21st December 1928 - Christmas Show and Sale of Poultry and Eggs

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Christmas Show and Sale of Poultry and Eggs

The Christmas Show and Sale of Poultry and Eggs took place on the Market Hill on Monday last, this being the first occasion that the show has been held separate from the fat stock show.

There was an excellent display of birds, the pens of turkeys being particularly fine, and numbered 57 in all. Some of the best birds realised £1 11s., the lowest prices ranging from 14/- apiece. As will be seen from our list of awards (which is appended), Mr T. Vigus secured the first prizes in each case for the best pen of three cock turkeys, three hen turkeys and the best killing cock bird. These exhibits were some of the best birds in the district.

The supplies of hens and cockerels more than exceeded those of previous years, the number of birds penned being 355, of which 195 were cockerels. These made a fine show as their crowed out their last notes, and the majority will be heard no more, but seen in another guise during next week!

There was a good all-round trade for the birds, some of the cockerels realising 12/6 each, the hens being knocked down at 7/. The geese numbered 45, the highest price which these realised being 10/-. There were also a good many ducks and rabbits penned, the latter being for sale purposes only. The eggs classes were also well filled.

The judge of the poultry was Mr G.H. Hankin, of High Cross, the well-known local expert.

List of Awards

Three cock turkeys - 1 T. Vigus, 2 J.H. Glascock, 3 J.H. Glascock

Three hen tukeys - 1 T. Vigus, 2 T. Vigus.

Killing cock turkey - 1 T. Vigus, 2 T. Vigus, 3 C. Warren.

Killing hen turkey - 1 J.H. Glascock

Four geese - 1 E. Howard, 2 J. Poulton, 3 A.W. Gray.

Four killing cockerels - 1 H. Piggott, 2 C. Chappell, 3 W. Burrow.

Four killing hens - 1 J. Cogan, 2 J. Hale, 3 J. Russell.

Four killing ducks - 1 F.W. Gatward, 2 F.W. Gatward, 3 A. Macarthur.

Three score hens eggs - 1 E. Brett, 2 E. Brett.

7th January 1927 - Funeral of the Late Mr Harry Woodley

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Funeral of the Late Mr Harry Woodley

The funeral of the late Mr Harry Woodley, licensee of "The White Hart," Buntingford, whose death was reported last week, took place on Thursday, December 30th.

The remains, encassed in a plain elm coffin, were conveyed to the Church by a Washington car.

The coffin was inscribed:

Harry Woodley, Died December 24th, 1926, Aged 65 years.

The first part of the service was conducted by the Rev. A. Howard, while the lesson was read by the Rev. John Cole.

The immediate mourners were: Mrs Woodley (wife), Miss Woodley (daughter), Mrs Fox and Mrs Chapman (sisters), Messrs. F.R. and L. Woodley (brothers), Mrs F. Woodley and Mrs L. Woodley (sisters-in-law), Mr Seller, Mr F. Seller, Mr and Mrs J. Seller (nephews and niece), Mr H. Gray, Mr F. Stoten, and the Rev. John Cole.

It will be re-called that the deceased served in the Metropolian Police Force for 25 years, and a  touching reminder of this was shown by the presence at the Church and graveside of Srgt. Dean, of the Buntingford Police Station.

Amongst other townspeople present, we observed Mrs E. Law, Mrs Warner, Mrs Thody, Mrs Borsberry, Mrs Winters, Mrs Robinson, Mrs Lawrence, Mrs Crouch, Mrs Watson, Mrs Plumb, Mrs Franklin, Mr S. Saggers and others.

There were several beautiful floral tokens, which were sent by the following:

From his sorrowing wife and daughter; George and Jane; Frank and Fanny and Family; Leonard and Clara; Jack and Kate; Jack and Rose, Billy and Mill; Brother Bob, Walter and Mabel; Flo, Walt, and Jack; Fred and Birdie; Mr and Mrs Stoten and Fred; Mr and Mrs Mottram and Sid; Rev. J. Cole; Mr and Mrs H. Gray; Mr and Mrs W. Gray; Mrs Robinson; Mr and Mrs Franklin; Mr and Mrs Haddock; and Miss E. Cato.

11th February 1927 - Buntingford Petty Sessions

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Buntingford Petty Sessions

Friday last, before Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis, C.B.E., and Claud Fraser, Esq.

Licensing

Inspector Herbert presented the annual report respecting licensed premises in the Division.

There were, he said, 33 fully licensed premises, 8 licensed for consumption "on the premises," four "off" licenses, and one grocer's licence, making a total of 46.

During the year, four licenses had been transferred. No licensee had been proceeded against, and there had only been one male convicted of drunkenness.

