27th Jan 1928 - Wyddiall, The New Rector

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Wyddiall - The New Rector

Induction of the Rev. W. Mc C. Kerr

The Institution and Induction of the Rev W. Mc C. Kerr as Rector of Wyddiall was conducted by the Lord Bishop of St Albans on Monday afternoon last. The new Rector was formerly Rector of Meesden and is Rural Dean for the Buntingford Deanery. There was a large congregation present at the service.

The visiting Clergy were the Rev. A. Howard (Layston), the Rev. E.E. Empringham (Cottered), the Rev. F.R. Williams (Anstey), the Rev. H. Shepherd (Gt. Hormead), the Rev. A.G. Langdon (Munden), the Rev. A.G. King (Westmill), the Rev. H.F. Webb-Bowen (Barkway), the Rev. F.W.B. Jobson (Braughing), the Rev. A.J. McKinney (Buckland), Canon Shorting (St Albans), and the Rev. W.J. Stewart (Langley). The Rev. Dr H.V.S. Eck, of Ardeley, acted as the Bishop's Chaplain.

Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis, C.B.E., the Patron of the living, presented the new Rector to the Bishop in the following words: "Reverend Father in God, I present you this meet and proper person to be insitituted to the cure of souls in this parish."

The new Rector, standing before the Bishop, then took the various oaths required, after which there was silent prayer. The Bishop then took the new incumbant by the hand and, preceded by the Rev. A.G. Langdon (who acted for the Archdeacon) and the Patron (Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis) he conducted him to the five principal parts of the Church - the Font, the Prayer Desk, the Lectern, the Pulpit, and lastly to the Altar, during which appropriate verses of the hymn, "We love the place, O God," were sung, and certain questions were put to the incumbent, at each place to which he answered "I will do so, the Lord being my Helper."

The incumbent then knelt before the Bishop at Altar rails, and after prayers the hymn "Veni Creator Spiritus" was sung, the Bishop sung the first and third lines and the congregation the second and fourth of each verse. The Bishop then read the letters of Institution, and afterwards, with his hand on the head of the incumbent, pronounced a Benediction.

The incumbent was then led by the hand to the Church door and to the belfry, where he tolled the bell to signify to the parishioners that he had taken possession.

The Bishop then delivered a very stirring address. He said with the institution of their new Rector they were beginning a new chapter in the history of that parish. The great object in every parish, county and country was that men should have life and have it more abundantly. Christ's work goes on through us. Our Lord used a human body to make God known to us, and men came to know that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God because they looked at Him in the face. No man could mistrust a Man with a look like His. It is a terrible thing when a man loses his grip on life, and when we hear of men committing suicide we say they are temporarily insane, because normal people want to live.

We must get back to God and find out the laws governing human life. We have seen tremendous progress in many things. Wireless, for instance, and even greater things than that were spoken of. There was a talk of television; so in addition to people ringing you up on the 'phone and talking to you, there was a prospect of them actually seeing what you were doing. A few years ago a man who could drive a motor car was considered a kind of super man.

All material progress has come from study and research, and by following the laws of nature; all theories respecting farming woud "go west" if the laws of nature were not obeyed. 

Fellowship is one of the laws of God and those who belonged to large families knew what that meant. If there were any present who were members of a large family let them thank God for it, for they had received their education, especially if they happened to be the youngest member of the family, for their elder brothers and sisters would see to it that they roughed it.

God had given us parents, brothers and sisters, and we had to learn to live together - sometimes with people we did not like, but all had a common job to do for God, and without Him we can do nothing.

During the singing of the last hymn a collection was taken for the Ordination Candidates Fund, and the service concluded with the Blessing pronounced by the Bishop.

After the service the Bishop, the Clergy, and members of the congregation were entertained at Wyddiall Hall by Sir Charles and Lady Heaton-Ellis.

Miss Marion Macklin, L.R.A.M., presided at the organ.

27th Jan 1928 - Cumberlow Green, Funeral of Mrs Borlase

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Cumberlow Green

Funeral of Mrs Borlase

The funeral of Mrs Borlase, whose death we announced last week, took place at Rushden Church on Sunday afternoon last, the service being conducted by the Rev. E.F. Circuit.

