3rd Feb 1928 - Buntingford Bowls Club

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Buntingford Bowls Club

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Buntingford Bowls Club was held at the Headquarters of the Club on Wednesday evening last, Mr H.C. Marshall, the President of the Club presided, being supported by Mr W.J. May (Captain) and Mr J. Lawrence (Hon. Sec.)

The Hon. Secretary presented his annual report. During the season the Club played 20 league matches, of which 14 were won and six lost. In addition to again winning the Aston Challenge Cup the Club created a record  in defeating the Rest of the League for the first time in the history of the League.

In presenting the balance sheet Mr Lawrence said a large amount of money had been expended on the new green, and further expense was necessary. He wished to make it known that in the event of the Club being wound up the new Green would become the property of the Buntingford Nursing Association.

He hoped, therefore, that the inhabitants of Buntingford and district would support the Bowls club as they had done in the past. The Club would then go on to further successes, and would possess one of the best Greens in the County.

[Transcriber note - There's two sets of accounts on the original image that I won't transcribe here, see the original image for the information]

In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet Mr W.J. May said he did so with much pleasure. He was sure they could not find a more energetic secretary than Mr Lawrence, who gave a great deal of his time to the Club, and the members appreciated his services.

Mr F.W. Butler seconded, and the accounts and reports were unanimously adopted.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Captain H.H. Williams moved the re-election of Mr H.C. Marshall as president. They all knew what Mr Marshall had done for the Club, and the manner in which he entertained them on winning the Challenge Cup. (Applause).

Mr A.C. Bartlett seconded, and the vote was carried with acclamation.

Mr H.A. Mannox moved the re-election of the Vice-Presidents, with the addition of Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis. 

This was seconded by Mr J. Lawrence, and carried unanimously.

Mr Lawrence was re-elected Hon. Sec. and Treas., with Mr Mannox as Assistant Secretary.

Mr W.J. May said he would be leaving the district this spring, but hoped he would not sever his connection with the Club for some time. His years of office with the Club had been most pleasant. (Applause). He had much pleasure in proposing that Mr Butler be elected Captain.

Captain Williams, in seconding Mr May's proposition, said how much the members would regret Mr May's departure. Mr May had brought to the Club a measure of success which was at one time never to be expected. (Applause).

The meeting unanimously agreed to make Mr May a Honorary Life Member of the Club.

Mr E.G. Thody proposed, and Mr C.H. Poulton seconded, that the following be elected to serve on the General Committee: Messrs E.J. Totman, J. Boniwell, F.B. Sharp, J.L. Cornwell, H.E. Birkett, F. Crouch, E.R. Brett, H.A. Mannox, J. Bishop, J. Cutts, E.P. Borsberry, and L. Hagger.

OTHER BUSINESS

Business in connection with the new Green, and a suggested match with Luton Town on the date of the opening of the new Green, was discussed, after which a vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding, concluded the meeting.

27th Jan 1928 - Foresters' Friendly Society

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Foresters' Friendly Society

A Court Meeting was held at the Society's Hall on Monday evening last, the Chief Ranger, Bro. J.B. Cutts, presiding. The Secretary, Bro. E.G. Thody, submitted the accounts for the year 1927. The sickness benefit paid amounted to £347 17s. 4d., and funeral benefit £98. Both these are record amounts for the society.

The management expenses, which include salaries, printing and stationery, surgeon's fees, repairs, valuation expenses, installment of electric light, &c., amount to £89 16s. 5d. The statement of funds shows that the Society is on a sound financial footing. War Loan investments total £3205, Hertfordshire Housing Bonds £100, Freehold Property £100, and money at Post Office Savings Bank £380. At 31st December there was a membership of 203, on the private side. State member are not included in the totals.

In moving the adoption of the accounts, the Chairman side the past year had been an abnormal one as far as sickness was concerned. Early in the year the Society paid out as much as £40 in sick benefit one week. The accounts were duly passed.

It was decided to send the usual subscription of £2 2s. to the Buntingford Nursing Fund and the Hertford County Hospital.

The following officers were elected for 1928: Chief Ranger, Bro. J.B. Cutts; Sub-Chief Rangers, Bro. E. Sanders; Woodwards. Bros. E. Bolton and A. Coxall. Senior Beadle, Bro. D. Wallis; Junior Beadles, Bro W. Budd; Trustrees, Bros. J.L. Cornwell, G. Wallis, and J.T. May.

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.

12th Oct 1928 - Whist drive

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Whist Drive

A pleasant evening was spent by those who participated in the Football Club whist drive at the Foresters' Hall on Wednesday evening.

Mr H. Clark was M.C., and the prizewinners were: Ladies - 1 Miss M. Cornwell, 2 Mrs H. Clark; Gents - 1 Mr Care, 2 Mr S. Smith.