The Inspector then stated the times of the licensed hours in force in the Division.

The Chairman said the Bench were very satisfied with the report. It was satisfactory to the Bench, the Police and the Public, and the Bench wished to express their appreciation.

The application for the full transfer of the licence fo "The White Hart" Public House, Buntingford, from Harry Woodley to Mary Jane Woodley was granted.

A Cottered Theft Charge

Victor John Ginn (21), of Broadfield, Buntingford, appeared on a charge of stealing middlings and meal at Cromer, Stevenage, on 24th January, 1927. The defendant pleaded "Guilty."

Mr W.H. Kittow, farmer, of Bancroft, Cottered, said he sent the defendant with six bags of meal and five bags of middlings from Bancroft to Luffenhall Farm.

He was passing through Cromer between 3 and 4 p.m. on the day in question, when he saw the defendant turn his horse and cart into "The Chequers" yard. He (the witness) thought it strange, so he approached the defendant, who told him that he was taking some potatoes for Mr Gray to a Mr Paul. 

The witness then looked in a shed at "The Chequers" and saw four sacks of meal. He opened the bags and found that the meal was quite warm, having just come from the mill.

The defendant, who at first denied leaving the meal there, later admitted that he left one bag. He saw him again later, when he admitted leaving one bag of meal and three of middlings. The defendant, who had been in his employ for some time was receiving 34/6 per week.

P.C. Hill, of Chipping, said on receiving information from Mr Kittow he visited "The Chequers" yard, Cromer, in company with Sergt. Dean.

He later saw the defendant and conveyed him to Buntingford Police Station, where he made a statement to the effect that on 24th January he was ordered to take six bags of meal and five bags of dan to Luffenhall. He left three bags of dan and one of meal at Cromer for Mr M. Gray, who had asked him to bring him some.

Montague Grey, of Cottered, a farmer and dealer, was then charged with receiving the stolen middlings and meal. He pleaded "Not guilty."

Mr W.H. Kittow repeated his former evidence, and added that on the evening of the day of the offence Gray came up to see him.

The defendant Gray told witness that he was very sorry for what had happened, but said that he was not there when the meal was delivered at his building, and that he did not know anything about it. Mr Kittow added that he had known Gray for many years, and if he had known that he was short of meal he would willingly have sent him some.

P.C. Hill said he saw the defendant Gray in company with Mr Kittow on 25th January, when Gray made a statement to the effect that he saw Ginn two or three days previous to the offence and asked him to bring him some meal from Walkern Mill or Kitchener's.

He visited his premises at Cromer on Monday, 24th January, and found four bags of meal in a cart shed. He later saw Mr Kittow and told that the meal was not his (defendant's). He had never bought any stuff off of Ginn in his life, and he did not want other people's stuff in his shed.

In a statement to the Bench, the defendant said that Ginn had previously bought meal for him from Walkern Mill and from Cromer Mill. As the roads were in such a bad state, he could not get out with his own horse, so he asked Ginn to [word erased] him some meal from Cromer [or?] Walkern Mill or Mr Kitchen[er's] at Walkern.

He was not at "The Chequers" when the meal was left there by Ginn, and he was very sorry that Ginn had left it there on that occasion.

Inspector Herbert said that the defendant was a man of good character.

After consultation, the Chairman addressing Ginn said he had pleaded guilty to a very serious charge. The Bench, however, had decided to take a lenient view of the case, and instead of sending the defendant to prison he would be fined £2 and 15/- costs, and would be placed under probation for a period of two years.

With reference to Gray's case, the Chairman said the Bench did not consider that there was sufficient evidence to convict, and the case would be dismissed.

A Housing Tangle

Robert H. Clark, of High Street, Royston, made application for an ejectment order against Mrs Fox, for the possession of a cottage occupied by her at Buntingford.

Mr R. Clark, jun., said he father had been served with a notice by the Buntingford Rural District Council to put the property into habitable repair. His father was willing to do this provided he could get possession of the cottage. At present there were seven persons living in two rooms.

The Clerk: Is the rent in arrear?

Mr Clark: No.

The Clerk: Then the Bench cannot grant an ejectment order.

Mr Clark: Then what am I to do? The Council have served us with a statutory notice, signed by the Medical Officer of Health, and we cannot do the repairs necessary till the place is unoccupied.

The Clerk: The Council must take action themselves.

Mr Clark: It comes back on the owner every time. I had a similar case at Melbourn some years ago, and the Bench issued an ejectment order.

The Clerk: Yes, that was before the Rent Restriction Act come into force.

Mr Clark: I don't want to press for an ejectment, but you see our position. We are being pressed by the District Council, and yet we cannot get possession of the house. It is impossible to do the necessary repairs while the people are living there.

