BECCLES NEWSPAPERS 1940-41
1940 Beccles & Bungay 6 Jan GRAVESEND COUNTY SCHOOL for BOYS who had come here as evacuees moved their school premises this week and have had the opportunity of getting accustomed to their new home. On Monday the school assembled at the Shipmeadow House for the new term, once again gathering under one roof.
Previously the school had been spread through various halls. Various improvements and alterations have been made to the interior to make it suitable for a school of 300 boys. The boys can make the three-mile journey from Beccles comfortably by bus and cycle.
The school may well regard itself as highly fortunate in having been able to secure such a roomy building as Shipmeadow House, and it is to be hoped that its stay there will be thoroughly successful.
1940 Places Where they Sing AUTOBIOGRAHY by Lionel Dakers: My father took up the school’s offer to evacuate its pupils to Beccles in Suffolk where I [aged 15] was billeted with a motherly widow, Mrs Foyster [Widow of William Sidney Foyster, 72 Grove Road], who was responsible for looking after three of us and who fed us almost exclusively with baked beans on toast (which I anyhow loved), though food was already beginning to be in short supply prior to full-scale rationing. The winter of 1940 was an exceptionally harsh one, so much so that each day we had to plod our way on foot through the snow three or four miles each way to Shipmeadow for lessons in a rambling, cold, and disused workhouse which was our school. I was soon motivated towards the splendid parish church in Beccles where the elderly organist allowed me to practise but constantly warned me of the privations of a musical career, regularly showing me his down-at-heel shoes and telling me that because he was an organist his poverty extended to his being unable to afford having them repaired.
1939+ Workhouses on Internet Ted JENKINS WRITES: 0n the 3rd September 1939, 400 boys and staff of The Gravesend County School for Boys (now the Grammar School), were evacuated on the MV Royal Daffodil from Gravesend, Kent, to Lowestoft and were eventually billeted in Beccles. A search for a building for use as a school with the boys and staff under one roof showed that the only one available was Shipmeadow House. This was, at the time, being used to store ARP equipment for the area. The House was renovated and school furniture and equipment brought up from Gravesend in the autumn of 1939 and schooling began on the 1st January 1940. In the following May, Beccles was brought within a new defence area against the possibility of a German invasion and all evacuees were ordered to move, possibly to the Midlands or to South Wales. However permission was given for the boys and staff to move to Bungay so that they could continue to use Shipmeadow House as a school. The school continued until the summer of 1942. After exams, a number of the boys left school and teachers were needed at the school in Gravesend so the whole school went home to Kent. I believe the House then became a chicken farm.
I was one of the evacuees - we were the lucky ones. Three years in the lovely Suffolk countryside. The generosity and kindness of the local people will be remembered always. We became quite fond of the old House and can always say that went to school in a workhouse!
This was later used as a pig-farm, but the buildings have now been converted to residential use.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 6 Jan PHOTOGRAPH: Dagenham Evacuees in Christmas Party in Public Hall page 4
1940 Beccles & Bungay 6 Jan DAGENHAM EVACUEES: Party at the Public Hall visited by the Mayor & Mayoress of Beccles & the Mayor & Mayoress of Dagenham. Party of 160 infants & juniors who have attended the Peddar’s Lane School since they came to Beccles on the outbreak of war. After tea a present was given to each child by Father Christmas (Dr Henry Wood-Hill). The Seniors had a party on Wednesday.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 6 Jan GRAVESEND COUNTY SCHOOL: Party for evacuees in Public Hall, senior scholars on Friday & Juniors on Wednesday.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 6 Jan SHIPMEADOW WORKHOUSE: Many improvements were effected by the Board of Guardians which was in charge of the Institution until its transfer to the East Suffolk County Council in 1930. From 1930 until the closure of the building in January 1938 splendid work was done by the Household Management Committee. It was in the cause of good administration that the County Council found it necessary to decide upon closure in consequence of surplus accommodation at building in other parts of the county. During the months prior to the war the building was used for the storage of ARP equipment.
