Berwick Journal

BERWICK NEWSPAPERS, 1923

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BERWICK JOURNAL, 20TH DECEMBER 1923

CHRISTMAS NOVELTIES

Seldom have we seen such novelty as characterises Xmas and New Year productions of Alpha Publishing Co., 2 Scrutton-St., Finsbury, London, E.C. 2. In this enterprising Firm’s 1924 Calendars are unique designs, while their Xmas cards, Postcards, Toy Books, Picture Books, etc, are as fine as anything we have seen; and, moreover, moderate in price. There is, undoubtedly, good quality and good value. Original indeed are the silver and metal horse-shoes, and other attractive and realistic and quaint devices and shapes, even to old boots and wish-bones. Most useful are the Engagement Calendars, while Stationary Calendars carved on wood and mounted against velvety background will be most popular. The Magic Drawing Book is a new idea, enabling the children to draw pictures with ordinary pencil, simply rubbing it across a seemingly blank page. Alpha Series Humour, Usefulness; and the Firm is taking pride of place in production, and will command success among both young people and old.

LOCAL NEWS

A small free gift sale was held in Salvation Army Rooms, Quay Walls, Berwick, on Thursday. The hall was tastefully decorated, and the tables bearing the good things were nicely laid out. On the work stall, one saw many hours of hard work on the part of friends and members of the Corps; and the cake and candy stall bore sweetmeats, cakes, fruit etc. In adjoining room tea was served. At 3 pm the opening hour there was a fair number present. Mrs Strachan, who performed the opening ceremony, was introduced by Capt. Golder. Mrs Strachan said: – “Dear friends when your officers called to ask me if I would open your free gift sale, I felt rather afraid, as I have never performed such a duty before, but on remembering that I had been amongst you before, and that I was coming among homely people, I consented. I do assure you that I am very pleased to be among you again, and esteem it an honour to do anything, however small to help forward the work of God. I understand that the result of today’s sale will be used for the funds of Local Corps. All Christian Institutions must have money to carry on their work, or that work would come to a standstill. None of us would like to see the noble work done by your Corps come to an end. I therefore hope that the preparation for today’s effort will result in a bountiful harves and that the workers will experience the joy of seeing their stalls emptied and their cash boxes filled before very long. I have very great pleasure in declaring the sale open.” In proposing a vote of thanks to Mrs Strachan Capt. Golder said they were all much indebted to her in coming to open their free gift sale. She said friends were required to carry on the work of the Corps, unless these were forth coming the work would have to stop; and this none of them wanted to see. After this purchases were made freely and stallholders kept busy. Stallholders were: Work Stall- Capt. Golder, Miss Moor; Cake and Candy Stall- Mrs Henderson, Miss Henderson, Miss Moor, Miss Gibson; Bran Tub, etc- Miss Johnstone, Miss D. Aitchison, Lennie Walker; Teas-Mrs Shiell, Mrs Douglas, Mrs Walker, Mrs Patterson, Lt. Hoyland. During the afternoon Capt. W. Douglas late commanding officer was present.

The Red Lion Inn, Castlegate, Berwick, was the venue of a gathering of rather unique interest on Tuesday night, the occasion being the first annual dinner of the Salmon Lodge (No.4606) of the R.A.O.B. The “Buffaloes,” as they are familiarly known, have been making steady progress with the furtherance of the Order both in town and district, with the result that more Lodges have been consecrated since the introduction of the Order to Berwick some years ago. Constitutionally they are sound, being stalwart upholders of King and Law, while with such noble examples in their ranks as Mr Baldwin, the Prime Minister, and Bishop Weldon, the Dean of Durham, comments are needless. Tuesday evening’s proceedings were most happy, representatives being present from Morpeth (Sir John Leach Lodge), Spittal (Albion Lodge), Royal Berwick Lodge, with visiting brethren also from Norham, where negotiations are proceeding for the opening of a Lodge. Primo W. Taylor C.P., occupied the chair, and after dinner, which was served in a noteworthy manner y the host and hostess (Bro. Ridpeath and Mrs Ridpeath), proposed the loyal toast, “The King,” thanking all present for their attendance on the auspicious occasion, and extending a kindly welcome to representatives from other Lodges.

