BERWICK FAIR

Shorn of much of its former glory, Berwick Fair was opened by the Mayor and other civic heads on Friday last, when as usual the procession, headed by the Borough Police under Chief Constable Nicholson and the Sergeant at Mace, made a tour up the High Street and returned round the booths. High Street presented a busy appearance, thereafter the dish sellers making the air alive with the rattle of crockery and banter.

The cattle and grain markets were held on the Friday as in former years but why this is so seems a little strange when one hears so much about increasing the production on the land. Why farmers should have to attend market on a Friday and the farm servants come in force to the town on the day following does not look as if the tillage of the land was being made of first importance. Surely some arrangement might be made for the market day and Saturday half-holiday to take place together and prevent the wastage of valuable time. It cannot be that the cattle market is held on a day when the streets will not be so thronged with people, for that market is again held on the Saturday.

The absence of the May Day Horse Procession detracted from the proceedings on Saturday though the Scout Band filled up the afternoon and gave inspiring pipe selections to large audiences.

In High Street there was the usual collection of booths and for the first year since 1914 there were yards upon yards of floor cloth on offer at reasonable prices. Dalzell, the ‘witty’, who can charm the most hardened purchasers, Harris who can sell an axe guaranteed to chop the head off the entire Hohenzollern family, and a representative of one of the lost tribes or Israel, did a fine business during the day.

There was one round-about on the Parade this year and several side shows. Staid residents so far unbent to enjoy a “whirl” round in “motors” which never need to have running repairs done to them, while the popular houp-la, kindled the gambling instincts in those who look for something for nothing.

With things in a more settled condition next year it is hoped the Fair will once more come into its own, or at least have a share of its past glamour.

For the first time within memory the “mug stalls” finished up on Monday night, packing up and clearing out on Tuesday to the great disappointment of many intending purchasers who held off till Tuesday and Wednesday in the hope of scooping up bargains on the last two days of the Fair.

NORHAM WAR MEMORIAL

SOLEMN DEDICATION CEREMONY IN HISTORIC VILLAGE

On Wednesday evening the historic village of Norham, famous in story and hoary in legendary associations, saw the dedication of a memorial to the men who in the late war faced all the devilries of modern warfare and fell in the fight for all that mankind holds dear.

Down on a grassy patch near the entrance to the Churchyard the memorial reared its graceful pillar, clearly outlined against the background of summer green, holding its symbol of sacrifice aloft as an inspiration to all passers-by.

The ceremony was naturally tinged with sadness, but yet in those who had suffered and were gathered to see the unveiling of a memorial to the memory of their lost ones, there was a feeling of honourable pride that they were called upon to share in the sacrifice of their loved ones.

THE MEMORIAL CROSS

The cross, which was erected by public subscription from the inhabitants of the village, the highest and most humble, was placed on order some time ago with Messrs Rhind, sculptors, Belford Road, Edinburgh, the firm which executed the Leitholm memorial. The design chosen was that of an old 10th Century Celtic Cross ( or St. Cuthbert’s Cross), with ornamental band carving symbolical of eternal life. The bases of the cross are in three tiers, and the ground space covered is about 5 ½ feet square. The shaft rises some ten feet, is ornamented with the symbolic band work, and the inscription in raised letters. The whole is surmounted by an ornamented St. Cuthbert’s Cross.

The inscription on the shaft reads as follows: -“Erected to the memory of those who laid down their lives for their country in the Great War, from August 1914, to November 1918.” Below the inscription is a space left upon which to engrave a full list of the names of those who have fallen. On the base is the inscription: – “Lest we forget those who laid down their lives that we might live.” The stone chosen for the memorial is a close-grained freestone, which should stand all weathers.

LOCAL NEWS

Few men in Berwick can boast of having served 44 years with the same firm. This record has been accomplished by Mr Peter Jeffrey of the firm of Messrs Thompson Bros., iron mongers, High Street, who are closing down shortly. When Mr T. Thompson, along with his brother, the late Mr B. G. Thompson started business in 1875, Mr Jeffrey went as an apprentice and has continued with the firm ever since. He has therefore had a long experience in business, and during this time has seen many changes both in the owners of the shops in High Street, and in the shops themselves. Mr Jeffrey was the son of the late Mr James Jeffrey, blacksmith, Castlegate, and married Miss Cowe, a sister of Mr J. C. Cowe, fishmerchant, High Street. They had two sons, the elder of whom, Private James Jeffrey, 7th N.F., made the supreme sacrifice at St. Julien in April 1915, when the local N.F.’s first went into action. Private Jeffrey was one of the young men of the town who joined the 7th N.F. after Baden-Powell’s recruiting meeting at Berwick. The younger son, Robert Cowe Jeffrey, has a flourishing dairy business at 92 Castlegate, and will receive the help of his father on his retirement from Messrs Thompson Bros. Mr and Mrs Jeffrey are members of Wallace Green Church and very highly respected citizens of Berwick.

Mrs R. R. Riddell, Quay Walls, Treasurer of the Berwick War Hospital Supply Depot has received grateful acknowledement (sic) from the Matron of Edenhall Hostel for Limbless Sailors and Soldiers for the sum of £100 17s, the residue of the funds of the depot on closing in March.

Acknowledgements have also been received from the Comrades of the Great War and from St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blinded Sailors and Soldiers both of which institutions also received donations.

A rumour got about over the week-end that a dog had been found to be suffering from rabies, and had bitten children in the upper part of the town. This proved, however, to be unfounded. A stray dog it appears had tried its teeth upon some youngsters who had touched it, but has paid the penalty by being sent “west.” For the benefit of timorous readers we need only say that far from being mad, the dog was not even feeble minded.

A report of the work of Campus Library has been published. The success of this excellent scheme for providing literature for the troops, is largely due to the Postmasters, and the sub-postmasters in all the country districts, who have worked  hard throughout the war in collecting books. Up to the signing of the Armistice some 14 million publications had been dealt with by the Camps Library. These were sent to the Armies in France, Salonika, Egypt, British East Africa, Mesopotamia, Italy and Russia. Many thousands went to hospitals, to the Mission to Seamen, British and Foreign Sailors Society and the Chamber of Commerce for use of the Navy. Nearly other (sic) two millions have been dealt with between November and March 1919 when the Camps Library as a War Charity was closed. Many letters of appreciation have been received from soldiers. During the four years and five months the sum of £46,300 13s 2d has passed through the hands of the Treasurer.