22nd April 1927 - Buntingford Bowls Club Annual General Meeting

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Buntingford Bowls Club

Annual General Meeting

The annual general meeting of the Buntingford Bowls Club was held at "The Crown" Inn club room, on Tuesday evening of last week, the President, Mr H.C. Marshall, presiding.

The Chairman said he wished to congratulate the Club on winning the Ashton Cup, and he hoped they would have an equally successful season this year.

The Hon. Sex., Mr J. Lawrence, then presented his annual report. During last season, the club played 18 League matches, winning 12 and losing six. The actual number of points scored was 728 against 631.

He (the Secretary) was also pleased to report that they had an increased membership; in 1925 they had 19 members, and in 1926 26 members, and it was hoped to increase this number this year. The Club had 10 Vice-Presidents, who, like their President, had taken an active interest in the welfare of the Club. (Applause).

The Secretary then referred to the financial statement. At the last annual meeting it was thought that the new green would cost about £30, but so far about £200 had been spent and more would have to be spent before the green was ready for use; there was, however, little doubt that when the new green was completed it would be as good as any in East Herts.

With the help of members and friends, they hoped to be able to pay off the loans, and to make the Club self-supporting. (Applause).

The balance sheet was as follows:

Receipts

Loan from H.C. Marshall, Esq. - £100 0s. 0d.

Loan from ten members - £44 0s. 0d.

President's Subscriptions - £2 3s. 0d.

Seven Vice-Presents - £8 8s. 0d.

16 Tournament Entrance Fees 1/- - 16s. 0d.

Fete (as per balance sheet) - £56 13s. 8d.

Jumble Sale - £8 0s. 5d.

Dinner - £11 5s. 0d.

Xmas Draw and Whist Drive - £43 7s. 2d.

15 Hand Books - 3s. 9d.

Mr May (Luton) - 1s. 0d.

26 members subscriptions at 10/6 - £13 13s. 0d.

Total - £268 10s. 0d.

Expenditure

Purchase of ground from Mr Poulton - £50 0s. 0d.

Labour on New Green - £123 7s. 7d.

Tools - £2 16s. 9d.

Creosote Oil - £3 15s. 0d.

Mr Crane (carting) - 12s. 6d.

Printing - £3 8s. 6d.

Mr J. Holmes' account - £16 10s. 0d.

Old Green - £8 16s. 8d.

Sundries - £9 4s. 1d.

Balance at Bank - £49 16s. 2d.

Cash in Hand - 2s. 9d.

Total - £268 10s. 0d.

Mr W.J. May, in moving the adoption of the accounts, said the members had much to thank their Hon. Sec and Treasurer, Mr Lawrence, for, The accounts were quite satisfactory, and he had much pleasure in moving that they be adopted.

Mr F.W. Butler seconded, and the motion was carried.

Election of Officers

Mr F.W. Butler moved the re-election of Mr Marshall as President. They were proud to have him as their President, and they were also grateful to him his very valuable help. Mr E.G. Thody seconded, and the vote was carried with applause.

Mr W.J. May moved the re-election of the Vice-Presidents with the addition of Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis, Mr S. Codrington, and Mr Davidson.

Mr J. Lawrence was re-elected Hon. Sec. and Treasurer, and was thanked for his past services.

Mr W.J. May, who has been Captain for the past four seasons, and he thought it would be good to have a change this year, and he proposed Mr F.W. Butler as Captain. Mr Butler, in refusing to accept the position of Captain, said he was sure that every member would wish Mr May to carry on. This was carried with applause.

Mr F.W. Butler was re-elected Vice-Captain, and the following were appointed to serve as a general committee - Messrs. E.J. Totman, J. Pateman, J. Boniwell, F.B. Sharp, J. Cornwell, H.E. Birkett, F. Crouch, H. Clark, E. Brett, and A. Mannox.

Green Committee - Messrs. W.J. May, F.W. Butler, E.R. Brett, J. Cornwell, E.G. Thody, and C.H. Poulton.

Selection committee - re-elected en bloc.