The Chairman: If the Council have condemned the property then they must close it.

Mr Clark: They have not condemned it, but have served us with a notice to put it in habitable repair.

The Clerk: The Council must take action under Section 11 of the Housing Act, 1925. This Bench has no power to issue an ejectment order under the circumstances of the case.

4th March 1927 - Eggs

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Eggs

Eggs & Day-old Chicks - Rhode Island Reds (Golders), Light Sussex, White Wyandottes and Light Sussex Cross Barnevelder.

Eggs 6/- dozen; Chicks 12/- Eric Gray, Ardeley, Stevenage.

2nd November 1923 - Death and Funeral of Mrs E.J. Crane

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Death and Funeral of Mrs E.J. Crane

It is with much regret that we record the death of Mrs Ernest J. Crane, of Buntingford.

Mrs Crane, before her marriage was an assistant mistress in the Barkway Council Schools, a post she held with some distinction until her marriage in 1917. She was much esteemed by all her pupils on account of her kind disposition, and was greatly respected by a large circle of friends in Barkway and Buntingford.

After a short illness the end came on Sunday last, and much sympathy is felt for her sorrowing husband and her six months' old child.

On Wednesday afternoon the remains were conveyed by motor hearse to the deceased's old home at Barkway, where she was born. The funeral took place at Barkway yesterday (Thursday).

The Rev. W.T. Stubbs very impressively officiated at the service, and a large number of friends were present to pay their last respects.

Mrs Bowman presided at the organ, and the hymn sung was "On the Resurrection Morning." As the cortege left the church the organist played Mendelssohn's "Oh Rest in the Lord."

The plain oak coffin bore a breast plated inscribed:

Jessie R. Crane, Died October 28th, 1923, Aged 36 years.

The immediate mourners were Mr E.J. Crane (husband), Mr and Mrs Copeland (father and mother), Mr and Mrs C. Copeland (brother and sister-in-law), Mrs J. Crane (mother-in-law), Mrs H. Beeton (sister-in-law), Mr H. Beeton, Mrs E. Martin and Mrs Knife (cousins), Mrs F.G. Crane (aunt), Mrs Gray and the seven employees of the firm.

Amongst the 54 beautiful floral tokens were the following:

To dear Jessie, from her loving husband and little John - "A devoted wife and loving mother."

To our loving daughter, from her affectionate father and mother.

In loving memory, from Mother and Mary.

In loving remembrance, from the old Barkway scholars.

With heartfelt sympathy, from the Organist and Choir of Barkway Church.

With deepest sympathy, from the Buntingford Ex-Service Men's Club.

With deepest sympathy, from the Buntingford Women's Institute.

With deepest sympathy, from the tradesmen of Buntingford.

With sincere sympathy, from the teachers of Barkway School.

In loving remembrance from Harold and Millie.

In affectionate remembrance, from uncle, aunt and Cyril.

With deepest sympathy, from Harry.

With loving sympathy, from auntie Gray.

With sincere sympathy, from Barney, Bert and Harry.

With deepest sympathy from Castle, Clark, Parker and Clark sen.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr George Saggers.

5th Feb 1926 - Nursing Fund Whist Drive

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Nursing Fund Whist Drive

A SUCCESSFUL EVENING

Miss Lushington and her many helpers are to be heartily congratulated upon the complete success of their annual whist drive and dance held on Wednesday evening last at Benson Hall, Buntingford.

There was a large gathering, especially for the dancing, Mr E.E. Dennis acted as MC for Whist.

The evening commenced with a whist drive, prizes for which were given by local residents. Twenty-six tables were occupied, and the prizes were presented by Miss Lushington to the following:

Ladies - 1 Mrs D. Capps (umbrella), 2 Mrs Tapper (footwarmer), 3 Miss Cornwell (handkerchiefs).

Gents - 1 Mr Whitby (brush and comb), 2 Mr Gray (case of spoons), 3 Mr Baker (pictures).

Lucky tickets - Mr G. Lindsell (sugar basin) and Mr W. Watson (attache case).

Miss Lushington, in presenting the prizes, thanked the company for their help. The Nursing Association was a most efficient one, and it was pleasing to see such response to the call for help. She would also like to thank those who had assisted to make the annual event so successful (applause).

The Buntingford Town Silver Band was in attendance, and dancing was indulged in until midnight, the excellent dance programme being enjoyed to the full. Mr Leslie Smith acted as M.C. At intervals the Band was relieved by Mr E.E. Dennis (piano) and his dance music was much enjoyed.

At the close, Mr E.E. Dennis proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the band for their services.