Jan 2 1937

DEATH of Mrs Esther Manning of 32 London Road, aged 92. She had lived all her life in Beccles. She was the widow     of Mr William Manning, of Valley Farm, who many years ago was steward on the Roos Hall Estate. There is no family

Jan 9 1937

DEATH of Alderman Henry Copeman, aged 78, of 36 Blyburgate, the “father” and senior Alderman of the Council. He had been on the Council for 39 years. He was a former Mayor of the town and was given a Civic Funeral.
    The funeral service was held in the Congregational Church at which he was a regular attendant, and of which he was an honorary Deacon. The service was taken by the Pastor, Rev Hardy Holder, and the organist was Mr CV Breeze.

Jan 9 1937

RETIREMENT of Mr George Watson as Headmaster of the Sir John Leman School this spring, after twenty-two years.

Jan 9 1937

COUNTY LIBRARY in the Guildhall makes good progress. Mr WB King, the honorary librarian, and his rota of voluntary helpers do duty three times a week. It will soon celebrate its 8th birthday, opening in April 1929.

Jan 9 1937

DEATH of Mr William Homer, of Riverside House, 41B Northgate, aged 69. He was a retired taxidermist. He and his wife came to Beccles about a year ago, having had a house built on the banks of the Waveney. He was a keen member of the Angling Club

Jan 9 1937

RAF apprentice. Raymond Easy was a successful candidate in the recent examination.

Jan 16 1937

TRAFFIC IN NORTHGATE: The East Suffolk County Council had received a letter from the Beccles Town Council asking them to give immediate consideration to the steps to be taken to deal with traffic conditions in Northgate, so that through traffic of a heavy character could be diverted.
    The County Council could not see that they could make any useful recommendation.
    SALTGATE: Nos 8, 10, 12, and 14, Saltgate had been offered for sale by Mr W Betts for road improvement purposes. The property was leasehold with approximately 650 years’ unexpired tenure and that the value was £400 exclusive of Surveyor’s fees and legal charges. They recommended that the property should be purchased subject to Beccles Town Council paying a contribution.

Jan 16 1937

MOTOR ACCIDENT: Mrs Angela Robinson, of St Margaret’s, Somerleyton, wife of Mr Walter D Robinson, a partner in the firm of Messrs Larkman and Robinson, solicitors, was, with her daughter Ann being driven by a visitor, Mr Derek Smith, near Benacre Park, when the car collided with a telegraph post. She was taken to a Lowestoft nursing home. The front of the car was wrecked and the car was towed to a Wrentham garage.

Jan 16 1937

DEATH of Rev Garrett Johnson, eldest son of the late Rev Frederick Johnson, Rector of Stratford St Andrew and of the late Mrs Johnson of Stratford Cottage, Old Market – where his sister still lives. He was the Rector of Glemsford and died as the result of a motoring accident.

Jan 16 1937

MOTORIST FINED £55 and disqualified for five years: Douglas Hutton, aged 22, of the White Lion Hotel, was found to be driving a car in a dangerous manner in Lowestoft.

Jan 16 1937

”PLUNDER”, a farce by Ben Travers is being put on by the Amateur Dramatic Society. Mr G Humphrey Durrant, Mr Lindsey Tilney and Mr C Wilfred Durrant take part [PHOTO pages 5 & 6]. The producer was Mr WE Buller.
1937    Beccles & Bungay     EAST SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL: Road widening at Mettingham would require about 20 feet of land in front of council houses on the Beccles Bungay Road at a bend in Shipmeadow.

Jan 23 1937

HOUSING: Four tenders had been received for new houses to be built on Castle Hill. It was suggested that: 4 three bedroom type, Mr Wm Tricker (Norwich) £620 per pair; 4 three bedroom type, Mr Wm Chilvers (Beccles) £624 per pair; 10 Bungalow type, Mr W Tricker, of Norwich; 8 four bedroom type houses, Mr W Chilvers £670 peer pair. The roads and sewers would cost £1,355, legal expenses and Architect’s fee £200.

Jan 23 1937

NEW ALDERMEN: Mr DC Smith, the present Deputy Mayor, and Mayor from 1929 to 1930, and Mr EJ Hindes, who was Mayor 1912 to 1919 and throughout the [First] World War, have been appointed in the place of the late Mr Copeman and Mr CG Napier Trollope, who retires through ill health.
    Mr Arthur H Pye is also retiring as a Councillor after ten year’s service, as he is leaving the town.
1937    Beccles & Bungay     RAIN & GALES: There has been exceptionally heavy rain this week in the Waveney Valley and there has been some flooding.
1937    Beccles & Bungay     APPOINTMENT, Mr ER Judge, a Beccles man, has been appointed manager of the Scottish Co-op Juvenile Clothing factory in Glasgow. He served in France and Egypt with the Suffolk Territorial Artillery.

Jan 30 1937

DEATH of Mrs Alice Maud Woolner, aged 57, of 16 Gosford Road, wife of Richard Woolner, a marine engineer’s fitter, who slipped on ice on the footpath in Station Road. She died six days later in Beccles Hospital.

Feb 6 1937

EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES COSTS “going up by leaps and bounds”. Mr Skinner, the Chairman of Wainford Rural District Council, said the County Council “were spending far more than they ought on education.”

Feb 6 1937

SUICIDE by drowning of Miss Christina Barber at East Bergholt, aged 41. She had lived with her father , ex-Police Inspector JA Barber, of Frederick’s Road, until his death four years ago.

Feb 6 1937

SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL: New Headmaster to be Mr Richard Hancock, senior History Master at the Boys; Southern Secondary School, Portsmouth, who will succeed Mr George Watson. He is a Cornishman, born at Bude in 1902. He was educated at the College of the South-West, Exeter and at Fitwilliam House, Cambridge University. He is a BA Honours, London University and MA Cambridge. He also taught at a boarding school in North Devon and Middlesborough. At Exeter he was Captain of the Hockey XI and at Fitzwilliam House. There were 301 applicants for the job. [PHOTO page 6]

Feb 6 1937

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS in 1936 in East Suffolk: 35 fatalities and 747 injuries in 616 collisions.

Feb 13 1937

DEATH of Railway ganger, Mr Frederick Watling, aged 75, of 49 Denmark Road. He served the old GER and the LNER in the Beccles yard for many years. He leaves a widow and three sons, two of whom are employed by the LNER, one at Beccles, the other at Darsham.

Feb 13 1937

DEATH of Mr George W Leggett, aged 74, of Rosalind, Grove Road, who had been on the staff of Elliott & Garrood for 49 years. At the time of his death he was Chief Clerk, a position he had held for some years.

Feb 13 1937

DEATH of Rev R Garrett Johnson, brother of Miss EM Johnson of Stratford Cottage, Old Market. He was Rector of Glemsford and Rural Dean of Sudbury. He was over 70.

Feb 13 1937

St JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE, Annual Meeting was held at the Headquarters, Homefield, Ballygate. Dr Henry Wood-Hill, the Mayor of Beccles and the divisional surgeon, was in the chair. The Brigade would, with the Red Cross, undertake air raid work in the event of war. It was hoped that definite training would be carried through in 1937.

13 Feb 1937

NO ELECTION for Town Council. 3 vacancies caused by the elevation of Mr EJ Hindes & Mr DC Smith to be Aldermen and the retirement of Mr Arthur H Pye, who is leaving the town. The new Councillors: Mr Charles Hutton, White Lion Hotel, Smallgate, Chairman of the Beccles & District Licensed Victuallers Protection Association, Mr Herbert Branford, 8 Hungate, jeweller, and Mr Harry Collyer, 37 St George’s Road, printer’s reader of the Caxton Press. [PHOTOS 20 Feb page 6]

Feb 13 1937

DEATH of Mrs Mary d’Arcy Kenyon of Gillingham Hall, widow of Mr John Kenyon and daughter of the late Lord Henry Kerr. She was 89. The funeral was at Gillingham Roman Catholic Church, which was built by her husband. She had lived at the Hall for about 50 years.

Feb 13 1937

DEATH of Mr Henry George Read, aged 79, of 6 The Walk. He was the son of Mr Henry Read, one of the founders in 1867 of the firm of Messrs H & J Read, auctioneers of Beccles. In 1874 Mr Read went into his father’s office, and retired in 1928. For many years he was agent for the Gillingham Hall, Geldeston Hall and Ellingham Hall Estates. For many years he was a member of Wangford Board of Guardians (until it closed in March 1930) and regularly attended meetings at Shipmeadow House. He was a regular supporter of Beccles Parish Church.

Feb 20 1937

JUNIOR CONSERVATIVES: The AGM was postponed owing to the illness of Miss P Meen, the hon sec. Dancing was enjoyed by those who assembled at Blyburgate Hall.

Feb 20 1937

TELEPHONE BREAKDOWN: Water got into the underground cable along Blyburgate and Ingate. Worlingham, Castle Hill and Grove Road were included in the area, and all 18 subscribers had all communication cut off.

Feb 20 1937

DEATH of Mr Frank Burton of Ballygate House, aged 88. He was born in Norwich and became a solicitor in Norwich working with his father’s firm in Yarmouth. He was Mayor of Yarmouth and leader of the Conservative Party. He moved to Beccles some years ago.

Feb 20 1937

BEATING COW: Mr Reginald Clack, motor driver of 81 Castle Hill found guilty at Lowestoft of beating a cow unnecessarily and fined £5.

Feb 20 1937

OPERA STAGED by Beccles Amateur Operatic Society in the Regal Cinema, Ballygate: “Gretchen”. The producer was Mr Hector Hadingham, the musical director Mr AO Ingate, but conducted by Mr JW Croft, ARCO of Lowestoft. [PHOTOS page 6]

Feb 20 1937

COUNCIL: Beccles would not support Woodbridge’s claim that East Suffolk CC was spending too much on education and social services.
    SALTGATE: The North Suffolk Highways Committee recommended the purchase of Nos 8, 10, 12 and 14 Saltgate for road widening. No 6 Saltgate was also to be included. The Town Council would assist the County Council in finding accommodation for the tenants of the cottages.
    MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH: Dr L Gibson to be reappointed at £126 pa. He was not in private practice and devoted his time to the public health service.
    RIGHTS OF WAY: 1.) Wire Walk. 2.) Path from London Road to Kemp’s Lane. 3.) Path from London Road across the brickworks to Green Lane. 3.) Path from London Road across the brickworks to Darby Road. 5.) Path from Ringsfield Road to Cromwell Lane. 6.) Path from London Road past Valley Farm to Cromwell Lane. 7.) Right of way through the White Lion Hotel Yard from Smallgate to Newgate.
    PLANS APPROVED: A pair of semi-detached houses at Darby Road for Mr Hipperson and a bungalow there for Mr W Chivers.
    RATS CAUGHT on Council property in 3 months was 1788. A penny a tail was paid.
    CORONATION PLANS: Procession of 1.) Trade tableaux, open to all tradespeople in Beccles & District. 2.) Tableaux, open to all organizations in Beccles and within 3 miles. 3.) Decorated private cars within 3 miles. To form at 1.30 pm in Prory and Grange Roads to move off at 1.45.
    It should be led by a band on the route: St Mary’s Road, London Road, Smallgate, Old Market, Northgate, Ravensmere, Denmark Road, Gresham Road, Station Road, Smallgate, Exchange Square, Blyburgate, Grove Road, Ingate, Peddar’s Lane, London Road, Ashman’s Road, Ringsfield Road, arriving at the Show Ground at 3 pm. Prizes would be given.
    Fancy dress parade to form in Old Market at 6.30 pm and go on a shorter route.
    Prizes would be given for the best decorated private houses. There would be dance music and a barrel organ with a firework display.

Feb 20 1937

DEATH of Mr William Archibald Clowes, aged 70, who until 6 years ago was managing director of Wm Clowes & Son. He was succeeded by his cousin, Col GCK Clowes, DSO, OBE, who spends a good deal of time in Beccles and has a house in Upper Grange Road. Mr WA Clowes succeeded the late Mr Wm Chas Clowes. Mr WA Clowes rarely came to Beccles. He was great-grandson of the original William Clowes, who after being apprenticed as a printer at Chichester in 1789, came to London, and a few years later started business in 1803 on his own.
    WA Clowes was born in 1866 educated at Marlborough and in Germany, joined the family firm in 1886, spending his first few years in London and then took charge at Beccles. He returned to London in 1901, becoming Chairman in 1916.

Feb 27 1937

PAPER MISSING

Mar 6 1937

PAPER MISSING

Mar 13 1937

CHURCH RESTORATION: The original appeal was for £2,000, and considerably more money is required to enable the necessary scheme of restoration to be carried through to completion. Apart from the tower which has still to be tackled, the fabric of the church has been put into a good state of repair, and one Suffolk firm alone have received £3,000 for their activities. The next big scheme to be undertaken is the organ.

Mar 13 1937

PROPERTY SALE of the late Mrs Maes Green, by Messrs Read, Owles & Ashford
    LOT 1: No 24 Blyburgate, a shop and Dwelling House with brick and tiled slaughterhouse, wash house, boarded and tiled pigery and small garden, let at £26 pa.
    No 22 Blyburgate, the adjoining Dwelling House, let at £19-10s pa
    And Nos 1, 2 and 3 Crawley’s Yard, cottages let at rentals of £32-18s-8d.
    Also a brick, boarded and tiled store shed let at £10-8s pa.
    Purchased Mr A Crack at £539.
    LOT 2: Arnold’s Cottage, Rosemary Lane, a semi-detached freehold brick and tile Dwelling House, with small walled-in garden and large brick, flint and tiled store, let at £14 pa.
    Purchased by Mr H Mortimer for £145

Mar 13 1937

DEATH of Mrs Annie Snazzle, of 6 Queen’s Road, wife of Mr ER Snazzle, and daughter of the late Mr and Mrs G Judge. Born in the town, she was first a pupil teacher and then assistant teacher in the infants’ department of the Ravensmere National School, removing to the new Ravensmere Infants’ School when it was opened. She gave up teaching, of which she was very fond, in 1916 in order to marry.
    She took over the secretaryship of the Beccles Juvenile Foresters when her father died in 1919. She had seen the membership rise to its present figure of over 600. She was also a member of the Mayor’s committee for the welfare of the local unemployed.

