Riding of The Bounds

This Week in World War One, 21 April 1916

by

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 21 APRIL 1916

 

LOCAL NEWS

 

Lady Teacher’s Long Service: On Thursday afternoon, 20th inst., Miss Phillip, who has been for twenty-five years a teacher in the Church of England Infant School at the Parade, Berwick, was presented with a silver tea service, a china tea set, and cabinet in recognition of her long and faithful services. The presentation was made by the Vicar (the Rev. R. W. De La Hey) in a graceful and eloquent manner, and the gifts were suitably acknowledged by Miss Phillip.

The Parade School can be seen back left in this 1950s photograph of the Riding of the Bounds in Berwick. Pictured also in the background on the right is the Freemasons' Hall. © Berwick Record Office, BRO 1944-1-4008-054.
The Parade School can be seen back left in this 1950s photograph of the Riding of the Bounds in Berwick. Pictured also in the background on the right is the Freemasons’ Hall. © Berwick Record Office, BRO 1944-1-4008-054.

 

Early advertisement for James Buchanan's Whisky.
James Buchanan’s Whisky.

Alleged Theft of Whisky – At the Norham and Islandshire Petty Sessions on Friday – before John Black, Esq., a railway porter at Goswick, named William Wedderburn, was charged with the theft of three bottles of whisky. It appeared that a case of Buchanan’s whisky had fallen from a railway waggon. The loss was intimated to the officials at Goswick and Tweedmouth, A man named William Skee proceeded along the line and found the case as well as two bottles, which were concealed underneath railway sleepers and another in a rabbit hole. The accused was remanded on bail till Wednesday, 3rd May.

 

 

St. Paul’s Church Spittal – Guild Social – It being felt that something ought to be done, for the young people of the village during the winter months, Councillor P.P. Boston,

Early photograph of St Paul's Church, Spittal. © Berwick Record Office. BRO 1887-4-3.
Early photograph of St Paul’s Church, Spittal. © Berwick Record Office. BRO 1887-4-3.

always the friend of the young, was instrumental in calling a meeting at which fifty young people were present. It was decided to reform the Guild of Mutual Aid and Improvement, and to meet once a week in the Hall of the Church. Old and young took advantage of these meetings which were bright and attractive, with an average attendance of eighty, the membership exceeding one hundred. A social was held on Friday evening when one hundred and twenty sat down to tea. The President, Councillor P. Boston in his remarks, gave all a hearty welcome, and hoping that they would have a pleasant evening.

 

 

 

 

After tea the time was taken up with games interspersed with songs, recitation, etc. The following was the programme: –

Song                Miss M. Younger

Swedish Drill   by ten members of the Guild

Song                Miss Gibson

Recitation        Miss S Crisp

Song                Mrs J. Moffat

Song                Mr Dewar.

The singing of the National Anthem brought a most successful session to a close.

 

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

SATURDAY

Before A. L. Miller, Esq., and Alderman Maclagan

AN HOUR TO LEAVE THE TOWN

 

John Duncan, Banffshire, pedlar, minus the right leg, was charged with having on Friday been, drunk and disorderly in Tower Road, Tweedmouth. He pleaded guilty.

Police sergeant Wilson said that on the previous day three women complained to him regarding the dirty and abusive language which the accused had used towards them. He had been asking them to purchase some articles he was selling. The witness remonstrated with the accused regarding his conduct, and told him he would have to clear out of the town. The accused made a very insolent reply, and in consequence he took him in charge. As a sample of the language accused used witness handed up a note of same to the Bench. The accused was selling writing paper, and had a pedlar’s certificate.

Mr A. L. Miller said the accused seemed to have been spending any money he had on spirituous liquors.

The Chief Constable – Without doubt; but we know nothing about him, and have never seen him before.

The accused said he had not tasted drink for a number of years until Friday, and that he was making for his native country in the North of Scotland.

Mr A. L. Miller said that the accused had used the most disgusting language towards the women, and deserved to be sent to prison for a month without the option of a fine. He would be fined 10s 6d or ten days’ imprisonment, but if he promised to clear out of the town within an hour’s time the sentence would not be put in force.

The accused gave his promise to leave the town, and was dismissed.

 

 

 

This Week in World War One, 7 May 1915

by

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

 BERWICK ADVERTISER 7 MAY 1915

 

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

THURSDAY

 

Before the Mayor ( Thos. Wilson, Esq.), and Captain Norman, R.N.

It-Is-Far-Better-To-Face-The-Bullets-Than-To-Be-Killed-At-Home-By-A-Bomb

Bright Lights- Mr Wm. Kirk Hawkins, cabinet- maker, Berwick, was charged that he did unlawfully allow a bright light to show in his window in Hide Hill, Berwick, at 11.10 p.m. on the 30th April. The charge was brought up under the Defence of the Realm Act. Defendant said, in pleading guilty, he was quite unconscious of the offence. The Chief Constable said it was the third time the defendant had been cautioned. Sergeant Wilson said he saw a very bright light coming from one of the bedrooms in the top window. He stood several minutes, but the light never went up. Witness rang the bell, and defendant put his head over the window complained and asked what he wanted. Witness told defendant the light was too bright, and told him to put it out, and defendant called down and told him to be more civil. Defendant said he had been very careful, and was sorry to be there that day under such circumstances. Fined 12s 6d, the Mayor stating that in future cases persons brought up for the same offence would be more severely dealt with.

