Local News

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 6TH MAY 1921

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ORD WAR MEMORIAL

As will be seen from our advertising columns, Ord War Memorial will be unveiled on Sunday, 8th May, at 2.30 by Vice Admiral Sir Dudley R. S. de Chair, K.C.B., M.V.O. The memorial has been erected in the centre of the village green and is 18 feet in height. It is on a concrete base with steps all round, and is of local rock-faced freestone coursers built in block with teethed plinth. A marble tablet with the names of the fallen is set into a framing of Northumberland whinstone. From the whinstone arises an octagonal column finished with a white marble cross. The work has been carried out by Messrs M. Gray & Sons, builders, and W. Wilson & Sons, sculptors, from plans prepared by Mr Lake, Surveyor, East Ord.

The Ord War Memorial  ©  Author: Stafford Little –  Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic — CC BY-SA 2.0

In addition to the contractors’ work a large amount of gratuitous service and labour has been given, and the War Memorial Committee feel deeply indebted to all these who so generously assisted in the carrying out of the work. Sir Dudley de Chair was born in 1854 and was educated on H.M.S., Britannia and entered the Navy in 1878. He served in the Egyptian War and was appointed Naval Attache to U.S. America in 1902. He commanded H.M.S. Bacchante, Cochrane and Colossus from 1905 to 1912 and was appointed Assistant Controller of the Navy in 1910, and Naval Secretary to the First Lord of Admiralty in 1912. In 1914 he was appointed Admiral of the Training Services, being also made a C.B. that year. He commanded the 10th Cruiser Squadron and 3rd Battle Squadron during the war from 1914 to 1916 and went with Mr. A J. Balfour’s Mission to U.S.A. in 1917. 

LOCAL NEWS

For several hours on Wednesday morning snow fell heavily in the hill districts of Berwickshire, where in some quarters it lay as deep as half an inch, much to the concern of the flockmasters, with whom the lambing season is not yet over. Fruit trees were severely blighted by the severity of the weather. 

They say it is very bad luck to turn back. A man who had started out with his wife to the pictures suddenly remembered that he had left his coal shed unlocked. He risked his luck, went back, turned the key in the door, and put it in his pocket. On returning three hours later he found a neighbour in a state of great indignation. “What’s the matter?” he asked innocently. “What’s the matter!” was the retort. “Do you know that you have locked my wife up in your coal shed!” 

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

CORPORATION FOREMAN USES VIOLENCE

William Gardiner, Wallace Green, Berwick, was charged with unlawfully assaulting Gordon McLean on the 30th April 1921. Mr Peters prosecuted, and Mr Gregory defended. Gardiner pleaded that he was guilty of gripping McLean, but not with striking him. 

Gordon Mclean said he lived as 6 Hatter’s Lane. On last Saturday night he was standing at the end of Walkergate with other men when two dogs started to fight and came against his legs. He put out his foot to keep the dogs back. He never kicked the dogs, and never knew anything more until Gardiner seized him by the throat from behind and bent him backwards nearly to the ground. Witness was exhausted when Gardiner was called off by the police. 

REF: LB.9.6.24 Hatter’s Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Peter Robson, rabbit-catcher, corroborated, and said McLean, after holding the dogs off with his foot, stepped back. He never kicked the dogs and gave Gardiner no provocation. 

John Flannigan, Hatter’s Lane, gave similar evidence, and this was borne out by William Wilson. 

William Gardiner, on his own behalf, said he was coming up the street with his brother-in-law, who had his terrier with him. Witness’ dog was playing with the terrier, when there was a blue dog ran at them. They chased it, when he saw McLean lift his foot and make a swinging kick at it. He caught McLean as he spun round, but he did not bend him back. 

By Mr Peters-witness admitted that there was a little fight with the three dogs. He was not in a temper when he gripped McLean, only a little excited. The police came on the scene and Sergt. Wilson said “William, go home!” 

