25th January 1924 - British Legion Annual Meeting

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British Legion

(Buntingford Branch)

Annual Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the members of the Buntingford Branch of the British Legion was held at the Ex-Service Men's Club Room on Wednesday evening.

The chair was occupied by the President, Captain H.H. Williams, and there was a good attendance of members, including a strong contingent from the Hormead Branch.

Balance Sheet

The Hon. Treasurer, Mr F.W. Butler, presented the balance sheet of 1923.

Receipts were: Subscriptions £5 18s. 4d., Donations 7s. 6d., Sale of Badges 15s., Poppy Day £64 14s. Total £71 14s. 10d.

Expenditure - Membership cards 10s. 6d., Club funds £1 5s., Badges £1 4s., Poppy Day fund £64 14s., Fees £1 16s. 9d. 

The balance in hand amounted to £2 8s. 7d. The balance sheet was adopted.

Secretary's Report

The Hon. Secretary, Mr G.H. Maughan, gave a satisfactory report of the working of the organisation.

Since February, 1923, 57 members had been enrolled, and 17 new applications for membership had been accepted for 1924.

The amount forwarded to the Headquarters in respect of Armistice Day was £66 1s. 4d., and after deducting the cost of the poppies, 85 per cent. of this was returnable to the branch for relief.

During the year several pension questions had been dealt with.

It was proposed to hold a public meeting next month, and Colonel Crossfield, D.S.O., had consented to address the meeting.

The report was passed as satisfactory.

Election of Officers

Capt. H.H. Williams was unanimously elected President and re-elected Chairman, Capt. G. Scarborough Taylor being elected Vice-Chairman.

The Chairman said that he would like to move that the Hon. Secretary, Mr G.H. Maughan, and the Hon. Treasurer, Mr F.W. Butler, be re-elected. They had both performed their duties in an excellent manner. The proposition was seconded by Capt. G. Scarborough Taylor and unanimously carried.

The election of the Committee was carried out by ballot, and resulted as follows: The Rev. H.L. Sheppard, Messrs. P. Woollard, H. Piper, A.E. Mayes, E. Totman, H. Cutts, G. Coleman, A. Dray and E. Crane.

Captain H.H. Williams and the Rev. H.L. Sheppard were elected as delegates on the area Council.

The formation of a sub-branch at Great Hormead was confirmed.

Thanks

The Secretary was instructed to write to the Secretary of the Buntingford Ex-Service Men's Club thanking the Committee for the use of the Club Room for the Legion meetings.

It was announced that subscriptions for 1924 were now due.

8th October 1926 - Property auction at Buntingford

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High Street, Buntingford.

G. Scarborough Taylor, P.A.S.I., has received instructions to sell by auction at the "George and Dragon" Hotel, Buntingford, on Monday, October 18th, 1926, valuable freehold business property, comprising excellent brick-built residence, having extensive frontage to Buntingford High Street.

Large garden at the rear, extensive outbuildings, comprising Cobbled Yard, Blacksmith's Shop, Forge, and Stabling for 3, lofted also; Ex-Service Men's Club, let on a lease and producing £18 per annum.

Further particulars of Messrs. Chalmers-Hunt & Co., Solicitors, Buntingford and Ware; and of the Auctioneer, Auction Offices, Buntingford (Tel. 20); Baldock (Tel. 62); Welwyn (Tel. 98); and Hatfield (Tel. 16).

7th January 1927 - Ex-service men entertain the children

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Ex-service men entertain the children

That nothing appeals to the heart more than a group of happy children was amply demonstrated on Monday evening, when the children of the members of the Buntingford British Legion Club were the guests at the annual party.

The arrangements for the treat were made by Mr H. Clarke (Sec. of the Club) and Mr E.C. Clarke (Hon. Sec. of the Buntingford Branch of the British Legion).

The room, with its attractive decorations was much admired. A great attraction was the huge Xmas Tree (given by Mr C.H. Poulton). The tree was heavily laden with toys and gifts selected by Mrs H. Clarke.

Some 50 children responded to the invitation to be present, and judging by the enthusiasm displayed this party exceeded all predecessors.

The whole party sat down to tea at 4.30, assistance at the tables being given by Mrs H. Clarke, Mrs E.C. Clarke, Mrs Starr, Mrs Warren, Mrs White, Mrs S. Smith, Mrs Scarborough Taylor and Miss Mayes.