1940 Chronicle 20C 8 Jan FOOD RATIONING INTRODUCED: Butter 4ozs; Sugar 12 ozs; Bacon or Ham uncooked 4 ozs; Bacon or Ham cooked 3 ½ ozs.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 13 Jan TREES PLANTED to beautify the roads of the Borough during the last few years have been damaged recently, particularly some young trees in Upper Grange Road
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jan PURCHASE of SITE in Hungate Lane for street improvement vetoed by the Council as a result of intervention by Rear Admiral Johnson.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jan LIBRARIAN: RC Dunt said that average issue of books in December (all days 2.30 to 4pm) Tuesdays 250, Wednesdays 60, Thursdays 140, Saturdays 170.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 27 Jan FARMERS’ SUCCESS: Beccles National Farmers’ Union the most efficient unit in Suffolk for the 10th time. Total membership in Suffolk was 2513.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 3 Feb REFUGEE CHILDREN: Proposal by the Chief Billeting Officer; Children should change billets after three months and go to different hosts for three months and return to their original hosts for the next three months, so giving the hosts a break. Beccles will await a reply to this proposal from the Regional Headquarters at Cambridge.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 3 Feb DEATH of Mr MW Guton of 82 St George’s Road. Born at Belton in 1866, the son of a farm bailiff to Mr Brightwen & Sir Robert Palgrave. Apprenticed to Worlingham blacksmith, Mr Welton, took job as a porter at Seven Sisters, Tottenham. Became a signalman, moved to Chingford and after 11 years to Walsingham and finally Beccles, from which station he retired in 1932 after 43 years with the LNER.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 3 Feb SOCIAL INSTIUTE AGM: A satisfactory financial position was recorded by the Chairman, Mr WE Downing, who has been associate with it since it was founded by his father-in-law, William Elliott in 1903.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 3 Feb FIRE DESTROYS GARAGE of Mr AW Denny [in Peddar’s Lane?], together with 5 lorries, 3 of them loaded with goods ready for transit.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 3 Feb DEATH of George Robert Lincoln of 46 Fair Close aged 72. Appointed to the Board of Management of the Co-Op in 1901, and President since 1919. He was employed in the composing department of the Caxton Press for nearly 60 years until his retirement in 1938.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 10 Feb HOUSING INQUIRY in Wainford Area postponed
1940 Beccles & Bungay 10 Feb BREWSTER SESSIONS: The Magistrates: Capt BW Blowers (Chairman), The Mayor of Beccles (Mr Allden Owles), L-Col BG Baker. Mrs E Baxter, EJ Hindes, J Brindy, AE Jordan & AE Pye.
There were 27 full, 5 beer “on” & 4 beer “off” premises (of the latter, 3 were grocers). At the last District Census the population was 8894, giving one “on” licence holder to 287 people.
There have been only 4 convictions for drunkenness in the last 5 years.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 10 Feb DEATH of Mrs DOROTHY FORWARD at Waveney House, wife Mr BRYAN FORWARD, Lowestoft & Beccles Solicitor, who has been for 25 years Town Clerk of Beccles.
Mrs Forward, born at Beeston, Notts, she had lived in Beccles 25 years, and previously at Lowestoft. She had been an invalid for the last 4 years. Last November her elder daughter was married to Mr GF Ludovici. After a short honeymoon they sailed for Karachi, India.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 10 Feb PHOTOGRAPH of SNOW being cleared on Beccles to Ringsfield Road.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Feb DEATH of Mr Alfred DARBY aged 83, of 15 Smallgate. Born in London, Mr Darby came to Beccles as a child and spent practically all his life in the town. After serving his apprenticeship with Mr Mills, a photographer, he went to Bradford for a short time. He returned to carry on Mr Mills’ business and carried it on for about 60 years.
Mr Darby was for some years a member of the old Volunteers at Beccles. He had belonged to the Beccles Adult School since it was founded in 1900. A lifelong teetotaller , he was a member of the local tent of Rechabites.
A widower for the last five years, Mr Darby leaves four sons and two daughters. One of the sons, Mr Claud S Darby, for some years has been the Beccles & Bungay advertising representative of our series of newspapers.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Feb SPARROW KILLING organised by the Lothingland Young Farmers’ Club, paid ½d for a dead adult bird, to protect the food supply.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Feb PEACE OFFENSIVE by Dr AD Belden, a Congregational Minister and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Division. “Toryism had made the war.... If this major war is loosed there will be such destruction on both sides that all possibilities of a new Europe will sink in the welter of blood and agony and hate ... The war must end in a revolt of the common people. That was the only decent way for it to end. The masses must be rallied together and the Church must lead them.”.