CORN EXCHANGE AND ITS ROOF LIGHT

 

If there is one conspicuous feature about our Corn Exchange it is its noble commanding  dome, and the brilliance of the light streaming down through the expansive and glittering canopy. No wonder there were reasonable apprehensions and fears at the approach of the recent grand concert held on behalf of the Berwick Improvised Hospitals, for it was realised that unless the interior light could be sufficiently obscured the blaze of illuminant penetrating to the sky would be an infringement of the emergency bye-laws, possibly leading to the upsetting of the very laudable object aimed by the  promoters. It was at such a critical juncture that Mr Angwin, manager of the Electrical Supply Company, came to the rescue of the local committee.

Image from the Berwick Advertiser 4 December 1858, opening of the newly erected Corn Exchange, Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Image from the Berwick Advertiser 4 December 1858, opening of the newly erected Corn Exchange, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

 He so manipulated and arranged the lamps of the  Corn Exchange that these fully met the  requirements of the Chief Constable. The lighting  of the Exchange if deprived of its usual brilliance  on the other hand presented a mellow and homely  effect, and was certainly in this respect in  consonance with the strenuousness of the critical  times in which we live. The result of the concert  was a most pronounced success, and Mr  W.J.Dixon, on behalf of Colonel Fraser, R.A.M.C.  (T.), made a neat little speech of thanks. the  appearance of Boy Scouts, under the command of  Scoutmaster R. C. Clements, was an attractive  feature, and they lent material assistance in the  sale of programmes.

 

RIDING BERWICK BOUNDS

THE MAYOR’S BANQUET

 

The 307th time of Riding the Bounds of Berwick was observed on Monday when a large crowd assembled on the Parade to watch the start. There were only six equestrians as compared with nine on the previous year, while there were nine drawn vehicles containing citizens who preferred the more sedate and leisurely mode of travelling. Ideal weather favoured the  function.

BRO 1944/1/149/1 Riding of the Bounds, Parade, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1952
BRO 1944/1/149/1 Riding of the Bounds, leaving the Parade, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1952

Sharp to the mid-day hour the horsemen set off by the way of the fields, the brakes proceeded by Church Street, High Street, Castlegate and North Road. As usual  at Mordington the school children were lined up in expectation of their usual supply of oranges from Chief Constable Nicholson of which they received an ample share engaging in an amusing scramble as the fruit was thrown amongst them. At Canty’s Bridge the horsemen indulged in their usual races. At the Inn a supply of refreshments on a liberal scale were served out.  On returning to Berwick a short halt was made at the Town Hall where the Mayor returned his thanks to those who had accompanied him in the historical ceremony, and in return hearty cheers were raised for thee Mayor, the Mayoress, and their little daughter.

The horsemen were:- Mr John Lauder, Burnbank, Foulden; the Messrs Waites, Castlehills and Mr Collingwood, who was accompanied by Miss Collingwood.

BERWICK EDUCATION COMMITTEE

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

TEACHERS’ POWERS

 

A monthly meeting of Berwick Education Committee was held in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall on Wednesday morning. The Chairman, Mr W.J. Dixon, presided, and others present were:- Ald. Greenwood, Capt. Norman, R.N. Messers C. Forsyth, A.J. Dodds, Jos. Watson, E. Brewis, A.D. Watt, J. McDonald, W. C. Richardson, along with the Clerk ( Mr Jas. Gibson) and the Borough Treasurer, Mr T.C. Smith.

THE LATE SERGEANT JONES

The Chairman, prior to the commencement of the business, made the following feeling reference to the death of Sergeant L. S. T. Jones of the 7th N.F., who has been killed in action:- before proceeding with the business of the meeting I refer with the deepest regret to the sad death of Sergeant L. S. T. Jones of the 7th N.F., who was killed in action on 26th April. As a teacher in St. Mary’s School he was beloved alike by his fellow teachers and the children. The Education Committee have lost a good and competent teacher and the borough a useful and promising citizen. As President of Berwick and District Harriers I was intimately associated with him in this branch of sport, he being one of our best and gamest cross-country runners. Only a few weeks ago he was second in a military cross-country run at Blyth. I ever found him a keen and genuine sportsman, and as a sportsman he has died the most glorious death a man can die- fighting for his King and Country. I now move a resolution that a letter be sent to his relatives from this Committee expressing our sincere sympathy with them in their sad bereavement, and our admiration of his gallant conduct; and ask Captain Norman, a Manager of St. Mary’s School, to second the resolution.

Captain Norman in seconding said:- Mr Jones was a teacher of great ability and much promise, devoted to his work, and became a great favourite of staff and scholars alike during his four years service as certificated assistant. His work has been commended by Inspectors, especially in drawing, in which he was highly qualified. His interest in the boys led him to form a drill and gymnasium class. He entered thoroughly into and took a leading part on the games and sports. In promoting swimming, and football, and harriers races his efforts were unceasing. I am sure that the boys as well as the teachers of his school will very keenly feel his loss; and I should like to extend these remarks by saying that a man of that sort is a most serious loss not only to his own immediate circle, but to the community in which for the last 4 years he has been usefully engaged.

The resolution was unanimously adopted, the members the while standing.

 

In Memory of
Sergeant
LEON STANLEY TREVOR JONES
1384, 1st/7th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers who died 26 April 1915, aged 25. Nephew of Mrs. E. M. Memmott, of 55, Meersbrook Road, Sheffield. Remembered with Honour, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

(Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Memorial T L F Jones
Photograph Marc Ryckaert, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.