Mar 13 1937

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE not paid by Mr Frank Catling, a butcher, of No 3 The Walk for an employee, Mr John Goldsmith, for 2 years. He had previously warned to see that unemployment was paid in 1927, 1931 and 1935. He was fined £5 and ordered to pay the arrears of £6-14s-4d.

Mar 13 1937

DEATH of Lt-Col Charles Mortimer, aged 86, owner of Redisham Hall, who died at 5 Saltgate, the boarding hose of Mrs E Baxter, where he had lived for some time. He never lived at Redisham Hall, but walked there every day from Beccles. He had been Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers.

Mar 13 1937

CLAY TOBACCO PIPES found in abundance in the foundations of Thurlow’s Yard in Northgate, which has been demolished. Most are broken, but some were perfect models seven to ten inches long and well made. Their date is not known.

Mar 20 1937

COUNCIL:
    PLANNING: The Council opposed the plan by Messrs Moore & Sons to build 12 houses in Kilbrack and two pairs of semi-detached houses in Grove Road because 1) The density would be more than 8 houses an acre. 2) They were opposed to the erection of terraced houses of that type and size and with those elevations. 3) The operations were likely to injure the amenity of the district.
    The Ministry of Health had accepted the tender of Mr W Tickner (Norwich) for the erection of 12 houses at Castle Hill and a start had been made with the work.
    AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS: At a meeting the County Organiser, Commander ARB Phelps, dealt in detail with first-aid posts, training first-aid parties and the general public, public shelters, surveyor’s duties, fire brigade services, street wardens, decontamination services, protection of rural areas under the sub-centre, volunteers and key positions, and hospitals, and he stated the organisation required.
    Committee set up: The Mayor (H Wood-Hill), Councillors AT Bent & HF Warner, Commander Phelps, Dr Gibson (Medical Officer of Health), Mr CL Hamby (Surveyor), Mr WS Clark (Accountant) JP Larkman & AE Bunn (Waterworks), WAG Hardy (Gas Co), DM Rait (EA Electricity) Ins SJ Hopes (Police), Supt WC Watts (St John’s Ambulance) Col RW Brooks (British Legion), W Kemp (County Council’s Area Surveyor) & Capt BG Long (Fire Brigade).
    CORONATION: Old People’s Tea to be held in the Public Hall on 13 May: The Menu: Ham & Tongue, bread and butter, pastries, pickles or green jellies (salad), tea or minerals. An entertainment would also be provided.

March 20 1937

REDISHAM HALL: The old Hall was pulled down about 1820 to make room for the new mansion of John Garden, had been built by Nicholas Garneys during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. “It contained some good and lofty apartments and was rich in clustered ornamental chimneys.” Nicholas Garneys was High Sheriff of Suffolk in 1592. His monument is on the exterior of Ringsfield Church, and shows a man kneeling in tabard and wife in heraldic dress with 6 sons and 4 daughters behind them.
    The Garneys family had owned the Manor since 1390. In 1700 Frances Garneys, then Frances Jacob, a widow of Beccles, conveyed her half share to Sir John Duke, Bart for £1,204-7s-6d. By 1706 he had acquired the other half. He left it to Edmund Tyrell of Gipping, who in 1742 sold it to Rev Thomas Tanner, who died in 1786 it was left to his son-in-law Richard Milles.
    In 1808 the estate came into the hands of John Garden of the City of Westminster, who had purchased it from the Milles family. Included were the manors of Ilketshall, Elyses and Stratton. On his death the property passed to his son and heir, John Garden. In 1885 John Lewis Garden was the owner. He died inn 1892 when the manor passed to his trustees and later to his daughter and co-heir, Miss Garden and Mr Bernard Wilson, who in 1903 sold to Col Thomas de Grissell. Grissell considerably enlarged the mansion. Later it came into the ownership of Col Mortimer who died recently.

March 27 1937

LEAVING the Caxton Press, Mr Ian MacPherson who has taken a job with printers in Norwich. He was employed in the Reading department of the British Museum Department. He is a language specialist and master of 14 languages and is a mine of information with regard to the linguistic development and typographical development of both the Germanic group of languages and the remoter family of Slav dialects embracing Great Russian, Ukranian, White Russian, Bulgarian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Church Slavonic and the Wend language. He hopes to start teaching foreign language classes at Norwich.

March 27 1937

DEATH of Mr Charles Wright of 28 South Road. He was born in London but came to Beccles when young. He started work with Messrs HJ Scott, the tailors. He moved to the employment in St Andrews House, New Market for 27 years as chief draper’s assistant and funeral furnisher, first with Womack Brooks then with the late Mr Arthur Dare and Mr Martindale. When Mr Martindale left the town two years ago, Mr Wright joined the staff of Bon Marche, The Walk.
    He was prominent in connection with the carnivals to raise money for the hospital that used to be held in the old Homefield Estate.

March 27 1937

EASTER SERVICES:
    Parish Church Services: Holy Communion 6, 7, 8, 10.45, 12; Morning Prayer and Sermon 11; Children’s Service 3; Evening Prayer and Sermon 6.30;
    Ingate & Ravensmere Missions: 6.30
    St Benet’s: Mass 8 and 10.30; Evening Service 6.30
    Congregational: Divine Worship 11 and 6.30
    Station Road Methodist: 11 and 6.30
    Smallgate Methodist: 11 and 6.30
    Baptist: 11 and 6.30
    Salvation Army: 7, 11, 3 and 6.45
    Adult School: Men’s 9; Women’s 2.45.
    Quakers 11 at Adult School

March 27 1937

DEMOLITION of Beccles Gaol being carried out by Councillor GF Robinson, who said that although he had experience of pulling down large buildings this was the first prison he had demolished.

March 27 1937

HEADMASTER of SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL, Mr George Watson, since it opened in its new home in Ringsfield Road in 1914 retires after nearly 23 years. Three of the staff, Mr FP Glover, Mr P Cross and Miss Dealey had been with him throughout that time. Presentations were made.
    He was born at Leicester, educated at University College and King’s College, London and holds degrees of BA and BSc. From there he went to Yena, Germany to continue his studies. In 1897 he was appointed Maths and Latin master at Chelsea Pupil Teachers’ Centre, and after four yeas he went as Headmaster to the Kettering Pupil Teachers’ Centre. From there he came to Beccles, and has completed 40 years in the profession.

Apr 3 1937

BECCLES CHORAL SOCIETY was formed two and a half years ago, and since September 1934 has given six delightful concerts. “The Holy City” by AR Gaul was rendered at St Michael’s in Holy Week. The Music director and conductor was Mr W Storeton-West of Lowestoft, who has filled that role since its revival in 1934. Mr Groom, Chairman of the society took over the tenor solo at short notice. Mr O Lloyd Smith was accompanist.

Apr 3 1937

VESTRY MEETING: The Rector, Rev HL Birch was in the chair. Me Allden Owles wished to resign as Churchwarden. He had been Rector’s Warden from 1931 to 1934 and People’s Warden from 1935 to 1937. Mr Bunn was willing to continue as Rector’s Warden, and Mr W Fowler was elected People’s Warden.

Apr 10 1937

SUFFOLK AGRICULTURAL SHOW is to be held at Beccles on 3rd and 4th of June.

Apr 17 1937

DEATH of Mr Thomas Saul in Ipswich. He formerly worked at the Caxton Press. He left £7,158.

Apr 17 1937

RETIREMENT of Mrs Cottom, of Sunnydale, Upper Grange Road as organiser of the Ambulance Car Scheme. The membership is now 1,917.

Apr 17 1937

RETIREMENT of Mr William Wade, a Railwayman for 42 years. He now lives at 6 Saltgate, but will be moving to Fairlose. He was born at Horsford, where his father was the local blacksmith. At the age of 14 he moved to Norwich taking various jobs before entering the old GER Co. His first appointment was at Norwich Thorpe as a goods porter for 18 years. In 1913 he moved to Thetford as goods shed foreman. Then he came to Beccles as a ticket collector in 1923. For the last six years he has been one of the keepers at Ingate.

Apr 24 1937

CORONATION CELEBRATIONS: Work was begun on Monday of putting up decorations in the New Market, for which the Town Council voted £50

Apr 24 1937

MOVING: Mr KM Oakley, a member of the staff of Lloyd’s Bank as a ledger clerk, is moving to the Ilford Branch after 5 years in Beccles.

Apr 24 1937

MISSIONARY MEETING in Blyburgate Hall.

May 1 1937

NEWSPAPER MISSING
1937    April 26    THE NAZI GERMAN bombing of Guernica, Spain, by twenty-eight bombers, on April 26, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. For over three hours, twenty-five or more of Germany's best-equipped bombers, accompanied by at least twenty more Messerschmitt and Fiat Fighters, dumped one hundred thousand pounds of high-explosive and incendiary bombs on the village, slowly and systematically pounding it to rubble.
    Those trying to escape were cut down by the strafing machine guns of fighter planes. "They kept just going back and forth, sometimes in a long line, sometimes in close formation. It was as if they were practicing new moves. They must have fired thousands of bullets." (eyewitness, Juan Guezureya) The fires that engulfed the city burned for three days. Seventy percent of the town was destroyed. Sixteen hundred civilians - one third of the population - were killed or wounded

May 8 1937

LETTER: Children in Spain: The sufferings of the children in the Spanish civil war have been vividly brought to our minds by the terrible havoc caused among them by bombing from the air. On both sides untold miseries are being inflicted on the child [population of this unhappy country, not only by wounds and death, but also in shattered nerves and ruined health.
    For more than six months the Save the Children Fund and the Society of Friends (Quakers), who have before often co-operated in the relief of distress arising from war, have united in an effort to bring aid to these children.
    We feel there may be many readers of your paper, who would be glad to share in this work by making gifts of money or clothing.
    Yours truly, John Ashford, (Clerk to Beccles Friends’ Meeting), Aldeby, Beccles, - May 4th 1937.     

May 8 1937

GOLDEN WEDDING of Mr Albert Henry Jarman, youngest son of the late Capt Robert Jarman of Beccles and Mrs Althea Jarman daughter of Mr Freeman Woods, of Bacton.

May 8 1937

WILL of Mr Frank Burton, of Ballygate House, left £20,615.

May 8 1937

DEATH of Mr RG Lawrance, third son of the late Mr & Mrs HG Lawrance aged 47 in London. He was in the Norfolk Regiment during the [First World] War, and this service accelerated his death. He was awarded the DCM at Gaza and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on the field. He leaves a widow and two sons.

May 8 1937

TRANSFER of LICENCE: Temporary Licence of Star Inn from Ernest Cook to Frank Barnard.

