Local News

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 23 JULY 1920

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TWEEDMOUTH JOTTINGS

On Monday afternoon, while driving down the Main Road at High Gate, a horse belonging to Robert Norris, Tweedmouth, took fright to such an engine blowing its whistle, and bolted down Main Street.  A man named James Douglas, who was on the cart, fell off, and was cut and bruised about the head, and, continuing its career, the horse came in contact with a stationary motor car.  Norris, who had kept his head, managed to draw the frightened animal up. The mud-guard of the car was torn off. Douglas, who was stunned by his fall, was taken to Berwick Infirmary for treatment. He is doing as well as can be expected.

TRACTION ENGINE GOES ON ROUND A CORNER ON ONE WHEEL

THE DRIVER’S PLUCK

On the morning of Thursday last a serious accident was averted by the presence of mind of an engine driver named Jack Morrison.  He was bringing a traction engine and mill from Tweedmouth Station to Messrs Bain’s down the South Side of the High Gate when a gear pin on the engine became detached, and the engine commenced to free wheel at great speed down the hill. Knowing the danger of running down Main Street, where there are always children playing about, Morrison made up his mind to take the hairpin turn into Shielfield, the hill there being calculated to stop the engine’s career. 

Photograph of the Berwick Bridge.  The “Bridge Toll House” stood near to where the sundial is situated at the Berwick end of the bridge. © Copyright Chris Morgan, (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3098053.

The traction engine took the turn at great speed, going round practically on one wheel, and then Morrison came face to face with another problem, several motor cars being on the road further up.  At great danger to himself, he took the only course open to him, and swung the engine dead into the wall at Turret Villa.  The engine knocked a clean hole in the wall and came to a stop.  Morrison being little worse of his adventure.  The foreman jumped off the engine before they reached the railway bridge.

SNIPPET FROM LETTER

Some time ago you had a report in your paper in reference to the “Bridge Toll House,” and the place stated was at the end of the bridge.  Now, this was not the case, for it was in one of the recesses at the top of the bank on the bridge — the one next to the Sundial.  I can remember seeing this, seeing I had to pass it so often when a young man.  I was told by father, and also my grandfather, the gates were just on the Bridge End. My grandfather, being one of the Coastguards, helped to pull them down. 

In the background is Holy Island Castle, occupied at one time by the Coastgaurd, and where Mr Scott’s grandfather was held after his misdeed. © Copyright Christine Matthews,(CC BY-SA 2.0) https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1239975.

There is another report in reference to Holy Island Castle, and I can endorse part of the history given by you about the Coastguards living in the Castle: for my mother’s father was banished from Spittal to the Castle because of my father’s grave misdeed in marrying his daughter.  This was the punishment meted out to him, and I can remember paying a visit there when a boy.  I mention this to show the difference then and now.  Even after 50 years’ absence except for annual visits, I have still a kindly feeling for the old town. — I remain, yours sincerely. James Scott, 30, Chatterton Street, Southwick, Sunderland.

LOCAL NEWS

On Sunday a most successful motor char-a-banc tour of the Borders was held by the clerical and locomotive staff of Berwick Station.  Leaving Berwick about nine o’clock in the morning, the journey was made through the beautiful pastoral scenery of the Merse, by way of Duns, Greenlaw, and Earlston, on to Melrose, where an alfresco lunch was very much enjoyed. 

Adam Logan’s charabanc pictured in Sandgate in the early 1900s, with a patry about to set off on a trip. Adam Logan himself is pictured standing on the left of the picture.  A similar vehicle transported the clerical and locomotive staff of Berwick station on their tour of the borders.  Image in the collection of Fred Kennington.

The company then proceeded on to Selkirk, where a most enjoyable tea was served in the Fleece Hotel.  A few hours were spent in song and sentiment, and Selkirk being left behind.  Kelso was reached by way of St Boswells, and a little time was spent looking round the pretty little town.  While here the trippers saw the competitors in the reliability run of Berwick Motor Club pass through. Berwick was reached about 9.30, the entire company being highly satisfied with the tour, upon which the sun had smiled all day

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 25 JUNE 1920

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    THE BAKERS’ STRIKE

    EMPLOYERS TO CARRY ON WITH IMPORTED OPERATIVES

    PLENTY BREAD STILL ON SALE

    Another phase of the strike of operative bakers in Berwick took place at week-end, when the employers, standing out against the £4 minimum and the 44 hour week of the Scottish Award, hardened their hearts, and left the men whose notices had expired to roll up their aprons and clear out.

