25th June 1926 - Wyddiall Garden Fete

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Wyddiall

Garden Fete

The Annual Garden Fete, in aid of Foreign Missions, was held in the Rectory Grounds on Wednesday afternoon of last week. The weather was beautifully fine, and the well-kept garden was much admired by all present.

The Fete started at 3 p.m. and closed shortly after 6 p.m. There were three stalls in charge of Mrs Wright, Mrs W.J., Mrs H. and Mrs J. May, Miss Wall and Miss N. Hatchett. Mrs C.H. Poulton and the Misses S. and O. Poulton were in charge of the teas.

Mr W.J. May successfully managed the clock golf competition, Mr Scarborough Taylor winning the prize (given by Mrs H.C. Marshall) with a score of 23. Miss Olive Poulton was in change of a guessing competition, the winner being Mrs W.J. May.

There was also a balloon race for which there were numerous entries; the result of this will be made known later.

The Rev. L.W. Wright also lent valuable assistance and thanked those who had supported the Fete.

The net result was £12 8s. 4.d which was considered very satisfactory.

Among the Clergy present were The Rev. F.R. Williams (Rural Dean), The Rev. A. Howard, The Rev. A. McKerr and The Rev. W.L. Shepherd.

28th May 1926 - Ruri-Decanal Conference

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Ruri-Decanal Conference

The World Call To The Church

A meeting of representatives of the Ruri-Decanal Conference for the Rural Deanery of Buntingford, took place at the Assembly Rooms, the George Hotel, Buntingford, on Tuesday afternoon.

The Rev. F.R. Williams (Rural Dean), of Anstey, presided, being supported by the new Secretary (The Rev. W.L. Shepherd). The Clergy present were: The Rev. F.B. Philips, The Rev. A.G. Langdon, Rev. A. McKerr, Rev. L.W. Wright, Rev. A. Howard and Rev. F. Jobson. There were about 30 lay representatives present.

In opening the meeting the Rural Dean referred to the departure of the Rev. Stubbs and said The Rev. Web Bowen had been appointed Vicar of Barkway. The Conference extended a hearty welcome to the new Rector of Braughing, The Rev. F. Jobson.

The Rural Dean then alluded to the death of the Rev. W.J. Tapper, of Cottered, and said he was sure the conference would extend its deep sympathy with Mrs Tapper and her family. The Rev. Tapper had only been at Cottered about eight months, but he had made his mark there, and his excellent work would not be forgotten.

The Secretaries of the various committees then presented their annual reports. The Rev. Stubbs reporting on the Finance Committee, The Rev. A. Howard on the Missionary Committee, and The Rev A.G. Langdon on the Education Committee, after which an address on "The World Call to the Church" was given by the Rev. G.P. Winter, Association Secretary of the C.M.S.

The World Call, he said, is no single call, it comes from every section of the Church Overseas. Many and varied are the needs which lie behind the call, but the voice of the fiels is unanimous that the whole church should see the world situation as it really is.

The speaker dealt fully with the matter, and at the close of the address explained the proposals of the Bishop to hold meetings in almost every parish in the Diocese when special speakers would address the Parochial Electors.

At the close of his address, The Rev. Winter was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the proposition of the Rural Dean.

The Rural Dean's Retirement

The Hon. Baron Dimsdale said he had heard that they were likely to lose the most essential services of their Rural Dean, The Rev. F.R. Williams. if this was correct he hoped that some small testimonial would be raised to mark the gratitude of the representatives on the Conference for the work he has done. (Applause).

Col. Heaton-Ellis associated himself with Baron Dimsdale's remarks, and said he would like to echo every word that had been said. He hoped that a gift would be made to their Rural Dean, not so much for its intrinsic value but as very real proof of the esteem and affection in which he was held.

The Rev. A. Howard also associated himself with Baron Dimsdale's remarks.

The Rural Dean said he was exceedingly grateful for what had been said. In this Diocese one was only supposed to hold the office of Rural Dean for five years, but he had held the office for seven years, and was acting Rural Dean three years before that.

During his term of office, he had been on most friendly terms with everyone, and it was through the kindness of those with whom he had to work that his term of office had been such a pleasant one. (Applause).

The Conference then closed with the Grace, after which tea was served to the representatives present.

12th Oct 1928 - Buntingford Board of Guardians

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Buntingford Board of Guardians

MONTHLY MEETING

ANXIOUS FOR THE CLOSING OF CASUAL WARDS

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians was held at the Board Room on Thursday (yesterday) morning, when there were present: Mr C. Hummerstone (in the chair), Mrs K.J. Dimsdale, Capt H.H. Williams, Messrs. G.C. Wilson, H. Ward, J. Russell, S. Pigg, A.J. Hayes, E.J. Marshal, G. Graves, J. Bygrave, and H.E. Dudley, with the Relieving Officer (Mr B.E. Thody), the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke) and the Master (Mr F.W. Butler).

The House Committee reported that they had visited the wards at the Institution and found them clean and the inmates cheerful. The Committee recommended that several ceilings be white-washed, for which there was no immediate hurry. The Committee also reported that it had been impossible to solicit tenders for the alteration of windows in the dining hall as the sizes required were not standard and it would probably be necessary to cut away the brickwork, which the Committee hoped to avoid, so the matter was left in the hands of the Chairman to arrange with Mr Thody to go into the matter further.

The Master reported that during the month gifts had been received from Mrs F.R. Williams (books), Miss Davies (sponge cakes), the Rev. E. McKerr (produce from Meesden harvest festival and also from the festival at Wyddiall), Rev. W.L. Shepherd (produce from Great Hormead harvest festival), and Rev. A. Howard (grapes). 

Miss L.M. Baker brought her pupils to the Institution and they gave gifts to the inmates and also sang harvest hymns in the sick wards. The Layston Church Choir also assisted with the singing at the harvest service in the dining hall on Sunday evening last. The Master had written to the kindly donors thanking them on behalf of the Board. 

Since the last meeting 494 casuals had been admitted against 257 for the corresponding period last year. The number was made up as follows - First week 101, second week 117, third week 147, fourth week 129. The accommodation was sufficient.

Mrs Dimsdale pointed out that the casual wards at Hatfield and other unions were closed, and this naturally made more seek admission at Buntingford Union. She did not think it was fair for a small union like Buntingford to have to relieve the large number of casuals when the casual wards of much larger unions were closed.

It was resolved that the Clerk enquire into the matter, with a view to obtaining sanction for the closing of the casual wards here.

The Board dealt with several relief cases and issued instructions to the Relieving Officer.

Among the correspondance was a circular from the Ministry of Health authorising the discontinuance of the examination of casuals; and a resolution from the Cockermouth Union with reference to unemployment, which the Board left on the table.