ARMISTICE DAY
TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE
Following on the wishes of the King that all work should cease for two minutes and that at the hour of eleven all pedestrians should pause as a remembrance of the Signing of the Armistice, the wish was carried out to the letter in Berwick.
In the stroke of eleven a signal rocket fired from the Coast Guard Station brought everyone to a halt. Machinery ceased to run in the workshops, carters stood at attention beside their horses in the streets and all residents with certain exceptions noticeable in their disregard of the recommendation, paused in the ordinary routine of work.
These exceptions amongst whom were Lord Joicey, who drove through the street during the “silence” and a young conscientious objector, may have carried on as usual more out of forgetfulness than anything else. We hope such was the case.
High Street, usually busy about this time of day, was a quiet as at midnight and at the sound of the second rocket, two minutes later life seemed again to start.
Services were held in the Parish Church this being two minutes silent prayer, the singing of two hymns, prayer and the National Anthem. At St. Mary’s Church the bell was tolled.
At the Barracks the men of the Depot, K.O.S.B., were paraded and inspected by the Commanding Officer, Major McAlester, D. S. O., at the sound of the first rocket they smartly came to attention. “Last Post” and “the Reveille” were sounded when the second rocket announced the two minutes to be up.
HONORARY FREEDOM OF BERWICK
CONFERRED ON MAYOR AND SHERIFF
There was a small company present in the old Guild Hall, Berwick, on Thursday afternoon, when occasion was taken to present the Honorary Freedom of the Borough to the Mayor (Alderman J. W. Plenderleith) and the Sheriff (Councillor Thos. Wilson) in recognition of their services they have rendered to the Borough during the war.
Among those present we observed Mr A. Tower Robertson, Councillors Darling, Dixon, Bolus, Morrison, W. C. Richardson, Cowe, Ald. Turnbull, Ald. Richardson, Mrs T. C. Smith, the Mayoress, Mrs Wilson, Mrs Riddell, Mrs Maclagan, Mr and Mrs James Gibson, Mrs Hamilton, Mr Jos. Macdonald, Mr J. W. Blench, Mr H. Stuart, Mr G. N. Broadbent, Mr J. B. Beveridge and Mrs Beveridge, Mr Willits, Rev. C. L. Stowe, Mrs Redburn, Miss Purves, Mrs Gregson, Mrs Bolus, etc., etc.
The Mayor and Sheriff were accompanied on the Bench by Ald. Maclagan, Mr P. M. Henderson, Mr T. C. Smith, and other officials.
Ald. Maclagan called upon the Treasurer to read the minute of the Council conferring the Honorary Freedom. The minute had been beautifully engrossed and illuminated ready for framing, and was the work of Mr Clements.
THE PRESENTATION
Ald. Maclagan, who presided, said this was probably an unprecedented occasion. He had never known of any case in which the Mayor and Sheriff while holding office had been made Honorary Freemen of the Borough, but he was sure all present would agree that the honour was equally deserved by these gentlemen as by any other. (Applause). He knew of no one who had taken a greater interest in the work than the present Mayor. (Applause). During the war the duties of the office were heavy, and it, was somewhat of a trial to be Mayor in times of distress. He felt sure the town had reason to congratulate itself that they had such a Mayor as Ald. James Weatherhead Plenderleith. (Applause).
Continuing, Ald. Maclagan said Ald. Plenderleith had been well seconded in the arduous work by the Sheriff, Councillor Thos. Wilson. (Applause). He considered the town had done a wise thing in conferring the Freedom of the Borough on these two gentlemen.
Alderman Maclagan then formally presented the parchments to the recipients, and asked then to sign the Freemen’s Roll, which they did.
THE MAYOR’S THANKS
The Mayor, on rising, was heartily applauded, and in a few sentences retuned his thanks for the high honour conferred upon him on the eve of his leaving the town. He felt that he could now for all time consider himself a citizen of the town.
LOCAL NEWS
The County Council and the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed have to contribute 20 per cent between them towards the cost of the new bridge, which it is proposed to build over the Tweed at Berwick.
As the result of the recent conference at Berwick between Sir Eric Geddes, Mr Killick, chief engineer to the Joint Road Committee, and Mr J. A. Bean, county Surveyor, a new design in ferro-concrete and masonry is being prepared, and as soon as the new plan is ready it will be placed in the hands of the Road Transport Board for their consideration. It is eight years ago since M. T. B. Short formally drew attention of the County Council to the need for a new bridge at Berwick, the war being responsible for a good deal of the delay, and at the meeting of the Berwick Sanitary Authority on Monday Alderman Short told the members of the attitude he had taken up on behalf of the town in Newcastle.
SEVERE STORM AT BERWICK
HAIL, SNOW, GALE and HEAVY SEA.
The storm which has raged over the district in the beginning of the week has caused fishing operations to be suspended, and heavy seas have thundered on the coast, hacked up with a gale from the E.N.E.
The Pier has been swept by heavy breakers, and a wooden seat has been torn from its fastenings. So violent was the “rush” coming into the river mouth that the Pier Road was often awash and spray from the waves breaking against the cement wall was flying against the houses.
The Greens’ Haven, usually shelted by the bulwark of yards out, was like a seething caldron, and fishermen had to be on the alert to see that the riding ropes of cobles were strong enough to hold.
The doors of the Ladies’ bathing House were burst in by the rude force of the waves, and there have also been several falls of cliff stone by the violence of the weather.
In the town, conditions were miserable, snow followed hail, and the wind beat both with violence in the faces of pedestrians. Roads were in a deplorable state, and did not at all make good going for those using motors.
The sea moderated somewhat by Tuesday, but here was still too much broken water about to allow the fishermen resuming their occupation.
There was a heavy snowstorm on Thursday, and the district was covered to a depth of several inches by a white mantle. Snow was falling heavily at mid-day.