Mrs Hall, the stewardess at the Club, also lent valuable assistance. Visitors included Captain and Mrs H.H. Williams, Mrs, Miss and Master C. Fell, Messrs G. Scarborough Taylor, E.C. Clarke, H. Clarke, E.J. Crane, E.E. Dennis, B.E. Thody, F. White, T. Pledger, A. Coxall, S. Daniels and W. Hall.

During tea Mr H. Clarke installed a powerful wireless set, and the music was much enjoyed.

Following tea, games and songs were indulged in until 7p.m. when the arrival of "Father Christmas" was the signal for three hearty cheers.

Mrs H.H. Williams then presented each child with a gift from the tree, and a National Savings' Card with two sixpenny stamps attached.

Mr H. Clarke called for cheers for the members of the Club and numerous friends who had made the treat possible.

Cheers were also given for the ladies, the New Year and Messrs. H. and E.C. Clarke. On leaving each child was given two oranges, a bag of sweets and a small gifts, and a thoroughly successful treat ended with the singing of God Save the King.

7th January 1927 - Notes of the Week

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Notes of the Week

The custom of giving treats is still maintained in Buntingford.

During the past week, two treats - one to the old folks and one to the young - gave untold pleasure.

On Saturday - New Year's Day - Mrs F.J. Robinson, with her customary kindness and thoughtfulness gave a sausage dinner to the inmates of the Poor Law Institution.

There was still a festive appearance about the place, the decorations for Xmas still adorning the large dining hall with its beautifully scrubbed floor. On spotless white table cloths, plates, knives and forks were laid ready for the annual sausage dinner.

Punctually at 1 p.m., the inamtes filed into the room, the women and children sitting at one table and the men at another. Large white enamelled pots of hot sausages and vegetables were carried in by attendants, and soon the inmates were enjoying a meal that is not on the official menu of the Institution.

Beer and minerals - a very generous helping too - were served during the meal, at the close of which the entire company stood up and drank to the health of Mrs Robinson.

The came the distribution of an ounce of tobacco to the men, who filled their pipes while one of the inmates sang a very old song about a "White Part-i-ridge." Another inmate, an old soldier, also sang, but it was difficult to catch words other than "The Ship that never returned." Most of the company seemed to know the chorus for they joined in heartily.

Then the women went back to their quarters and left the men to their pipes and "forty winks."

The other party was at the Ex-Service Men's Club on Monday last, where everything went jolly from 4 o'clock to 7.30.

A feature of the party seemed to be the excellent manner in which the children behaved. There was no snobishness as is sometimes seen when adults gather for tea and games, and but for one sturdy little fellow, who wanted Dad near him during tea, the entire company did justice to a very sumptuous tea.

After grace, led by Mr E.E. Dennis, had been sung, the long tables were cleared away, and community singing on a small scale started the evening's enjoyment. "This old man came rolling home" was taken up by everybody.

"Spinning the tray," "musical stick" (with Mr Dennis at the piano), "family coach" and "passing the pennies" were other games which all (including the adults) enjoyed.

The arrival of "Father Christmas" was the signal for more cheering, and the intimation that the gifts were about to be distributed from the huge Christmas tree.

Before toys were handed out, each child received a National Savings' Card bearing two sixpenny stamps - an excellent idea considering that last year's gift of a similar nature has led to a good deal of saving.

There was really an excellent assortment of toys &c., and a box of puzzles given to one little girl caused a good deal of perplexity amongst the grown-ups.

Before leaving, oranges, chocolate, weets and cakes were distributed, and one noticed that the National Anthem was sung none too lustily.

2nd November 1923 - British Legion

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British Legion

A special general meeting of the Buntingford Branch was held at the Ex-Service Men's Club on Monday last.

Capt. H.H. Williams presided. Mr H.G. Maughan was unanimously elected Hon. Secretary, and the following resolution, which has since been forwarded to the Prime Minister and to the Local Member of Parliament, was unanimously carried:

"That this meeting of the Buntingford and District Brnch of the British Legion assembled on the 29th October, 1923, hereby confirms and supports the Manifesto issued by the National Executive Council of the British Legion, with regard to Unemployment, and demands that a National Employment Committee be established, and that immediate steps be taken to float a National Work Loan in accordance with the said Manifesto."

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.