It was decided to make the Club room at "The Crown" Inn the headquarters of the Club. Mr Mannox, the proprietor, said the room would be at the disposal of the Club whenever the members required it, and that he would make no charge. (Applause).

A discussion took place as to competitions &c., and it was agreed to arrange more matches to encourage new members.

Before the conclusion of the meeting, thanks were accorded Mr C.H. Poulton and Mr E.G. Thody for their valuable assistance in connection with the new green, and to the Chairman for presiding.

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The Committee of the above club wish to thank all who have helped and contributed to the Jumble Sale, held at the Foresters' Hall, on April 20th. The sale was a great success.

15th April 1927 - Women's Institute Concert

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Women's Institute Concert

The new hall was almost filled on the occasion of an elocution recital by Miss K. Cheeseright, A.L.C.M., on Wednesday evening in last week.

Miss Cheeseright's programme was much enjoyed by all. "The Night Wind" by Eugene Field, "The Rehearsal" by Kate D. Wiggin, and "The Butterfly" by Hans Anderson, were perhaps the three best items of her excellent programme, which was as follows:

A Parable of Nature - Madge Irving

The adventure of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain.

The Night Wind - Eugene Field.

A Dramatic Selection.

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The Rehearsal - Kate D. Wiggin

The Pipes at Lucknow - Whittler

The Butterfly - Hans Anderson.

King Robert of Sicily - Longfellow.

At the interval a duologue "Jest a tale" by Mrs R.E. Scott and Mrs B.E. Thody caused roars of laughter.

Altogether the evening was a most enjoyable one.

15th April 1927 - Buntingford Tennis Club Annual General Meeting

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Buntingford Tennis Club

Annual General Meeting

A Change of Officers

The Annual General Meeting of the Buntingford Tennis Club was held on Monday evening. The Rev. John Cole presided, and there was a good attendance of members.

The Hon. Treasurer presented the balance sheet for 1926 season. Particulars were as follows:

Receipts

26 Members subscriptions and donations - £9 18s. 11d.

Visitors fees - 5s. 0d.

Donations from H.C. Marshall, Esq. 1925 season - £3 0s. 0d.

1926 season - £3 0s. 0d.

Total - £16 3s. 11d.

Expenditure

Balance due to Treasurer from 1925 season - £1 15s. 5d.

Groundsman Mr Handy - Cementing standard, repairing gate and pavilion, and coating with solignum - £5 0s. 0d.

Balls - £1 8s. 7d.

Repairs to mower - 16s. 6d.

Rent of courts - £3 0s. 0d.

Whitening, &c. - 1s. 6d.

Baance of donation to hospitals whist drive - 2s. 9d.

Total - £16 3s. 11d.

The Chairman moved the adoption of the accounts, and said he thought they were entirely satisfactory; the Club had had a most successful year. The Chairman also moved the re-election of Mr H.C. Marshall as President of the Club. Mr Marshall had supported them for many seasons, and it would be difficult to find a better President.

This was carried with applause.

The Chairman said the meeting would regret to learn that Mr and Mrs B.E. Thody had decided to resign the offices of secretary and treasurer respectively. Mrs Thody had been treasurer since the formation of the Club in 1914, and Mr Thody had been secretary since 1919. Both had done yeoman service for the Club, and the members regretted their resignation.

He (the Chairman) would move that a very heatry vote of thanks be accorded them for their service.

This was carried.

Mr B.E. Thody, in replying, said that they had both intimated last year that they hoped someone else would come forward this season. During the years they had held office their associations with the members had always been most pleasant, and if the spirit of good friendship that had existed in the Club up to now was continued there would be no reason to fear that they success of the Club would be continued.

There were several members who had been with the Club since its formation, and thanks were due to them, and to others who had ceased play, for the work that had been done to put the courts in such an excellent condition. In the early days of the Club they had no wire meeting or pavillion, and the members had to mow the courts themselves.