Red Lion, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1959. Ref BRO 1250-30

NEW YEAR’S DAY

How New Year’s Day is celebrated all over the world is fascinatingly described in “Cassell’s Children’s Book of Knowledge” -Part 39, just published.

In China the shops are closed several days, while people make merry with feasts and fireworks, and general exchange of gifts and good wishes. In preparation, every debt must have been paid; every house swept and cleaned; and each person furnished with holiday clothes and a supply of preserved fruits, sweets, and ornamental packages of teas to give to his friends.

Japanese New Year festival is perhaps, even gayer. Everyone provides himself with new clothes and takes 3 days off from work to visit his friends or entertain them at his Home. Every gatepost is adorned with dark green pines and feathery light green bamboos, while over the doorways hang vivid red lobsters and crabs, and scarlet tangerine-like fruits, symbolical of long life and happiness. Streets are thronged with happy children playing battledore and shuttlecock the whole day long, and everyone beams with joy, bowing and wishing the compliments of the season even to perfect strangers.

In France, New Year’s Day is a more important holiday than Christmas. French peasant children put one of their sabots on the hearth for a gift at Christmas; but grownups in France exchange gifts at New Year Festival, at which time there are family parties, with much merrymaking, and general exchange of visits.

Scotland celebrates New Year’s Eve with a heartiness nowhere surpassed. The old tradition that to be “first-foot” in a house brings luck for the whole year, sends throngs of midnight revellers into the streets on New Year’s Eve,” each with his box of cakes and “spiced ale,” for in order to ensure his host a bounteous year he must not enter empty handed

BERWICK NEWSPAPERS,1923

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BERWICK JOURNAL, 8TH NOVEMBER 1923

BERWICK WAR MEMORIAL

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE UNVEILING CEREMONY

War Memorial, Castlegate, Berwick-upon-Tweed. © Copyright J Thomas – (cropped image) Creative Commons Licence 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Yesterday we received the following, (with the information that it is “issued to the Press by the Unveiling Committee of Berwick War Memorial, for favour of publication”)- the anniversary of the Armistice will be a red letter day in the history of the Borough, for at 2.30 that afternoon the ceremony of unveiling the Memorial raised to the 480 sons of the Borough, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, will commence.

BERWICK WAR MEMORIAL, REGISTRATION OF NAMES CIRCULAR:
Ref No: BRO 794/39/1/029

It is fortunate that the anniversary falls this year on a Sunday, for this means that the maximum number of inhabitants and others from further afield will be able to witness the ceremony, and also by their presence pay honour to our citizens who fell.

The Committee too have been extremely fortunate in securing the service of the victorious Commander of the British Expeditionary Force-Field Marshal Earl Haig, of Bemersyde,-to perform the unveiling ceremony. His Lordship has since his return from active service, been one of the busiest men in the country, and at this time the demands for his presence elsewhere must have been very insistent. But we are sure he feels it a privilege and a debt he owes to his late countrymen from this part of the Borderland, in whose countryside he has taken up residence, that he should accept the invitation. Certainly, the citizens of the Borough will look upon his presence on such an occasion as a great honour and a recognition of duty nobly done.

AT THE SITE

The unveiling Sub-Committee have been very busy during the last few weeks endeavouring to organise the ceremonial so that dignified in every way, and memorable to those taking part.

Since the garden plot in front of Polwarth House is not to taken into the lay-out the difficulties with regard to the space available have been accentuated and have given a good deal of worry to the members of the Committee. Invitations have been therefore had to be curtailed to a minimum.

There is likewise the difficulty of estimating how many ex-service men will parade-certainly there are sure to be many more than have so far sent in their names to the Legion Secretary.

