Tweedmouth Girls’ National School

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.

This Week in World War One, 24 February 1917

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BERWICK ADVERTISER, 24 FEBRUARY 1917

 

NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY

 

ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEN TO JOIN THE VOLUNTEER FORCE

 

The following circular has been issued from the General Manager’s Office, York, of the North Eastern Railway Company:-

Arrangements have now been made under which all railwaymen who desire to do so will be permitted to join the Volunteer Force. For this purpose the staff will be divided into two classes as indicated below:-

  • Those whom it would be possible to liberate from their railway duties in the event of an emergency such as an invasion, will, as in the past, be permitted to take up full responsibilities of membership (including the requirement as to putting in a specified amount of training and drill) as Volunteers in the ordinary sections (i.e., Section A, men not of military age, and Section B, men of military age).
  • The rest of the staff, whom it would not be possible to liberate, will, nevertheless, be permitted to join a special section of the Volunteer Force known as Section R. members of this section will not be called out for actual military service, even in an emergency such as an invasion, without the consent of the company.

The North Eastern Railway headquarters in York built by Horace Field in 1906, now a hotel. © Photograph taken by Mattbuck. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

 

It should be clearly understood by all railwaymen who join the Volunteer Force (whether in the ordinary sections A or B, or in the special section) that they will not in any case be required by the Volunteer Force or allowed by the railway company to attend any training or drill which would interfere with the proper performance of their railway duties.

Members of the staff who desire to join the Volunteer Force should make application to the head of their department for the necessary permission. Every man so applying will be given by the company a special certificate on Army Form  V.4006 authorising his enrolment either as a full member of the Force (Section A or B) or as a member of the special section R, and this certificate should be handed at the time of enrolment to the officer commanding the Volunteer Battalion.

Permission to enrol as a full member of the force will be given wherever possible, and in those cases in which it is necessarily withheld, permission will be given to enrol in Section R.

LOCAL NEWS

 

Berwick Corn Exchange Company Limited- The annual report states: – The Directors have pleasure in submitting their annual report, and congratulate the shareholders on the result of the year’s working. Owing to the lighting restrictions, the hall has not been used for theatrical or concert purposes during the year, and the amounts received from rents has consequently been small. The increased charges which came into force in January last resulted in a substantial rise in the revenue from stalls, and the receipts from other sources have been well maintained. The profits for the year is £260 14s 1d, which, with £27 2s 10d brought forward, leaves an available sum of £287 16s 11d. The usual dividend for five per cent, is recommended, less income tax, which will absorb £155 8s 4d, carrying £75 to reserve fund (thereby raised to £500), and the balance, £57 8s 7d, to next account. The directors who retire by rotation are Mr Short, Mr Herriot, and Mr Smail, all of whom are eligible for re-election.

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

 

Football. – Quite an interesting game was witnessed on the Belford football ground on Thursday of last, week the competing teams being Belford and Northern Cyclists Signallers. The condition of the ground was rather unfavourable; still, the play on both sides was good. Little life was shown at opening of the game, but suddenly the soldiers set to with a will and kept the defenders busy. A corner, taken by Cyclist Hilton, proved fruitless, the Belford goal keeper making a smart save. Eventually the soldiers opened the scoring, Cyclist Burrows securing a point from a good pass by Cyclist Whitby. Shortly afterwards Lieut. Clapperton with a very fine shot sent the ball home, and just before half time Cyclist Burrows scored. A half-time the score stood as follows: – Solders- 3 goals, Belford – nil. In second half Belford showed great improvement. Lance- Corporal Rogers broke through the defence with a really excellent shot, registering for Belford one goal. Some very fast play was shown towards the close, but Belford was fairly outclassed, the final; result being – Soldiers – 4 goals, Belford – 1 goal. Quite a decent number of interested people were present.

Startling Discovery in Bridge Street Baker’s Premises. – An unusual and gruesome discovery was made the other day in excavating the premises of Mrs Thompson, baker, Bridge Street, Berwick, when the front portion of a human skull was unearthed only a few inches below the kitchen floor. Workmen were engaged in building a new oven at the time the startling relic of humanity was found. The kitchen floor has immediately underneath it a few inches of earth, and below that again there are stone slabs. It was between the slabs and the wooden floor that the skull was unearthed. Several teeth were in the upper jaw, and looked very fresh, and in perfect condition. There were two other bones discovered, and one of these appeared to be a rib bone. When or how the skull came to be placed in the spot it was discovered is a matter of conjecture, but it would appear that before this could have been done the flooring must have been lifted and re-laid. Mr John Bishop, Scott’s Place, obtained possession of the skull, and those who may be curious to have a view of same can do so by communicating with that gentleman. It is doubtful to say to which sex the cranium belonged.

 

SALE OF WORK AND CONCERT A TWEEDMOUTH GIRLS’ NATIONAL SCHOOL

 

On Friday afternoon last a sale of work and concert was held in the Girls’ National School, Tweedmouth, under the patronage of the Mayor and Mayoress. The schoolroom was packed with a highly appreciative audience, chiefly composed of the mothers and other relatives of the children, admission being by ticket. The Vicar (Rev. P .G. Peacocke) announced at the opening of the concert that as the proceeds of the day were to be devoted to charitable objects. viz:- The Guild of Aid, Prisoners of War Fund, and the local Smoke Fund, no tax would be levied, thus allowing the full amount received to be used in the channels mentioned. The articles offered for sale before the concert were nearly all made by the children during the past winter months and comprised a varied assortment of artistic sewing work in the shape of dolls clothes, and other ornamental knickknacks for home decoration, some others being of a more useful character, all however, commanded a ready sale.

The former National Girls School, Tweedmouth, now private accommodation.

 

An interesting item in the proceedings was a guessing competition over the name of a neatly dressed doll given by Jeanie Short, the doll to go to the one who guessed its name. Each guess cost one halfpenny, and to show how keen the competition was, the sum of £1 2s was gambled away in half-pennies, and as Miss Helyer put it – the doll had proved a golden egg; yet out of 528 who had been so prodigal with their coppers, not one was correct. The choosing of the name fell to the Mayoress, and on the envelope being opened in the schoolroom, it was found to be “Hope,” the first part of the name of the residence of the Mayor and Mayoress, viz. :- “Hopeville.” Their being 528 disappointed ones somewhere, Mrs Plenderleith kindly handed the coveted doll back to its little mistress, Jeanie Short, who received it with smiles.