Mr Belden said they were not going to smash Hitler by brute force. It could not be done. What he would like to see was a proclamation on the part of the British Government as to the kind of peace it desired in Europe. These terms could be put into the hands of a friendly Power for canvassing with the other side. Then there should be a representative world conference. He added that they could make a better world if the common people were massed well enough for it
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Feb YOUR MEAT RATION: Rationing of butcher’s meat on a value basis of 1s 10d for each person over six years old will be introduced on Monday 11 March. Those under six will receive half the ration. A family of three persons will be able to purchase 4lb of best English sirloin; or 8lb of boiling cuts of best home killed beef, such as pate, brisket or flank; or 5lbs of imported sirloin. Liver, kidneys, tripe, heart, ox-tail and sausages will not be rationed. Restaurants will be able to serve meat without coupons.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Feb WEATHER: For practically the whole month [of January] there was snow about. Temperatures were always low and in the first fortnight it was uncommon for anything between 10 and 29 degrees of frost in the night. In many places there was good skating and in the Waveney Valley it was a unique privilege to be able to enjoy it on the river itself. The first heavy snow-fall was experienced on 16th with blizzard conditions. In no time great drifts of snow were whirled off the fields on to the roads, with the result that communication from place to place was practically out of the question until the snow ploughs had been put into action.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 24 Feb WORKERS for Council have more wages as a result of the war. Men to have 3s rise a week & charwomen 2s extra.
EVACUATION REPORT by the Evacuation Officer, WS Clark: Of the 418 unaccompanied children from Gravesend 23% had returned home. For the whole country the percentage was 43%. Teachers received 94, of whom 49% had returned. Of the 158 mothers, 95% had gone home. Altogether 1,689 evacuees had been received & 54% had gone back; 749 remained.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 24 Feb CAMPAIGN against RATS in Beccles organised by the County Council: A penny will be paid for the tail of each rat. By the end of last year 1195 tails had been taken to the Corporation Depot.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 24 Feb EVACUEES: The unaccompanied children, teachers and helpers are connected with schools which have been officially evacuated to Beccles and which are getting on well in their new surroundings. One of these is the Gravesend County School for Boys, which has Shipmeadow House as its headquarters since the beginning of this year. The boys and staff are very happily settled and have contributed in no small measure to local activities. That the school is deeply appreciative of their reception is shown by the fact that Mr Samuel Lister, the head master has spoken of it at the Incorporated Association of Head Masters of Secondary Schools in London & at a recent sermon at St Michael’s.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 24 Feb WORKERS for Council have more wages as a result of the war. Men to have 3s rise a week & charwomen 2s extra.
EVACUATION REPORT by the Evacuation Officer, WS Clark: Of the 418 unaccompanied children from Gravesend 23% had returned home. For the whole country the percentage was 43%. Teachers received 94, of whom 49% had returned. Of the 158 mothers, 95% had gone home. Altogether 1,689 evacuees had been received & 54% had gone back; 749 remained.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 24 Feb CAMPAIGN against RATS in Beccles organised by the County Council: A penny will be paid for the tail of each rat. By the end of last year 1195 tails had been taken to the Corporation Depot.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 2 Mar CENTENARY of EAST SUFFOLK POLICE FORCE on 5th March. Road casualties in East Suffolk during 1939: 24 people killed, 748 injured in 594 accidents. 11 of those killed were pedestrians.
There were 571 crimes in 1939, of which 330 were detected o 57%
There were 129 people of German or Austrian nationality in the County.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 2 Mar WOMEN’S VOLUNTARY SERVICES for Civil Defence, formed well under a year ago under the chairmanship of Mrs Wood-Hill. It was in the weeks that followed the outbreak of war these ladies were particularly busy with evacuees. 2,100 articles of clothing and boots have been given out to evacuees by this organisation.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 2 Mar ARTHUR PYE replies to Dr Belden: As an old member of the Lowestoft Divisional Party Executive and also a fellow Congregationalist, I regret the passing of the resolution at the recent meeting at Beccles. I am quite sure it does not represent the views of the overwhelming majority of supporters in North Suffolk, and is in direct opposition to the declared policy of the National Labour Party.