The bench found the case proved and imposed the fine of £1 with witnesses and fees, 28s 5d, or 13 days’ imprisonment. 

NATURE NOTE

The first swift arrived in Berwick this year on April 30th. It was first seen at 9 p.m. Fifteen minutes later it joined by another over the town. In 1920 the first swift was also seen on April 30th “hawking” over Church Street. In 1919 the first swift was not seen in Berwick until May 8th; in 1918 the first arrived on May 9th. The first martins were seen on April 21st, 1921 at Canties Bridge. On the 24th the sand martin was seen behind the Pier. On the 24th terns were seen passing over the Pier bound to their more northern nesting grounds. A few remained on Sunday, and there are now several in the river. Several migrants such as the willow-wren and the chiff-chaff have been heard, also on April 24th. A month earlier, the earliest of all migrants, the wheatear was seen on Scremerston banks. Several solan geese have been observed flying quarter of a mile off the end of the Pier, and a few beautiful eider ducks are frequent visitors off the Pier end. They will shortly move to their breeding quarters on the Farne islands. The buds are setting on the hawthorn, promising to burst by the middle of May, which is very early for Northumberland.  

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 7TH JANUARY 1921

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LOWICK WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED

Sunday, the 2nd day of January 1921, will be a never-to-be-forgotten day in Lowick and parish, for on that day the memorial was unveiled in honour of the brave lads who went forward at their country’s call to make the great sacrifice. The memorial has been erected in the Market Place, opposite the Post Office, and is of Aberdeen Granite, with a Doddington Freestone base. The site is an ideal one, and the memorial standing 11 ft. 6 ins high, looks well and lends beauty to its surroundings.

Lowick War Memorial which was unveiled in 1921, amidst great ceremony.  © J Thomas – Geograph – Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

It was early evident the work of the Committee had been appreciated, for people came from all parts of the parish, many carrying wreaths. About 2 p.m. the crowd numbered anything from 800 to 1,000 persons. Promptly at 2.10, the procession was formed up at the churchyard gates and singing the hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers,” moved slowly forward as follows: Buglers, Comrades of the Great War (under Capt. Gee and Sergt. Pringle), relatives of the fallen, Sunday School children, Church congregations, Church Officers and Choirs; Major Rea, Capt. Elliott, Capt. Alexander, Mr R. Barber, the Rev. C. V. Gee, and the Rev. G. Tait, followed by the general public.

On arrival at the memorial, the procession formed into a square with military precision. On the platform were the Rev. C. V. Gee, the Rev. G. Tait, Major J. G. G. Rea, Captain Elliott, Mr R. Barber, Capt. Alexander, and Capt. Gee.

LOCAL NEWS

Arrangements are being made for the distribution of guaranteed pure fertile Italian Queen bees during season 1921, at a cost of 11s 6d for each delivery during May and up to June 25th, and 8s 6d each for July and August. Beekeepers should apply not later than January 25th to the Director of Education, The Moothall, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

There is prevalent in London and throughout the country a rather mysterious infection, which causes swelling of the glands around the angles of the jaws and sometimes in front of the ears. At first it was supposed that the condition was mumps; but now it is evident that there is a difference. Happily, the glands seem to subside of themselves in a period of a few days or weeks. The nature of the condition is not clear; by some it is regarded as a complication of “influenza.”