May 15 1937

CORONATION REJOICING
    ATTRACTIVE DECORATIONS A FEATURE.
    Adverse though the weather was at times during the day the enthusiasm of the citizens of well-decorated Beccles triumphed on Wednesday, when in the most loyal manner befitting the long incorporated borough the Coronation of their Majesties was celebrated.
    Months of careful organisation, under the chairmanship of the Mayor (Dr. Henry Wood-Hill) had been necessary to prepare the attractive programme of celebrations, and the smooth manner in which things went off was a tribute to the work of all concerned. Outstanding in their efforts were Mr. C. L. Hamby, as honorary general organiser, and Mr. W. S. Clark as honorary general secretary, whose helpers worked loyally.
    It was during the afternoon that the heavy rain came, but though most of those taking part were soaked, the tableaux and decorated car procession continued to the great satisfaction of the hundreds of citizens who had turned out to see it. Only two events had to be postponed — the school-children's display and the tug-of-war competition. These were put off the previous evening owing to the proposed celebrations ground being unfit, and good notice having been given the members of the public were able to alter their plans accordingly. It is hoped to stage them both on the evening of Empire Day.
    Throughout Wednesday the Coronation celebrations made a consistent appeal to an eager public, and many were the regrets when a great day in the annals of the borough came to an end, after all—despite the weather— had had a splendid time.
    The first definite steps towards the celebration at Beccles of the Coronation were taken at the meeting of the Town Council on Nov. 24th last. The Council resolved to consider the matter of making inquiries and formulating a scheme of celebrations They decided, that, as on the occasion of the coronation of King George V, they should act as a body in carrying out the arrangements. It was agreed that the Mayor (Henry Wood-Hill) should be asked to call a special meeting of the Council in committee for this purpose.
    This meeting took place on December 1st. It was then resolved that the Council should be the General Committee, and that the following should form the nucleus of an Executive Committee, who should, report to the General Committee at the end of each monthly meeting of the Town Council: The Mayor (Dr. Henry Wood-Hill), the Deputy-Mayor (Ald. D. C. Smith), Councillors A. T. Bent, E. T. Goldsmith and Allden E. Owles. The Borough Accountant, (Mr. W. S. Clark) and the Borough Surveyor (Mr. C. L. Hamby) consented to act in the capacity of honorary general secretary and honorary general organiser respectively. It was decided that the Executive Committee should organise, develop and carry out the decisions of the Council. They were given power to add to their number, and after the assembly of the Council in committee, they got together for the purpose of co-opting useful persons in' the town. As a start, the Council in committee resolved that a provisional programme should be submitted to the Executive Committee for their consideration and report.
    Ever since this time the Executive Committee the members of which have been very representative, have met once a month and have reported after each meeting to the Council, who, in their capacity as the Coronation Celebrations Committee proper, have adopted all their recommendations. The Mayor has acted as chairman of the Executive Committee, with the Deputy Mayor as vice-chairman. Everyone concerned with the organisation of the celebrations has worked hard to ensure their success, and untiring energy has been displayed by Mr Clark and Mr Hanby, whose work as general secretary and general organiser respectively on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee celebration is still fresh in the minds of many on account of its most successful outcome.
    Right from the start of the arrangements for this week’s celebrations, everything has gone along smoothly, and great credit is due to all who have had anything to do with the manifold duties.
    Those who have organised the different sections of the celebrations are: Divine Service, Mr AE Bunn (Rector’s Warden) and Mr Allden Owles (late people’s Warden); decorated procession, fancy dress and tug-of-war, Mr GE Brown; schools’ display (now postponed), Mr J Walker; dancing in the Public Hall, Mr WEB Bateman; dancing in the Market Place, Mr J Livock; children’s tea on Wednesday and the service of the old people’s tea on Thursday, Miss Penelope Wood-Hill; entertainment of the old people, Mr WE Buller Bateman.
NEW MARKET PLACE ATTRACTIVE:
Beccles has been attractively decorated for the Coronation and the manner in which the citizens have responded to the appeal to make their premises look befitting to the occasion has been unsurpassed in a wide surrounding district. The display has certainly been a most creditable one and this week the Mayor has made an appeal for the decorations to be left up until After the Suffolk Agricultural Association Show at Beccles on June 3rd and 4th. At the Silver Jubilee there were no official decorations, but this time it was decided to spend £50 on the "dressing up" of the New Market Place, a further £30 being allocated for the provision of fairy lights and the necessary wiring so that the attractiveness of the scheme could be made the greater. The Borough Surveyor was responsible for putting the scheme into effect, and the success that has attended his efforts has earned for him widespread commendation, not only among the citizens of Beccles, but on the part of people living much further afield.
As a start, tastefully decorated poles were fixed in position in the edges of the pavements of the New Market, and last week employees of the Corporation were engaged in putting up the bunting and such like on the wires connecting the supports. Along the wires were fixed the fairy lights. The Town Hall was decorated in an unusual manner. A couple of lofty firs were placed in tubs on either side of the entrance door and on the window ledges were placed boxes of polyanthus, which gave a charming effect. At the beginning of the weekend the decorated square was lit up for the first time and presented a most fascinating appearance.
By means of the public address equipment provided by Messrs. Collins and Smith, of Lowestoft, music was played. Every evening there was a large crowd in the square, the current for the fairy lighting of which was supplied free of charge by the East Anglian Electric Supply Co., Ltd.
The occupiers of premises in the square have decorated their premises in keeping with the attractive appearance of the official display.
Right through the town, in fact, no money, time or trouble has been spared by the inhabitants in their earnest desire to make Beccles look as attractive as possible. Many trades-people and householders planned out their schemes weeks ago. During the last few days the demand for decorative materials has been very keen, and last weekend saw much activity in putting up ornamentations.
On the whole, those decorations which were up when the rain came stood up well to the unkindly elements, but in quite a number of cases owners of those which had suffered have carried out renewals in as enthusiastic a manner as they displayed when they put up the originals. On Tuesday many citizens were to be seen braving the torrential downpour in order to get up their decorations and thus add to the attractive appearance of the town.
In some streets citizens living next or opposite to one another co-operated in their-decorations, with the result that there was uniformity of design and ornamentation right across the highway. Fascinating as was the appearance of the borough at the Silver Jubilee, the latest efforts certainly outrivalled this and at no time in its annals can Beccles have looked more attractive than it has done in the past few days.
DECORATED HOUSES AWARDS.
Quite a number of residents made use of coloured illuminations in order to add to the attractive appearance of their houses. Flood-lighting was in use for some of the bigger buildings
The Coronation Celebrations Committee decided to award six prizes – two each of £1 10s, £1 and 10s – for the best-decorated private houses in the borough. Mr EG Brown had worked hard to ensure the success of this feature and during the afternoon and evening the judging was carried out by Mr and Mrs Frank, J G Farrell, and Dr and Mrs Sidney F Smith.
Winners of the first two prizes were :- Mr G Spalding, 4 Smallgate, and Mr C West, Cottage, Ballygate; second were Mr W Balls, 74 Denmark Road, and Mrs Took, Fairholme, Waveney Road, while the third prizes were awarded to Mr WJ Boar, 11 Kilbrack Road, and Mr D Hart, Kemp’s Lane.
The awards were very popular. To those who saw the decorations it was obvious that the prize winners had put a tremendous amount of work into their efforts. The money expended on decorations had been spent to the best advantage.
EVENTS POSTPONED:
    Heavy rain fell during Tuesday. The ground was already wet on account of the downpours on Friday, Sunday and Monday. It seemed likely that the adverse weather would have some effect on the programme. A conference of the principals was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon. At this it was decided that owing to the inclement weather and the state of the Sir John Leman School playing fields, which had been loaned as the celebration ground, the display by school children timed for 3 p.m. should be postponed. Arrangements had been made by the county physical traning organiser for the district, Mr. J. Walker, and an attractive programme drawn up to last for an hour and a quarter. It is hoped to arrange for the display to be given on Beccles Football Club Ground—College Meadow—on Empire Day, May 24th, at 7 p.m. Further notice will be given later.
    Also on account of the weather, the tug-of-war competition timed for 4.15 p.m. on the celebrations ground, was postponed. Efforts are to be made to arrange for it to take place at College Meadow after the children's display. Mr. G. E. Brown had been made responsible for getting in the entries, the event being thrown open to all business houses and organisations in Beccles, the teams to be of eight and a coach. It had been arranged that prizes should be awarded to the winners and, runners-up.
    Although the sky was dull, Coronation Eve kept fine. For a time the parish church bells were rung and all round the town there was plenty of life. In the New Market Place there was a real spirit of revelry. Tunes were played from "Broadcasting House," and throughout the evening there was a large crowd lined up on the pavements of the square. When dance music was played quite a number of couples stepped into the roadway and made their way about the square. Music and dancing continued until late in the evening.
THE UNITED SERVICE.
Beccles people woke on Wednesday to find fairly thick fog, and as the time passed it looked as though the day might clear. The fog went off, and although the morning was dull it was dry, which meant a great deal. About lunch time fog returned end it seemed a likelihood that if this persisted there would be no rain. However, the dinner-hour was just drawing to a close when down came the rain and for a couple of hours the fall was torrential. Just when it seemed there was no likelihood of fine weather coming again the clouds broke somewhat and conditions improved. The rest of the day was fine, and in their rejoicings the people forgot about the dullness of the elements.
To start the day's celebrations the bells of the Parish Church were rung at 8. An hour and a-quarter later there started the united service at the Parish Church, which was broadcast outside. St. Michael's seats about 1300 persons, and most of the available accommodation was taken. Chairs had been placed down the aisles to afford additional accommodation. The details were ably arranged by Mr. A. E. Bunn, the Rector's warden, assisted by Mr. Allden E. Owles, formerly people's warden.
The civic procession marched from the Town Hall with the Beccles Fire Brigade, under Capt. B. G. Long, forming a guard of honour.
Down the church, which was beautifully decorated, the procession was led by the church-wardens (Messrs. A. E. Bunn and W. Fowler) and the Rector (the Rev. H. L. Birch), with Police-Inspector S. J. Hopes. Mr. W. Bryan Forward (Town Clerk) and Mr. W. Clark (Sergeant-at-Mace) preceding the Mayor (Dr. Henry Wood-Hill). Then followed the Deputy-Mayor (Alderman D. C. Smith), Aldermen H. A. King, J. Brindy and E. J. Hindes, Councillors Allden, E. Owles, A. W. Salter, W. H. Simmons, E. T. Goldsmith, A. T. Bent, H. F. Warner. G. F. Robinson, J.H. Skoulding, H. G. Collyer, H. V. Branford and C. S. Hutton; Messrs. W. S. Clark (Borough Accountant), C. L. Hanby (Borough Surveyor), Dr. L. Gibson (Medical Officer of Health), Messrs. S. W. Rix (Clerk to the Beccles Justices), A. E. Jordan (who, like Mr. Hindes, is a County Councillor for the borough), and A. H. Moyes (Borough Auditor).
Other organised bodies present were: Beccles and District branch of the British Legion, under Lt.-Col. B. Granville Baker, D.S.O. (president); and including Lt.-Col. R. F. Lush and Mr. M. A.Carter (hon. secretary): the Women's Section; including Miss Tracy (hon. secretary); Beccles Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, under Supt. W. C. Watts, with the Nursing Division, under Lady Supt. Miss Tedder; the Boy Cadet Division, under Cadet Officer A. S. Piper; the Girl Cadets, under Cadet Officer Miss L. Robinson; and the Bugle Band, under Band-master L. Stevenson; the 2nd Beccles (St. Michael's) Group of Boy Scouts, under S.M. W. J. Brown, including their Patrol of Sea Scouts and the Cubs under Cubmistress M.
M. Robinson, the party being accompanied by Assistant District Commissioner H. George Boyce; the 1st Beccles Company of Girl Guides, under Capt. Miss P. Castell. including the Rangers and Miss P. Wood-Hill (a district officer); the local Territorials, under Col. R. W. Brooks. T.D.; and the children of the National and Junior Council Schools, under their teachers.
Mr. W. Storeton-West was at the organ for the service, which followed the official form. Taking part were the Rector, the Rev WH Miller (curate), the Rev. H. Hardy Holder (Congregational), the Rev. Robt. Heaps (supt.minister of the Methodist Circuit), the Rev. W-Noel Clarke (Baptist), and Major Frederick Young (Salvation Army).
An address was given by the Rector.
FINE DISPLAY FOR PROCESSION.
After the service the Mayor stood outside the Town Hall door to take the salute at the march past to the Old Market. Then the members of the civic party retired to the Council Chamber, where the health of his Majesty and of the Queen were drunk. The glasses used bore on one face the borough arms, and on the opposite one the inscription " G.R.6." The Mayor asked each guest to accept his glass as a souvenir of the occasion.
At the same time as the service at the Parish Church one was held at the St Benet’s Roman Catholic Church, the Rev. Father H. M. Campbell, O.S.B., officiating.
From 10.30 onwards the B.B.C. commentary on the Coronation procession in London and the service in Westminster Abbey was relayed by means of loud speakers in the Market Place; Thanks to the trouble Messrs. Collins & Smith had displayed the reception was perfect and was enjoyed by a good number of people.
For many weeks Mr. G. E. Brown had worked hard to ensure the success of the tableaux and decorated car procession, which was the next item in the programme. After such efforts in which he was supported by willing helpers, disappointing it was to see the rain come down and quickly get very heavy. The people who had signified their intention of entering turned up well, however, and the display was a very creditable one. There were upwards of thirty tableaux, and they were of a varied character. It was obvious that much pain had been taken in their preparation. As the procession made its way through the borough, the people were loud in their praises. The route was from Priory, Grange and St. Mary's Roads, where the formation took place, via London Road, Smallgate, Old Market Northgate, Ravensmere, Denmark Road, Gresham Road, Station Road, Smallgate. Blyburgate, Grove Road, Ingate Street, Peddar’s Lane, London Road, Ashman's Road, Grange Road, St. Mary's Road, London Road, Exchange Square, Old Market. Because of the last minute petitions from older people in Grove Road and Ingate Street, those highways were included, and the route of the procession was slightly altered on the last stages because of the fact that the Sir John Leman School playing fields was not, after all, used as a celebration ground.
Details as to officials and winners of prizes were: —Trade tableaux, open to all trades-people and business houses in Beccles and district, within a radius of three miles (marshal. Mr. J. Livock ; judges, Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Farrell and the Rector)—1. Messrs Wm. Clowes & Sons, Ltd. (prize to Mr. W. Schapiro); 2. Messrs. Robinsons Transport, Ltd. (Mr. — Wright); 3 Beccles Working Men's Co-operative Association, Ltd. (Mr. Gibbons).
Tableaux, historic or otherwise, open to all organisations in Beccles and district, within a three-mile radius (marshals, Messrs. A. Thwaites and F. Bridges; judges, Father H. M. Campbell, Mrs. H. L. Birch and Capt. H. J. A. Throckmorton. R.N.)—1 the Loyal Temple of Friendship Lodge of Oddfellows (Bro. C. S. Jarvis, Grand Master); 2 Beccles Working Men's Co-operative Association, Ltd. (Mr. L. Spall); 3 Messrs. Robinsons Transport, Ltd. (Mr. J. G. Westwood).
Decorated private cars, open to Beccles and three-mile radius (marshal, Mr. R. Jackson : judges, the Rev. and Mrs. H. Hardy Holder and the Rev. W. Noel Clarke)—1 Mr. and Mrs. Harold Cottam (modern gipsies); 2 Miss Davey (Coronation); 3 Mr. W. J. F. Boar (Coronation coach); 4 Mr. R. Aldous, jun.
FANCY DRESS PARADE
The rain was teeming down when these who were to participate in the children's tea in the three marquees on the Sir John Leman School ground made their way thither. That they were not downhearted was obvious from the hearty singing forthcoming once the children reached their destination. Excellent preparations had been made by Miss P. Wood-Hill and a large band of helpers, and an excellent tea was enjoyed. The Mayor and Mayoress were among the spectators at the tea. Each child received a Coronation mug as a souvenir. Naturally, the weather kept away some of the 1000 children for whom arrangements had been made.
Before the tea the infants were entertained to a capital show in the school hall, the antics of " Dott and Jott," (Messrs. F. Rackham and J. H. Ealing) the living marionettes being especially pleasing.
Fortunately the rain cleared off in good time so that it did not interfere with the success, of the fancy dress parade which formed up in the Old Market at 6.30. For this again Mr. Brown was an excellent organiser. Many were the entrants, among them being some who had taken part in the afternoon's procession. Again there were all sorts of costumes, many being most original and well produced. Entries were large numerically and of a high standard. It was one of the best efforts of its kind seen in the town. There was a big crowd in the Old Market when the judging took place. The route was by Small-gate, Station Road, Gosford Road, Grove Road, Blyburgate, Exchange Square to the New Market, except for the children's (4 to 11 years) class which broke off at Market Street and went to the New Market. All along the route competitors were given hearty cheers. The parade was open to all comers.
Prize-winners and officials were: Ladies, 16 years or over (marshals, Mr. and Mrs. H. Thwaites; judges, Dr. and Mrs. S. F. Smith and Mr. A. E. Tedder): 1 Mrs. Bloom-field, 2 Mrs. Hadingham, and Miss Gent, 3 Miss Poll, 4 Miss Flowerdew.
Gents, ditto (marshals, Mr. and Mrs. H. Cottam; judges Dr. and Mrs. Smith and Mr. Tedder): l. Mr. F. Self, 2 Messrs. L. Wright, A. Spalding and A. Smith, 3 Mr. George West-wood. 4 Mr. G. Burrows.
Children 12 to 15 years (marshals, Messrs. F. Bridges, and L. F. Easter and Miss Goffin; judges, Mrs. W. E. B. Bateman, Mr. C. H. Tedder and Miss Tedder): 1 Joy Freeman, 2 Margaret Self, 3 Winnie Hurren, and Dorothy Davey, 4 Barbara Jones, 5 Francis Sayer and Beryl Saunders.
Ditto 4 to 11 years (marshals, Messrs. Bridges and Easter and Miss F. Goffin; judges Mrs.- Bateman, Mr. and Miss Tedder): 1 Bernard Wilson, 2 Audrey Hurren, 3 Brian Johnson, 4 Christopher Elliott, 5 Chistina Knights.
Decorated wheelbarrow etc. (marshals, Mr. J. Livock and Mr. R. Jackson; judges, the Rev. W. H. Miller. Mrs. W. S. Clark, and Mrs. Harvey): 1 Joyce Colyer, 2 Bryan Catling, 3 Mr.Vyse.
Next event of special interest—the highlight of the day was the broadcast of the King's speech in the New Market. Every word of His Majesty's impressive message was clearly heard,
DANCING POPULAR
Then the prizes awarded in the procession, the fancy dress parade, and the decorated premises competition were presented in the square by the Mayoress amid hearty applause. There was a large gathering as at other times during the day. Police Inspector S. J. Hopes and local officers rendered valuable service as had done Inspector John Weaver and Patrol Bloomfield of the Automobile Association at different points in the town. Traffic control duty was also undertake by St. John Ambulance officers, during the day.
There were hearty cheers for the Mayoress and for the Mayor, who, like his daughters was in fancy dress. Under the fairy lights, and with no fear of traffic, the square having been closed, people had the novel experience of dancing in the New Market until past midnight. The effort was arranged by Mr. J. Livock. Music was provided by Chapman's Band, who were stationed at the edge of the path at the junction of the south and west sides of the square. There were a good many dancers and a beat of folk looked on from the pavements aid edges of the road. Non-dancers had an opportunity of enjoying community singing. Arranged in different parts of the square were stalls where refreshments could be obtained. There was also dancing in progress at the King’s Head Hotel.

