6th August 1926 - Inquest at the Poor Law Institution

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Inquest at the Poor Law Institution

The District Coroner (H.F.J. Banham, Esq.) held an inquest, without a jury, at the Poor Law Institution on Saturday, July 30th, touching the death of Walter Benstead, 60 years of age, a labourer, who died as the result of a fall whilst window cleaning.

Stephen Baker, labourer, of Buntingford, stated: "I lived with Walter Benstead for about eight months. I have known him 20 years. He has an uncle in Buntingford, who is his nearest relative. I saw him in the morning before he went to work, and soon after he was brought home by Mr Postle. I have known him to be giddy at times. He would not see a doctor. The body I saw in the mortuary is that of Walter Benstead."

Mr Harry Postle, dairyman, of Salisbury House, Buntingford, stated: "Deceased has been in my employ for about seven years, doing odd jobs about the place. On Saturday last in the afternoon he was cleaning windows, which he has done several times before. My house is in the main street. He used a 20 round ladder with a 56lb weight at the foot to keep it from slipping.

I saw him at 11 o'clock when I gave him a pint of beer. He was quite sober. I saw him again about 4.30 p.m., when my brother brought deceased to me in the yard. He was being carried. His faced was grazed and his right-hand knuckles were bleeding. I bathed his face with cold water, gave him some tea and sent for the doctor. Dr Dixon came at once. Deceased soon came round and told the doctor he came over giddy. Deceased then walked round and went home with assistance."

Frank Postle, brother of the last witness, stated: "I was sweeping up the front near the deceased. I saw the ladder slip on one side - the weight was at the bottom of the ladder. As the ladder came down the weight remained in an upright position at the bottom, but was pushed out into the gutter with the ladder. Deceased came down and hit his head on the doorstep. When I saw him he was about 10ft. from the ground cleaning the window over the porch. His pail and clothes were on the porch. He came down the side of the door post rather sharp."

Mrs Julia Conyard, of Buntingford, stated: "I was standing in the High Street near Mr Postle's house on the opposite side of the street. I knew deceased. I saw him up the ladder; his pail was on the verandah. I saw the ladder slip out. There was a weight at the bottom. The ladder came down straight. Deceased fell upon his face and struck the doorstep. He came down with the ladder."

Mrs Ethel Milton, of Buntingford, stated: "I saw Benstead on the top of the ladder. I saw the ladder slipper - the foot into the road. Deceased was coming down with the ladder. He fell and struck his face on the doorstep. I saw the weight at the bottom of the ladder. It had rolled over on to its side."

Dr Richard Wm. Fell, Medical Officer at the Institution, stated: "I saw deceased on Sunday after he had been admitted. He was unconscious. He roused a little when spoken to. He had a slight abrasion on the nose and bruise on his right arm. The left side of the face was paralysed. He had a strong pulse.

There was every evidence of a cerebral haemorrhage. The caused would be a diseased artery of the brain. It would not required any violence to bring on the haemorrhage, probably carrying the pail up the ladder would be sufficient exertion to cause it. There was no injury to the body of any importance. The paralysis of the face was characteristic of cerebral haemmorhage."

The Coroner summed up after inspecting the weight, and stated that the evidence was not conclusive as to whether the ladder slipped and caused deceased to fall, or whether he pushed the ladder away and then fell. He would return a verdict of "Death by Misadventure."

18th March 1927 - Congregational Church Social

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Congregational Church Social

A very pleasant time was spent in the Congregational Schoolroom on Thursday in last week, the occasion being a social.

There was a very good gathering, and in an opening remark or two, the Minister referred to the various phases of Church life, including the devotional or spiritual and the social sides. The room had been attractively decorated by Mr H. Cutts.

A lengthy programme of miscellaneous items was carried through, consisting of - pianoforte solos (Miss Blanche Langham, Miss M. Ashton); solos (Miss Emily Benstead, Miss Langham, Miss Dorothy Howard); recitations and humourous readings (Mrs G. Saggers, Miss Langham, the Minister).

A sketch entitled "Our at-home day" caused much amusement, the various parts being taken by Miss Benstead, Miss Edith Careless and Miss Kitty Camp, and the item being very well performed. The introduction of Community singing marked a change in the usual programme, whilst two competitions were provocative of much fun.

The response to the appeal for refreshments was splendid, and during an interval these were now served.

At the close there was an announcement of the competition result together with an expression of thanks to all who had helped to make the evening a success. Best thanks are certainly due to the many who kindly contributed towards the refreshments; to the members of the Ladies' Committee, and other lady helpers who in many ways rendered splendid service in connection with the social; to those who assisted in the entertainment and sketch and duties relevant; to those who had worked "behind the scenes," and to all who helped to make the social so successful.

The proceeds of the evening were on behalf of the Church funds.

The singing of Auld Lang Syne brought the social to a conclusion.

30th July 1926 - Fatal Accident

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Fatal Accident

Mr Walter Benstead, of High Street, Buntingford, met with a fatal accident on the 24th inst. by falling from a ladder whilst window cleaning at Mr Harry Postle's house.

He was conveyed to the Infirmary at Buntingford on Sunday, the 25th inst., and although he received every attention he passed away on the 29th inst.

At the time of going to press, it is not known whether the facts will be notified to the Coroner or not.

A further report will be found in our next issue.

26th Oct 1928 - Buntingford Congregational Church

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Buntingford Congregational Church

Silver Tree & Entertainment

On Tuesday evening, October 16th, a large company assembled in the Buntingford Congregational Schoolroom for a social evening, the chief features of which were a "Silver Tree" and an entertainment by members of the Buntingford Women's Institute.

