BERWICK ADVERTISER, 2ND FEBRUARY 1923

03/02/2023 by Northumberland Archives

BURNS ANNIVERSARY

The place of honour at the Burns anniversary gathering of the Bradford and District Caledonian Society was occupied by Mr J. R. Noble, late of Spittal. He served his apprenticeship at the “Berwick Advertiser” Office, and has, for the past three years, been employed by the Bradford and District newspaper Co., Ltd. His father, the late Mr John Noble, was at one time President of the now defunct Spittal Burn’s Club. During the course of his address, Mr Noble seldom referred to his notes, and quoted from memory many of the outstanding passages in the poet’s works. We take the following extracts from the “Bradford Daily Telegraph” of the 26^th January :- Bradford and District Caledonian Society last night celebrated the Burns Anniversary by a dinner at the Market Tavern. Dr MacIlraith presided over a company of over 100. Fraternal greetings were received from Tweedmouth and many other kindred societies.

Berwick-on Tweed Burns Club Annual Celebration, Red Lion Hotel – Programme, 25 Jan 1906. This programme gives you a taster of how Burns Supper had been celebrated in Berwick. REF: BRO 502/2/1

The toast, “The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns,” was proposed by Mr Noble, who said that even now new gems of thought continued to flash out from the poet’s exquisite verses, which, amid the changing scenes of life, retained their original freshness. They had to carry their minds back to the conditions that prevailed in Scotland in Burns’s day to appreciate fully the motive of many of his works. The ministers preached the wrath of God in every sermon, they forbade amusement, they stamped out the New Year festival, and universal gloom settled over the land. It was due to Burns more than anybody else that the best part of the people’s nature had not withered into sterility, for he did much to brighten and humanise religion and bring back to the life of the people some of the joy they had lost. It was the passionate and poignant love songs for which the world best loved Burns. They carried the fragance of the heather hills to distant lands. It was Robert Burns, peasant, poet, patriot, and prophet, who enshrined the characteristics and ideals of a great race in immortal verse, and his influence shall endure “till a’ the seas gang dry and the rocks melt wi’ the sun.” (Applause).

LOCAL NEWS

Berwick Esperanto Club has started. Soon the star-shaped badge, which is the world-wide symbol of the speakers or those who “hope” to speak Esperanto, will become familiar in the town. Esperanto means “one who hopes” – and every member of the newly forms Berwick Club is hopeful that the study of this easy and fascinating international language will “catch on” in the town. Between 20 and 30 members have joined. Some are at the alphabet stage, while others, more familiar with the language, can already speak and write it. More members will be welcomed. Meetings are to be held each Wednesday evening in the hall of the Primitive Church, Walkergate. Officials have been elected. Dr C. T. Gauntlet, who has made a study of the language, becomes the Club’s first President, and Mr R. Trotter and Mr J. Strachan, Vice-Presidents. Miss Gaul is Secretary and Treasurer, and the Committee members RE Mrs J. Bishop, Miss H. Gray, and Messrs D. Storar and Lyall. A small subscription of probably 2s 6d will be asked from each member to cover expenses in connection with the use of the room each week.

On Friday night the members of the Border Union Lodge of Good Templars held a Burns’s celebration at their weekly meeting. After the usual business was concluded the members, to the number of about 50, adjourned to the room downstairs and partook of a splendid supper, the principal dish being “haggis,” and then a short programme by members was gone through. Brother Clarke gave a reading. “Life of Burns,” and some of Burn’s songs were sung by Sister Borthwick, Brothers Borthwick, Morecroft and Hastings; while a humorous reading was given by Brother Evans. An enjoyable evening was brought to a close with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” The Border Union Lodge is the oldest lodge in the Borough and at present is in a flourishing condition. Every week sees new members being added to its roll. A hearty welcome is offered to all wishing to join. Meetings are held in the Lodge Room in the Good Templar Hall Friday night at 8 p.m.

SUPERINTENDENT’S LICENSING REPORT

The Superintendent’s annual report was in the following terms: I have the honour to present this my report on the carrying out of the Licensing Acts in the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed. There are in the Borough: – 44 full licenses, one beer on, four beer and wine off, and two beer off; making a total of 51, and showing an average of one license to about 255 inhabitants – the population of the Borough being 12,994. There are four registered clubs in the Borough with a membership ranging from 108 to 250. During the year 1922, proceedings for drunkenness were taken in 71 cases and 66 convictions resulted, being a decrease of 50 proceedings and 51 convictions when compared with the number similarly dealt with during the year 1921. The figures for 1922 are equivalent to 5.07 convictions per 1000 population as compared with 9. convictions per 1000 in 1921. I have served Notices of objections on the licenses of the Berwick Arms, Marygate, and the George Inn, Church Street. Thee premises I consider are structurally deficient and unsuitable for licensed premises. There are no applications for new licenses.

