Ford Parish Church

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 26 AUGUST 1920

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FORD WAR MEMORIAL

IMPRESSIVE DEDICATION SERVICE

The old grey stone church at Ford, with its appearance of serene antiquity, must, in past associations with the historic castle, have witnessed many a solemn scene through the long centuries, but surely none so solemn as that on Sunday evening last, when the magnificent war memorial to the sons of the parish who fell in the Great War was unveiled and dedicated.  Nineteen made the supreme sacrifice, a son of the Castle, as well as lads from the farms and villages, and on Sunday the relatives and friends of the men met to commemorate their loved ones, and in doing so to draw inspiration from their heroic example. 

Ford Church, where in August 1920, a dedication service took place for the “magnificent war memorial” dedicated to the sons from the Ford area who fell in WW1. © Mollie, Wikimedia Commons. 

It was a glorious summer evening, and in the brilliant sunshine from far and near, came motorists, cyclists, and those afoot, in such numbers that seating accommodation was quite insufficient, and many had to stand at the back of the church and in the entrance porch, throughout the service.  As the waiting crowd filed slowly into the church, there floated through the building the soft tones of the Largo Appassionata movement, with its solemn staccato accompaniment from Beethoven’s second Sonata, played on the fine organ by Mr. J. H. Binks.  Seats were reserved for the relatives, and the pews in the south aisle, neath the memorial were occupied most fittingly by the Comrades of the dead heroes who were fortunate enough to return from the war, and who paraded under Comrade T. Henry, Crookham.  The beautiful service, specially drafted for the occasion, was conducted by Bishop Neligan, Rector of Ford, printed copies having being distributed amongst those present.  The lessons were read by Lord Joicey, Ford Castle, and the sermon preached by Professor Albert A. Cock, University College, Southampton, who took the place of Bishop Welldon, Dean of Durham, who was unable to fulfil his promise to assist.    

LOCAL NEWS

Capt. Alfred Goodson, who is to marry Miss Joan Leyland, is a Yeomanry officer, and is the eldest son of Sir Alfred and Lady Goodson, of Waddeton Court, Brixham, as well as Kilham, Mindrum.  Sir Alfred Goodson, who was knighted in 1915, says the “Daily Mail,” a Manchester and London merchant and manufacturer, and a director of Goodsons, Ltd.  He was at one time with Messrs Hitchcock, Williams and Co., of St Paul’s churchyard, and afterwards started business in the mantle trade., building up a huge business.  A member of the Council of the National Pony Society, he is specially interested in horse breeding and agriculture, and has taken many prises with his hackneys, including the hackney championship.  He owns a great deal of property in the Knutsford district of Cheshire.  Captain Graham Leventhorpe, D.S.O., of the Royal Field Artillery, who is to marry Mrs Geoffrey Lambton, Mr and Mrs Leyland’s other daughter, is a fine cricketer.  Mrs Lambton was first married in June 1914, and her husband was killed at the front early in September of the same year.  Their daughter, Monica, was born after his death.

Visitors on the Magdalene Fields Golf Course on Monday evening were greatly interested in witnessing a match between two ex-soldiers who had both lost an arm in the war.  One was minus the right arm and the other had had his left arm taken off at the shoulder.  Both men drove and approached the greens much better than several of the most experienced players of the club could do, and they very seldom pulled a ball into the rough.  A Berwick golfer, asked for his opinion on the men’s play, remarked he would not like to be giving a small handicap to either of them.  The peculiarity of the play of the man who lost his right arm, was that he played right handed with his wrist in front of the club.  Though his stroke was more of the nature of a “pull” than a “drive,” he got marvellous results.

NEW BRIDGE AT BERWICK STATION

THE WORK COMMENCED

Operations have been started by the North British Railway in the preliminary work connected with the erection of a new bridge carrying the Great North Road over the railway at Berwick Station.  A large number of workmen are now engaged shifting the tracks of water and gas mains and preparing the foundation for supporting the piers. 

Royal Border Bridge ealry 1990s. © Berwick Record Office – BRO 515 377

The new bridge which, it is understood, will be constructed of steal, will provide a sweeping approach to the North Road—an improvement which will be greatly appreciated by motorists.  It will be so constructed as to fit in with plans for the new station which the Company proposes to build when labour and material are more easily procured.

A portion of the parapet of the old stone bridge has been removed, and as work on the construction of the temporary bridge progresses other portions of walling will be taken down.  The work is attended with some difficulty as the continuous run of traffic north and south cannot be held up.  Workmen digging foundations and shifting the water mains are frequently stopped until the lines are clear.  Telephone and telegraph wires are also being reconnected to new poles. 

The present stone bridge, which is in a tumble down state, dates back to the time when the station was built.  Originally the road from the town led down by the bank to the coal and implement dock and up the sunken road between the present stone bridge and Tommy the Miller’s field.  The original stone of the retaining wall of this portion of the great north road is still visible from Tommy the Miller’s.