In his opening remarks the Minister said that whilst the idea of a Silver Tree was by no means new in itself, having been carried out with marked success in neighbouring Churches, it was certainly an innovation where the question of raising funds for the Buntingford Congregational Church was concerned.

He explained the idea, which briefly was as follows: Fancy paper bags having been made, they are distributed to the friends, who, by contributions of silver, &c. (notes not being unwelcome) from themselves, their own friends and relatives, do their best to fill them. These are returned on the day when the "tree" is to be held, each containing a quotation, either from the Bible, or from a hymn, prose or poetry (sometimes the sender's favourite text or motto), and hung on a tree or trees. The bags are opened, the verses, &c., read out together with the individual amounts, the whole constituting a very interesting item in an evening's social programme or a pleasing part of an afternoon's outdoor event.

The Minister remarked also that they had now installed the electric light in the Church, vestry and schoolroom, at a cost of some £30 to £36. A certain number of subscriptions had in the summer been forthcoming in connection with that part of the Special Appeal Fund, and he was hoping that the proceeds of this social evening, which was in aid of this fund, would result in the balance of the money being obtained. The bags had been taken not only by the friends at the Congregational Church, but also by others in the town and country who were interested in its work; and for this wider response to the appeals also he expressed his warm thanks.

The bags were then opened by Mr H. Cutts and Mr R.F. Dellow, and the reading of the amounts of the contributions and the quotations, &c., by the Minister was proceeded with. Though this item took some time, it was nevertheless followed with much interest by all who were present, many Biblical texts referring to the "light." The tree was kindly loaned by Mrs Squires.

During a short interval refreshments were served, Mrs Camp and Mrs Blaxill being in charge of this stall, they and their helpers being kept quite busy satisfying their customers' hunger and thirst.

The Minister then welcomed Mrs Ralph Scott and Mrs B.E. Thody, who, together with a number of fellow members of the Women's Institute, had in response to his request, very willingly come along to help in the evening's entertainment. Their contribution to the programme was the acting of a charade, the word taken being "Institute" in its three syllables. This was provocative of much amusement, was exceedingly well done, and included, on a minor scale, an admirable representation of Madame Tussaud's Exhibition. A number of miscellaneous items of entertainment by the same ladies followed, their entire programme being very much appreciated.

During the evening there was also a Jumble and Work Stall, Mrs Benstead and Mrs Cornwell being in charge, and they and their assistants did very good business. Mr Anderson did duty at the door, exacting toll of all comers.

The Minister, at the close, expressed his thanks to the members of the Women's Institute; to all who had sent along gifts towards the refreshments; and to one and all who had in any way, by time, service, &c., before and during the evening, helped to make it so successful.

The results of such an occasion are always two-fold - a social: it was "a very enjoyable evening"; and a financial: this too was very satisfactory, for the tree proved to be of a very productive nature, and has continued to yield "fruit" to the value now of £16 4s. The total proceeds from the evening's effort to date amount to £20 19s. 8d., and it is expected that by the end of the present week they will amount to £22 10s (approximately). It is gratifying to note that the electric light account has been settled, and is now a thing of the past.

The singing of the Doxology brought to a close a very pleasant and very delightful evening.

26th Feb 1926 - Social at the Congregational Church

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Social at the Congregational Church

On Thursday, February 18th, in the Congregational Church Schoolroom, a very enjoyable evening was spent, the occasion being a Church Social. The schoolroom had been tastefully decorated by Mr Herbert Cutts, and presented a very pleasing appearance.

The evening commenced with a general conversazione. Then followed various musical items, &c., Miss Dorothy Howard (solo, "All Alone"); Miss Kathleen Smith (pianoforte, "Birds of Paradise," &c.); Miss Kitty Camp (pianoforte), Miss Alice Franklin (recitation, "The Key to the Situation"). 

A number of competitors took part in a previously prepared piece of unpunctuated prose. This caused great amusement, the audience being informed, e.g., that wine could be made with glycerine, special trains would be run updside down. In this competition, Mr Leonard Skipp, of Cottered, made the least number of mistakes.

Miss Emily Benstead followed with a monologue, "The Lost Golosh." She took her part well (finding in the end that this lost piece of footwear was residing serenely inside the other golosh). All these items were enthusiastically applauded.

Two sketches followed, one entitled "The Neighbours of Gooseberry Court" by Mr and Mrs Skipper ("Mrs Dobbs" and "Mrs Perkins" respectively) and Miss Gladys Mean ("Miss Amelia Copper") of the Cottered Congregational Church; and the second, entitled "Uncle Joseph" by Mr Herbert Cutts ("Mr Samuel Smith"), Miss Emily Benstead ("Mrs Selena Smith"), Mr C.L. Tutty ("Mr Dick Saunders"), Miss Edith Careless ("Miss Kitty Smith"), Mr Harry Feasey ("Mr Joe Tubb" and "Uncle Joseph," a myth), and Miss Kitty Camp ("Jane").

The artistes in both instances are to be congratulated on their excellent performance, while the amusement and merriment that accompanied their various experiences and adventures before the curtain was drawn must have been sufficient reward for all the preparation and care which they had given.

There was an interval between the two sketches for two items in which everyone took part. The members of the Ladies' Committee assisted by willing helpers, waited on the company with trays of tea, coffee and cakes, which many friends had, with their usual generosity, kindly contributed; and a collection was taken on behalf of the funds of the Church.

At the close the Minister thanked all who in any way (by gifts, time or services) had assisted towards the evening's pleasure.

The Doxology brought the evening to a close.