THE PRESERVATION OF NORHAM CASTLE

Work has been commenced in connection with excavating, etc., at Norham Castle. It was to have started last summer but owing to the illness and subsequent death of Mr Romanes, the proprietor of the Castle, it was delayed. It was understood that Mr Romanes was in the act of transferring the Castle and grounds to H.M. Office of Works when his illness took place, and it was rumoured that the whole scheme was to have been dropped. That has not, however, been the case, as there are now labourers busy digging around the Marmion Arch, and erecting scaffolding just inside, along the wall facing north which is pierced with

portholes. Its is estimated that the work will be spread over a period of six years, and as well as giving employment to a large number of men it should bring a lot more visitors to see the romantic old ruins. The main idea seems to be to clear away all accumulations from the walls and foundations, and thoroughly repair and point with cement the whole of the walls. The work is being undertaken by H.M. Office of Works. The work is not in full swing yet, owing to the difficulty of finding a place to put the old rubbish.

TERMS OF LEASING FOR COMMON LODGING HOUSE

The Workhouse Committee at a special meeting had considered the question of a part of the Workhouse being leased to the Berwick Sanitary Authority for use as a common lodging house. A letter from the Town Clerk of Berwick stated the matter had been before the Public Health Committee of the Sanitary Authority, who requested the terms of the lease. The Workhouse Committee recommended to the Board that they lease the aged women’s block of the Workhouse premises and the lunatic ward to Berwick Sanitary Authority as a common lodging house. The terms of the lease were submitted, the lease to be for 10 years, the rent to be £25 per year, payable half yearly, the Authority to pay rates and taxes, and carry out necessary alterations to cut off this portion of the premises from the Workhouse, to the satisfaction of the Guardians, to provide gas and water supply, and a separate entrance from Brucegate, to keep in repair, not to sublet without the consent of the Guardians, and not to suffer any nuisance to tenants in neighbouring houses, etc.

Mr Bolus moved the adoption of the Committee’s recommendation. He knew that the Mayor and the Medical Officer for the Borough were very anxious that there be a model lodging house in the town. Such a place would be an acquisition to the town and an acquisition to the Board, as men could go there at very reasonable cost without coming to the Workhouse for the night. In making the lodging house a certain amount of money would have to be spent to make it to meet the requirements of the Inspector. In view of the expenditure one of the objections the Sanitary Authority might raise was what would happen if the Workhouse premises had to be sold. This was why they recommended a lease of 10 years. Mr Bolus thought that in the event of this taking place the men of good financial standing, might but the place, or the Corporations might but the place.

BADMINTON-SINGLES TOURNAMENT

The ladies of the Officers 7^th N.F. Club held a singles tournament on Thursday afternoon in the Drill Hall, Ravensdowne. Sixteen players took part, the winner being Miss M.B. Cowen (minus 5) in the final by 11 points to 10 after a very keen game. Prizes were presented by Miss M. Oswald, West Coates.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 1ST JULY 1921

02/07/2021 by Northumberland Archives

PRIVILEGE TICKET ABUSE

BERWICK REFRESHMENT ROOM

MANAGERESS AND HER SISTER

The abuse of privilege tickets granted to servants of the North British railway led to charges at the Newcastle Police Court, on Friday, against two sisters, Catherine and Jennie Chisholme, the latter being charged with having aided and abetted, and Catherine with having travelled between Newcastle and Berwick on May 12^th with a privilege ticket.

The front of Berwick Railway Station — An early 20th Century postcard of the front of Berwick Railway Station

Superintendent Rodgers of the N.E.R. Police, stated that Jennie Chisholme was manageress of the North British Railway Company’s refreshment rooms at Berwick station and that, as a servant of the company, she was entitled to privilege ticket orders. On May 2^nd she was granted an order for herself for a return ticket from Berwick to Newcastle, and on her own initiative she applied for an order for a Miss Phimister, who was a barmaid in the refreshment room. On May 12^th she presented two orders at the booking office, but the clerk refused to issue a ticket for one as it was not signed. She went away and returned with it purporting to have been signed by Miss Phimister, and she was allowed tickets at 4s 11d, whereas the ordinary return far to Newcastle was 17s 2½d. Both sisters travelled to Newcastle and back. When Catherine Chisholme was seen at Berwick on May 27^th she said that she knew she had done wrong.

Defendants, who were not present but were represented, entered a plea of guilty, and Jennie was fined 40s, and Catherine 20s and costs.