In those days the top of Castlegate was much different to what it is now.  The river side of Tweed Street and a part of the landward side were grassy banks known as the Windmill Hole.  It was no easy way of finding one’s way into the town in the dark and one such case occurred where a gentleman riding into the town on horseback fell over the banks at Windmill Hole and was seriously injured.

When the new Station at Berwick does come—it has been promised so long that some fear it will never materialise—considerable alteration will be made in the “lies” and ground near the old castle.  If excavations go on, antiquarians may find some interesting remains of olden days unearthed, as hereabouts the network of underground passages and chambers have never fully been traced.

NOTES FROM SPITTAL

The Admiralty Certificate of honourable mention in dispatches has been awarded to James Patterson, for having sighted an enemy submarine and assisted in its destruction while serving on one of H.M. mine sweepers.  The certificate was handed over by Lieut.-Commander James Toohey at the Customs House on Monday.

Once more the lifeboat has come back to Spittal, and now rests on the sands below Sandstell Road.  It is the intention of the lifeboatmen to erect a temporary shed over the boat and carriage to save it from the weather, and also from the attentions of the children, who in their curiosity have been climbing about it and doing minor damage. 

Image 8 – Lifeboat – RNLB Matthew Simpson – Left to Right – Not known, Not known, Not known, John Wood, Knot known, Jack Lough, George Lough, Bartholomew Lough, Thomas Martin (possible), Not known, Not Known, Alex Patterson Lough.

The permanent house for the new motor lifeboat has not yet been started, but we believe it will be erected near the east side of the ferry landing on the high ground.  A trolley line is proposed to be laid below the lifeboat house leading down to low water mark, and the motor boat will be lowered from the house by electrically driven winches and davits, with its carriage on to the trolley lines when launching.  Though the full particulars of the proposed lifeboat house are not available, it may be taken that it will be thoroughly up to date and fitted with the latest time and labour-saving devices.

An open race was to have been flown from Alnmouth on Saturday, but owing to the heavy rain the birds were returned by rail, the weather being so bad for liberation.  The race will be flown on Saturday first.  The club programme will be concluded on Saturday, when the Nottingham Y.B. race will be flown.  The birds will be liberated at 9.45 a.m., ringing today (Friday) 2 p.m.  The Vice-President (Mr Morton Boston) has kindly given the first prize.

This Week in World War One, 5 May 1916

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Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 5 MAY 1916

 

BERWICK BOUNDS RIDING

Quiet Ceremony

 

For the 308th time the customary riding of Berwick Bounds took place on Monday. Few gentlemen made the round of the marches by conveyance, but there was again a fair proportion of equestrians, the number only being one short from that of last year. At twelve o’clock the procession led off from the parade, where a large concourse of spectators had assembled to witness the gathering, by way of Cowport Gate to the Magdalene Field and Jingling Bridge, when they struck the main road. The conveyances followed the usual route by way of Church Street, High Street, Castlegate, and North Road. Arriving at Whitadder Bridge the company were provided with a liberal refreshment, and the usual ceremonies were gone through. The company arrived back during the afternoon, and a halt being called in front of the Town Hall, the mayor briefly returned his thanks to all who had completed the circuit.

The Berwick Riding of the Bounds, the riders crossing the Jingling Bridge - © Berwick Record Office, BRO 1944-1-7215-20-018.
The Berwick Riding of the Bounds, the riders crossing the Jingling Bridge – © Berwick Record Office, BRO 1944-1-7215-20-018.

 

The horsemen were as follows:- Mr John Cameron, Vetinary Surgeon, Berwick; Mr R. Buchannan, Berwick; Master Moffat, West Edge; Capt. J. C. Collingwood and Miss Collingwood.

There also rode in the conveyances – His Worship the Mayor (Ald. J. W. Plenderleith), Sheriff Matthew Ross, Councillor Thos. Wilson, Mr Jas. Gibson, Acting Town Clerk; and Mr Johnston, Sergeant-at-Mace- first carriage. Ald. Maclagan, Mr H. W. Willits, Councillor Brewis, Councillor W. J. Dixon, Chief Constable Nicholson, Councillor F. Richardson, Councillor W. Richardson, Ald. H. Greenwood, and Mr Blaikie, jun., acting Sergeant-at-Mace – second carriage. Mr Robert Jeffrey and Private Albert Richardson – third carriage. Five cyclists also started out upon the round.

This year it was agreed that owing to the exceptional period of national stress through which we are passing, the no Bounds Dinner be held. It need not, however, be inferred that the absence of the customary spread had anything at all to do with the small attendance present.