May 15 1937

BECCLES CHURCH RELIC.
    Work On Old Board With Coat Of Arms.
    Some time ago when Mr. H. Munro Cautley, the St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich diocesan surveyor and architect, visited St. Michael's Parish Church, Beccles, to give advice about the restoration of the fabric, he saw hanging in the belfry a large square board of oak bearing what he believed were the arms of Charles I. Good as was the paint used, time had told its tale and the detail of the design was hard to distinguish.
    When the restoration of the north aisle roof was carried out a few months ago the men engaged on the work assisted in bringing down the board through the bell door trap. It was brought into the church and fixed up on four hooks above the north door at the west end of that aisle.
    In the last few days Miss M. Janet Becker, of Wangford, an expert at such work, has been busily engaged in retouching the design on this oak board. She started operations on Friday week, the board having been taken down from its hooks and set up against the north door. Washing was the first business to be done and for a matter of a week after that she was engaged in the painting.
    Our Beccles representative found Miss Becker hard at work when he went to the church on Friday. She explained that the design appears on both sides of the oak, which is as good as when it was first provided. Much of the pattern on one side is missing so she simply dealt with the obverse face. The fact that originally the board was painted on both sides is probably due to its having stood on the rood screen when first provided.
    A CURIOUS FEATURE
    Much care has been expended by this expert, who stated that the gilding takes a lot of time. A curious feature about the coat-of-arms is that the unicorn appears on the wrong side, being on the left as one looks at it. Another interesting point is that the fleur-de-lis of France is included, and although there is no date or royal initials, this seems to suggest that the relic goes back to the time of Charles I.
    From a very dark and dirty affair the surface has been transformed into a striking study, and when put in position over the north door the coat-of-arms must immediately attract the attention of anyone entering from the south porch opposite. The mantling behind the coat-of-arms is ermine with gold turn-over. Much care was necessary to keep to the old lines so that the retouching is a true reproduction of the original.
    It is wise the work has been undertaken, for had it been left much longer it would have been impossible to have followed the original design. As it is, her job was a complicated one.
    The figures are cut out of oak, which is an unusual feature, and are not merely painted on a board as in so many of the old royal coat-of-arms. It is understood that there is only one other of this type in the country and even that is not in such a good state of preservation as the Beccles relic. Royal arms of later date are not an unfamiliar feature of Suffolk churches
1937    Beccles & Bungay May22    DEATH of the mother of the Mayor, Dr Wood-Hill. She was the widow of Mr Henry Wood-Hill and a nonagenarian. She had been living in London with a daughter, and there she died on Friday. Before his marriage, she lived with Dr Wood-Hill during his first years at Beccles in the early part of this century.

May 22 1937

DEATH of Mr Frank James Farrell:, Leading Figure in British Silk Industry. We regret to announce the death which occurred suddenly on Monday afternoon while on a visit to Norwich, of Mr. Frank James Farrell of Montagu House, Northgate, Beccles, managing director of Grout & Co. Ltd., of Yarmouth, and one of the foremost figures in the silk industry of this country. Mr. Farrell, who was born in London in 1877, was in full activity up to the time of his death.
    The eldest son of the late John Farrell of Bowdon, Cheshire, he was educated at Owens College. Manchester. He gained his Bachelor of Science degree in 1896 and his Master of Science three years later. After a period as a chemist with the firm of Grouts, he went to London as a consulting chemist but returned at the request of Sir Inglis Palgrave and was made joint managing director with the late Mr. William Hall. He established factories for Grouts in Canada at St. Catherine's and at Valleyfield, which together are nearly as big as the parent concern.
    From very small beginnings Mr. Farrell had built up the Arm of Grouts to its present important status, and had been managing director for a great many years dating from considerably before the war. He was chairman of the directors of Joshua Wardle, Ltd., of Leek, Staffordshire, the well-known house of dyers, chairman of the Boyeux Silk Sizing Company Ltd., and among other firms with which he was associated were J. H. Peck, Ltd., and the Norvic Company U.S.A.
    Mr. Farrell had widespread interests in America and in France, and in the silk world was as prominent a figure as he was in England. A brilliant chemist, he published books dealing with his chemical researches into the art of dyeing and cleaning, and in connection with the latter subject his book was the standard work for many years He had been president of the Silk Association of Great Britain and Ireland since 1921, and was the leader of the silk industry in this country. He was a member of the Council of British Industries.
    EFFORTS FOR SILK TRADE Mr Farrell was the one man who was consulted by the Government on every matter affecting the silk industry and was in regular consultation with the Board of Trade. Since 1923 he had devoted a considerable part of his life and his great energies and ability to trying to secure what he felt to be justice for the silk trade – making conditions under which England could compete in the industry with low-wage countries. He lead deputation after deputation and presented case after case before the Import Board’s Advisory Committee and at the resent time, the last case he had prepared is under consideration by that committee, an early decision being expected.
    On Friday Mr Farrell was to have met the president of the Syndicat des Fabricants de Soieries de Lyon on behalf of the Silk Association of Great Britain and Ireland. Mr. Farrell was prominent in the formation of the British Colour Council, which is a very successful concern for putting British textiles industries on a level with those of- America and the Continent in their colour, sense. To Mr. Farrell the Council owed a great deal.
    Besides his association with Grout & Co., Ltd., at Yarmouth, he had been a director of Messrs. Arnold. Yarmouth. He was also chairman of Mason's Laundry Ltd., Yarmouth, and chairman of Beccles Golf Course Co., Ltd.
    LOCAL ACTIVITIES
    Despite demands made upon him by industry, Mr. Farrell was able to devote part of his time to public affairs in the district near his home. There, as elsewhere, the news of his sudden death came as a great shock to his many friends and acquaintances. There was no deserving cause for which an appeal to Mr. Farrell was made in vain and Beccles especially will be the poorer for his passing. Less than a week before his death, Mrs. Farrell and himself devoted a lot of time to judging, on the day preceding the Coronation, the decorated houses in the borough and on Wednesday week they helped to adjudicate in the afternoon decorated procession. Whenever called upon, Mr. and Mrs. Farrell had always willingly discharged duties of a similar character.
    From 1922 to 1932 Mr. Farrell was chairman of the Lowestoft Division Conservative Association, and he was a former president of the Beccles Association. For a good number of years he had been president of the Beccles Working Men's Conservative Club. His business duties did not allow him the opportunity to go to the club very often, but he regularly presided at the annual meetings, and the splendid manner in which he did so was admired by all taking part. His many business undertakings also prevented. Mr. Farrell from attending the fortnightly petty sessions at Beccles. It was in 1925 that ho was appointee a Justice of the Peace for the county, his seat being on the Beccles Bench.
    COLLECTION OF RARE BOOKS
    In 1913 Mr. Farrell took a leading part in the George Borrow celebrations at Norwich. One of his two recreations was the collecting of rare books and he possessed one of the finest libraries in Suffolk. Mr. Farrell was member of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and National History. A few years ago when the members of the Norfolk Archaeology and National History visited Beccles he entertained them to tea at Montagu House
    Mr. Farrell enjoyed yachting. He was member of the Beccles Amateur Sailing Club and although he had not been able to take much part in the Saturday afternoon matches he had always competed at the Beccles Regatta. He was also a member of the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club.
    In 1903 Mr. Farrell married Maude May second daughter of the late Mr. W. Stacy Simpson, of Yarmouth who survives him and for whom much sympathy is felt. There is no family.
    At a meeting of Yarmouth Rotary Club on Tuesday, the president (M. E. F. Keable referred regretfully to the death of Mr. Farrell and said they all felt that the town and the country had sustained a real loss.
    The funeral of Mr. Farrell takes place day (Friday) at Ipswich. A service at S' Matthew's Church at 2.30 p.m. will be followed by the interment In the Borough Cemetery.
1937    Beccles & Bungay     THE HOLIDAY: Delightful weather prevailed at Beccles and Bungay on Whit-Monday. An easterly wind kept the day cool in open although in sheltered positions it was hot. Beccles people went in good numbers to the seaside, Lowestoft, Yarmouth and Southwold being the favourite resorts.

May 22 1937

COUNCIL: THE ISLAND: The Land Committee propiosed closing the Island on the Common to the public: Mr Salter referred to “the destructive young beggars we have in our town.” He said these youths climbed the trees and broke off the boughs. Last year a boy broke down a tree and also broke his leg. Who was responsible for the latter? There were valuable haystacks on the Island. “These boys seem as though they will do anything. That destructive element has got to be stopped.” The proposal was referred back.
    RETIREMENT of the Marshman, Mr Arthur Rackham. Mr J Saker appointed on probation for six months in his place.
         PLANNING: A pair of semi-detached houses at Worlingham Road for Mr Ives agreed, also a garage for Mr CA Brown in Ringsfield Road. The appeal by Mr E Payne to develop land in London Road was dismissed by the Ministry of Health.

May 22 1937

THE MAYOR & MAYORESS of Beccles will be pleased to receive the burgesses in their garden, Staithe House, Northgate, on Sunday and Monday, May 23rd and 24th, between 4 and 6 pm.

May 22 1937

WEDDING of Mr Claud S Darby, son of Mr Alfred Darby of 15 Smallgate and Miss Dorothy Lindsey Tilney, of 17 Smallgate. Mr Darby is the advertisement representative for Beccles and Bungay of the Norwich Mercury Co Ltd. The respective fathers are wel;l-known local tradesmen.

May 22 1937

DEATH of Mr William Fenn, aged 78, of 46 Ingate, who for a good many years was foreman to the Beccles Corporation. He was succeeded when he retired a few years ago by the present foreman, Mr V Jenner.
1937    Historical Dates    Resignation of Stanley Baldwin - Neville Chamberlain [aged 68] appointed the new Prime Minister

May 29 1937

ESTATE of the late Mrs B Johnson, of Meadowcroft, Ringsfield Road, who died on March 19th last left £26,130.

May 29 1937

HOUSE OF CORRECTION building materials sold by Read, Owles and Ashford, after the demolition of the building, by the direction of the contractors, Messrs Robinson Transport Ltd.

May 29 1937

FUNERAL of Mrs Florence Roberts, of The Moorings, Waveney Road, aged 73. A resident of Beccles for ten years, she was the wife of Mr Walter G Roberts, Mayor of Beccles in 1933-34 and of Middlesborough 1906-07.

May 29 1937

TORRENTIAL RAIN in Beccles in the early hours of Friday morning. Flowing at the back of the houses in St Anne’s Road is a watercourse, which drains an extensive area of countryside. Water rushing down from the higher lands quickly caused this stream to overflow and flood gardens, houses and roadway. At one time there was 3ft of water in the gardens at the back of the houses. In the majority of cases it rushed through the houses and then made its way into the road at the front.
    Water rushed over the railway lines and by the crossing gates into Ingate. Water also rushed down Frederick’s Road and Peddar’s Lane to the Black Boy corner. Ingate was flooded to a height of 3 ft, but here the water soon cleared as it did at the Black Boy corner.
    Mr Hamby, The Borough Surveyor, was called by the police at 3 am and he immediately went to the Gas Works outlet, where he found the water rushing away at full pelt. He opened an emergency sluice gate so that some of the water could flow on to the marshes. The Fire Brigade pumped the water from the dyke into the river.
    Throughout the day the Fire Brigade were engaged in pumping water from under the floorboards in St Anne’s Road. Miss Gooderham of 1 St Anne’s Road [now No 17?] said, “It was heartbreaking after we had done all our spring cleaning. The water went right up to the sideboard. Directly we opened the kitchen door everything was swimming. The water came up to the bottom of the seats of the front room chairs and settee. New enamel paint was ruined. It started about 1.30 and finished at 2.30.”
    Extensive damage was to be seen at the home and garden of Mr James S Leighton, 100 St George’s Road [since demolished?]. The brook burst its banks and flowed straight down the garden. Nine chickens were drowned and there would have been many others had not Mr Leighton and his son rushed down the garden when the heavy rain came on as they feared something might happen. The remainder of the 150 young chicks were lifted well clear of the ground.
    When the water came down the garden it rushed right into the house. In the pantry it was 18 inches deep, coming right up to the bottom of the food safe. Fortunately the occupants of the house had lifted up the furniture in downstairs rooms so that it should not suffer.