    Mr J. I. Cairns adopted Lord Fisher’s injunction and “sacked the lot, “bringing in their places operatives from the south of England. Other firms have carried on with their staffs who were non-union, and the men regret that there have been two backsliders from the Union ranks.

    A 1950s photograph of J Cairns the bakers shop in Marygate.  In June, 1920, during the bakers’ strike, Mr Cairns adopted a hard line approach to his workforce. Ref: BRO 1250-23

    Branch Secretary Huntley of the men’s organisation has started work at Tweedmouth Co-Operative Society which is paying the full Scottish Award, and has adopted the 44 hours week. Mr Thompson, baker, Bridge Street, has also granted his men the Scottish rate, and is working full time on the 44 hours basis.

    A representative of the men, on being interviewed, said he hoped his colleagues would hold out, though he regretted to say there had been two backsliders. He considered the employers were very belated with their pledge to treat with the men should they become affiliated to an English Union. “It is only a shuffle,” he said. “They knew very well that we would naturally join a Scottish Union when they, the employers, were members of a Scottish master bakers’ Association. If it is legal for employers to organise under a Scottish Association from Berwick, why should the workers be told, although they are doing the same thing and becoming members of a Scottish Operatives’ Union, that they cannot be met, as Berwick is an English Borough. My belief is, “he concluded, “that had we joined an English Union, employers would still have told us they did not recognise us, because we were not members of a Scottish Union.”

    A master baker interviewed, said he was managing to carry on quite well, and was determined to hold out. He reiterated the view that the Scottish Master Bakers could not recognise an English Borough coming under a Scottish award. The whole matter was being contested on principle.

    Mr Morton, of Glasgow, a Union organiser, visited Berwick on Monday, and held a conference with the men on strike. He may be back in the town at the weekend.

    There is, we understand, 5s difference between the regional award for England and the Scottish award. The English wage is 75s, and the Scottish 80s per week. Berwick, situated as it is, gives more trouble to Master Organisations and Trade Unions than any other borough in the Kingdom, owing to the various industries having labour organised either in Scotland or England.

    NEW VICAR OF ST MARY’S, BERWICK

    The Rev. Samuel Edward Raymond Fenning, Curate of Cwmdu, Glamorgan, has been presented by the Dean and Chapter of Durham to the Vicarage of St. Mary’s, Berwick, vacated by the Rev. H. F. H. Henderson. After studying in London, Mr Fenning was ordained deacon in 1911 and priest the following year. He first held a curacy at Cymmer with Porth (Glamorgan) from 1911-13, and in 1917 was appointed a Chaplain to the Territorial Forces, serving for two years. He is the proud possessor of the M.C. Mr Fenning is a distinctly popular cleric in the Cwmdu parish, and has manifested a keen interest in all parochial organisations.

    The former St Mary’s church in Castlegate, now converted into flats, where the Rev. Samuel Edward Raymond Fenning was installed as vicar in June 1920.  And where Mr John Inglis served as an office-bearer. © Peter Bond, (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

    This has been a very poor week for the Tweed Salmon Net Fishings. The wind having changed from the seaward to the west, takes immediately took off. Trout and grilse are still very scarce and the retail price per lb. for salmon has risen to 3s 10d.

    On Tuesday afternoon a 15-inch souvenir shell arrived in Berwick addressed to Councillor Dixon as Chairman of the Local War Savings Committee, as a gift from the National War Savings Committee for the Borough’s efforts during “Aeroplane” week. The shell, which weighed 11 cwt., was enclosed in a box and it took three Corporation employees to house it in the Butter Market.

    NOTES FROM SPITTAL

    Considerable interest is being taken in the new cinema show which has opened in the Spittal Hall. Formerly, when a cinema entertainment was held here, it was the mecca of visitors when weather conditions were not favourable for sitting out on the beach and prom.

    Race Week brought a good many former residents back to the township from the Tyneside, and excellent weather favoured the invasion. There were also a few additional visitors arriving at the week-end from the Borders, and the beach had quite a summery appearance.