On New Year’s night the Long Room of the Corn Exchange was comfortably filled when a whist drive was held under the auspices of the Berwick-upon-Tweed Public Bowling Green. Mr R. Logan officiated as M.C. This was a new role for Mr Logan and he fulfilled the duties very courteously and efficiently. Before commencing play Mr M. L. Walker, the President of the Club, on behalf of the Committee, wished the company a Happy and Prosperous New Year. This was reciprocated with one shout — “the same to you, Mr Walker.” Extra prizes were given on this occasion, the successful winners being: — Ladies — 1, Mrs Thompson, 234; 2, Mrs Hendry, 231; 3, Mrs Cowperthwaite and Miss Morton tied with 226 and on being drawn Mrs Cowperthwaite was successful; booby, Miss Drummond, 188. Gentlemen — 1, Mr T. Harbottle, 254; 2, Mr H. Jamieson, 231 Mr R. Butler, 226; booby, Mr Duncan, 191. At an interval in the proceedings the usual supper was served and much enjoyed. Mr Walker presented the prizes, and before the proceedings terminated intimated their next whist drive would be held in about a fortnight’s time.

On Wednesday evening, 22nd December, St. Andrew’s Church Woman’s Guild held their Christmas tea, at which the members of the congregation and children of the Sunday School were entertained. During the evening the Rev. J. Scott Morrison was presented with a wallet containing Treasury notes by Miss Tait, on behalf of the Guild and members of the congregation. Mrs J. Sanderson was also presented by Miss Bella Gemmel with a brush and comb on behalf of the Children’s Choir, and with a picture from the Rev. J. Scott Morrison for services rendered in training the children. Suitable replies were made by both recipients. There was a large gathering present. A splendid tea and varied programme of songs and recitations was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Fruit was served to the children, kindly provided by the Rev. J. Scott Morrison and Mr Landels.

CORNHILL

In the January “Border Magazine” “Herd Laddie” tells the following Border anecdote: — “One of the Askews, a former squire of Pallinsburn, was a very eccentric person, who frequently went about the district dressed with a threadbare black velvet suit and carrying under his arm a big old-fashioned umbrella green with age. Nothing gave him greater delight than people mistaking his social position, and at dinner parties he was wont to relate some of the ridiculous remarks made to him.

The Blue Bell Inn, Pallinsburn, where one of the Askew’s, a squire, had his encounter with the carter and his horse. © Andrew Curtis – Geograph –  Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).

The following is said to have been his favourite: — One day he was sauntering down the steep bank between Pallinsburn and the Blue Bell Inn, when he met a lame carter with a very hard-up horse. The horse was struggling up the hill with the load of lime, and the carter was assisting it for all he was worth by pushing behind the cart. On seeing the old squire, and not knowing who he was, shouted, “Come and gies a sheet (push), man.” “Sheet yursel,” was the tardy response. “ Eigh! Yur just some auld lazy deevil,” was the disappointed rejoinder.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 24 DECEMBER 1920

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CUSTOMS PECULIAR TO BERWICK

(LET’S US HOPE!)

Dear Sir, – This old town, in many things, seems to be “a law unto itself.” To an incomer there are, now and again, what might be termed “different ways of doing things”; but, really, the other evening there came “a startler.” Thus am I compelled to write, in order to convey to these “Christmas Waits” (?) how such extraordinary conduct appears to a stranger.

To be informed that there were men waiting at the door, begging a Christmas Box, for doing work they are PAID to do – making a house-to-house visitation – came as a surprise. Ugh! I refer to the scavengers of the town. Their work, no doubt, is lowly – but mighty useful all the same. Still, surely when night comes on, ‘tis a pity to go around doing still more lowly work. Can they not trust to the generosity of the inhabitants, who surely would remember those to whom we owe so much, in the same way as the postman, milk boy, baker’s boy, et., or any other dependent, whose faithful services throughout the year are never forgotten?

Or is it that the salaries of the scavenger are so meagre and inadequate that they resort to begging? There must be something wrong somewhere. Surely real Scotch pride might be expected to be found amongst workers in the Borderland – I am, Sir,

“ASTONISHED RESIDENTER.”

LOCAL NEWS

In response to an urgent appeal for the Russian Relief and Reconstruction Fund, to relieve the distress in Russia, the pupils of the Girls’ National School on Monday last took a collection at their school concert, amounting to £1 1s 6d.

© Author: Unknown.  Source: International Committee of the Red Cross.  Wikimedia Commons.