Lord Halifax and Mr Chamberlain did everything humanly possible to avert this catastrophe. From every church and from thousands of individuals prayers were offered that war might be averted. All this and the propaganda of the Pacifists was interpreted by Herr von Ribbentrop & Herr Hitler as a sign of weakness and decadence on the part of Great Britain.
To follow the procedure of this resolution would be futile.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 9 Mar DEATH of Mrs Grimmer of Mettingham Hall. She was the daughter of Mr & Mrs Betts of Fritton Grange, Long Stratton. They lived first at Ellingham, the at Shadingfield for10 years. They moved to Mettingham Hall, which the family has farmed for a lengthy period.
Mrs Grimmer served in the forage corps during the Great War & was a founder member of the Mettingham Women’s Institute.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 9 Mar THREE CARS IN COLLISION at BARSHAM opposite the church. Nobody was injured.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 9 Mar AIR RAID SHELTER: As a result of various structural alterations which have been carried out the old Wine Vaults in Hungate have been converted into a capital air raid shelter. Credit is due to Mr Meen, the borough’s ARP organiser and Chief Air Raid warden who supervised the work. There are two large vaults with a plainly marked entrance at the Exchange Square end of Hungate and an emergency exit into Blyburgate. Dry, spacious and well ventilated they have comfortable seating for 120 persons. There is also room for several other people to stand in the vaults, which are illuminated by electric light and have been provided with sanitary accommodation. The shelter will be manned by air raid wardens attached to the post, which has its headquarters directly opposite. It will serve as a place of refuge for those who happen to be caught in the streets when an air raid occurs. The Council suggests that people should leave their front doors unfastened during a raid, and people caught in the street should shelter in the nearest house or premises.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 9 Mar EVACUEE’S ESSAY: “I miss the wide streets of Gravesend, for although the streets of Beccles are very clean, they are very narrow.”
1940 Beccles & Bungay 9 Mar NEW HOSPITAL MATRON: Miss Phyllis E Sutton is taking the place of Miss M Annand who is leaving for service with the Forces.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 9 Mar ADVERTISEMENT: “The Stars Look Down” all next week at the Odeon Lowestoft.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 16 Mar BECCLES CHURCH: Good financial situation with the church. The Rector (Rev Harold Birch) presided, supported by the Churchwardens AE Bunn & W Fowler & the Secretary of the Parochial Church Council Mr BW Goodin. The former National Schools in Ravensmere had been empty for a year and had been requisitioned by the Town Council as an Auxiliary Fire Station. The legal position of a school, which was closed, was rather conflicting. The school was built about 70 years ago. In the High Court it had been decided that if a building ceased to be a church school the ground reverted back to the person who had sold the site or his descendants, even though he had received money for it. The Rector said, “It affects us this way, that although we no longer have the school we are not able to sell the property.” Efforts were being made to trace the descendants of the man who sold the site.
The Church Tower had its roof re-leaded during the year at a cost of £82
1940 Beccles & Bungay 16 Mar PHOTOGRAPH: Digging for Victory page 12
1940 Beccles & Bungay 23 Mar COUNCIL RATES 12s/6d in the £, the same as last year.
SUFFOLK County War Agricultural Committee was asked for advice on the use of the Marshes. They replied that two small Marshes on Goose Green of 2 & 3 acres should be ploughed up. This did not satisfy the Council and they sought more information.
BATHING PLACE: During the absence of Mr BL Moore, the attendant, on the East Suffolk Police War Reserve, his brother & sister to act instead.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 23 Mar Mr & Mrs George Strowger of the Angel Inn, Ballygate celebrated their golden wedding. Coming from an old Beccles family Mr Strowger was born at Norton Subcourse. On leaving Beccles in the early part of his life he spent in the service of Norfolk gentry. After several years as stud groom to Mr Henry Birkbeck of Westacre High House, he returned to Beccles in October 1909 to take over the licence of the Angel Inn. Until recently Mr Strowger continued to work as a horse trainer. Hunting, coursing & bowls have made a great appeal to him. Until it ceased to function a few years ago the Coursing Club had its headquarters at the Angel.
