10th June 1927 - 2nd Annual Sports Day

Original image on Facebook

Buntingford and District School Sports Association

2nd Annual Sports Day

The 2nd Annual Sports Day in connection with the above Association took place at the Buntingford Town Football Ground (by kind permission of the Football Club) on Wednesday, June 1st.

Teams came from the following schools - Anstey, Ardeley, Barkway, Braughing, Brent Pelham, Buntingford, Cottered, Great Hormead, Meesden, Great Munden, Puckeridge C. of E., Furneaux Pelham, Reed, Sandon, Standon, Walkern and Westmill.

The competitors numbered 250.

Teachers and children showed great enthusiasm, and some really good material was discovered.

At the conclusion of the sports, Miss G. Cotton-Browne, of Walkern, kindly presented the three shields and prizes.

Mr E.E. Dennis (hon. sec. and treasurer) thanked Miss Cotton-Browne for the very great interest she takes in the work of the association and also for so kindly coming to present the trophies. He called for hearty cheers, which were enthusiastically given.

Miss Cotton-Browne, replying, said she was only too pleased to be able to come. She was sure the Sports Assocation was doing sound work. She was proud of the boys from Walkern, who had once again won the boys' shield. She also wished to thank Mr Dennis for the amount of work he had put in to make the association and sports day a success.

This was enthusiastically received.

Mr Dennis, replying, thanked Miss Cotton-Browne for the kind things said, and stated that the results obtained fully compensated him for the work put in. He wished to thank once again the teachers and children for their hearty co-operation, also those who had again sent subscriptions.

He was sorry that Sir Charles (the President) and Lady Heaton-Ellis were unable to be present. They wished the association every success. He felt sure this year that Buntingford and district would be able to provide a good team to compete at the County Sports, to be held at Letchworth on June 15th. 

He congratulated Walkern, Braughing and Great Hormead on winning the shields, and thanked the Band for once again helping.

The children and assembly then sang the National Anthem.

The hon. sec. and treasurer thanks the following for their ready help:

Materials - Buntingford Football Club (ground), Congregational S.S., Letchworth Boys' Club, British Legion Club, Brent and Furneaux Pelham Scouts, Walkern C.C. School, Capt. J. Denny, Father Morgan, Messrs G. Handy, J. Holmes, E.G. Thody, F. Rand, H. May, P. Hamilton, W.H. Smith, - Burrows, J. Ireland, G. Aylott and G. Maughan.

Helpers and Officials - Revs. A.G. Langdon, W.L. Shepherd, F. Holmes, Major M.E. Barclay, Miss L.M. Baker, Messrs J. Russell, H. Richardson, A. Lake, H. Mannox, J. Bishop, H. Cutts, S. Daniels, A. Clark, H. Clark, F. Fraser, R. Graves, B.E. Thody, E.H. Roberson, E.J. Totman, A.E. Mayes, H.E. Stickland, W.E. Cooper, A.G. Jenkins, F. Harvey, J. Thorp, J. Sherlock, E.C. Clarke, W.G. Bonness, B. Nichols, C. Miles, F.W. Butler, S and L. Dowler.

Ladies' Committee - Mesdames A.E.P. Baker, W.R. Corp, A.E. Pateman, E.H. Roberson, H. Feasey, H. Clarke, A.E. Mayes, Ambrose, Coxall, Warren, Geaves, Starr, Butler, Misses L.M. Davies, Anthony, B. Langham, K. Smith, D. Howard, and W. Walsingham.

Results

Championship Events

Boys

100 yds - 1 S. Savage (Walkern), 2 L. Burr (Standon), 3 C. Dowler (Buntingford), 4 G. Hamilton (Braughing).

220 yds - 1 S. Savage (Walkern), 2 J. Clarke (Walkern), 3 G. Hamilton (Braughing), 4 E. Dear (Ardeley).

440 yds - 1 C. Scrivener (Buntingford), 2 G. Warner (Buntingford), 3 J. Clarke (Braughing), 4 R. Scripps (Hormead).

880 yds - 1 C. Scrivener (Buntingford), 2 G. Field (Walkern), 3 R. Baldock (Walkern), 4 A. Camp (Ardeley).

Hurdles - 1 G. Savage (Walkern), 2 S. Savage (Walkern), 3 W. Warner (Buntingford), 4 L. George (Meesden).

High Jump - 1 G. Savage (Walkern), 2 F. Gilbert (Walkern), 3 C. Dowler (Buntingford), 4 W. Warner (Buntingford).

Long Jump - 1 L. Burr (Standon), 2 W. Warner (Buntingford), 3 A. Springham (Braughing), 4 C Dowler (Buntingford).

Team Race - 1 Walkern, 2 Buntingford, 3 Standon, 4 Braughing.