In Russia the conditions of the people are terrible, says the appeal, owing to the shortage of food, the scarcity of clothes and the expensive fuel. Typhus ravages the people, and the death rate has averaged 30,000 per month. The shortage of fuel is more especially felt just now when often the thermometer registers 25 to 27 degrees below zero.

The leasing of the Mariner’s Cottage on the North Road, Berwick, to Mr Lyal Irvine, Tweedmouth, calls to mind how these two cottages got their name. Many years ago, in the time of the Lamberton Toll marriages, an old sailor, named Capt. Sharpe, becoming tired of a life on the ocean wave, came to live at the cottage, and being a bit of a sea lawyer he took up the duty of “Lamberton Priest.” On the end of his cottage facing the road he put up a board, which announced that he was prepared to tie the happy knot, and each day he attended at Berwick station to ascertain if any couples had arrived wishful of being tied up at Lamberton Toll.

Pictured is Lamberton Toll, REF: BRO 515-296.

When given notice, he was prepared to hire the carriages to convey the contracting parties to “Gretna.” Sharpe was known to the people of Berwick as the “Ancient Mariner,” and the cottage soon became known by the name it now bears.

Next week, commencing on Monday, the Northern Entertainments Coy. will present in the Queen’s Rooms their smart revue musical comedy “Lizzie.” A treat is certainly in store for patrons of the “Queen’s” as this talented Company have performed to large houses recently. A special matinee will be held on Monday first, when, owing to the limited accommodation in the gallery, intending patrons should make sure of a seat by booking early.

NOTES FROM SPITTAL

In the November number of the “Lifeboat,” the journal of the R.N.L.I., there is a very interesting article on a new device used for launching lifeboats, known as the “Platform Lift Launching Method,” which, we understand, is to be adopted at Spittal when the new motor lifeboat comes to the river. The platform system has been adopted at Sunderland, and it is specially suited to rivers where the difference between high water level and low water at spring tides is over twelve feet. Shortly the system is this. The boathouse is built on piles above the river with a well channel between the side piles in which the boat will float at any state of tide. The lifeboat is placed on a platform inside the house, which can be raise or lowered from or to the “well” by wire ropes and winches manipulated by man power or by petrol engine power. When the boat has to be launched the crew enter the craft in the boathouse, and at a given signal the winding gear is released, and she sinks down into the well between the piles. The boat is still moored to her platform carriage, but when a slip chain is released and the landward end of the platform tilted up by the winches, she glides into deep water down between guide rails. The motor can be started as soon as the vessel leaves the platform. When the boat returns she is backed in on to her platform, and once secured with the slip chain can be raised to the boathouse above by the winches. When man power is used to lower and raise the boat, two men at the crank handles can lower her safely, but it needs eight men to raise her. When funds permit, however, the Institution intend to put in petrol engines at the boathouse, where this system prevails, and this will save a great amount of manual work.

SPORTS, AMUSEMENTS, & C.

FOOTBALL

BERWICK RANGERS’ MATCH ON CHRISTMAS DAY

The Rangers hope to be well patronised on Saturday, as they have gone to considerable expense in securing a visit from the Edinburgh Civil Service Strollers – one of the best amateur teams in Scotland. The kick-off will be at 2.15. The Rangers will put a good team into the field, the majority of them cup players, but names cannot be given yet, as the Committee are waiting to see what players are at home in the town for the holidays. The Rangers are holding a whist drive and dance in the Corn Exchange on the 27th, and are looking for a bumper house.

ISLANDSHIRE FOR LOWICK

Lowick Rovers engage Holy Island at Lowick on Christmas afternoon. A good game is sure to be the outcome. Rovers: – E. Henderson; Carr and Foreman; Swan,Weddell, and Waters; Dalgleish, Henderson, Robertson, Harmiston, and Murray. Kick-off 2.30 p.m.

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