May 29 1937

SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL Speech Day. The new Headmaster, Mr Richard R Hancock, MA, spoke of the decline in the number in the school of 12 during the course of the year, despite 30 new entrants. It was a matter of some concern to the staff to note the unduly large proportion of pupils who left without sitting for the School Certificate. It should be remembered that the bond signed on the entry of the pupil imposed a moral as well as a legal obligation to let the child remain until 16 years of age, since it means the exclusion of a child who would stay the course, as well as wasting public funds. A parent who did not intend to carry out that obligation had no right to enter his children at a Secondary School.
    Further, from a utilitarian point of view, the School Certificate remained of great, even vital, importance. It was not unfair to say that without it a Secondary School product stood a small chance of getting the kind of post for which his or her education had been a preparation.
    He asked the co-operation of parents in the matter of homework. He asked all parents to do their best to give the children the use of a separate room for their homework. This he knew was not easy, especially in the winter with its problems of heating and lighting, but something cold frequently be done. If a separate room was not possible, would they at any rate try to give them a period of quiet for their work – a period without an accompaniment of wireless broadcasts? It was impossible for a child to study or concentrate adequately to a background of radio.

May 29 1937

BECCLES HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Meeting in the grounds of Dr Wood-Hill’s house, Staithe House, Northgate. The meeting was staged in the old Academy building, where tea was served by the Mayoress and two of her daughters, Miss Penelope Wood-Hill and Mrs Phillips. Before and after the indoor business the large attendance of members spent much time rambling round the gardens. Greatly admired was the rock garden, which is a mass of colour.

Jun 5 1937

NEWSPAPER MISSING

Diary 1937 1937

SUFFOLKAGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION SHOW; It was the first visit to the town since 1921. There was an all-round splendid exhibition, with Suffolk horses, providing one of the finest parades of any breed of animal in the country. The principal entries were 257 horses, 247 cattle, 88 sheep, 207 pens of swine and 2,000 implements.    

Jun 12 1937

FAIL TO AGREE: Sequel to Motoring Accident At Norfolk Assizes
    After being absent for nearly two hours considering their verdict in an action for damages by a Beccles man at the Norfolk Assizes on Monday, a special jury failed to agree, and were discharged. Mr. Justice Goddard ordered the case to be re-tried either in London or at the Norfolk Assizes next January, whichever was the earlier, with leave to mention the case, if desired, at the Chelmsford Assizes.
    The action was one in which William Ward, of Brackendale, St. Mary's Road, Beccles, sued Herbert Bolton and Harold George Cushion for damages for injuries received by him in a collision between Mr. Bolton's car, in which he was riding, and a lorry owned by Mr. Cushion.
    Mr. H. R. Boileau (instructed by Larkman & Robinson, Beccles) appeared for the plaintiff, Mr. S. R. Edgedale (instructed by Daynes, Keefe & Durrant, Norwich) for the defendant Bolton, and Mr. Gerald Howard (instructed by Mills & Reeve, Norwich) for the defendant Cushion.
    COUNSEL'S OPENING.
    Opening the case, Mr. Boileau said that on October 7th of last year, just after 6 p.m., Mr. Ward, his wife, and his niece, Miss Playford, were passengers in Mr. Bolton's Austin Seven car, which was being driven from Yarmouth to Beccles. A lorry owned by Mr. Cushion was coming in the opposite direction. It was very dark and raining hard. Mr. Ward was sitting next to Mr. Bolton, who was driving. Just before the accident Mr. Ward saw Mr. Bolton lean forward to dim his lights, then a collision took place with the lorry.
    Proceeding, Counsel said Mr. Ward was 64 and was a retired naval petty officer. Before the accident he was an active man, keen on swimming, bowls and yachting, and he used to earn £1 a week by selling coal on commission, for which purpose he used to ride a bicycle. As a result of the accident he suffered a severe fracture of the left knee-cap, concussion, laceration of the scalp, a wound across his forehead, in which 23 stitches had to be inserted, injuries to his ribs, and a lacerated hand. Fortunately he had made a recovery, but it had left him a wreck compared with what he was before the accident.
His knee could only be partially bent; he would never be able to ride a bicycle again, and the accident had left him a nervous subject unable to look forward to regaining the health he enjoyed before.
    THE EVIDENCE.
    Plaintiff, who hobbled into the witness box on two ticks, stated that Mr. Bolton was driving at only about 15 miles an hour because of the rain and the darkness. Mr. Bolton leaned forward to find the dimming switch of his lights and seemed to have some difficulty in finding it. While he was leaning forward a dark shape suddenly showed in front, a bright light shone from it, and the collision occurred.
    Dr. W. McLaren, of Beccles, gave evidence as to Mr. Ward's injuries, and Mrs. Ward and Miss Sheila Playford, the other car passengers, also gave evidence.
    Police-constable Burlton, of Haddiscoe, said after the accident he found the lorry, a four-tunner, on its near side facing Yarmouth. Its off front wheel and axle had been pushed back six inches. The car, very badly damaged in front, was also on its side, but facing at an angle of 45 degrees across the road. There was six feet between the two vehicles, and in his opinion the car had "bounced back" after the collision.
    AGREED SPECIAL DAMAGES.
    John William Fowler, representing Fowler & Son, of Beccles, plaintiff's employers, gave evidence as to his earnings, and on the suggestion of the Judge counsel then agreed special damages at £100.
    Mr. Edgedale called Cyril George Ackers, of 44, Collingwood Road, Yarmouth, who said he drove up in his car a few minutes after the accident. The lorry was, in his opinion, " too close to the near side for a lorry," and its front wheels were turned as if it had been reversed into that position. The car could not possibly have been moved. The lorry could not have been driven so close to the edge of the road without being in danger of going into the ditch. He did not see the lorry moved.
    Herbert Bolton, who is the licensee of the Golden Fleece Inn, Wells-on-Sea, said he had been driving since 1919, and had never had an accident before. He had just dimmed his lights to pass three cars, and was about to switch them up again when the lorry came into collision with him. The only light he saw on it was a small one on the near side. He was driving his car about a foot from the near side of the road. He was stunned by the collision, and Miss Playford was flung out through the roof. He did not see the lorry moved.
    Mrs. Ackers also gave evidence. Alexander Greig, a consulting engineer, said in his opinion it was utterly impossible that the car should have "bounded back" from the lorry. The lorry's off front wheel, which had a very large pneumatic tyre, looked as if it had been hit almost directly in front.
    DRIVER OF THE LORRY.
    Mr. Howard called the driver of the lorry, Edward William Clark, of Church Corner, Surlingham, who said before the accident he was driving about two feet from the near side of the road, with sidelights and the near headlamp on. When he first saw the car it was on its correct side of the road, but it gradually came over to the wrong side. He pulled in close to his near side and put on his brakes, and was stationary when the car hit his off front wheel. The car bounced back six feet from the lorry. It was impossible to move the lorry until some repairs had been done to it.
    Ernest William Cook, of Church Lane, Surlingham, a mechanic, said he repaired the lorry after accident. It would have been impossible to move it without repairs.
    THE SUMMING UP.
    During his summing up the Judge said very few plaintiffs came into the witness-box and made as light of their injuries as Mr. Ward did. He did not give an exaggerated or whining account of them, and the jury ought not to think the less of the injuries because Mr. Ward had dealt with them as one would expect an ex-petty officer of the Navy to deal with them.
    As to the apportionment of blame between the two defendants the Judge said: “If both the defendants are right, this accident never happened at all. We are all used nowadays to collisions between two stationary omnibuses, both on their correct side of the road, in which six people in one were killed and five in the other were injured."
    After an absence of nearly two hours the foreman of the jury intimated that they were agreed on the question of compensation, but could not agree as to the responsibility of one of the defendants.
    The Judge then discharged the jury and ordered the case to be re-tried.

Jun 12 1937

NEWSPAPER MOSTLY MISSING

Jun 19 1937

BITTERNS SEEN: A pair of bitterns has been seen flying over the marshes and railway station at Beccles. It is thought they have come to nest locally.

Jun 19 1937

MOTHERS’ UNION MEETING: 530 women attended a Festival of women from Beccles and 34 small towns and villages in the surrounding district

Jun 19 1937

LICENCES: The full transfer of the licence of the Duke of Marlborough Inn, Weston from Annie Stowe to Isaac Sillett AND of the Star Inn from Ernest Cook to Frank Barnard.

Jun 19 1937

GOLDEN WEDDING: Mr & Mrs William English, of 4 New Market Row. Mr English is 73 and his wife 72. They have both lived in Beccles for most of their lives and had eight daughters of whom 4 are living. There are three grandsons and two grand-daughters.

Jun 19 1937

FORMER CURATE of Beccles, Rev George Holborow has accepted an offer of the Rectory of Kettering. He was at Beccles 1923-26, Rector of Redisham 1926-33, In 1933 he became Vicar of Corsham.

Jun 19 1937

DEATH of former resident, Mr Charles Henry Youngman, aged 72. Before the Great War he was a cashier at Barclays Bank, before moving to High Wycombe and Saffron Walden, and retiring to Ipswich. A keen Freemason, he was formerly Worshipful Master of the Appollo Lodge

Jun 19 1937

ESTATE of Lt-Col Mortimer of Redisham Hall left £74,580

Jun 19 1937

A FINE BRIGADE: Monday afternoon’s blaze at a Mutford cottage gave members of the Beccles Fire Brigade another opportunity of showing their splendid response to calls made upon them for assistance. Although the men were at work all over the town when the hooter was sounded at the Caxton Press, they were quickly at the Fire Station in Newgate, and only a very few minutes had elapsed before they were hard at work on the blazing cottage, which was situated practically in the fields. Not half an hour had elapsed between the time a woman farmer living opposite the cottage saw the flames, and hurried half a mile on her bicycle to get a telephone message through to Beccles, and the starting work of the firemen at the actual scene. The same smartness was displayed in fighting the flames, and in a matter of two hours and a half the firemen were back at their station with everything left safe. Residents of Beccles and the surrounding villages have every cause to be proud of a Brigade, who, under the leadership of Captain BG Long, [he lived at 32 Denmark Road] are ever ready to come to their aid in times of need. For a voluntary organisation the Beccles Fire Brigade must be one of the smartest in the country. While great praise is due to the firemen there must not be forgotten others who respond in the same prompt fashion to the call of duty, and whose co-operation is essential to success. The smartness of the local telephone operators and of officers of the East Suffolk Police in carrying out their respective duties means a lot at such times.

Jun 26 1937

NEWSPAPER MISSING

Jul 3 1937

LONGEVITY: Figures for the Wainford District in 1936: 77 people died; 49 of them were over 65; 18 were over 80, 8 were infants under the age of one.

Jul 3 1937

PEST OF CATERPILLARS for the second year running: They weave their webs round marshland willow trees and the grasses that grow round about them and they eat the leaves. The Borough Surveyor last year exterminated them by lighting small fires the bases of the trees, the flames spreading upwards, and doing the trick.

Jul 3 1937

GARDEN FETES: Efforts in aid of three different churches have been held in the borough on the last three Wednesdays. First there was the fete at South Lodge, Grove Road for the Smallgate Methodist cause, then there was the American tea at White House, Ashman’s Road, [house owned by Sidney Smith] in aid of the Parish Church funds, and this week the fete at “Pytchley”, Waveney Road [house of Mr George Watson, retired Headmaster of the Sir John Leman School], in support of the local Congregational Church.

Jul 3 1937

PROPERTY SALE: No 30 Fair Close Road, sold by Messrs Durrant & Sons, for the Misses Wright. Freehold residence with hall, three reception rooms and four bedrooms, offices and cellar, mains services, garden, outbuildings and garage.
    Purchased by Mr JS Leighton, of St George’s Road at £575.

Jul 10 1937

CHURCH of ENGLAND MISSION CHURCHES: There are two in the town, Ravensmere and Ingate. There used to be a third, the Grange, which had been supported by good congregations, but this was burnt down in 1914. What is left of the Christ Church Mission Room can be seen in the garden of Pytchley, Upper Grange Road. Mr & Mrs Watson had recently moved into their newly erected home when the Mission Room caught fire. A third of the building – the vestry - was saved, and now was used as a garden shed by the Watsons, who purchased it. A detached structure was also saved. This had been used by the preacher for his horse and trap, but was now in use as a garage.

Jul 17 1937

GIRL SAVED FROM DROWNING: Phyllis Hill, aged 17, from Dorset, acting as a maid on a large motor cruiser, hired from Oulton Broad, was on the cabin roof knitting, when it approached Beccles bridge. She was apparently warned to get down, but before she did so the bridge had been reached and she was knocked off the boat into the water. A man on the cruiser made an unsuccessful attempt to save her, but Mr EA Hembling of the Hermitage Tea Rooms, Bridge Street had seen the incident from the window, and immediately ran outside and dived into the water, but was unable to grasp Miss Hill. He swam back to the bank, got into his boat and rowed out to the middle of the stream, tried to pull her out, in vain, but made use of a boathook and got hold of her clothing and brought her to the surface unconscious. Mr Robert Barber, a young man applied artificial respiration before the arrival of Dr Grantham Hill who arranged for her to be taken to the Hospital by ambulance, where she revived. [PHOTO of Mr Hembling page 6]

Jul 17 1937

WILL of Mr Henry George Read, of 6 The Walk, one of the founders of the firm of auctioneers, who died in February left estate of £4,269

Jul 17 1937

STAFF OUTING of Messrs Darby Bros Ltd (timber and builders’ merchants and sawmills) to Bury, Newmarket, where they had lunch, Norwich and Yarmouth. Three employees are now celebrating 50 or more years continuous employment with the company: Mr A Swan, who had been in charge of the engineering side, is about to retire, and Messrs Herbert Sarbutt and Ernest Gilding.

