Showing posts with label strike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strike. Show all posts

21st May 1926 - Notes of the Week

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Notes of the Week

Buntingford and the Strike - T.U.C. and N.U.R. - This Weather - A Strange Gathering - Food Only

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Well done! The thanks of the public are due to those ladies and gentlemen of Buntingford and district who gave their services in various ways during the strike.

There were many things which had to be dealt with, and the spirit in which all volunteers gave their services was much admired.

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The Mails - Throughout the ten days of the strike, the mails for Buntingford and district were conveyed to and from Ware by local car owners.

An official of the Post Office accompanied the mails on each occasion, and there is no doubt that some speed records were put up on the Ware road - Express delivery with a vengeance.

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A Police Speed Up - The writer of these notes recollects an incident which occurred during a Parliamentary Election some years before the war. 

A motor car had been sent out to a distant part to bring in three Police Constables to poll at Buntingford. The poll closed at 7 p.m., and at two minutes to that the car had not returned.

At 6.59 a droning noise was heard and a crowd of persons near the Conservative and Liberal Committee Rooms in the High Street knew that the car was coming down the hill from Hillside. It was a race against the clock, and as the car tore up the High Street to the cheers of the waiting crowd the town clock struck the hour; the constables were just in time to record their votes.

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Food Only - Reference was made in this Paper last week to a Ford van which carried a side of bacon on the bonnet.

Last Friday a lorry passing through the town had chalked on the back "Milk for Baby," "Beer for Dad."

**

The Canteen - The all-night canteen for lorry drivers was a boon to several tired and cold men who were engaged in transporting food-stuff to London from the market gardens of Cambridge and Lincolnshire.

On Monday morning four persons of very different callings met in the canteen. One was the driver of a lorry loaded with cabbages, another a member of the Editorial Staff of The Daily Telegraph, one a petrol distributing agent, and one a gipsy in a pair of very worn boots and a ragged coat, whose horse had strayed from Westmill where a "pull up" had been made for the night. Incidentally he was a Yorkshireman, and came from the same town as the same volunteer who served him with a cup of hot coffee.

**

T.U.C. and N.U.R - Much has been said and written of the Policy of the T.U.C. and N.U.R. To save a long debate it is quite easy to find their policy.

Simply turn the letters around, you then have - CUT and RUN.

**

Congratulations - Congratualtions to the Buntingford Musical Society on their success at the Herts. Musical Festival at Letchworth on Saturday.

The adjudicator, Dr Whitaker, spoke highly of the Buntingford Choir. The choir passed on the compliments to their able conductor, Mr E.E. Dennis, to whom the efficiency of the choir is undoubtedly due.

**

Whitsun Weather - Unless there is a considerable change in the weather this weekend there is little prospect of a sunshine Whitsun, such as we have experienced for the past seven years.

Our gardens and farm crops are sadly in need of the warm sun. In many gardens early potatoes have suffered from frost, which has occurred on several nights recently.

**

The Women's Institute Fete - Given a fine day, the Fete, to be held at Layston Court on Monday, should be a great success.

There are many novel events including a parade of children in fancy dress. From latest reports there will be several well-filled stalls.

21st May 1926 - Correspondence

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Correspondence

To the Editor, Buntingford Gazette.

Sir,

I would like to add to the list of those mentioned by G. Scarborough Taylor in his letter of last week the splendid fellows who manned the lorries (of my firm and other firms) up and down the country and collected the goods from London warehouses, docks and wharves, under most trying conditions and at considerable risk of injury.

It was the courageous efforts of these men which saved us all from what might have been a very unpleasant experience.

Thanks to them there was no shortage of any essential food supplies, and, speaking for myself and the business I manage, supplies from Hitchen headquarters came along with amazing regularity, although, of course, one only lived from day to day, not knowing what the morrow might bring forth.

I beg to remain, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

S. Daniels

High Street, Buntingford, May 20th, 1926.

14th May 1926 - Correspondence

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Correspondence

We have received the following letter from Mr G. Scarborough Taylor, who has been acting as Transport Officer to the Buntingford district on behalf of the Ministry of Transport Committee for Hertfordshire:

To the Editor, Buntingford Gazette.

Dear Sir,

I trust you will permit me to thank the following for their very ready and willing assistance they gave in help me carry out duties in connection with haulage of food supplies during the recent strike:

Mr Bayman, of Forrest Stores, who obtained food supplies from Bishops Stortford on behalf of the district, and for seeing the various grocers so as to ensure no shortage;

Messrs F.W. Butler, S.G. Lees, B. Kennedy and H. Feasey, for their time and use of motor cycles and bicycles in going round the district;

Mr Frank Fraser and Mrs Scarborough Taylor for their clerical assistance and tabulating records of food supplies;

and last, but certainly not least, to Mr B.E. Thody for the almost continual and numerous ways he has readily assisted.

Yours faithfully,

G. Scarborough Taylor

Buntingford, May 13th, 1926.

14th May 1926 - The Great Strike - And After

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The Great Strike - And After

How Buntingford Fared

At Buntingford

A word remains to be said of the strike as it affected Buntingford and the district.

In a neighbourhood such as this its outward signs were almost imperceptible. No trains were running; the purchase of coal, save in minute quantities, was prohibited and still is; an unusual number of lorries, many of them, apparently, dating from periods of immense antiquity, rumbled and thundered through the street; special constables were busily enrolled; our ordinary newspapers failed to arrive; and our letters were uncertain.

But, generally speaking, the ordinary life of the community was scarcely touched. Had the strike lasted longer some inconveniences might have become more noticeable. In the background, however, preparations had been made to meet any difficulties likely to arise. The regulation and supply of food, for example, had been adequately considered. The Rural District Council, acting under the authority of the Ministry of Health, had resolved itself into an Emergency Committee, and a complete review of food stocks throughout the district had been made. These were amply sufficient for some time to come, and immediate renewal in most commodities was not a pressing problem; but the Committee was fully prepared to deal promptly with any shortages which might have arisen.

Since the strike has been called off no meeting of the Emergency Committee has taken place; but we are empowered by the Rural District Council to state that they are sincerely appreciative of the help which has been afforded them by volunteers who have compiled data and given generous assistance in clerical and other work.

In addition they owe a debt of gratitude to a committee of traders for their ready response to requests for information and advice. The officers of the Council have moreover admirably carried through the duties which fell to them during this crisis.

To one and all the Council tender their sincere thanks.

 
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