Naturally the relatives of the fallen have been given the place of honour facing the Memorial, and those, who have written for seats to be reserved, will be present to the number of over 200.

Around the Memorial will be four of the nation’s defenders on guard throughout the ceremony, representing the Navy, Army, Air Force and Territorial Army. They will be in the position of “rest on your arms reversed” till the tablets are unveiled when they will present arms with the guards of honour.

There will be two guards of honour – by per mission of Major C. F. Kennedy, the Depot K.O.S.Borderers will furnish that to Lord Haig, and “D” Company, 7th Northumberland Fusiliers (T.A.), that at the Memorial (by permission of Lieut-Col. N. I. Wright, D.S.O.) the former will receive Lord Haig with the general salute at the Town Hall, and after he has inspected it, will march to the site and face West. The Borderers will be under Capt. R. H. W. Worsley, D.S.O.

The Territorials’ guard of honour will be under the command of Lieut. E. A. Mackay and like the 25th, will be two officers and 50 other ranks strong. It will proceed direct to the Memorial and will face East.

Relatives will be seated facing North and on each side of the garden railings will be the companies of the British Legion and Ex-service men and women in fours under Capt. R. H. Dodds, M.C. On the North side will be the Royal Naval Reserve under Capt. R. E. Carr, R.N., the Northumberland Fusiliers – and K.R.R.C/ (Church Lads’ Brigade) Cadets under cadet Capt. R. D. Harvey, and the Boy Scouts under Scoutmaster B. A. Parkes. In rear of them will be any additional companies of Ex-service men.

Within the railings of St. Mary’s Church will be accommodated the Band of the 1st Battn. K.O.S.Borderers, who are attending by kind permission of Lieut-Col. P. A. V. Stewart, C.B.E., D.S.O. Also, on specially constructed platforms inside the railings will be a choir of about 50 voices, organised by Dr. C.T. gauntlet, and members of the Press. All these bodies will be in position shortly after 2p.m. and relatives must take their seats by that hour.

UNVEILING OF BERWICK WAR MEMORIAL, Ref No: BRO 1555-01

Invited guests – Glergy, magistrates, members of the County and Town Councils, Guardians, etc. will assemble at the Town Hall at 1.45p.m., where they will be received by the Mayor and Sheriff. About 2 p.m. they will be joined by the Lord Lieutenant of the County, the Duke of Northumberland, who will preside, and Field Marshall Earl Haig and Countess Haig.

A procession in column of fours will be formed at the Town Hall at 2.10 p.m. under the direction od Capt. F. B. Cowen, M.C., and will move off at 2.15.

At the Memorial, which the procession will reach just prior to 2.30, the service will be conducted by the Revs S. E. R. Fenning, M.C., H. Maishaman, and W. Jardine, M.C., late Chaplains of the Forces, and Rev. R. W. Hey. Vicar of Berwick. On the call of the Duke of Northumberland, Lord Haig will deliver a short address, and will unveil the Memorial, the guards of honour presenting arms, and the Buglers of the K.O.S.B. sounding the “Last Post.”

THE SILENCE

This will be followed by one minute’s silent tribute, the period being indicated by a “G” sounded by a bugler, and another “G” at its termination. The Band of the 1st K.O.S.B. will next play eight bars of Chopin’s Marche Funebre, after which the memorial will be dedicated, the Mayor will accept its custody on behalf of the Town Council, the Vicar of Berwick will pronounce the Benediction, and a verse of the National Anthem will be sung.

The hymns selected are well known and appropriate, being “Oh God our help in ages past” and “For all the Saints.”

Relatives of the fallen, who desire to place floral tributes at the base of the memorial, will then be formed up and under the direction of stewards. The mayoress will lay the first wreath on behalf of the Borough, and Lord Haig will follow with a tribute from the Berwick Branch of the British Legion.

His Lordship will inspect the troops and Ex-service men, etc., prior to the civil procession returning to the Town Hall, where the Mayor and Mayoress will entertain the guests and members of public bodies to afternoon tea.