Jul 24 1937

MEDICAL OFFICER’S REPORT: 64 houses had been built under the 1924 Housing Act, providing fresh homes for 366 people. Under the Housing Act 1930, 60 properties were considered for demolition. 9 of the properties were subject to demolition orders during the life of the tenant or owner. 2 closing orders were made, and in 23 instances the owner gave an undertaking to recondition the houses. So far 22 houses had been demolished, 2 closing orders carried out, and 18 properties had been reconditioned. 6 clearance orders consisting of 27 houses with 87 persons were subject to an inquiry by an Inspector from the Ministry of Health, and they were confirmed.
    There were 40 houses which were overcrowded.

Jul 24 1937

TOWN COUNCIL: RIVER RESCUER HONOURED: Mr Edwin Arthur Hembling, of the Hermitage Tea Rooms, who rescued a 17 year-old girl from drowning was given by the Mayor, Dr Wood-Hill, a piece of silver plate in recognition of the service he had rendered.
    REPORT ON FLOODING by the Borough Surveyor: “In my opinion the flooding was caused by a cloudburst in the vicinity of Weston, and the only course for the water to take being the watercourse, which enters the borough beyond Darby Road. I see no way of avoiding a recurrence of the trouble.
    After the storm had abated there was no sign of any flooding until 30 minutes later, when there was a rush of water in and along the watercourse and over the adjoining land from the uplands. Jenner, the Corporation foreman was on the spot at 2.30 am and saw no signs of flooding. I was on the spot at 3.15 am and did everything within my power to cope with the trouble. I visited the sluices in the Gas Works and found them working satisfactorily and at full bore. As an emergency measure I opened the sluice at the rear of the Sewage Pumping Station, which eased the situation slightly. I also utilised the fire engine as an additional means of clearing the water from the dyke over the sluice into the Cut.
    The previous occurrence of a flood of a similar character is not within living memory, and I repeat it is my considered opinion that this is a contingency against which it is hopeless to endeavour to guard.

Jul 24 1937

DEATH of Ex-INSPECTOR Charles Arthur NORMAN, aged 65. On February 1st 1921, Mr Norman, who was then stationed at Beccles as Police Inspector, was about to sit down to lunch at the former Police Station in Gaol Lane, when he received news on the telephone. Two men entered a Beccles Bank, and making use of two service revolvers, had held up the staff and got away with a considerable sum of money.

Jul 31 1937

ATHLETIC SUCCESS: Mr Lindsey Tilney, a member of the Yarmouth Athletic Club, did well at the Suffolk Amateur Athletic Championship meeting at Ipswich. In the 220 yards he finished second and in the 100 yards he came third.

Jul 31 1937

DEATH of Mr William Fisher, aged 78, of 3 Providence Place. Prior to his retirement 13 years ago he was employed at Beccles by the old Great Eastern and the LNER Companies for 52 years. His father and two brothers were also railway employees. He is survived by a widow, one married son who lives in Beccles, and another son and daughter who live in Canada.

Jul 31 1937

RETIREMENT OF TEACHER at the Peddar’s Lane Senior School. Mr Richard H Bailey, has been the handicraft teacher at the school for 34 years.

Aug 7 1937

NEWSPAPER MISSING

Aug 14 1937

WEDDING of Miss Hester Wood-Hill. In the presence of a large congregation, Miss Hester Wood-Hill, daughter of the Mayor and Mayoress of Beccles (Dr & Mrs Henry Wood-Hill), was married on Saturday at the Parish Church of St Michael, Beccles, to Mr Reginald William Boteler Burton, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, and only son of Brigadier-General and Mrs RG Burton of, Batford Grange, Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire. Until a year ago the bride was at St Hilary’s, Oxford.
    In addition to the large number of guests, numerous townspeople were present. Others lined the pathway between the New Market and the west door. The church had been delightfully decorated by Miss Lee Barber, with large bowls of flowers including pink and blue hydrangeas, gladioli, sweet peas and phlox with greenery and copper-coloured leaves.
    Given away by her father, the bride looked charming in an oyster-coloured satin wedding dress with old family veil of Honiton lace, lent by her aunt, Mrs Grenville Battock, of Bedford. She carried a sheaf of white lilies.
    There were four bridesmaids, Miss Penelope Wood-Hill (sister of the bride), Miss Audrey Lenfesty (a College friend), Miss Monica Dowson, of Geldeston, and Miss Mercia Pollock (also friend of the bride). They were attractively attired in picture frocks of oyster-coloured taffeta and on their heads wore plaited taffeta wreaths of the same colour. They had bouquets of variegated summer flowers. From the bridegroom each bridesmaid received a vanity case.
    The best man was Mr AR Wagner, Portcullis College of Arms, London.
    Uncle of Bride officiates.
    Officiating ar the ceremony were the Very Rev AH Crowfoot, Dean of Quebec, and uncle of the bride, the Rev WL Smith, Vicar of North Aston, Oxfordshire, and the Rev Harold L Birch, Rector of Beccles.
    At the organ was Mr Christopher Gledhill, of Bungay, late Oriel Scholar of Oriel College, a friend of the bridegroom. Mr Gledhill played first Karg-Ellert’s Choral prelude on the hymn, “Now thank we all our God.” Followed by the Choral Prelude, “Come Holy Ghost, Lord God (JS Bach). The singing during the service was led by the robed choir, the processional hymn being “Praise my soul the King of Heaven.” The 121st Psalm, “I will lift up mine eyes,” was chanted, and the hymn “The King of Love my Shepherd is,” was sung before the Exhortation. After the Benediction came the hymn, “Now thank we all our God.”
    While the register was being signed in the vestry Mr Glendhill played the organ concerto (Handel), voluntaries following as the procession and guests left the church being the wedding march, “Trumpet Tune” (Purcell) and the Choral Prelude on the hymn, “Now thank we all our God” (Bach).
    The ceremony was followed by a reception at Staithe House, Northgate, Beccles, the residence of the bride’s parents. Guests attending numbered between two and three hundred.
    During the afternoon the church bells rang a merry peal, starting as the couple left the building.
    Later in the day the couple left for their honeymoon, which is being spent motoring in Germany and Austria and fishing in Styria. The bride’s going-away attire consisted of a dark blue tailored dresss, a three quarter length coat of figured gaufre satin, and a wide-brimmed blue hat with veil.
    The numerous gifts included a silver mustard pot from members and officials of Beccles Town Council.
    Mr and Mrs Burton are making their home in Oxford.
    The cake was made by Mr WW Took, New Market, Beccles, who also did the catering for the reception.

Aug 14 1937

BUNGAY ROAD: Slowly the work of widening the road proceeds. At Shipmeadow on the north side the bank is being cut back some distance. Most of the front gardens of the Council Houses will be taken into the roadway, which face the narrowest portion of the whole six miles. The cutting away of the bank on the Institution side of the road was done last year. Several big trees have been cut down and removed. It has been agreed that the County Council will be asked to provide fresh trees of an ornamental character bordering the new boundary of the highway. The area between Barsham Rectory field gate and Barsham Bridge is not down for widening this year.

Aug 14 1937

UNEMPLOYMENT:
            Men    Women    Total    Total in Jan 1936
    Lowestoft    1167    92    1259    2057
    Beccles    111    11    122    134
    Bungay    83    12    95    125
    Halesworth    32    1    33    72
    Harleston    49    5    54    103
    Southwold    41    13    54    118

Aug 14 1937

BECCLES REGATTA on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: Fine weather favoured the event.
    Monday’s sailing was under the direction of the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club, while Beccles Amateur Sailing Club was in charge on Tuesday. Miss Ann Hartley won the Isle of Bute Mug for the handicap race.
    On Wednesday the Town Regatta Committee provided sailing in the morning, aquatic sports in the afternoon, and a water carnival at night, ending with a firework display on the Quay, and a well-attended dance at the Public Hall.

Aug 14 1937

HARVESTING STARTED: [PHOTO page 15]

Aug 14 1937

NORWICH MAN aged 81: Mr William Shepherd: “My father was a silk weaver. He had his loom in his house. He used to make silk shawls chiefly, and my job when I was a little boy was to fill the bobbins for him. My mother had 21 children. I never knew any of them except two brothers. All the others died in infancy.
    My father took me to see the last public execution at Norwich Castle. Hubbard Lingley [1867] was hanged for the murder of his uncle. There were thousands of people watching. We saw him walk out of the little gateway in the Castle. Then we saw him hanged from the scaffold. He was innocent. Three weeks afterwards the man that did the deed came forward.

Aug 14 1937

HARVEST in the 1870s on a 500 acre farm at Watton: “At the commencement of the carting of the wheat harvest in the 1870s, there was always left in a prominent position in the field one shock of corn. This shock denoted the piece had not been horse-raked, and was not yet clear for the gleaners, but as the days followed, and the field was raked and the harvestmen cleared the rakings and the left shock, this implied the field was open to anyone who liked to come in and pick up the ears that were left.
    As soon as it was known in the village that the first field would be clear to glean, say at eleven in the morning, at that time the church bell would be pulled, which was the signal that the gleaners might commence. Though perhaps there might be scores waiting – there were always far more on the first day than any other – no one would come inside the field until the bell was heard.
    At six in the evening the church bell would be heard again, and each gleaner would leave her work, and it was interesting to watch these busy, industrious gleaners at the sound of the bell. It was a picture to sere these many women with their loads of bundles of wheat ears, so neatly and beautifully handled and tied. This bell known as the ‘gleaners bell,’ would from now on always be heard at eight in the morning, the signal to commence, and none would ever do it before the bell’s signal, and at six in the evening, after which none would be seen at work.
    At the close of the day the expert, industrious gleaner would collect her many hand-bundles of neatly tied ears of corn, and cutting the longer length of straw off them, lay the ears in large wrappers, and tie the wrappers corner-wise. The largest one she would lift to her lilac-print, sun-bonnetted head, with often, another small bundle, or even two in her hands
    Very often the family three-wheel, iron-shod perambulator would be called into service, and upon these strong if somewhat uncomfortable (for little babies) vehicles would be laid the load of the day’s toil.

Aug 21 1937

PROPERTY SALE: At the King’s Head Hotel, Beccles, on Monday afternoon, Messrs George Durrant & Sons, of Beccles and Harleston, offered for sale on the instruction of the mortgages, riverside property comprising the semi-detached residence Tannery House, 49 Northgate, Beccles, with garden and river frontage of 43ft 6ins, with quay heading. There was vacant possession on completion of purchase. The property was sold to Mr HE Hipperson, of Puddingmoor, Beccles, at £550.

Aug 21 1937

COLLISION at the cross roads at the bottom of Northgate, a van belonging to the East Anglian Electrical Supply Co driven by Mr William Hall of Harleston up Fen Lane, and a car travelling from the bridge towards Ravensmere driven by Mr Frederick Lake of Seething. There were no injuries.

Aug 21 1937

CHILDREN’S FISHING COMPETITION: 76 boys and girls took part. 31 caught fish in the hour and a half of the competition.

Aug 21 1937

DEATH of Mrs H Burman, aged 64, wife of Mr Lambert Burman, a tradesman of 4 Blyburgate. Mr Burman is the hirer of one of the river plots on lease by the Beccles Corporation, and his wife was so fond of life on the Waveney that when she took to her bed on the boat for the last time 13 weeks ago she expressed a desire not to be moved to her home in the town. She had lived in Beccles for 36 years.

Aug 21 1937

DEATH of Mr Edward Tyrell, aged 70, of Shrublands, Upper Grange Road. He was a compositor employed by Messrs Wm Clowes & Sons Ltd at the Caxton Press, where he worked for 56 years. He carried on his duties practically up to his death. He was secretary of Branch 58 of the Rational Association. He is survived by a son and a daughter.

Aug 21 1937

HARVEST [part 2] in the 1870s on a 500 acre farm at Watton: Two gangs of 8 men were employed regularly each harvest on my father’s farm. In the carting of all tied corn these were sufficient, but as all barley was mown by scythe and laid loose in swathes, the help of women was enlisted to rake these swathes into heaps for the pitcher at the wagon, and as loose corn could not be gathered up so closely as the tied sheaves, rakers were required to assist the pitcher. Thus to each pitcher 5 women were attached. The old Suffolk term for these was ‘gavelers’. The gavelers were selected by the two gangs and paid for by them. Many a lad of 17 or 18, who had just gone into the harvest as a full man, has approached a winsome village maiden, and asked her if she would rake for him. Many such an invitation and acceptance has ended in a lifelong companionship.
    The wheat was sent to a mill in the adjoining village and ground into flour by the old-fashioned revolving stone process. To know bread at its best one must have sampled that which was made by mixing the flour with milk and baked in those old farmhouse and cottage brick ovens. These were heated by thorns until they were red-hot top and bottom. The ashes were then extracted, the loaves speedily put in by an iron peel, the door quickly closed, and left until the bread was baked.
    The bread was sweet, moist and pleasant to eat, even at the end of the week, anmd before a new batch would be made. There were no furnaces to these ovens; the fire was made in the oven itself. No bread baked in ovens can equal the bread baked on the bricks.

Aug 28 1937

BECCLES PAGE MISSING

Aug 28 1937

COUNCIL HOUSE PLANNING in Wayland RDC: The Ministry of Health refused to pass plans for Council Houses at Banham because of a reprentation made to them by a member of the local branch of the CPRE, who was also a member of the RDC. “The type of Council House built in Wayland and other parts of Norfolk was not in uniformity with the old types of rural houses. It was the Ministry’s desire that the Council Houses should be varied so as not to possess the ‘Council House stamp.’”

Sep 4 1937

BRAVERY RECOGNISED: Mr Edwin Hembling, of the Hermitage Tea Rooms, who saved Miss Phyllis Hill from Drowning on 11th of July has received a bravery award by the Royal Humane Society.

Sep 4 1937

DEATH of Mr Thomas Hinsley, aged 72, of 20 Gosford Road. Born in Geldeston, as a young man joined the old Great Eastern Railway as a shunter at Beccles. He spent the whole of his 38 years of railway service in Beccles. He roase to the position of guard and finished his service at the Northgate crossing on the Waveney line. He retired at the age of 65 seven years ago.
    He had been a member of the Smallgate ex-Primitive Methodist Church ever since he has been in Beccles. For some years he was a sidesman.
    He played bowls for the Men’s Social institute, and was keen on gardening.
    He leaves a widow and two sons. One of the sons Arthur Hinsley, is a clerk in the goods office at Beccles station, and the other, Rev WT Hinsley, is a Presbyterian minister at Wallasey, Cheshire.

