20th Jan 1928 - Buntingford Ex-Service Men's Club

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Buntingford Ex-Service Men's Club

Annual Treat to Members Children

For upwards of seven years the children of the members of the Buntingford Ex-Service Men's Club have, during the Christmas season, been entertained to a tea and Christmas Tree.

Those who attended the treat given on Wednesday last were unanimous in their praise for the excellent arrangements. A Christmas Tree, lit up with electric lamps, was at one end of the room, and by it stood a huge clothes basket full of neatly wrapped parcels.

The entire room presented a scene fitting to the festive season - evergreens and paper decorations being used on a lavish scale.

About forty children sat down to a sumptuous tea, consisting of bread and butter, cakes, &c., huge plates of which speedily disappeared, whilst the helpers were also kept busy in filling the cups with hot tea.

Following the tea, the long tables were cleared away and games went on merrily until 7 p.m., when the arrival of Father Christmas was the signal for an outburst of cheering. He immediately went to the Christmas Tree and commenced distributing the presents. After this, the noise of drums and various wind instruments can better be imagined than described.

Before leaving each child was handed a National Savings Card bearing two 6d. savings stamps. The cards were distributed by Mrs H.H. Williams, who thanked the helpers for their excellent work.

Winnie Winters then call for three cheers for the ex-service men, which was heartily given.

Mr Scarborough Taylor proposed a vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs H. Clarke for their work in connection with the arrangements, and this was carried amid cheering.

The National Anthem was then sung, and each child was handed a bag of sweets and an orange.

Those responsible for the excellent arrangements were Mr and Mrs H. Clarke, Mr and Mrs E.C. Clarke, Mrs Warren, Mrs S. Smith, Mrs S. Howlett, Mrs Davies, Mrs Starr, Mrs Hall and Mr E.E. Dennis.

Visitors during the evening included Mrs Williams, Mr and Mrs Scarborough Taylor, Mr G.H. Maughan, and Mr and Mrs B.E. Thody.

Ex-Service Men At Supper

Hardly had the last child left the children's party when the ladies who assisted with the children's tea set to work on an equally important job - the preparation of the tables for the ex-service men's supper. This was the first event of its kind to be held in Buntingford, and judging by the number present and the success of the evening it promises to become an annual event.

About forty ex-service men and their friends sat down at daintily laid and prettily decorated tables, doing justice to an appetising spread consisting of roast beef, boiled beef and ham, cheese, pickles &c. Mr A.E. Mayes, a former honorary secretary of the club, presided, and a very enjoyable evening was spent.

After the loyal toast had been honoured, songs were contributed by Mr S. Daniels and the whole company joined in the singing of well-known Army choruses and songs. Mr Dennis worked extremely hard at the piano throughout the evening, and kindly lent song books.

At the close, the Chairman proposed the toast of "The Ladies." Everyone was very grateful to them for the excellent service they had rendered, not only at the supper but also at the children's treat.

The ladies were then accorded musical honours.

Musical honours were accorded Mr Dennis for his valuable assistance at the piano, and votes of thanks to the Chairman for presiding, and to Mr H. Clarke, the hon. secretary, for the excellent arrangements, concluded a day which gave great pleasure to the members of the Club and their children.

12th Oct 1928 - Country Town Concert at Buntingford

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Country Town Concert at Buntingford

Arranged by the Herts Rural Community Council

By the direction of the Herts Rural Community Council, a grand variety concert was given in the Women's Institute Hall on Wednesday evening.

A good number of persons seized the advantage of listening to the professional artistes who have so often been heard in broadcast concerts. The artistes taking part were Miss Margaret Stephen (soprano and accompanist), Miss Phyllis Nash (violinist), Miss Rita Sharpe (cellist) and Mr David Hutchinson (tenor), who took the part, owing to indisposition, of Mr Owen Bryngwyn.

The object of this and similar concerts to be held in Hertfordshire is for the purpose of keeping the various musical and choral societies in touch with one another, arranging tours of the village, country town and school concert parties, and generally helping to promote musical enterprise in the country towns and villages of the county. Any surplus money which is left in hand after paying the expenses involved will be expended by arranging for concerts to be held in hospitals and similar institutions where circumstanes do not allow for charging any fees.

The programme opened with two delightful trios by the Misses Nash, Stephen and Sharpe, which were followed by two songs by Mr Hutchinson, who fine voice was greatly admired; his song "Sigh no more, lady" was exceptionally well sung. The "Hungarian Rhapsody," the cello solo which commences with a mournfully and rhythm gradually changing to a wild composition, too, was well rendered by Miss Sharpe. 