The Depot K.O.S.B. and British Legion will march off as soon as Lord Haig commences his inspection of the other troops. The Legion will await His Lordship in Sandgate, where he will inspect the members and headquarters.

Lieut-Col. W. B. Mackay, C.M.G., T.D., is to be in charge of the stewards, who will see to the seating of the relatives of the fallen choir, public bodies, invited guests, etc., also the placing of wreaths round the Memorial at the close. Major Smail has been appointed Director of Ceremonial at the site.

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS

Desiring to have complete silence during the speech of Lord Haig, and also to reserve the whole of Castlegate to those wishing to witness the ceremony, the Committee has arranged with Supt. Halliday to divert all North traffic up Tweed Street, and all going South via the Greenses, Brucegate and Scots Place between 1.30 and 4 p.m.

Motorists can go to any garage in the town, but cars cannot be parked in High Street or Castlegate between those hours. Those from the North car park in the vicinity of Northumberland Avenue, and those from the South on the Parade.

In case of accidents, the L. and N.E. Railway Ambulance Class from Berwick Station and the Queen’s Nurses will be on duty in the porch of St. Mary’s Church.

CHILDRENS’ CEREMONY

Weather permitting, it is hoped to hold a short service round the Memorial on Monday, 12th inst., commencing at 9.10 a.m., when the various schools of the Borough will be represented. The ceremonial pat will be conducted by clergy representing the various denominations. Programme (provisional) is as follows: – Hymn 185, “O Gid our Help,” 9.10 a.m.; short prayer; addresses, about 5 mins.; Kipling’s Recessional sung to tune of Hymn 380 (A. and M.); National Anthem (1st and 3rd verses); Benediction.

It is hoped to hold this on a similar ceremony round the Memorial near Armistice Day or school day nearest to Nov.11th.

BERWICK NEWSPAPERS, 1923

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BERWICK JOURNAL 30TH AUGUST, 1923

PEOPLE’S HOME IN BERWICK

[BY “BERWICK JOURNAL” SPECIAL CORRESSPONDENT]

What was formerly unused portion of Berwick Workhouse has been leased to Mr Harry Campbell, South Shields, as Working People’s Home and Model Lodging House for Men and Women.

Considerable improvements, internally particularly, have been made. The place throughout has been fitted with electric light. There are separate entrances for either sexes. The House has been fitted up for 47 beds. Ample kitchen accommodation is provided, which includes up to date cooking stoves. Hot and cold water basins are plentifully in evidence. Attendant’s room and offices have been excellently prepared, and the entire furnishings for beds and mattresses, etc, for the Home have been purchased from Local Firms. Baths for Men and Women are installed, fitted conveniently for all hours of the day and night with hot and cold water. The plans for structural alterations have been subject to the opinion and final passing of Mr Paterson, the well-known Local Architect, and Mr Boyd, the experienced Local Inspector.

Entrance to Workhouse, REFERENCE: BRO 1541-01

Everything possible that could be done for the comfort of people using the Home has been carefully looked after and no expense spared y Mr Campbell to bring the Home up to the highest possible standard. We understand a formal opening of the Building will be made. The Berwick Home, when finally completed, will be one of the finest examples of what a Model residence should be, and will doubtless prove a great boon to those who seek its accommodation.

We heartily congratulate Mr Campbell on his enterprise, for although he makes no pretense as a philanthropist, but is running the plan as a business speculation, yet, withal, this is another way of helping, to a certain extent, towards the solution of social reforming for the betterment of people who have hitherto not had the advantages of an up-to-date place wherein to rest and feel that here is a Home.

FOOTBALL

1st football match of the season on Saturday, at Union Park, Tweedmouth, was noteworthy for change of position of goalposts, owing to encroachment on the field of new houses. Hitherto, the 2 winning areas were top and bottom of Union Park – or about west and east- and now they are across the pitch- or about north and south. In 1st half of the match, Berwick pressed hard, and give promise of a good team. In 2nd half, Coldstream showed pressing powers; and, on the whole, it was a hard, fair and square tussle, with the goal each as the record. Coldstream will be heard of this season if they keep up their display on this occasion.