Mrs Strowger comes from Devon and is a member of the Conservative Association. They were married at Banningham Church, near Aylsham. They have two daughters.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 30 Mar DEATH of Mrs Eleanor Stebbings, aged 93, of the Butchers’ Arms, Ilketshall St Andrew, who had never been out of the parish.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 30 Mar DEATH of Mr JJ King aged 78 of Blyburgate. He was a native of Bury St Edmunds and came to Beccles when he was 19. He was in business as a baker & confectioner for 59 years, disposing of the business six months ago. Until 8 years ago he was superintendent of the ex-Primitive Methodist Sunday School for 40 years. He succeeded his father-in-law, William Harper, who founded the school and had charge for 30 years.
He was a preacher for 40 years on the Loddon, Bungay circuit. The service was held on the 22nd anniversary of the death in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle of his third son, AE King.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 30 Mar BILLETING of EVACUEES: Every household is required to fill in a leaflet about their readiness to house evacuees. The original survey discovered that 3,700 billets were available in the town. Last September 1,700 evacuees arrived, but 1,000 have returned home. In the case of bombing in the evacuees areas a further 300 places are required. It is hoped these can be found from volunteers otherwise compulsory powers will be used.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 30 Mar MARRIED in Vancouver: Mr Frank Clayton Wilkinson, 3rd son of the late Alderman John Quinton Wilkinson with Miss Muriel Mabel Hart, daughter of Mr & Mrs John Hart of Vancouver. Mr Wilkinson emigrated to Canada in 1922 & since then has been working for General Motors.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 30 Mar SPELLING BEE & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE competition to be held in the Public Hall on 6 April, compered by Dr Wood-Hill
1940 Beccles & Bungay 6 Apr WOMEN’S VOLUNTARY SERVICES, Beccles branch praised for distributing half of all garments in the county to evacuees. They had distributed 2070 out of 4070 in the whole county.
1940 date chart 9 Apr HITLER INVADES DENMARK & NORWAY
1940 Beccles & Bungay 13 Apr KEW GARDENS & its association with Sir William Hooker of Norwich& Halesworth and Sir Joseph Hooker
1940 Beccles & Bungay 13 Apr RETIREMENT of Thomas Henry Ward aged 75 of Guist, Grove Road from Caxton Press after 62 years - the record of years of employment by the firm. Born in Beccles, he started at the Press aged 13½ as a compositor’s apprentice. After completing his time he continued in the composing department. 20 years later he was promoted to the Reading Department. Much of the work he had to handle was of a technical and legal character.
When he was 15 he learned and when a cricket section of the Athletic Club was formed he was Captain foe 11 years and for most of that time was also is secretary. As a Rugger player he was outstanding. He was a fullback and the only time he did not turn out for his own club was when he accepted an invitation to play for Suffolk County. Owing to a shortage of Rugby Clubs in Norfolk & Suffolk soccer was introduced at the Caxton Press in the 1890s. Rugby & Soccer matches were played on alternate Saturdays. A leg injury in 1893 made him retire from rugger and he took up refereeing Soccer until 1915, being regularly seen at Norwich City ground.
He has been a member of the Typographical Society (for 47 years) a member of the “Temple of Friendship of Oddfellows (since he was 18) a member of the Board of Management of the Co-Op.
Mrs Ward was born at Brandeston & they have a son & a daughter. The son, Tom Ward of Sheffield specialises in executive work in connection with swimming. The daughter is a teacher?
RETIREMENT of Mr WOOLNER last year, who had completed 58 years with Clowes
1940 Beccles & Bungay 13 Apr DEATH of ALFRED PARR, aged 57 of Holmlea, St Anne’s Road. A native of Kenninghall he came to Beccles 36 years ago and 9 years later set up business as a motor engineer.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 13 Apr ****BANKRUPTCY (proceedings at Yarmouth) of former owner of ASHMAN’S HALL, Mrs Elizabeth Irene Lauriston Scott and later of Forest Edge, Farley Hill, Berks. She was married 15 years ago to Major Henry Stewart Lauriston Scott [he was born 29 December 1885 and appears in the Olympic Games as a Show Jumper in 1912 at Stockholm]. Until 1939 she received a substantial voluntary allowance from abroad. The allowances stopped in January 1939. She was receiving £200, £250 and in one case £300 a month. She wrote the name and address of the person sending the allowance on paper and handed it to the Official Receiver “You will of course recognise why that is not being mentioned in open court. As I understand it that was purely voluntary. It is obvious that at the present time you are not in receipt of that allowance.”