    Mr Alf Rick has arrived with his troupe of Pierrots, and visitors are assured of a breezy open-air entertainment. Prior to the war, Mr Rick and his assistants succeeded in drawing crowds from Berwick in the evenings, and if the war has not killed the sense of humour, he should still succeed in doing so.

    A. Johnson continued his winning career in fine style by securing the 1st three prizes in Spittal Homing Society’s 4th O.B. race from Oxford, 278 miles, on Saturday. Fifty birds competed in the race, and they were liberated at 8 a.m. by Mr V. Stone, light south-west wind. About ten birds arrived home together, and the result was as follows :- 1, 2 and 3, A. Johnson, 1283, 1275, 1274 yds. Per minute; 4th, A. Dixon, 1268; 5th H. Young, 1266. The 6d. and 2s “pools” and Secretary’s Nomination prize were won by A. Johnson. While the Spittal birds had the benefit of the breeze on Saturday, the Bournemouth Central H. S. birds, liberated at Spittal by A. Dixon at 6.5 a.m., did not arrive home until after 6 p.m. Saturday’s race will be from Longhoughton, ringing 1.15 to 1.45.

    LOCAL NEWS

    On Sunday last Mr and Mrs John Inglis, Cockburn’s Buildings, Berwick, celebrated their silver wedding, and were the recipients of presents and congratulations from a large circle of friends. Several relations travelled from a distance to be present on the happy occasion. Mr Inglis, who is the third son of the late Mr Peter Inglis, Berwick, was married in Bankhill Church to Miss Margaret Hall, second daughter of the late Mr Thomas Hall, foreman lorryman with Messrs Mutter Howey, by Mr McGregor, who was their minister, on 20th June 1895. “Jack” is well-known to all dealing in the cattle business, having followed the droving and transport of stock from his youth. During the last great railway strike he frequently took charge of large droves of cattle, proceeding by road to Newcastle and Haddington markets. He is also an office-bearer in the St. Mary’s Church. We trust the worthy couple will be spared to celebrate even yet another 25 years of married life.

    BERWICK ADVERTISER, 28 MAY 1920

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    TWEEDMOUTH

    GIRLS’ NATIONAL SCHOOL

    Empire Day was celebrated at Tweedmouth Girls’ National School on Tuesday forenoon. Early in the morning the girls, under the direction of their class mistresses, decorated the schoolroom with flags, bunting and flowers, transforming the whole appearance of the room. Daisy-chains were made by eager hands, and formed a part of the scheme of decoration. Ropes of daisies were also worn by the girls, who were in pretty frocks for the occasion. A programme of songs and recitations was gone through, two special items being the reciting of poems specially written by Mr T. Grey, Church Road, Tweedmouth, for the occasion. The programme was:- Unison song, “Land of Hope and Glory”; duet, Daisy Shiels and Edith Todd; recitation (by T. Grey), Andrina Davidson; Unison  song, “Ye Mariners of England”; duet, E. Todd and M. Gray; recitation (Grey), Mary Newies; piano solo, E. Robertson; unison song , Standards I. and II.; duet, “Fairy Barque,” M. Douglas and E. Oxley; recitation, I. and A. Crossthwaite; unison song, “The Roast Beef of England.”

    HENRY FIELDING 1670-1758
    “The Roast Beef of Old England” is an English patriotic ballad written by Henry Fielding, and was first performed in 1731. Today, 
    the Royal Navy always goes in to dine at Mess Dinners to the tune, which is also played at United States Marine Corps 
    formal mess dinners during the presentation of the beef. Officers of the Royal Artillery are also played in to dinner by this tune. 

    After the programme was gone through the girls adjourned to the playground, where in the bright sunny weather, Miss May Todd, clad in white, took the salute to the Union Jack. The pupils then went through the grand march, each girl carrying a flag and wearing a daisy-chain wreath. The Rev. P. G. Peacocke addressed the girls on the meaning of Empire Day. During the morning’s proceedings Miss Helyer, Headmistress of the school, was presented with a bouquet of roses, and one of lilies and tulips. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the teachers for their share in the day’s celebrations and a special vote of thanks was also accorded to Mr T. Grey for his kindness in writing the poems recited by the girls. In the afternoon the programme was repeated, the parents being present.