The immediate mourners were: Mr G. Borlase (husband), Messrs Sydney and Bert Borlase (sons), and Mr Paul (brother).

Amongst those present were: Mr Holmes (Letchworth), Mr F. Radford (Bassingbourn), Mr E.J. Marshall, Mr and Mrs Bowman (Baldock), Mr and Mrs T. Bennett, Mrs Chalmers, Mr Griggs, Messrs W. Robinson, E. Marshall, L. Cannon, G. Cannon, T.J. Stick, P. Dudley, P. Hamilton, G. Scarborough Taylor, T. Kingsley, G.H. Maughan, B.E. Thody, J. Coleman, C.S. Knowles, W. French, N.J. Treise, O.F. Austin, P. Sergt. Dean and P.C. Ives.

Mr Borlase is a Cornishman, and before coming to live at Cumberlow Green, farmed extensively at Trelissick, St. Ewe, Cornwall.

[Transcriber note - In the first two reports of her death the surname is spelled "Borlace". I've kept both spellings in the tags.]

Death announcement for Elizabeth Borlace (Borlase).

Report on the death of Elizabeth Borlace (Borlase).

19th Oct 1928 - Buntingford Rural District Council

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Buntingford Rural District Council

Housing Troubles

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council was held on Thursday, the 11th inst., when there were present: Captain H.H. Williams (in the chair), Mrs K.J. Dimsdale, Messrs. C. Hummerstone, G.C. Wilson, H. Ward, J. Russell, S. Pigg, A.J. Hayes, E.J. Marchal, G. Graves, J. Bygrave and H.E. Dudley, with the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke) and the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody).

Tenders were received for the erection of a fence, etc., around the water supply at Little Hormead, these being from Messrs. D. Wilson and Son, of Hare Street, who quoted £13 15s.; and Mr C.E. Harradence, who quoted £16 10s. 

It was resolved that the tender of Messrs. Wilson & Son be accepted.

SURVEYOR'S REPORT

The Surveyor submitted his monthly report, in which he stated that the Isolation Hospital was closed. The consumption of water during the last month had been 1,218,000 gallons, and the water level now stood at 38 feet. A supply of 400 gallons of paraffin was required for use at the Waterworks, at a cost of £12 10s.

The Surveyor also reported that the County Council had completed the wharfing of the River Rib as requested by the Council. The work at the Hospital and the Ardeley water supply had now been carried out. No report was forthcoming with reference to the extension of the Sewage Farm owing to the dry weather having made it impossible to ascertain certain details.

The Council authorised the purchase of the paraffin, and instructed the Surveyor to dispose of the crop of mangolds at the Sewage Farm to the best possible advantage.

HOUSING

The Surveyor also submitted a detailed statement showing the amount expended on the repair and maintenance of the Council's cottages throughout the district for the seven years ending March last, together with a lengthy list of the various repairs that were necessary.

It appeared that the average cost of maintenance per house per annum had been £2 13s. 6d., whereas the sum allotted was £2 7s. 2d., and thus the Maintenance and Repair Fund had been overdrawn by the sum of £287 3s. 1d.

The matter was referred to the Housing Committee, and it was decided to call a meeting of the Committee at an early date. It was also resolved to furnish the Ministry of Health with a report upon the matter, together with a statement of the expenses incurred in connection with the Cottered drainage scheme, and the £300 that was required for the external painting of the cottages in the district.

The Surveyor pointed out that it would be necessary to repair the roofs of the cottages at Meesden as the tenants had declined to pay their rents owing to the wet coming in, and it was decided to carry out the repairs forthwith.

There were several applicants for the two cottages at Buntingford and Chipping, which were both let to local residents.

The Clerk submitted the report of the district auditor with reference to the audit of the Council's accounts, in which the auditor made certain suggestions with regard to rate collection.

Notification was received from the North Metropolitan Electric Power Company that owing to the delay experienced in procuring materials the lighting scheme would not be ready until a few days later than the specified time.

Mr Hayes asked whether the Council could not write to the County Council about the speed of motor vehicles which used the Hare Street Road. The road which had just been repaired, he said, would soon be as bad as before.

The Chairman replied that the Council would take no action in the matter as motor vehicles were licensed to use the roads, but the speed of the vehicles, however, was a matter for the police to deal with.

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.