4th February 1927 - Hertford Athletic v. Aspenden

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Hertford Athletic v. Aspenden

Played on Hartham on Saturday last, Aspenden had to field a weakened team owing to illness, but after a good struggle came home with two points.

The ground was in a very bad state, one goalmouth being covered with water.

The Athletic won the toss and were soon attacking. After about twenty minutes play, they scored from a fine shot, giving the visitors goalie no chance.

Aspenden's left-wing then got away, and from a good centre T. Moule scored, making the interval score 1-1.

In the second half Aspenden did most of the attacking, and J. Holmes gave them the lead. Soon afterwards T. Moule increased the lead from a free kick.

In the closing stages the Athletic were awarded a penalty for hands, from which they scored. The Aspenden defence played a very sound game, their goalkeeper saving some fine shots.

Result - Hertford Athletic 2, Aspenden 3.

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Read the Buntingford v. Ickleford Social report.

25th March 1927 - Football - Aspenden v Old Hertfordians

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Football

Aspenden v Old Hertfordians

Aspenden were at home to the Old Boys on Saturday last, and the game was played under ideal conditions, the ground being hard and dry for once after many weeks of mud.

Play was keen and sporting, and resulted in an easy win for the homesters.

The Old Boys started at a great pace and were two goals up after half-an-hour's play, but the Aspenden forward line, which had been rather raged [sic], settled down, and scored two goals through Hornet, making the scores level at the interval.

In the second-half the Old Boys completely fell away, and the home side monopolised the play, H. Parker performed the hatrick. S. Dowler scored once, and W. Sturch, the home team's left-back, came well up the field to score twice.

Result - Aspenden 8, Old Hertfordians 2.

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Read the Buntingford v. Welwyn report.

16th July 1926 - Buntingford and District Agricultural Society

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Buntingford and District Agricultural Society

A Fine Show At Hertford

Hertford, 15th July.

The Seventh Annual Show of the Buntingford and District Agricultural Society was held at Hartham, Hertford, today, in fine, but very dull weather.

There was a good attendance, and the judging was completed under most agreeable circumstances. As was to be expected, empty stalls and pens were nowhere to be found, the proportion of absentees in the cattle classes being very low.

Owing to Foot and Mouth Disease near Reading, no cattle from the Royal Show was present.

Hertford indeed gave a hearty welcome to the Society, which was mothered for a couple of years by the old-established Buntingford Horticultural Society, and after six combined shows it was under different circumstances that the Agricultural Society stages its seventh show.

Indeed everything was different - the venue and the people. One grew accustomed at Buntingford to meeting the rank and file of the Agricultural industry - the labourers who tilled the land in the winter and cut the golden corn in the summer - men who were glad when the Buntingford Show came round in order that they might have a day's enjoyment with their fellow workers and watch the horses from their own farms being led proudly round the shaded ring in Corney Bury Park.

In the past the Buntingford Show has been a gathering of agrilculturalists and horticulturalists, but today it was a different type of person that was threading his way by the pay-boxes and over the cool waters of the River Lea on to Hartham. Clerks, tradesmen and shop girls were in the majority, and but for little groups of agricultural workers gathered near the animal pens one would think the crowd typical of a first-class cricket match or a garden party.

Although it was the Buntingford Show there appeared to be few Buntingford people here - one in every thousand probably came from Buntingford district. The huge ring - many times larger than the Corney Bury ring - was lined with motor cars and people, while others found accommodation under the trees by the swimming bath.

Things were astir here very early this morning, and by 8 a.m. entries were pouring into the Show Ground from a special railway siding. Stewards were busy directing stockmen, and the Secretary's tent was swarmed with enquirers, five clerks, with their shirt sleeves rolled up, doing their best to keep the routine of the day going.

In a tremendous marquee opposite, waiters and waitresses were preparing for the public luncheon, while close by there was the usual ear-splitting noises from the poultry tent, which was rapidly filling up.

One rabbit - a beautiful creature - was glad of company in the next pen, as he had been on the Show ground since Tuesday afternoon. There was a varied assortment of implements on the trade stands which were hoping to do a record business. One thing was certain, and that is that the vendors of ices and cool drinks had a harvest.

The Exhibits

The horse classes were unaffected by the conditions that hampered the movement of exhibits in order departments, and as a rule the various breeds were strongly represented. Breeders of shires paraded the breed in force, and quality of high order was witness.

The collection of cattle was impressive, as was seen when the prize exhibits were paraded later. The breeds that specialise for milk and meat production were pleasing in numbers; there was a large entry of Shorthorns, British Friesians and Red Polls.

Sheep and pigs made a meritorious display.

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The Show was undoubtedly a great success, and it is hoped that the financial result will be first step towards the return of the Show to Buntingford.

16th July 1926 - Buntingford Farmers' Dispute

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Buntingford Farmers' Dispute

Action at Hertford Assizes

Farmer Swoons in the Witness Box

An action was brought before the Lord Chief Justice of England, Baron Hewart, at the Herts. Assizes, at the Shire Hall, Hertford, on Tuesday, June 22nd, by Mr George Borlase, of Cumberlow Green Farm, Rushden, near Buntingford, to recover damages against Mr William J. Williams, of Ashdown Farm, Hare Street, Buntingford, for wrongfully detaining a thrashing machine lent to him in May, 1924, and not returned until July, 1925. Mr Lilley appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Grafton Prior for the defendant.