Winners of Buntingford Shield - Walkern C.C. (34 points); Runners up - Buntingford C of E. (25 points).

Girls

100 yds - 1 M. Barker (Braughing), 2 E. Wilson (Great Hormead), 3 G. Young (Walkern), 4 E. Prior (Braughing).

150 yds - 1 M. Barker (Braughing), 2 E. Prior (Braughing), 3 M. Coxall (Buntingford), 4 E. Knight (Brent Pelham).

Long Jump - 1 M. Barker (Braughing), 2 V. Carter (Walkern), 3 E. Prior (Braughing), 4 E. Miles (Walkern).

High Jump - 1 E. Ruskin (Gt. Hormead), 2 E. Miles (Walkern), 3 O. Martin (Buntingford), 4 M. Clark (Braughing).

Hurdles - 1 M. Brand (Gt Hormead), 2 H. Baldock (Walkern), 3 J. McLeod (Meesden), 4 M. Baker (Westmill).

Team Race - 1 Braughing, 2 Walkern, 3 Gt. Hormead, 4 Standon.

Winners of Walkern Shield - Braughing C.C. (23 points); Runners up - Walkern C.C. (15 points).

Winners for Cottered Shield (for schools less than 100 on books) - Great Hormead C of E. (14 points); Runners up - Standon (10 points).

Other events

Boys

Throwing cricket ball - 1 S. Savage (Walkern), 2 G. Hamilton (Braughing).

Obstacle race - 1 G. Warner (Buntingford), 2 J. Clarke (Braughing).

Sack Race - 1 C. Prior (Braughing), 2 A. Ambrose (Buntingford).

Driving race - 1, boy,  H. Darton, girl, M. Coxall (Buntingford), 2, F. Milton, N. Clements (Walkern).

Girls

Skipping Race - 1 L. Stacey (Braughing), 2 M. Barker (Braughing).

Sack Race - 1 M. Barker (Braughing), 2 E. Oakley (Standon).

Egg and Spoon Race - 1 J. McLeod (Meesden), 2 P. Tott (Braughing).

Flower Pot Race - 1 M Barker (Braughing), 2 D. Woodley (Standon).

10th June 1927 - Fatal Holiday Accident

Original image on Facebook

Fatal Holiday Accident

Motor-Cyclist Collides with Cart

Whilst motor cycling for [from?] Chatham, where he was stationed, to West Riding, on Friday last, Flagman Ernest A. Shoobridge collided with a farm cart at a dangerous corner in Cottered and was killed instantly.

There is a sign post on the corner and it is thought that the deceased, who had lost his correct route, looked up at the sign post and failed to notice the approach of a farm cart.

The district coroner, Mr H.F. J. Banham, conducted the inquest, which was held at the Cottered Rectory on Saturday evening last, when the following were sworn on the jury: Messrs. W.N. Sanders (foreman), J. Smith, J. Darton, W. Hills, C. Smith, W. Deards, W. Hummerstone, B.A. Edwards, T. Kingsley, J. Warner, H. Sheppard, G. Fenner, and F. Hummerstone.

Eric Sellers, a leading seaman in the Royal Navy, who was accompanying the deceased on another motor-cycle, said "We left Chatham on Friday morning at 6.30 for Nessborough, Yorks. The deceased was riding a 3 and a half h.p. Norton motorcycle. I was riding in front of my friend, and as I passed the corner I noticed a cart on the right side of the road, but I had no difficulty in getting by.

I happened to glance round and saw the deceased looking at the sign post; he turned his head back, and as he did so I saw a surprised look on his face as though he had noticed the cart and did not know what to do. I then heard a crash, and on going back found my friend lying across the road. He appeared to be dead. His speed at the time of the accident would be about 12-15 miles per hour."

Sidney Andrews, a carter, of Moor Green, Ardeley, said "On Friday, 3rd June, I was in charge of a horse and cart on the road from Cottered to Buntingford. As the horse approached the corner a motor-cycle passed, and immediately afterwards came another in the same direction. The second cyclist crashed into the hose, which was only moving at walking pace.

Part of the horse's harness was broken, and when I went to deceased he was lying in the road by the wheel. When the accident occurred I was about one yard from the near side of the road."

James Fuller, a roadman employed by the H.C.C., said "I was working near the corner in question on Friday, June 3rd, when I noticed two motor-cycles coming from the direction of Buntingford. The first one passed me all right, but the second one, which came on about 15-20 yards behind, took a big sweep; the rider shut off the engine and put out his right foot as if to save himself.

The cycle swayed, and I saw the rider strike the horse and then fall into the road. I went round the cart, but the deceased appeared to be dead."

Frederick James Savage, of High Street, Walkern, a labourer, also working on the corner, gave similar evidence.