Then followed Miss Stephen's three soprano songs (1) "My true love day," (2) "By and by," said to have been sung by people of the Hebrides when they were thinking of the joys of Heaven, and (3) "The route of the isles," the words of which are supposed to have been uttered by an old native journeying back to his land of Scotland, all of which were extremely charming. Equally charming were the two violin solos "Minuet" and "Air and Variations" by Miss Nash, and Miss Stephen and Mr Hutchinson sang as a blosing item to the first part of the programme the familiar duet "Oh no, John," for which they were loudly encored.

Following a brief interval, during which a representative of the Herts Rural Community Council explained what the scheme is and how it is worked, Miss Sharpe illuminated the commencement of part 2 by two other praiseworthy cello solos "Drink to me only with thine eyes" and an oriental dance tune; Miss Sharpe was clamourously encored, and she replied with "Le Cygne." Mr Hutchinson was also vociferously applauded, and as an encore he sang "My love, she's but a laddie," which was very amusing.

Miss Nash's two violin solos of her own composition, "Miniature in G" and "African Dance" were well received, as also were the humourous duets "Keep away, my Johnny" and "My boy, Billy" so excellently sung by Miss Stephen and Mr Hutchinson. Two other trios, preceded by a cello solo, was followed by community singing, when all the audience joined in the singing of "John Brown's body" and songs of a similar character. The accompaniments of Miss Stephen at the piano deserve special mention.

Various explanatory notes on music were given by the artistes during the evening, and Mr Hutchinson laid emphasis on the importance of sounding the consonants as well as the vowels in singing, and not relying upon the audience as always having a book of words before them. It was articulation and interpretation that were most essential.

Special thanks are due to Mr E.E. Dennis who made the necessary arrangements for the concert; to Mr H. Fry who sold tickets; to Misses M. Wornham and M. Coxall who sold programmes; and Mr F.W. Butler and others who kindly acted as stewards.

26th Feb 1926 - Buntingford Conservative Associaton

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Buntingford Conservative Associaton

Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Buntingford Branch of the Hitchen Conservative and Liberal Unionist Association was held at the George Hotel on Thursday evening last.

The chair was taken by Mr Claud Fraser. There was a small attendance of members, the business being of a formal nature only.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman said the members would be glad to hear that Major Kindersley had recovered his health, and that he would be visiting Buntingford on March 26th.

Election of Officers

Capt H.H. Williams moved that Mr Claud Fraser be re-elected Chairman of the branch. They all knew the interest their Chairman took in the Association as a whole. (Applause).

Mr Scarborough Taylor seconded the resolution, which was carried with applause.

The Chairman thanked the meeting for re-appointing him, and said he would always do his best for the cause.

The following were elected to serve on the Central Council: Dr R.W. Fell, Messrs. W. Steel, C.H. Poulton, A.W. Page, A. MacArthur and W Houlden.

The Chairman and Captain H.H. Williams were elected to serve on the General Executive.

The committee elected were as follows: Dr R.W. Fell, Messrs. F.B. Sharp, J. Pateman, E.J. Crane, C.H. Poulton, E. Camp, E.E. Dennis, E. Denson, T.Kingsley, J. Camp, W. Manning, H. Thody, W. May, W. Houlden, and G. Scarborough Taylor.

Mr B.E. Thody was nominated Secretary.

Other Business

Capt H.H. Williams spoke on the newly-formed scheme for raising subscriptions, and Mr Scarborough Taylor asked whether monthly lectures could be arranged. 

The committee were asked to meet and discuss this question.

The Secretary was also instructed to obtain membership cards.

[Transcriber note: "Major Kindersley" was Guy Kindersley, Conservative MP for Hitchen]

26th Feb 1926 - Boys' Club

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Boys' Club

A whist drive and dance, in aid of the funds of the Buntingford Boys' Club, was held at the George Hotel on Tuesday evening in last week.

There were 14 tables in use for whist, and Mr E.E. Dennis carried out the duties of M.C. The prize winners were: Ladies - 1 Mrs W. Jackson (biscuit barrel), 2 Mrs Smith (jam dish), 3 Mrs Hummerstone (jam dish). Gents - 1 Mr Mannox (clock), 2 Mr A. Mayes (tobacco pouch and pipe), 3 Mr A. Coxall (cut-glass bowl).

Following the whist, dancing was indulged in until midnight, Mr E.E. Dennis acting as accompanish and Mr J. Wall as M.C.