LOCAL NEWS

Fair quantity of herrings was landed at Berwick last week, Thursday being the principal day, but, unfortunately, quality was not so good as would be desired and several shots were disposed of for manure. On Tuesday this week 4 boats landed 124 crans, and on Wednesday there were 2 arrivals with 25 crans between them. Prices from 8s to 26s per cran. The season’s catch now stands at 2141 crans as against 450 crans at corresponding date last year.

Splitting the herring, REFERENCE: BRO 426-0829

 We regret to record the death in London of Mr Daniel Heagerty, a well-known Chemist, son of late Dr Heagerty, Tweedmouth, (Medical Officer of Health for Berwick Borough.) Mr Heagerty, who was about 50, suffered serious illness for some time. He was educated at Berwick and served apprenticeship with Messrs W. G. Carr and Son, Chemists, Berwick. A brother of Mr Heagerty- Travers-is an able Actor in America, where he is doing well. He was original member of Berwick Amateur Dramatic Club.

WHITTINGHAM GAMES

SUCCESSFUL GATHERING

On Saturday, the 63rd annual Whittingham Games Meeting was held in that beautiful and picturesque “Vale of Whittingham,” surrounded by lovely, massive green trees and heather clad hills. The games were favoured by weather which although not ideal was nevertheless dry. During the morning it was none too promising but cleared up about mid-day. Widely known as the “Games of the North,” this popular and far-fames gymnastic festival was established in the year 1860. Unlike village associations, Whittingham Games have never been suspended owing to finance since inauguration but have on the other hand gone forward by leaps and bounds, with the exception of the suspension during the war period. By the untiring efforts of an able Committee and generosity of the public who subscribe to the Games, the financial side of the sports has always been well maintained. It was regretted that the Agricultural Section was not carried on this year, but it is hoped that it will be revived in 1924.

REFERENCE: BRO 2140/13/012

Supported by Lady Ravenswoth, Mrs Branfoct, Lady Grey, and Mrs Collingwood, Glanton Pike, the Poultry Section was tried for the first time, and proved very satisfactory.

The Committee this year offered £230 in prizes for the various events and shows, and were well rewarded for their enterprise, as from mid-day onwards large crowds of people poured into the village, by trains, motor cars, char-a-bancs, and push bikes. In fact, every conceivable way of transport was used. An excursion was run from Newcastle, and many took advantage of the cheap fares from Berwick and Wooler districts.

The tents were kindly given and erected by Major Browne, who was always a liberal subscriber to the games, while Messrs Hindmarsh Bros. again kindly granted the use of the same field as is always used. The catering was in the hands of Miss Anderson, Rothbury.

During the afternoon the Ashington Harmonic Band rendered popular selection of music.

BORDER SCHOOLMASTER UNDUE SEVERITY

Robt. John Brown, Schoolmaster of Makerstoun, Kelso, appeared at Roxburghshire Sheriff Court on Thursday on a charge of assaulting a 6-year-old pupil, This. Ballantyne, with his hand and beating him with a pair of taws on the hips and thighs on July 11. Brown pleaded not guilty.

Ballantyne said he had been reported as having bitten another pupil, and after dismissal of the class he was taken from the playground by the Headmaster, put across a chair, and thrashed. He fell from the chair, and Brown picked him up and thrashed him again. Other pupils corroborated.

Brown said the boy Ballantyne had been reported on 2 occasions as having bitten other children. On this occasion he took Ballantyne into a classroom and thrashed him. The thrashing, he admitted, was severe, but he contended it should be so in the interest of discipline.

Medical evidence was given that there were 13 weals on the child.

Sheriff Chisholm said the punishment was unduly severe. He imposed a fine of £10- or 15-days’ imprisonment.

Before leaving Court, Brown said he would go to prison.

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