LOCAL NEWS

The ceremony at which the conferring of the Honorary Freedom of the Borough on ex-Service men who have served overseas, at sea, or in the air during the war, will take place on Monday. As the proceedings are likely to be protracted, there will be no time devoted to speeches, the Mayor simply welcoming the men in the name of the Borough in a short address. The gallery of the Corn Exchange is being reserved for ladies. A lady’s ticket is being issued to each recipient of the Freedom who is attending, and also to members of the Corporation, justices and ministers on the platform. Music will be discoursed by an orchestra during the afternoon.

A meeting of the Freemen’s Guild was held in the Town Hall on Saturday last, the object being to get Freemen who are ex-Service men and who had not made application for admission to the roll of Honorary Freemen, to make application before the ceremony on Monday first.

Berwick Town Hall early 1900’s Ref: BRO 426-294

There was a poor representation of ex-Service men, but a few forms of application were issued to those desirous of enrolling. We understand that the impression has got abroad amongst Freemen that they were not supposed to apply for admission to the Honorary Roll. That, of course, is a misapprehension.

The Sunday School scholars attending St. Aiden’s Church, Berwick, accompanied by their parents and friends to the number of 370, proceeded on their annual picnic in nineteen gaily decorated farm carts to Paxton on Mid-Summer day. A field there was kindly lent by Mr Thorburn, and there the company settled down to a day’s enjoyment. Bright sunshine prevailed, and many of the company made for the Whitadder, where there was a cool breeze blowing. Lunch was served shortly after the company arrived at Paxton, and thereafter a short programme of sports, including a boys’ and girls’ Marathon, was gone through. A rather unfortunate accident took place during the afternoon, a little boy spraining his hand, but attention by Dr Fraser, who was present, soon had the young chap all right and able to continue enjoying himself. Great credit is due to Mr and Mrs Wardhaugh, Mrs Taylor and Mr T. Evans for the splendid manner in which the whole day’s enjoyment was organised. The company returned to Berwick about 8.30, thoroughly satisfied with the day’s outing.

FARM WORKERS’ GALA DAY

The annual Gala of the Workers’ Union took place on the Football Field, Wooler, on Saturday under ideal weather conditions. From early morn the sun shone brightly and though the heat was a little uncomfortable, especially for those who had to cycle from a distance, a cooling breeze at intervals crept down from amongst the hills, and tempered what would otherwise have been sweltering conditions.

The restricted railway service, owing to the coal crisis cut off this means of transit to the gala to some extent but ways and means of getting to Wooler were found by the workers, by bringing into use farm carts, cycles, and other means of wheel conveyance. In the early forenoon there was little evidence in Wooler that any event out of the ordinary was about to take place but by mid-day the streets began to be busy and hourly the throng was augmented. Visitors who are packed like sardines in the many pretty little villa residences clustering on the hillside were greatly interested in the event of the day, which has come to be looked upon as a red letter day in the life of Wooler.

Mr Geo. Blyth, the energetic joint secretary, was busy from early morning laying out the running tracks and wrestling wrings. He was ably assisted by a small committee who deserve to be congratulated on the huge step taken forward this year in organising the sports. A large wired ring was provided for the wrestling bouts, a great improvement on the crowd condition of affairs which prevailed in previous years, and everyone could watch the bouts with an uninterrupted view. The course for the flat racing was lined off and the marks clearly indicated, everything being provided to ensure the smooth working of the events. Another good feature this year was the means taken to ensure that there would be no congestion at the gates trough people requiring change. A “change box” was provided on the other side of the road to the entrance of the field where change was given to anyone requiring it, and the gate keepers were therefore not bothered. Increased prize money for the sports was another good draw, and with the staging of a few side shows and shooting galleries near the entrance the setting of the field was a credit to the ability of Mr Blyth as an organiser.

At two o’clock Kelso Pipe Band swung into the field playing the “Blue Bonnets” and with them came a seemingly never ending stream of people in holiday attire. Some 2500 had passed through the gates by another hour and the field presented an animated appearance. Lemonade and ice-cream vendors did a roaring trade, being sold out of large stocks very quickly. The heat at times was almost unbearable and it was no wonder that Mr A. D. Morton’s cool tea tent should prove one of the busiest centres on the field.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 20 JUNE 1919

21/06/2019 by Northumberland Archives

NOTES FROM SPITTAL

Reconstruction is everywhere on the lips of the people, but not everywhere is it assuming tangible form, as in Spittal. The “Spa Well” is benefiting either by the war or something else, as it is now, and has been for many weeks past undergoing the process of reconstruction. Perhaps after all, the war is not really responsible for all the activity.