Receiver: Was it on the strength of the allowance that in January 1937, you took a three year tenancy of Ashman’s Hall?” - “My husband was a director of some companies and had fairly good prospects.”
Mrs Scott: She was given an option to purchase at £2,150. She paid no rent during the first year owing to the money spent on improvements and alterations, apart from electricity installation.”
Receiver: “ In your husband’s bankruptcy there was a claim for this”
Mrs Scott: In April 1938 the property was valued at£3,500 on a forced sale basis. In December 1938, she exercised the option to purchase for £2,150.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 13 Apr LIFEBOAT INSTITUION: Every week since hostilities started the average number of lives rescued has been 62. During the last month the total of lives saved from drowning was 77. The first seven months of this war have been the most crowded and hazardous in the history of the lifeboat service.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Apr PAY of COUNCIL EMPLOYEES: Council uncertain on situation, enquiring of other local authorities.
ROAD CORNER IMPROVEMENT at junction of Ballygate & St Mary’s Road: Removal of a boarded fence & substitution of a live hedge, together with a public seat in a recess in the new hedge. The seat was given by Dr Wood-Hill.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Apr BECCLES DRAMATIC SOCIETY stage “The Private Secretary” a comedy by Charles Hawtry.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Apr DEATH of SIR GEORGE BUCHANAN aged 74 at his home at Ditchingham. He was a distinguished Civil Engineer.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Apr BECCLES IN THE SEVENTIES [1870s] by Miss Tracy to the Historical Society at the YMCA Hut
On 12 August 1872 she and her two younger sisters arrived to stay with her grandmother, who had hired a house in London Road [No 18] now occupied by the Mayor & Mayoress, until their mother arranged their future home.
Peaceful green meadows and cornfields existed where were now Alexandra, Denmark, Gosford, Gresham, Kilbrack, St Benedict’s, Grange, Ashman’s and Priory Roads, as well as a large part of Ravensmere, Swine’s Green and Lady’s Meadow. By far the most picturesque entrance to the borough was by way of Bungay Road, where the fine old trees at the end of Ashman’s Wood met another group on the opposite side of Ringsfield Road now occupied by the Catholic Minster, and the row oaks and elms in the Fauconberge School playground. Now all were gone. A pretty grass slope edging the road and path in front of the two old cottages opposite the former Sir John Leman School and an ancient pump has been removed and a raised path with concrete steps provided instead.
Love Lane, as St Mary’s Road was then called, was really a lane. On one side was the playground and part of Homefield and on the other a huge cornfield extending right up to the waterworks and Ringsfield Road. Half way down the lane was a stile and a pretty winding footpath through the cornfield to the entrance to London Road, where there was another secluded style stile that was very well remembered by many who were then young men and girls. Priory Road had completely buried that little pathway. In London Road the main feature, which struck everyone going up the road, was the two beautiful copper beeches on the left hand side. Unfortunately they grew so large and darkened to such an extent the houses they fronted that they had to be cut down. Another feature was the tall tower mill, but when its sails were revolving and their shadows were falling on the windows of the houses opposite conditions for the occupants were rather trying.
By demolition Northgate, Blyburgate, Saltgate and Ballygate had lost some of their oldest houses, and the old home of the Crowfoot family in Blyburgate had been purchased and pulled down so that its site could be laid out in building plots. A level crossing and wooden footbridge led to the Avenue, then recently laid out. This was a well-made gravel roadway across a marsh and had wide borders on either side filled with young trees, flowering shrubs and plants. The Avenue was crossed at the far end by a wooden bridge over a wide dyke on which several swans and sometimes cygnets swam about waiting to be fed with bread by the children. This was a delightful walk to the Common, but its maintenance apparently being considered an expense to the town it grew shabby and neglected. Soon the flower-beds disappeared altogether and the whole stretch was gravelled.
