to be held by Berwick Cycling Club. 

Sup. Halliday considered that the extension of hours for dances was overdone. If they got to 1a.m. that was quite long enough. Most of the people who went to the dances had to be up early in the morning for work. These applications were too frequent. In other districts the Magistrates were not granting extension after 12 p.m. 

The Mayor — The dancing season is nearly over now. Mr Dickinson pointed out that formerly dancing used to be allowed to 3 and 4 a.m., without need for applying for extensions of licence. The Mayor — The Bench grant the licence on this occasion but will consider future applications. 

SHOWMAN’S OFFENCE 

James Ratcliffe, showman, was charged with failing to employ a third person to give assistance to drivers of horses if required while in Berwick on 2nd March, and with not having the weight of his wagon affixed. 

Serg. Middlemass gave evidence, proving the charges. Superintendent Halliday said it was very important these regulations under the Locomotive and Highways Act should be carried out. He did not look upon the offence as serious but wished to bring to the notice of users of the road the fact that these regulations could not be broken with impunity. He would not press for a heavy penalty, only wishing to draw the attention of users of the road to the regulations. The defendant was a showman and had called at the Office stating he had to go to Kelso to secure his stance and could not appear. Fined 10s for each charge.  

DRUNK IN CHARGE OF A MOTOR CYCLE 

Robert G. Waugh, commercial traveller, 20 Fenkle Street, Alnwick, was charged with being drunk in charge of a motor cycle on the Old Bridge, Tweedmouth, on 4th March. Defendant did not appear, but wrote expressing regret, and stating he had had trouble with his clutch and had not had time for lunch. 

The Berwick Bridge, Berwick-upon-Tweed, locally known as the Old Bridge.© Kenneth Blackett, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The Mayor said the bench considered this a very serious case. A motor cycle was dangerous at any time, more so when in charge of a drunkman. In addition, the Old Bridge was a dangerous place. Fined the maximum penalty of £2 or 18 days.  

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