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.

25th February 1927 - Congregational Church Sunday School Prize-Giving

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Congregational Church

Sunday School Prize-Giving

On Thursday, February 17th, a very happy evening was spent in the Congregational Schoolroom, the occasion being the annual Prize Distribution in connection with the Sunday School.

Early in the evening the scholars assembled for games and refreshments, and teachers and scholars enjoyed a social hour-and-a-half.

Parents and friends of the scholars having joined the company, the Minister proceeded at once to distribute a number of book prizes gained by scholars for regular attendance during the past year.

After the distribution, he urged the young people to win not only book prizes, but also the greatest prize - Jesus Christ.

A lengthy programme was next carried through, consisting of a number of miscellaneous items:

Songs (by Miss Blanche Langham, Miss Dorothy Howard); pianoforte solos (Miss Langham, Miss Kathleen Smith); dialogue (Miss Dorothy Saunders, Miss Minnie Ashton); recitations (Miss Winning Conyard, Miss Dorothy Saunders, Miss Gertrude Howard, Miss Minnie Ashton, Miss Freda Howard, the Minister); whilst other contributors to the programme were Mrs G. Saggers (humourous readings) and Mr B.E. Thody.

During an interval a collection was taken for the Sunday School, and the scholars joined in the singing of a number of hymns from their School Hymnary.

The Benediction and Doxology concluded a very enjoyable evening.

18th February 1927 - Death of Mrs R. Nelson

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Death of Mrs R. Nelson

The death of Mrs Rebecca Nelson, at the advanced age of 86, took place at "The Angel " Inn on Thursday last.

The deceased, who had been living in Buntingford with her daughter, Mrs W. Hale, for about a year, was one of the oldest inhabitants of Blankney, Lincs., where she was well-known and greatly respected. She was a cheerful old lady, and one who had a kind word for everyone.

The funeral took place at Layston Church on Wednesday afternoon, when a number of townspeople were present.

The service was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. A. Howard, and the immediate mourners were:

Mr and Mrs W. Hale (son-in-law and daughter), Miss Counsell and Mr Barnett.

The deceased was a widow, her husband having died about a year ago.

4th February 1927 - Layston Annual Church Meeting

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Layston Annual Church Meeting

This meeting, which has been held annually in St Peter's in accordance with the Enabling Bill (1919), and which is open to all on the Electoral Roll, and which has in the past been very poorly attended, was this year made the occasion of a social gathering at "The George" Assembly Room on Wednesday night.

Over 60 responded to the invitation sent in the name of the Vicar and Churchwardens to every elector, and undoubtedly the number would have been considerably larger but for the prevailing influenza, from which many electors and their families are suffering, including several of the Parochial Church Councillors.

From 6.30 to 7.30 the business meeting of the year was held, enabling many of the first time to understand what lies behind the regular working and provision of the Church's services, which many look upon as a matter of course.

After the opening prayer, the Vicar welcomed those present, reminding them that it was at the suggestion of Mr Claud Fraser, who was really the "host" of the evening, that the meeting was taking its present form.

Mr Maughan, Hon. Sec. and Treasurer to the P.C.C., read the minutes, and then presented his financial report for the year, which, with additional help from an appeal to electors who did not regularly attend church, and a jumble sale, showed a balance of 6/9 on the right side.

The report of the Churchyard Committee was also read, and the Free-will Offering Fund was shown to have contributed £25 17s. 9d. during the year to the Parochial quota to the Diocesan Board of Finance, new subscribers being invited to join. Subscribers were asked to come and hear Canon Shorting, who is preaching on the subject at St Peter's on the evening of February 27th.

The financial report having been passed, the next business was the election of four representatives to the Ruri-Decanal Conference: Mrs Butler, Mrs Macklin, Mrs Howard and Mr C. Fraser; the election of Mr C. Fraser to represent Layston on the Diocesan Conference, and the election of the Parochial Church Council for the ensuring year, which resulted in last year's Council being re-elected en bloc.

Rev A. Howard then informed the electors of the urgent necessity of having the organ at St Peter's thoroughly cleaned for the first time in its life of 25 years, which would involved from £45 to £50, and asked for united effort to meet this need.

Mr Fraser emphasised another expense which would have to be met in the near future, namely, that involved in the proposed addition to the Churchyard. The ground had been given by the Vicar, but fencing, fees and other outlay would arise, but this would be a matter affecting the whole town.

The business meeting having been closed with prayers, the guests were served by the ladies of the P.C.C., in whose hands Mr Fraser had left this part of the entertainment, and others, with tea and refreshments, and a pleasant social time was spent, after which a programme of music and singing was greatly enjoyed, of which the programme is appended.

Every item was appreciated, and at the close very hearty thanks were given by the Vicar to all who had helped to make this new departure a thorough success.

Piano duet, Misses Macklin; song, "The Little Hero," Mr Henry May; part song, "The Gardener"; song, "My Hope," Miss Bartlett; Community Singing, Mr E.E. Dennis; Piano, Miss M. Macklin; song, "Orpheus with his Lute," Mrs Scarborough Taylor; part song, "Music when soft voices die"; song, "The Bonny Blue Kerchief," Mrs Armstrong; Community Singing, Mr E.E. Dennis; God Save the King.