21st May 1926 - Women's Institute

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Women's Institute

A very large and successful meeting took place at the George Room on Wednesday evening of last week. The members not on the Committee gave a free tea, and themselves provided the tiems of entertainment. The chair was taken by Miss Woods as a non-Committee member.

Mention was made by the President and Chairman of the joy at the conclusion of the strike, and of the desirability of avoiding all bitterness or sarcasm, fostering a spirit in every quarter of Buntingford of goodwill and good fellowship.

Mrs Houlden jun., was the accompanist and gave a piano solo; Mrs Thwaites and Miss Howard sang; and delightful recitations and readings were given by Mesdames Howard, Saggers, Horth, the Misses Beadle and Nurse Davies; amusing stories were told by Mrs Baker and Miss Lushington; two dances were delightfully performed by Miss Poulton, accompanied by Miss Macklin; and the competition glees were well sung under the able conductorship of Miss Baker.

Two interesting competitions were arranged by Mrs Warren and Miss Doris Camp, and prizes were won by Miss Leslie, Miss Boniwell and Mrs M. Miles. The prizes consisted of eggs, sugar, tea and butter, given respectively by Mrs Warren, Mrs David Baker, Mrs Geaves and Miss Woods.

21st May 1926 - The Post Office

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The Post Office

The grateful thanks of the public are due to several ladies and gentlemen of the town and district who have assisted the postal authorities during the recent strike.

As there were no trains at all from Buntingford, Mr A.C. Bartlett had to make arrangements for the mails to be taken and fetched from Ware twice daily. There was a ready response to the call for assistance, and as a result an excellent service was maintained throughout the strike.

On some occasions there was a rush of business as the mail had to connect with the Ware despatch, but Mr Bartlett and his staff dealt with the despatches in a prompt and efficacious manner, with a result that little inconvenience was caused the public.

Those ladies and gentlemen who conveyed the mails to and from Buntingford were: Col. C.H.B. Heaton-Ellis, Mr H.C. Marshall, Mrs Stubbing, Rev. F.B. Philips, Mr C.H. Poulton Capt. H.H. Williams, Mr Hardy, Miss Lushington, Major Keeble, Mr J. Thwaites and Mr E. Mildren.

7th May 1926 - The Great Strike

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The Great Strike

Nation Calm and Confident

Gradual Re-Commencement of Railway Services.

The Prime Minister's Messages.

A comprehensive survey of the strike shows the following salient features:

An important part of the business of the Country is held up.

The services of power and light are adequately maintained.

The supplies of food and fuel are sufficient to maintain the life of the Country for several weeks.

The distribution of milk is being regularly carried forward.

The Nation remains calm and confident.

The great strike, which commenced on Monday night, has affected the whole country, and in many parts buiness is at a standstill.

As far as Buntingford and district is concerned inconvenience has been caused to those whose employment is in the city. A large number of food lorries have passed through the town. There are no trains or busses, and the only mails are as follows:

Delivery - 7am.

Delivery - 11am.

Depatch - 10.15 a.m.

Despatch - 4.45 p.m.

A number of men of the Herts. and Beds. Regt., who have recently returned from India, were re-called to Bedford on Tuesday, and were conveyed in cars by Captain H.H. Williams and Mr J. Thwaites of Aspenden. The outgoing mails are being conveyed daily to Ware by Mr H.C. Marshall.

PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGES

The Prime Minister's messages to the nation are as follows:

"Keep steady. Remember that peace on earth comes to men of good-will."

In yesterday's issue of the British Gazette the Prime Minister's message was:

"Constitutional Government is being attacked. Let all good citizens, whose livelihood and labour have thus been put in peril, bear with fortitude and patience the hardships with which they have been so suddenly confronted.

Stand behind the Government who are doing their part, confident that you will co-operate in the measure they have undertaken to preserve the liberites and privileges of the people of these Islands. The Laws of England are the people's birthright. The Laws are in your keeping. You have made Parliament their guardian. The General Strike is a challenge to Parliament, and is the road to anarchy and ruin."

STRIKE ITEMS

Milk was conveyed to Buntingford Station from the various farms, and later taken by motor lorry to London.

Large consignments of vegetables for the London Markets passed through Buntingford on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

A ford van, loaded with bacon, passed through Buntingford yesterday. So loaded was the van, that two sides of bacon were laid across the bonnet.

Owners of wireless sets have shown hospitality to persons wishing to hear the news. Mr F. White has installed a loud speaker in his shop, and Mr H. Clarke has opened his office a to [sic] number who have heard the news bulletins at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m.

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Read more about the 1926 General Strike on Wikipedia.