The Chairman said he quite agreed with what had been said about the good fellowship that existed between all the members. They had an excellent ground, a good pavillion, nets &c., and a very low subscription. He was not in Buntingford when the Club was formed, but he would like to record his appreciation of the work that had been done.

Election of Officers

Mr Leslie Smith was appointed as Hon. Secretary and Miss I. Aylott as Hon. Treasurer.

The Committee elected were: Mrs S. Smith, Mrs J. Aylott, Miss Careless, Miss Bush, the Rev. John Cole, Messrs. S. Smith and W. Smith. Captain - Mr S. Howlett, Vice-Captain, Mr H. Clark.

Suggestions as to the matches, ground improvements, &c., were discussed, and the annual subscription was fixed for 7/6 inclusive.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.

8th April 1927 - Rural District Council

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Rural District Council

Captain H.H. Williams presided over the meeting of the Rural District Council which followed, other officers present being - Dr R.A. Dunn (M.O.H.), and the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody).

Surveyor's Report

The Surveyor reported that the Isolation Hospital was closed. The town's consumption of water during the month had been 935,000 gallons, and the water level had risen slightly.

A further supply of disinfectants was required - estimated cost £10 3s.

Drainage

Drainage work had now been completed at the Little Hormead site, and difficulty was now being experienced with the drainage at Cottered; it would be advisable, if possible, to secure a piece of the land adjoining the Council's cottages, for use as a dump.

The Surveyor also asked for instructions as to the cropping of the Buntingford Sewage farm, and stated that sugar beet had been grown there with success during the past year.

After discussing the matter, the Council decided to grow two acres of sugar beet on the farm. It was also agreed to purchase the disinfectants required. The question of the purchase of a piece of ground at Cottered for the disposal of drainage matter from the Council's cottages was left over until the Surveyor had seen Mr Sanders, of Cottered.

A letter was read from Mr Chapman, who has recently erected a bungalow on the London Road, to the effect that, although he had complied with the Surveyor's instructions, as to certain parts of the buolding, he had received a letter from the Clerk to the effect that he was not entitled to the subsidy.

The matter was fully discussed by the Council, and it was unanimously agreed that the Council were in order in not recommending a subsidy.

The Surveyor reported on the rent arrears, and the Chairman said he was very pleased to see that there was an improvement, and that some of the tenants had made an effort to get the arrears down.

The question of adopting bye-laws was again discussed, and the Surveyor presented a draft of the bye-laws which the Council proposed adopting before the war. Mr H.C. Marshall proposed that the Surveyor look through them and report on the matter to a sub-committee consisting of Capt. H.H. Williams, Messrs. C. Hummerstone and W.J. May.

Mr W.J. May reported on his visit to a conference in London on the Rating and Valuation Act, and was thanked by the Chairman for his interesting and instructive report.

The Clerk read a letter for Sir Charles Longmore to the effect that the work of preparing the Jurors Lists, and registers of electors would now be carried out by two of the Council's rating officers.

Mr C. Hummerstone said the matter required consideration. If the work was being taken out of the hands of the Assistant Overseers, there would be compensation to pay. Some of the Assistant Overseers had been collecting rates, and had been paid no salary for the work, buy they had been receiving certain sums for the preparation of the lists of voters; it was now proposed to take this work from them and give it to the Council's rating officers.

The Clerk said that the amount paid for the preparation of the whole of the lists was approx. £100. He (the Clerk) did not want the job.

Mr G.C. Wilson said he believed thre was a lot of feeling over the matter, and he was anxious, if possible, or giving the Assistant Overseers a chance to carry on.

Mr H.E. Dudley also spoke in a similar way, and after further discussion the Clerk was instructed to write to the County Council for a ruling on the matter.

The North Metropolitan Electric Company submitted plans showing the route of their overhead cable, and these were passed.

The half-yearly estimates were presented by the Clerk. The total required - £3763 - was an increase of £81. There would be a General Rate of 5/- for the district.

Tenders

The following tenders were accepted - Scavenging - Mr C.H. Poulton. Team labour for highways - Mr E.J. Crane.