Sep 4 1937

BECCLES HISTORICAL SOCIETY: About 40 members visited Theberton and St Mary’s Abbey, Leiston. The visit was arranged by Mr W Fowler and the Chairman Col Granville Baker.

Sep 4 1937

MEMORIAL to Mr Frederick Peachey, whose death occurred on 19th of August 1936. A new lectern bible has been subscribed to by the parishioners. It will replace an old family volume given to the church by a former headmaster of the Fauconberge School.
1937    Beccles & Bungay     SPANISH CIVIL WAR: Fred Copeman, a native of Beccles, who has served in the British Navy, and who until three weeks ago was commanding the British battalion in the International Brigade fighting for the Spanish Government. He served in the British Navy up to the time of the incident at Invergordon in 1931, he was for a time unemployed and led the hunger march from Norwich to London in 1932. Then for 5 years he was a foreman steel erector. He gave this up last Summer to fight for the Spanish Government
    Arriving in Spain last November, Copeman was at first engaged as a machine-gun instructor. When men from this country joined the International Brigade in large numbers he became a company commander, and since last April until three weeks ago he has been in command of the battalion. In ten months he was out of the line only ten days.
    At the outset the British wee spread among the different battalions of the brigade in groups of a dozen or so. When sufficient came out we formed our own brigade. We have seen heavy fighting on most of the fronts. We were at Guadalajara when the Italians, the Black Flame Brigade took their hammering. Three divisions (all Italians) were concentrated in the valleys. Mainly it was the Government’s artillery and aeroplanes that routed them. Once the Government’s aeroplanes started to bomb them they started to run, and our aircraft and artillery kept them on the run.
    Asked about the casualties of the British battalion, Copeman said that he knew that four men who went out from Suffolk were among the killed. “Mainly the casualties are wounded rather than killed. The proportion of men killed to wounded is small compared witrh the Great War. This is brought about because much of the fighting is between machine gunners rather than heavy armaments. There is now a machine gun to every 12 men. They are a light machine gun, much lighter than the Lewis, and much more accurate.
    When I first joined the Government forces the Army was controlled by the political parties, each of which sent its own forces to the fronts. Now the Government has an Army of half a million men, and there are general staffs, who are directing operations well. While the political forces were holding up the rebels the Government has been able to train the New Army, as it is known, with the men who were called up on the conscription order four or five months ago. These men, mostly peasants, are turning out splendid soldiers and they certainly have plenty of courage. We watched them attack and take Quorne, a very difficult mountainous position to assault. The attack occupied four days and the troops showed great gallantry.”
    Asked for his general impressions of the war, Copeman said: “I believe it will last a long time, at least two years, unless a general European war should start in the meantime. Whatever happens, unless Germany openly declares war on the Spanish Government, the Government must win, irrespective of what the Italians may do. Italy cannot be a decisive factor. The longer the war lasts the more efficient becomes the organisation of the Government. The New Army is rapidly being trained, the Government has plenty of gold and plenty of ammunition and planes which they are manufacturing in their own factories. Behind the fighting lines the organisation of agriculture is going ahead by leaps and bounds.
    Franco has lost what chance he had. The rebels thought they would sweep through Spain. Actually at the moment he is making no advance except on the northern front, where there is scarcely any opposition to him. There the Government troops have been withdrawn. The miners, who are fighting in the hills, are the only people who are opposing him there. Everywhere else the rebels are meeting with reverses and the Government troops are advancing.
    Franco’s ultimate defeat is only a question of time. The Government dominates the air and their aeroplanes are superior to anything the rebels possess, including the new German planes they are using.”
    Copeman’s father, Mr Fred Copeman, of Beccles, was killed in the Great War. His three brothers, all of whom served in the British Navy, are dead. [His father is not listed among the war dead of Beccles.] [PHOTO page 7] [see People A-C, Copeman Frank]

Sep 18 1937

DEATH of Sir Maurice Boileau, Bart, aged 71, of Ketteringham Park. Elder son of Sir Francis George Manningham Boileau, the second Baronet, Sir Maurice succeeded to the title in 1900 and with it the ownership of estates, which comprise 4,000 acres in Norfolk. He never married and is succeeded by his brother, Lt-Col Raymond Boileau.

Sep 25 1937

NEWSPAPER MISSING

Oct 2 1937

NEWSPAPER MISSING

Oct 9 1937

NEWPAPER MISSING

Oct 16 1937

MAYOR: Dr Wood-Hill has accepted the unanimous request of the Town Council to continue as Mayor for a third year. He was first elected in November 1935. Since Beccles became a Mayoral borough in 1835 only three predecessors of Dr Wood-Hill have held offices for a term of three consecutive years and all have been in the present century. Dr Wood-Hill was the first Mayor to be elected from outside the ranks of the Town Council. [PHOTO page 5]

Oct 16 1937

EXAMINATION SUCCESS: Mr Jack Watkis, younger son of Mr FB Wakis, Headmaster of the National School, and Mrs Watkis, of Station Road, has passed an examination by which he becomes a member of the Pharmaceutical Society. He was a pupil at Framlingham College and studied at the London College of Pharmacy.

Oct 16 1937

JAPANESE ATTROCITIES in China were denounced by the Co-Op. They passed a resolution that Japanes goods should not be sold through Co-Op shops.

Oct 16 1937

PARISH CHURCH ORGAN: The Parish Church Restoration Committee has accepted the tender of Messrs Rushworth and Dreaper for £985 to rebuild the church organ.

Oct 16 1937

WEDDING of Mr D Payne of Wooton, Oxford and Miss Joan Crowfoot, second daughter of Mr and Mrs John Crowfoot of the Old House, Geldeston.
    The bride has travelled a good deal in Palestine and elsewhere. For some years she has taken an active interest in archaeological work in the Holy Land, assisting her father and others in its pursuit. Until recently her father was director of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem and in the course of the last seven or eight years he has carried out excavation work in Samaria, Jerusalem and Trans-Jordan. Since it was formed a year ago, Mr Crowfoot has been chairman of the East Norfolk Committee of the Council for the Preservation of Rural England, [PHOTO page 5]

Oct 16 1937

BECCLES STOCK MART: The first pigs reared by members of the Sotterley and District Young Farmers Club were sold by auction. They numbered 36, and occupied 10 pens. [PHOTO page 5]

Oct 23 1937

NEWSPAPER MISSING

Oct 30 1937

COUNCIL PURCHASED The Dell (from Robinson’s executors) – The junction of Bungay Road and Ringsfield Road of 2½ acres, so that the entrance to the town from Bungay remains a picturesque site.
1937    Beccles & Bungay     DEATH of MR GEORGE WATSON, BA, BSc, aged 64. He retired from the Headmastership of the Sir John Leman School in March owing to ill health.
    He was a native of Leicester, educated at University and King’s College, London and obtained BA in Arts and a BSc in Science. From there he went to Yena in Germany, to continue his educational studies. When he returned to England in 1897 he became a Maths and Latin master at Chelsea Pupil Teachers’ Centre. After four years there he became Headmaster of Kettering Pupil Teachers’ Centre, which is now a secondary school. Then he came to Beccles in 1914, and when he retired he had completed 40 years in the teaching profession.
    Mr Watson had been head of the Elizabethan foundation since the present building was opened in August 1914. Wonderful results were obtained by the school during his period of headship, and in those years considerably over 1,000 pupils passed through it. In the course of his final report at a seech day made in June 1936, he stated that for 18 successive years there had been no failures in the School Certificate examination, and that no fewer than 80% of those who took it had passed with honours. For seven successive years the honours record was 100% and many were the distinctions gained.
    When Mr Watson took charge of the school the Great War was just starting and a very difficult period confronted him. A great job in getting teachers was experienced, but the educational work was carried on steadily and soundly despite serious moves by the military and others to get the use of the buildings for different purposes. Throughout his headship at Beccles Mr Watson has had the support of a loyal staff, three members of which – Miss Dealey, Mr FP Glover and Mr P Cross, were with him the whole of the time.
    He is survived by his widow and two sons, Dr Ralph Watson, the Medical Officer of Health for Doncaster, and Mr Philip Watson, who is on the staff of a Biggleswade bank.

Oct 30 1937

DEATH of Mr WE Wigg, aged 56, of Camden Villa, 63 Ingate, a member of the Salvation Army Band for more than 30 years. A native of Southwold, he ran a shop opposite the National School, Ravensmere for 24 years, and 6 years ago went farming at Brampton. He leaves a widow and 2 daughters.

Nov 6 1937

BECCLES COUNCIL ELECTION: Polling for 4 seats on the Council and 6 candidates:
    Paymaster Rear-Admiral CS Johnson    600    elected
    HA Taylor        575    elected
    GF Robinson*        572    elected
    WH Simmons* (Labour)        551    elected
         HG Collyer* (Labour)        475    not elected
         CD Clarke        449    not elected
    A little over a third of the electors cast their votes.
    There are now 13 Independents and 3 Labour on the Council. [PHOTOS 30 Oct issue]     

Nov 13 1937

Dr WOOD-HILL made Mayor for a third term. The Mayoral Banquet was revived several years ago. The number of those attending has been raised from about 60 to 132 on Tuesday. The Public Hall was praised for its drawing room appearance, for which we have to thank Miss Penelope Wood-Hill, the eldest daughter of the Mayor.
    At the dinner, Mr PC Loftus the MP for the constituency said that Beccles has the luck to possess wonderful old Georgian houses with dignified, well-proportioned, red-brick fronts. “Do keep them,” was his fervent appeal.
    The Mayor said in his address he warned new Councillors, Mr HA Taylor and Rear-Admiral CS Johnson: “Whatever they did they must be prepared to meet criticisms, if they were to avoid criticism they must do nothing, say nothing and be nothing.” He urged them forcefully to advance any ideas they considered to be of value to the welfare of the town.”

Nov 13 1937

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE affects Beccles Livestock market.

Nov 13 1937

ARMISTICE DAY: The Rector in an address said, “While everybody wished for peace, the world was preparing for war. Wishing for peace might be dangerous in that it might lull men and women into a very comfortable but quite useless frame of mind. Mere wishing cut no ice. A great deal more must be asked if peace was to be kept in the world.”

Nov 13 1937

RAILWAY: At this time of year the railway station at Beccles presents a scene of great activity and every day numerous people go down that way to have a look at the many trains travelling to and fro. The public bridge leading from Station Road to the Avenue is a favourite vantage point. The extra activity at the station is due to the home fishing season and the beet harvest being in full swing. Several times a day trains loaded with boxes of fish arrive from Lowestoft and Yarmouth and their final composition is made up ready for the long journeys they have to undertake. Some go to Parkeston Quay, where their hosts of boxes are taken out and transferred to the waiting ships. Some of the trains, however, run through to Harwich Harbour, where the wagons go straight on to the ferry, which takes them to the Continent. Most of the fish trains travel through to London, to be transferred to other cities and towns all over the country. For a month now all this acivity with fish trains has been in progress, and it will be in full swing until December.
1937    Historic News    PARLIAMENT backs building Air Raid Shelters in Britain’s Towns.

Nov 20 1937

PERSONAL ESTATE: Mr Charles Ducker, of The Hollies, Frederick’s Road, who died in July, left £4,479 gross value.

Nov 20 1937

WHIST DRIVE was held in Blyburgate Hall in aid of the St John Ambulance Brigade. 132 players took part.

Nov 20 1937

POSSESSION granted to Council for an ejectment order against Harry Rouse, 18 Castle Hill. He was in arrears with his rent and he created disturbance and inconvenience to the neighbours.

Nov 20 1937

LEAVING: Mr William Vyse, manager of WH Smith’s bookstall at Beccles Station for 14 years is moving to Newmarket Station bookstall. He sings baritone and has taken part in the last three productions of the Beccles Operatic Society. He will be succeeded at the staion by Mr Reginald Brown. [PHOTO page 6]

Nov 20 1937

FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Mr Loftus, MP, speaking at the Public Hall: “Forty years ago they were absolutely safe. They had a supreme navy and could practically take on all the nations of the world. They could abstain or take part in the affairs of the world as they wished. They were secure. Those days had gone. The aeroplane had destroyed it. They were very vulnerable today to attack. They had got within easy reach of the Continent.
    The British, more than any nation in Europe depended on imported food to feed their people. The greater part of that food came up the narrow waters of the English Channel into the port of London. Attack from the air on the cargo ships in those narrow waters of the Channel and the Thames Estuary seemed a grave menace. They must realise that the Army was not as strong as it was in 1914.
    GERMANY: Germany had got a tremendously strong centralised government. From what he had seen in Germany he was quite convinced that the great majority of German people did support and believe in Hitler. Germany had spent £2,500 million in the last four years in building a great army, air force and an efficient navy. Six months ago, she could turn out four and a half aeroplanes to this country’s one. Europe was anxious to know what would happen – whether this great nation, which was worked up to a kind of fanatic belief in itself and its leader, did intend to make war. There were some people who held that Hitler might attack Czechoslovakia and through that country Russia. There were others who believed that Hitler would absorb Austria. He (Mr Loftus) certainly thought that Hitler’s own idea was the unity of all Germans in one state.”
    ITALY: Mr Loftus spoke of Mussolini as a man of enormous capacity for work, and enormous mental capacity and more the Napoleonic type of man. In Italy again were many economic difficulties. “We have many interests in the Mediterranean and have been dominant there for 150 years at least. During the last 70 or 80 years we have been secure there. The Mediterranean is no longer safe for our commerce if we have a hostile Italy.” At the present moment Italy was pouring troops into Libya in northern Africa.
    SPAIN: The Spanish matter was one of great difficulty. Two thirds of the country was now in the hands of Franco and one third in the hands of the Government. There had been enormous help on both sides. It was very hard to get at the truth concerning this assistance. In order to prevent a world war they wanted to get the foreigners out of Spain.
    JAPAN: Japan had refused the invitation of the Brussels Far Eastern Conference. He felt that the Japanese armies would be victorious if they were left to fight China alone. The only way was for Great Britain and the United States to act absolutely together, but he did not believe America would take steps that would involve her in war. It did irk one to see Japan moving forward absolutely unchecked. A victorious Japan was a menace to the East and even to Australia.
    THE OUTLOOK: While the outlook was not too cheerful, he felt that there was no reason for despair or extreme pessimism, but there was every reason for watchfulness and for the present expenditure on armaments. That expenditure was supported by the Trades Union Congress at Norwich and by the Parliamentary Labour Party this year for the first time.