    LOCAL NEWS

    On Thursday last, Thomas Tait, jun., and Richard Disslington, both of Berwick, were convicted of angling in the river Tweed, on the 13th day of May instant, for the purpose of killing or taking the spawn, fry, or young brood of salmon, and were severally fined in the mitigated penalty of ten pounds. A rather stiff penalty, but smolt catchers need have no fear of a like penalty now-a-days. This happened 100 years ago.

    In view of the fact that certain meat traders in North Northumberland are considering a co-operative scheme for dealing with meat after decontrol on July 4th, by the proposed formation of a Control Board, farmers would be well advised to strengthen their Co-Operative Slaughterhouse Societies. Unless agriculturists are more enthusiastic in the Northumbrian Farmers’ Co-Operative Slaughterhouse Society, thinks the Newcastle Journal, there is a probability that its operations will be suspended by July 4th.

    The Whitsuntide holidays brought a large influx of visitors to the town at the week-end and on Monday. Several large motor char-a bancs were to be seen drawn up in High Street, while others went on through the town to destinations further afield. Several of the shopkeepers in the town did remarkably well, the visitors seeming to be anxious to take some memento of their Berwick trip home with them. A number of the visitors hailed from the Widdrington district, and a cricket team having travelled north from that centre, played and beat the Berwick eleven on the Pier Field. A number of the visitors made their way to the seaside, the conditions there being ideal. The catering establishments in the town did a brisk trade, and Mr J. Walker, Castlegate, was compelled to use the Red Lion Assembly Room to seat his customers.

    The placing of boys and girls in suitable employment when they leave school is engaging the attention of the Education Committee, and in response to a request by the Ministry of Labour, schoolmasters and teachers are being instructed to send in the names of all boys and girls leaving school at the end of the term, to Mr Topping, at the Labour Exchange. This new method of placing children leaving school in suitable employment will fill a much felt want. There are undoubtedly many cases where boys and girls leave school without any fixed idea of what trade they will follow, and the result has been that after many weeks of idleness they drift into some occupation not entirely suitable.

    PARK’S COMMITTEE

    The Clerk read the report of the Parks Committee of the 18th inst., recommending the Authority to have the guns on the Walls replaced on their former position, and the carriages for the same repaired at an estimated cost of £40. The estimate, it was stated, would cover the cost of repairing the carriages and re-painting.

    Councillor Morrison moved the adoption of the report and Councillor Peter Cowe seconded.

    Councillor Compbell said he could not well see where the economy came in when the Authority were not dealing with the matter of the footpath at Castle Hills, which would be to the advantage of the town, and were yet willing to spend £40 in putting the guns back in their former positions, which would not benefit the inhabitants in the least. He could not see the logic of the procedure, and moved as an amendment that the guns be not put back.

    Councillor Dudgeon seconded, and said the guns at the top of Coxon’s Lane were a source of danger to children, who climbed on them, and through falling off sustained nasty accidents. Why, he asked, should they spend money on a matter like this and grudge it for a footpath, which would be a decided benefit.

    Looking towards the Brass Bastion from the Cumberland Bastion on the Elizabethan Walls at Berwick-upon-Tweed.  In 1920, the guns which were situated next to the Cumberland Bastion (not in their original positions) on the town’s walls, were the source of much debate by local councillors on the viability of restoring and placing them back in their original positions. © Richard Law – cc-by-sa/2.0- © Richard Law – geograph.org.uk/p/911095.

    Councillor Dixon said he considered it would be a great pity if these guns were not put into position. Berwick was a fortified town, and the old guns gave a tone to the Walls. They were always a source of interest to visitors who went round the Walls. Had they been new guns they were mounting it would have been quite different.

    Councillor Morrison – Councillor Campbell inferred the guns were no use. They are one of the attractions the Borough possesses.

    Councillor Campbell said if anyone had sentimental feelings about the old guns it should be Councillor Cowe and himself, who had worked on them night after night in the old days, but if he allowed himself to consider that, he would be stretching his personal feelings too far, when other matters in the town, more essential, were required.

    Councillor Wilson remarked that the question of the footpath at Castle Hills had not been turned down, but was going back to the Committee.

    On the question being put to the vote, there voted for the resurrection of the guns and their repair and replacement 20, and for the amendment.

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