Counsel for the plaintiff stated in opening the case that the parties were farmers and friends, and in May 1924, the defendant asked paintiff to lend him his thrashing machine to do a few days' thrashing. It was lent with the intimation that the plaintiff, who had then finished thrashing, would required to have it back again by the following harvest.

That thrashing machine was not returned until July 1925, three or four months after the issue of the wrist in these proceedings. Meanwhile the defendant had made use of the thrashing machine himself and had also hired it out to neighbouring farmers.

Those the defendant's books which the plaintiff had been able to inspect - not all of them - clearly disclused the fact that the defendant had let the machine out on hire to no less than 31 farms. Part of the damages would there be to take account of the profit which the defendant made by the use of the plaintiff's machine.

The damages were placed under the following four heads:

(1) The cost of hiring a thrashing machine to thrash his own corn after the harvest of 1924, £60;

(2) depreciation of the value of the machine and cost of alterations and repairs, £60;

(3) loss by damage to corn which sprouted owing to the fact that the plaintiff was unable to get another machine, £82;

(4) profits obtained by the defendant from letting the machine out on hire to other farmers, £100.

The Judge: What does a new machine of this kind cost?

Counsel: About £300.

Your are not asking for a new machine? - No.

Continuing, counsel said that before the plaintiff and the defendant came to Hertfordshire they were neighbours in Cornwall, and were very friendly. They used to buy stock from one another, and there was an account between them. At the time this machine was borrowed the plaintiff owed the defendant £100, and that was to be set off against his claim.

When the plaintiff in August, 1924, asked for the return of the machine the defendant promised to do so, but failed to keep his promise. He afterwards applied several times, but the machine was not returned. In March, 1925, litigation was commenced, and in July, 1925, the machine was returned.

The plaintiff gave evidence in support of counsel's statement. In cross-examination he denited that the defendant ever pressed him for a settlement of their accounts. In consequence of not getting back his machine he had to hire another one from a Mr Stick. Asked if the defendant had ever pressed him to pay his account, plaintiff replied: "Oh, no never. He simply said, 'Oh, go on boy; that's all right'."

Didn't you really let him have the machine because you owed him this money? - No, but when my men took the machine to him he said to them "It shall never go back any more."

The Judge: Don't you think that showed that you let him have the machine because you owed him £100? - No.

Counsel for defendant: Do you know your own machine? - What do you take me for? What a silly question to ask. (Laughter).

Mr Harry Goode, agricultural engineer, of Royston, was called to state that his charge for repairing the machine after it was returned was £55. In cross-examination the Judge elicited the fact that this witness sold the machine to the plaintiff in September, 1923, for £120, and it was then 22 years old.

Mr Thomas John Stick, farmer, and agricultural machinist, Mr John Henley, foreman to the plaintiff, and Mr William Aldridge, formerly in the defendant's employ, also gave evidence.

Mr Prior for the defence, said that he admitted having the thrashing machine and using it, but that he was always prepared to pay for it if the plaintiff would only come to an arrangement to settle the outstanding account.

The defendant (Mr Williams) stated that at the time he borrowed the machine the plaintiff (Mr Borlase) owed him £183 for cows, bulls, and other stock, and he still owed it to him. He had never paid a penny on account. Nothing whatever was said as to terms when he borrowed the thrashing machine, neither as to paying for it or as to how long he was to keep it.

Were you to pay him anything for the use of the machine? - No mention was made about paying anything.

It was pointed out to him that in the correspondence at first they were very friendly and addressed each other as "Dear George" and "Dear Will," but afterwards Mr Williams altered his attitude - Yes, replied defendant, when Mr Borlase sent me several nasty letters I said I would not have anything more to do with him, and asked him to pay me what he owed me.

What damage has Mr Borlase suffered by your retaining his machine? - None. I have had damage through not being paid for my bulls and cows that he has had since 1923.

Mr Williams was then cross-examined as to the documents he had been asked to produce, and why he had suppressed some that were material to the case, and he replied that he did not think they were material.

The Lord Chief Justice then sternly remarked: Do you know that nothing is so prejudicial to your case in these courts as the suppression of documents?

Mr Williams faltered, and fell head-long out of the witness-box on the floorof the court with a heavy thud. His wife, who was in the gallery, and the police ran to his assistance, whilst the hall-keeper hurriedly fetched a glass of water. The defendant soon recovered, and was able to say "I felt giddy," but he looked very much shaken, and no further questions were asked of him by the plaintiff's counsel.

Evidence was given by Mr Grigg, of Cockhampstead Farm, Braughing, Mr Fred Dowton, of Cottered, and others for the defence.

His Lordship said that in his opinion the plaintiff was clearly entitled to succeed, and he awarded him £81 14s. 9d. after deducting the £100 owing to the defendant, the defendant to pay costs.

(From the Herts. Mercury).