Nov 20 1937

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE EXCHANGE in London Road, Beccles now in operation, and is one of the few unattended exchanges of the large type in the whole of the country. About two years have elapsed since the building was started. The number engaged in fitting up its interior has been about seven or eight on the average, although at the peak there were as many as 14. In Beccles there are about 300 subscribers. This marks the beginning of a scheme for any subscriber to dial any other within a radius of 15 miles and have the call registered automatically.
    Any layman who sees the exchange must be impressed by the intricacy of the mechanism and the compactness with which it has been built.
    The opening of the new exchange means that the old one in Hungate, a short distance away has ceased to be required and the contents of this building, which is leased by the Post Office, will be dismantled by the early part of December. This old exchange has been in use since 1922, prior to which the local headquarters was in Ballygate. The Ballygate building dated back to the days when the Post Office took over in 1912 from the National Telephone Company. [PHOTO page 6]

Nov 27 1937

TRADESMAN’S SUCCESS: Mr M Pitkin, of Northgate, has gained a diploma for ice cream for the fourth year running at the national competition held at Olympia.

Nov 27 1937

LOWESTOFT TRAGEDY: One of the victims of the Lowestoft drifter disaster on Friday was 22 year-old Charles Plummer, of 40 Castle Hill. He was employed as a net-stower on the unfortunate ‘Reclaim’. He and his father came to Beccles from Lowestoft two yeas ago.

Nov 27 1937

BECCLES HISTORICAL SOCIETY visit the Guildhall [Smallgate] to view the Constitutions and Charters of Beccles. Mr RC Dunt regretted that the documents viewed should be stored in a Muniment room in the Guildhall, which was originally a cell, instead of being displayed where they could be seen.
    The Society then heard a paper read by Mr William Fowler on the constitutions of Beccles.

Nov 27 1937

TOWN COUNCIL: Road Improvements:
    NORTHGATE – BRIDGE STREET junction: The Town Council agreed to dedicate to the County Council for a highway, a vacant site at the corner, and an exchange of land with an adjoining owner for the improvement scheme.
    INGATE – WORLINGHAM ROAD junction. The County Council had purchased two cottages, Nos 101 & 103 Ingate, which it was proposed to demolish. Since it would be some time before the improved line could be continued to the junction of Grove Road, the Town Council agreed to develop a small garden there.
    EXCHANGE SQUARE: The County Council were in the process of acquiring the late Star Tea Company’s premises from the International Tea Company. The improvement line and purchase price of certain of the buildings had been agreed. “A dangerous bottle-neck in the centre of the town.”
    PARKING: All night parking in Old Market to be banned for commercial vehicles after a heavy lorry was started up in the early hours of the morning and complaints had been received from residents
    ELLOUGH ROAD – WORLINGHAM ROAD junction: The Town Council wish to buy some land for improvements. The owner would sell it for £200. The District Valuer would be asked to value it.
    PLANNING APPROVED: 1.) Worlingham Road: Additions to ‘Mile End’ a bungalow from HA Taylor. 2.) Kemp’s Lane: A bungalow for R Aldous REJECTED: 1.) London Road – two bungalows by Mrs Chapman. There was no information on water supply or drainage – nor a lay-out of the site. It was also a re-submission of part of a former scheme, which was not approved by the Ministry of Health. It was ribbon development along a classified road.
    AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS: The Fire Brigade would need additional fire fighting equipment. A decision would be taken whether financial assistance from the Government would be applied for.
    THE QUAY: The Cut needed to be made good, and the south side would be available for mooring small boats.
    STEAM MILL: Fowler’s (Beccles): Their tender for supplying two wherry freights (about 50 tons) of coal at 34s 11d per ton accepted.
    TREES: 3 trees were dead in Ashman’s Road. New ones to be planted between the existing trees and the others trimmed or lopped. Trees to be planted on the west side of Ringsfield Road, and the chestnut at the corner of Ashman’s Road be shaped. Two trees were dead in Grange, Upper Grange and Waveney Roads to be replaced. Except for six the trees recently planted on the Castle Hill Estate they were well established. A copper beech should be planted at each corner of the Estate. One tree was dead in Ellough Road, to be replaced. The made up part of Kemp’s Lane to have trees planted each side in pairs.

Nov 27 1937

St JOHN’S AMBULANCE give awards at the Public Hall at a parade: The general command was under Supt WC Watts. The nursing division was headed by Miss Tedder, the boy cadets by Miss Robinson, the Boys’ Bugle Band under Bandmaster L Stevenson. A first aid class of 22 men was formed under Mr GE Brown six months ago and all passed the examinations, with Dr Wood-Hill as lecturer.

Nov 27 1937

LETTER FROM PC LOFTUS, MP: “On 21st September 1935 you published a letter of min in which I wrote, ‘I would suggest that if we dismiss as imaginary the economic grievances of such countries as Japan, Germany and Italy, we can have little hope of maintaining the peace of the world; because it would appear inevitable that suffering under the same grievances, they will be drawn together into alliance for their rectification, and against the great forces of these three powers (and their satellites) the forces within the League [of Nations] are certainly not so overpowering as to prevent all thought of war.’
    What I ventured to prophecy over two years ago has now come to pass, namely, the alliance of the three dissatisfied powers. It might perhaps have been avoided had we endeavoured to understand and appreciate the economic ressure on these three nations; each difficient alike in arable land and raw materials, with a yearly combined increase of population of 1,500,000, and each in consequence forced to import more and more each year merely to maintain their standards of living.”

Nov 27 1937

BECCLES MUNIMENT ROOM: There were relics of the House of Correction [Prison] in Gaol Lane pulled down in the Spring of this year. The borough’s Sergeant-at-Mace brought along the two Corporation maces. Far smaller than those of many towns, they bear the date 1584, which is the date of the borough’s first charter of incorporation and which appears on the town seal. The insciption on the maces runs thus: “For Maytenance Of Trvthe And Righteovsnes And Not To Excuse Wronge For Malice Beccles Fenne.”

Dec 4 1937

TELEVISION: Experiments at Norwich in conjunction with the Pye Radio Company were undertaken on Wednesday. This is the first time that a high tension television transmission has been received in Norwich, and despite much electrical interference the figures transmitted from Alexandra Palace in the afternoon programme were clearly seen. The receiver set which was used combines television and wireless reception, and the screen, ten inches by eight, is so constructed that there is no fading away at the edges.
    Considering that the aerial used was only 40ft in height, and that the interference encountered was extraordinary, these first experiments were encouraging. This latest service will be available throughout East Anglia within a reasonable time. The next two years should see great development. The set was a standard Invicta model priced at 83 guineas.

Dec 11 1937

NEW MAGISTRATES, 14 for the county of Suffolk include two from Beccles:
     Mr Albert E Jordan of 18 Ballygate, who for 40 years has been connected with the Ancient Order of Foresters’ Friendly Society. He was elected to Beccles Town Council in 1926 with the highest number of votes ever recorded. He became a member of the East Suffolk County Council in 1934.
    Mr Albert E Pye, comes from an old Beccles family. He served on Beccles Town Council from 1930 to 1936 and for some time was Chairman of the Housing Committee. He played a leading part in advocating the need for the Area School for Beccles, and securing the present site, and in getting electric light substituted for gas in the streets of Beccles.
    For some years he was Chairman of the Beccles Labour Party and head of the electrotyping department at the Caxton Press.

Dec 11 1937

ACCIDENT to William Wright, aged 23, of 23 Ellough Road, shot himself in the arm with a gun while sitting near the Swing Bridge on Beccles Fen. He was collected by car by the St John’s Ambulance Brigade and taken to the Hospital where his arm was amputated.

Dec 18 1937

APPOINTMENT: Mr L Keith Wilkinson, younger son of Mrs J Quinton Wilkinson, a former Mayoress of the Borough, organiser of physical fitness for the borough of Wigan since 1936 has been appointed to a similar job at Hendon.

Dec 18 1937

SHIPMEADOW INSTITUTION: Mr & Mrs Charles Hutton, of the White Lion Hotel, are again providing a Christmas tree for 70 the old people there. Small presents are needed to hang on the tree.

Dec 18 1937

PROMOTION: Police Constable FC Skoulding, third son of Mr JH Skoulding, a member of Beccles Ton Council, of Glenavon, Kemp’s Lane, has been promoted to Sergeant at Wisbech. Aged 31, he is an old boy of the National School under the Headmastership of Mr Dunt. The early years of his career were spent on the railway. He joined the Isle of Ely Police in 1927, and has been in March, Ely and Wisbech.

Dec 18 1937

BUNGAY STOCK MARKET of Read, Owles & Ashford is to close. They have run the market for eight years.

Dec 18 1937

SIR OSWALD MOSELEY speaks at Norwich to 50 business men and women at a luncheon:
    Today the world was divided. Despite the efforts of the League of Nations, which had broken down, and despite the sacrifices of the last war, we found precisely the same position as preceded the last war in an aggravated and more dangerous form. Britain, France and Soviet Russia were opposed to Germany, Italy and Japan. We were faced with weaker allies and a more dangerous combination on the other than was ever dreamt of before the war.
    The alliance with Russia was the root of all evil. Hitler had offered us a naval agreement. We agreed to that, but he also offered to reduce his army to 300,000, if France would do the same, and not build an air force above a certain strength if France and Britain agreed. The last two offers were ignored.
    The Labour Party was a party of professional pacifists.
    Germany did not want a world empire because she said that led to racial deterioration. She said she did not want to debase the qualities of the German people by elevating black men. She wanted a union of the German people in Europe, coupled with sufficient access to raw materials, to build a self-supporting Germany.
    He concluded with a plea for the adoption of Fascist policy that the peace of the world might be maintained.
    Capt Ashley Wright, Norwich Conservative Party agent, thanked him for his frank address and said that he had agreed with scarcely a word Sir Oswald had said. [PHOTO 18 Dec page 21]

Dec 18 1937

KETTERINGHAM HALL baptism of Etienne Raymond Boileau, the six week old son of Major & Mrs Etienne Boileau. The ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Norwich [PHOTO page 21]    

Dec 25 1937

Dr WOOD-HILL’S Christmas card shows a view of old Beccles Bridge taken from the Rix Collection. It forms a companion to that showing the New Market in bygone days used two years ago.

Dec 25 1937

MARRIAGE of MISS DOROTHY CROWFOOT, MA, BSc, PhD, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs John Crowfoot, of Geldeston, and Mr Thomas Hodgkin, elder son of the Provost of Queen’s College Oxford and Mrs Robin Hodgkin, leaving Geldeston Church after their wedding on Thursday [PHOTO page 4]

Dec 25 1937

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS: Report to the Town Council by the Local Air Raids Precaution Officer, Col RW Brooks:
    Headquarters: the Police Station
        First Aid Posts: Blyburgate Hall, Congregational Hall, Ravensmere Mission Room, Dr Wood-Hill’s Garage, the Ingate Mission Room. These buildings are to be staffed in the above order as trained personnel permits.
    The Decontamination Post to be at the Hospital.
    Road Repairs: Corporation employees and casual Labour t be used. Each Road Gang to have a Gas Co. member of staff, and advice must be available from Electricity and Water Companies.
    Special Police and Air Raid Wardens: Police posts to be near First Aid posts. 13 Posts have been chosen and Special Constables and Air Raid Wardens sworn in. 90 Special Constables and Air Raid Wardens have been enrolled. An Air Raid warden’s Post has been selected for every 500 of the population. By the end of March 1938 the whole of the personnel would be fully trained.
    Head Air Raid Warden: Mr FJ Meen to be co-opted to the Council Committee.
    Demolition: Local builders to release their foremen to supervise gangs formed from their employees.
    Training Accommodation: The present premises of the St John’s Ambulance Division are too small. The Public Hall should be used for training Air Raid Precautions.
    Messengers: Alternative communication between First Aid posts and Police Posts must be considered. Overhead telephone lines in a town are almost certain to be put out of action by fire, high explosive bombs, falling debris, etc. One or two runners with cycles be added to each post. Cadets, Scouts and Girl Guides might be used for this, one objection being the exposure to danger of these youngsters.
    Materials for Road Repairs, bridging, etc and for rendering places gas and splinter proof must be considered.
    Ambulances: The following Light Vans in the town could be converted into ambulances: R Clarke (38 Blyburgate) 10 cwt; A Clarke (63 Blyburgate) 8 cwt and 10 cwt; Bon Marche (The Walk) 12 cwt; C Wells (Smallgate) 8 cwt; H Mortimer (Smallgate) 6 cwt; W Dowsing (Hungate) trailer, also a caravan; R Buckenham (Hungate) 10 cwt; Co-Op (Smallgate) 1¼ tons and 1 ton.
    Public Shelters: To be considered later. The Home Office will issue a pamphlet on gas proofing rooms in private houses.
    Fire Brigade: Discussions are taking place in London among experts.
    Decontamination Depot to be at the Corporation Depot and the laundry adjoining in Gosford Road. Three decontamination squads of six men are to be set up.
    OTHER MATTERS
    Reconditioning 4 cottages at Ellough Road purchased by the Town Council from the Worlingham Feoffees going ahaead.
    Ellough Road: 12 parlour type houses Nos 21-43 wished to have an outside water closet perovided.

Dec 25 1937

COLLISION between a car driven by Frederick Lake, a Seething market gardener and a van belonging to the East Anglian Electric Supply Co Ltd, The Walk, Beccles at the cross roads at the bottom of Northgate, which the Judge described as a “death trap”.

Dec 25 1937

PLAYLET by BECCLES Senior Council School in the Public Hall last week [PHOTO page 4]