The real reason is probably to be found in the fact that the spiggot from which emanated the diuretic fluid had ceased to attract from the spring quantities sufficient to form a medicinal draught, the liquid having become as scarce as whisky in the village. The new structure occupies a site nearer the public highway than does the obsolete well, and when competed will not at least detract from the appearance of the “green”. It is to be hoped that the supply obtainable will be sufficient to meet the needs of visitors and villagers alike. A little gingering up on the part of the Authority to have the work completed is necessary if some of the visitors are to share in the benefits of the potent beverage.

LOCAL NEWS

On Monday, a great day for Tweedmouth, Lord John Sangers’ Circus visited the Meadow Field, and gave two performances. In the afternoon the audience was composed mainly of children, the schools, being granted a half-holiday in honour of the occasion. Another performance was held in the evening, when the huge marquee was packed. It was an all-round good show thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. The horses are all well trained, and one of the most beautiful animals ever seen in the town was “Lily of the Valley,” a pure white Arabian mare, her dancing to music being most graceful. The displays of Indian trick riding on bare-backed horses was most wonderful, and even the great ponderous elephants seem to make quite docile pupils in the hands of capable trainers. Another good item was the two sea lions “Jack” and “Baby,” trained by Leyland to perform the most extraordinary balancing feats with balls, boxes, etc., after which that were rewarded with liberal supplies of fish, eagerly devoured. There were so many items it is impossible to mention all, but the displays of telephone wire walking, dancing, etc., by the ladies were all very fine. Of course no Circus is quite complete without its clowns, and Alberto and Pimpo supplied merriment all through the performances. Most men would rather resent being described as having no backbone, but when applied to Pimpo with his wonderful somersaults and other athletic feats, the description becomes a compliment. He was not only funny but amazingly clever as well, and seemed to be able to do anything from riding bare-back to wire-rope walking etc. To be a circus hand must be a very tiring life, the men are always on the go, and strains of “God Save the King” marking the close of the performance, had scarcely died away, when the attendants started to strip the place. Turning round as one left the tent, the plank upon which one had been seated but a moment before, was, among others, seen piled up on a waggon ready for removal elsewhere. The life is not without its attractions, however, and during the war, as was evidenced by the number of gold stripes and “Mons” chevrons on the sleeves of the attendants, many circus hands have done their bit for the country. The elephants have also been employed on land work.

On Saturday Berwick’s own particular Tank, which is at present lying at the Railway Station, is to crawl to its appointed destination in Palace Green. During the past few days workmen have been busy preparing the site in the centre of the Old Bowling Green, and the railings and part of the wall on the east side have been removed ready for its reception.

Pictured in this early photograph is the WW1 tank in Palace Green, it was positioned there in 1919.

From what we have heard of the capabilities of Tanks, we should have thought that railings and walls would have offered no obstacle to the monster. The official presentation is to be made by Major General Ernest Dunlop Swinton, C.B., D.S.O., R.E., who played so prominent a part in the invention of these tanks. General Swinton, who comes of the same stock as the Berwickshire Swintons, has had a distinguished military career. Entering the army in 1888, his promotion was rapid, and during the South African War he was awarded the D.S.O., and was also mentioned in despatches. In the Great War he has been also mentioned in despatches on several occasions, and in 1917 was made a C.B. The following year he mead a tour in the United States, where he told of his own experiences in the war. He has a considerable reputation as an author, and writes under the pseudonym “Ole-Luk-Oie. His best known works are “The Defence of Duffer’s Drift” (1904), “The Great Tab Done” (1915), and “A Year Ago” (1916). As will be seen from an advertisement in our columns, the inhabitants of Berwick are to be given an opportunity on Saturday of inspecting the inside of the Tank, if they purchase a War Savings Certificate at the temporary bank to be opened in the Scout Hall.

Lieut Stewart Reid, of Foulden, Lost in the Baltic

MEMORIAL SERVICE AT FOULDEN

On Sunday evening a Memorial Service for the men of the village who had fallen in the war was held in the Parish Church. An added element of sadness having come during the past week in the news of the death of Lieut. J. Stewart Reid, D.S.C., R.N., son of the parish minister, caused the solemn proceedings to be partly devoted to that officer’s memory.

The pulpit was draped in black and purple, and a miniature “Jack” hung from the lectern. Behind the pulpit was the White Ensign, and two lovely floral tributes in the shape of an anchor and cross hung on the wall at each side. The communion table was also decorated with a profusion of white lilac blooms.

The tolling of the church bell drew villagers to the place of worship, and in the pews were several whose families had suffered bereavement in the war.

The Rev. John Reid, accompanied by his sons and other relatives, was present during the service.

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