 

OFFICER AND PRIVATE

BADLY INJURED BY GRENADE AT BELFORD

 

A most unfortunate and serious accident took place at Belford in the early hours of Tuesday evening in which a Lieutenant and a Private of the Northern Cyclists quartered in the district were involved. It appears that the officer was in charge of a small section a little way out of the village and was instructing the men in the art of grenade throwing. In the meantime, it is inadvisable to record how the unfortunate event occurred, but we may state that for some accidental reason a grenade exploded near to the Private and the Lieutenant, both of whom sustained wounds of an extensive and serious character. They were removed with all speed to Alnwick Infirmary, where, up to the time of writing, the lie in a rather critical condition. The sad occurrence cast quite a gloom over the village, where both the unfortunate men were well known. The hope is freely expressed on all hands that science may be able to alleviate their sever suffering.

 

LOCAL NEWS

 

Accident to a Well Known Butcher – The many friends of Mr Shiel Dods butcher, Berwick, will learn with regret that he met with a nasty accident on Monday morning at his slaughter house, Tweedmouth. He had been dispatching and weighing sheep for the London market, when in turning to leave his foot slipped, and he was brought to the ground with a nasty jerk. It was thought at first that he had broken his leg, but on being examined by Dr C. L. Fraser, it was discovered that the sinew of his right leg had been snapped. He was removed home to his residence in High Street. It is understood while the injury to Mr Dods is not of a serious character, it has been decided to remove him to the Infirmary, where a slight operation will be performed. A specialist may be called in to assist.

A recent photograph showing Berwick Infirmary. © Rod Allday, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.
A recent photograph showing Berwick Infirmary. © Rod Allday, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.

 

Ambulance Aid in time Emergency – Our readers will probably be interested and gratified to learn that arrangements have been made for coping with any circumstances which require ambulance assistance in times of emergency during the war. In consequence of a recent meeting held between representatives of the Infirmary, the Chief Constable, and officials of the two local ambulance organisations, and subsequently with the Chief Scout Master, the following arrangements have been made. By courtesy of the parties interested three stations will be available: (1) for Berwick, “The Infirmary, “ (2) for Tweedmouth, “The Mitchell Memorial Hall” in Kiln Hill and (3) for Spittal. “The Police Station” at Spittal. As soon as occasion arises, and if sufficient warning be given, a staff of ambulance workers will immediately proceed to each of these stations, and boy scouts will, also, be detailed to each station to act as messengers and orderlies. Steps have been taken to furnish each station with the necessary appliances, and it is hoped by these means that, in the unhappy event of first aid being required, ample assistance will be forthcoming.

 

WEDDING BELLS IN WAR TIME

Pretty Ceremony at Ford

 

On Tuesday, May 2nd, at Ford Parish Church, Northumberland, the marriage took place of the Rev. T. J. Parry, temporary chaplain at the Front, second son of Mr James Parry of Halesworth, Suffolk, and Miss Betty Neligan, eldest daughter of the Right Rev. Bishop Neligan, D.D., and Mrs Neligan of Ford Rectory, Northumberland.

The ceremony was performed by Bishop Neligan, the father of the bride, and was choral. The Church was most tastefully decorated with flowers, kindly given by Lord Joicey, from the gardens of Ford Castle.

The bride who walked up the aisle on the arm of her brother, Cadet M. D. M. Neligan, R.N., was given away by her mother, who wore a pale grey dress of liberty silk and chiffon and a black hat.

The bride was charmingly dressed in a white liberty crepe de chine gown with a simple train and tulle veil, and carried a beautiful bouquet of white flowers. She was attended by two bridesmaids, Miss Helen Neligan (sister) and Miss Joan Ackland (cousin), whose pretty dresses were shell pink liberty crepe de chine with black picture hats and wreaths of forget-me-nots. They carried lovely bouquets of pink carnations and silver chain bags, the gift of the bridegroom.

The best man was Captain Parry, D.S.O., 4th Suffolk Regiment, brother of the bridegroom. Both he and his brother were in service khaki uniforms.

The charming bouquets were made by Mr Jackson, head gardener of Ford Castle.

Ford Castle and Parish Church, part of the Ford and Etal estate. © N T Stobbs - Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.
Ford Castle and Parish Church, part of the Ford and Etal Estate. © N T Stobbs – Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.

 

The Church was filled with friends and parishioners, including Lord Joicey, the Hon. Marguerite Joicey, and Mrs Macray, grandmother of the bride. All the friends assembled at the Rectory afterwards, when a presentation was made by Lord Joicey and Mr Gray, on behalf of the parishioners of Ford Parish of a very handsome pair of tall silver candlesticks. The presents included many handsome cheques.

The happy couple left later in a motor for St. Mary’s Loch, where the short honeymoon will be spent before the bridegroom returns to the Front. The bride’s going away dress was a dark blue gabardine coat and skirt with pale chiffon blouse and black straw hat with pale blue flowers.