Alfred James Ives, a police constable, stationed at Cottered, said "On Friday, 3rd June, about 10.15 a.m., I received a report that a motor-cycle accident had occurred on the Buntingford road. I went to the scene of the accident and saw a Norton motor-cycle lying close to the wheel of a cart which was standing on the north side of the road and facing north-east.

I found that the rider of the motor-cycle was lying with his right leg over his machine. His skull was crushed, and he was quite dead. The machine was slightly damaged. The width of the road at the particular point was 18ft. 6ins. There was 9ft. 6 ins. between the offside wheel of the cart and the other side of the road."

Dr R.W. Fell, of Buntingford, said "On arriving at the scene of the accident I saw the deceased lying on his back across the road. There was a lot of blood in the road and the deceased was dead. On examining the body I came to the conclusion that he must have struck his head on the shaft of the cart, and have died instantly."

The jury returned a verdict of "accidental death," the foreman requested the coroner to repot on the dangerous corner to the Herts. County Council.

3rd June 1927 - Accident

Original image on Facebook

Accident

A nasty bend in Sandon Lane, which was discussed by the Council at their last meeting, was the scene of an accident early on Thursday morning in last week.

Whilst motor-cycling towards Buntingford, Mr T. Wornham, a farmer, of Lye End Farm, Sandon, collided with a Ford Car owned by Mr Warner, of Walkern.

The impact was so great that the frame of the motor-cycle was doubled up, and the radiator of the car damaged.

Mr Wornham was badly injured, being cut about the lower part of the face. He was removed to his home, where he is progressing favourably.

30th July 1926 - Buntingford Petty Sessions

Original image on Facebook

Buntingford Petty Sessions

Friday last, before Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis (Chairman), The Hon. Baron Dimsdale, Capt. H.H. Williams, H.C. Marshall and Claud Fraser, Esqs.

Congratulations to the Chairman

A very pleasing and well-deserved tribute was paid to the Chairman before the business of the Court commenced. The Hon. Baron Dimsdale moved that thhe Bench take that opportunity of according hearty congratulations to their Chairman on the well-earned distinction conferred upon him by their Sovreign Lord the King.

They then ably referred in the meritorious terms to the splendid service Sir Charles had done for the county, not only on that Bench, but in many other branches of unpaid work. It was a credit to them that their Chairman had been marked out for this honur.

Mr G.H. Gisby, the Senior Joint Clerk to the Magistrates, said on behalf of the clerical staff, he should like to associate himself with the congratulations of the Chairman. All agreed it was a well deserved honour. He had been connected with that Court for upwards of half-a-century, and had had experience of many Chairmen of that Bench, and in no case had the dignity of the Bench been kept up, and justice better administered than during the Chairmanship of Sir Charles.

He could not call to mind an honour received in the county with more unanimity and goodwill. The interests of Sir Charles covered a wide ground. He then alluded to the good work the Chairman had done in Ecclesiastical and Educational matters, and the responsible duties he discharged in such a distinguished manner in the Boer War, and again in the recent war.

In county matters, it was an advantage to have the counsel and assistance of Sir Charles acting in the public interest. It was to men of this stamp they had to look in the future to further the welfare and honour of country.

Supt. Wright, on behalf of the Chief Constables and the police of the division, said they were all proud that an honour had been bestowed on the Chairman.

Mr H.C. Marshall seconded the motion, proposed by Baron Dimsdale, and it was carried with great cordiality.

Sir Charles, on thanking them for their warm expressions of appreciation of the efforts he had made on behalf of the county, said what he valued most were the tributes of goodwill he had received from old friends and associates. He had done very little; others had done infinitely more, and to their good work he owed the honour that had been conferred upon him.

He remembered well Mr Gisby's father, who was clerk of that Bench, and he then spoke highly of the wise counsel they had received from their clerk, enabling the business of the Court to be conducted so satisfactorily. He thanked them again for their kind expressions - it was these that made the honour so valuable to him.

There were no cases before the Court, and the only business transacted related mostly to licensing.

A full transfer was granted of the licence of "The Bell" Inn, Cottered (owners Messrs. Christine and Co) from Alice Clements to George William Alder.

The Buntingford Horticultural Show is fixed for next Thursday. This led to two applications to which Supt. Wright offered no objections. Mr William Warner, of "The Bull" Public House, was allowed an extension of hours on the day from 2.30 to 6 p.m., and an occasional licence was granted to Mr J. Holmes, of "The George" Hotel, who will have a refreshment tent on the show ground.

Structural alterations at "The Crown" Inn. Mr L.J. Gomme, architect for Messrs. Christie & Co., produced plans for the addition of a new tea and dining room to the premises of "The Crown" Inn, of which Mr Mannox is the licensee. The Bench examined the plan and granted the application.