11th March 1927 - Funeral of Mr Stanley F. Keen

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Funeral of Mr Stanley F. Keen

The funeral of Stanley F. Keen, whose death at the early age of 18 years was reported in this Paper last week, took place at Layston Church on Saturday afternoon, the service being conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. A. Howard.

Members of the Buntingford Independent Foresters' Society carried out the duty of bearers, the deceased being a junior member of that Society. His employer, Mr A. Jackson, kindly lent his car, and the evidences of sorrow were marked by the number of people present and the beautiful floral tributes.

Mr and Mrs C.F. Keen (father and mother), Mrs W. Whiting and Mrs P. Deards (sisters), Mrs R. Saunders (aunt), Mr P. Deards and Mr J. Gibbs (brothers-in-law), and Miss Jackson.

The wreaths were as follows:

From Mum and Dad

Maggie and Will

Nellie and Percy

Vera and Phyllis

Mr and Mrs A. Jackson and Family

Mr and Mrs and H. Jackson and Mrs James Harradence.

Mr G. Hagger

Mr L. Bradford

His pals - J. and L. Plumb, C. and B. King, R. Fish, J. Ward, J. Oakley, C. and M. Worboys

Mrs Parker

Mr and Mrs French

Mr and Mrs A. Dray

Mr and Mrs Arthur Dray

Miss E. Cutts

Mr and Mrs L. Smith

Mrs Patmore and Mr Hummerstone

Mrs Pateman and Family

Mr and Mrs Haddock

Mrs Brewington

Mrs Prior and Family

Mrs Horth and Reg

Mrs G. Bradford

4th March 1926 - Births, Marriages, and Deaths

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Births, Marriages, and Deaths

Marriage

Hatchett-Deards - On February 26th, at Layston Parish Church, by the Rev. A. Howard, Vicar, William, only son of Mr and Mrs Hatchett, of New Town, Buntingford, to Annie Gertrude, daughter of Mr and Mrs Deards, of High Street, Buntingford.

Death

Keen - On Wednesday, March 2nd, at Church Street, Buntingford, Stanley Fuller Keen, aged 18 years.

4th March 1927 - Hatchett-Deards Wedding

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Wedding

Hatchett-Deards

A pretty wedding was solemnized at Layston Parish Church, on Saturday last, February 26th, the contracting parties being Mr William Hatchett and Miss Annie Gertrude Deards, both of Buntingford. The Rev. A. Howard, Vicar of Layston Parish Church, officiated.

Mr Hatchett has been captain of the Buntingford Football Club for four seasons. He has played for the town club since being demobilized from the Army, and has always set a standard of clean sporting play.

The bride, who was attired in cream silk moracain with veil and orange blossom, was attended by two bridesmaids - Miss Hatchett, sister of the bridegroom (who was dressed in Wedgewood blue silk moracain, with hat to match); and Miss Renie Randall, a niece of the bride (who wore a dress of pale blue crepe-de-chine, with pink rose-buds.) She was given away by her father, and the duties of best man were carried by her brother (Mr Leonard Deards).

On leaving the Church, the happy pair arrived at the home of the bridegroom, to receive congratulations from his father and invalid mother, and after the reception - which was held at the home of the bride - journeyed to London for a short honeymoon.

The presents numbered between 40 and 50.

10th June 1927 - Fatal Holiday Accident

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Fatal Holiday Accident

Motor-Cyclist Collides with Cart

Whilst motor cycling for [from?] Chatham, where he was stationed, to West Riding, on Friday last, Flagman Ernest A. Shoobridge collided with a farm cart at a dangerous corner in Cottered and was killed instantly.

There is a sign post on the corner and it is thought that the deceased, who had lost his correct route, looked up at the sign post and failed to notice the approach of a farm cart.

The district coroner, Mr H.F. J. Banham, conducted the inquest, which was held at the Cottered Rectory on Saturday evening last, when the following were sworn on the jury: Messrs. W.N. Sanders (foreman), J. Smith, J. Darton, W. Hills, C. Smith, W. Deards, W. Hummerstone, B.A. Edwards, T. Kingsley, J. Warner, H. Sheppard, G. Fenner, and F. Hummerstone.

Eric Sellers, a leading seaman in the Royal Navy, who was accompanying the deceased on another motor-cycle, said "We left Chatham on Friday morning at 6.30 for Nessborough, Yorks. The deceased was riding a 3 and a half h.p. Norton motorcycle. I was riding in front of my friend, and as I passed the corner I noticed a cart on the right side of the road, but I had no difficulty in getting by.

I happened to glance round and saw the deceased looking at the sign post; he turned his head back, and as he did so I saw a surprised look on his face as though he had noticed the cart and did not know what to do. I then heard a crash, and on going back found my friend lying across the road. He appeared to be dead. His speed at the time of the accident would be about 12-15 miles per hour."

Sidney Andrews, a carter, of Moor Green, Ardeley, said "On Friday, 3rd June, I was in charge of a horse and cart on the road from Cottered to Buntingford. As the horse approached the corner a motor-cycle passed, and immediately afterwards came another in the same direction. The second cyclist crashed into the hose, which was only moving at walking pace.

Part of the horse's harness was broken, and when I went to deceased he was lying in the road by the wheel. When the accident occurred I was about one yard from the near side of the road."

James Fuller, a roadman employed by the H.C.C., said "I was working near the corner in question on Friday, June 3rd, when I noticed two motor-cycles coming from the direction of Buntingford. The first one passed me all right, but the second one, which came on about 15-20 yards behind, took a big sweep; the rider shut off the engine and put out his right foot as if to save himself.

The cycle swayed, and I saw the rider strike the horse and then fall into the road. I went round the cart, but the deceased appeared to be dead."

Frederick James Savage, of High Street, Walkern, a labourer, also working on the corner, gave similar evidence.

Alfred James Ives, a police constable, stationed at Cottered, said "On Friday, 3rd June, about 10.15 a.m., I received a report that a motor-cycle accident had occurred on the Buntingford road. I went to the scene of the accident and saw a Norton motor-cycle lying close to the wheel of a cart which was standing on the north side of the road and facing north-east.

I found that the rider of the motor-cycle was lying with his right leg over his machine. His skull was crushed, and he was quite dead. The machine was slightly damaged. The width of the road at the particular point was 18ft. 6ins. There was 9ft. 6 ins. between the offside wheel of the cart and the other side of the road."

Dr R.W. Fell, of Buntingford, said "On arriving at the scene of the accident I saw the deceased lying on his back across the road. There was a lot of blood in the road and the deceased was dead. On examining the body I came to the conclusion that he must have struck his head on the shaft of the cart, and have died instantly."

The jury returned a verdict of "accidental death," the foreman requested the coroner to repot on the dangerous corner to the Herts. County Council.