The river provided great sport during the winter, for when there was an extra high tide and the water could not get away quickly enough under the low bridge the marshes were flooded. When this water froze there were acres of ice for skating. Sometimes the frost lasted for weeks, and in the middle of the day the town would be almost deserted. Everyone, who could get away, flocked down to the ice and learned to skate in no time. Some years they skated to Bungay or Oulton Broad. One winter a carnival was held on the ice on the river, a donkey and cart going up and down selling oranges and buns and hot potatoes roasted on a stove.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 27 Apr FARMING 137 acres at Ilketshall St Andrew: Visited by the Minister of Agriculture in June 1939, farmed by William Bell. Some years ago the old farmhouse had burnt down and Bell was slowly rebuilding it. In February 1939 he purchased the farm for £2,000 - with his savings as a smallholder in Hampshire. Rough grass, which he let out to grazing and bushes were growing in all the fields where once corn had flourished. He slept in the large old barn “to keep the rats from the chickens.” He had about 500 pullets and a few pigs, but he hoped to stock it some time in the future.
Now a big transformation has occurred. He was hard at work with a tractor drawing a harrow. “I have ploughed up 30 acres of grassland which I used to le for rough grazing, and am going to do some more soon.”
He is planning to purchase some cattle this year. Because of the war, there were times he could get no feeding stuffs, so he sold his chicken and his pigs. He is now married to a Kentish girl, and he had a bungalow built on the Halesworth Road at Redisham.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 27 Apr REDISHAM HALL ESTATE of 400 acres is on the market again. Less than three years ago it was purchased by Capt WW Dowding, who spent a great deal of money modernising the residence. He has now been called up for active service. It is well wooded. Through the park runs the little Hundred River. There are plenty of trees in the park, among them some huge cedars, which are obviously of great age. The previous owner, Lt-Col Charles Lysaght Motimer lived in Beccles up to his death in March 1937at the age of 86.
The first Hall on the site is believed to have been that of Nicholas Garneys who was High Sheriff of Suffolk in 1592 and is commemorated by an unusual monument on the exterior of Ringsfield Church. The Hall was pulled down in 1820 to make way for the new mansion of Mr John Garden, enlarged in 1904.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 27 Apr TRAMP BEGS at door of MAYOR of LOWESTOFT: “He has made himself a great nuisance to the people of Beccles” said Major Humphery, the Mayor. James Cooper, 77 Castle Hill, Beccles: He said his health had been ruined by war service & he had suffered from shell shock. He had been on relief since the last war and definitely for the last ten years. He received 32s 6d public assistance. The authorities held that his present disability was not due to war service.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 27 Apr HSTORICALSOCIETY: Owing to petrol rationing it was not possible to plan excursions a considerable distance away. Mr HR Davis, a retired London Headmaster living at Weston is to give a lantern lecture at the Society’s AGM on stained glass. The first tour to Southwold in June
1940 Beccles & Bungay 4 May ORGANIST of St Michael’s: John Hammond of Pakefield is appointed Organist & Choirmaster in succession to W Storeton-West of Lowestoft who has been organist for 10 years. Mr Hammond was formerly a pupil of Dr Heathcote Statham, the organist of Norwich Cathedral and has been Organist at Pakefield for six years. He has the advantage of being a young man.
1940 date chart 10 May HITLER INVADES HOLLAND & BELGIUM
1940 date chart 10 May WINSTON CHURCHILL BECOMES PRIME MINISTER
1940 Beccles & Bungay 11 May BEQUEST of £4,000 from Mrs Margaret Waring of Chorley, Lancs to children of late Rev Alfred Pagan of Beccles.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 11 May DEATH of Mrs Mary Elizabeth Cowles, aged 93, widow of Charles Cowles of Beccles. She was daughter-in-law of William Cowles, Mayor of Beccles 1858-59 &proprietor of a school at 44 Northgate (Staithe House) for nearly half a century. Mrs Cowles lived in Beccles until about 1915.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 18 May RED TRIANLE CLUB AGM: The President, Rear Admiral Johnson said the Club had been asked to provide educational facilities for the Gravesend County School for Boys at the lowest possible cost. The hut was blacked out, heating & cleaning also being undertaken. The transfer to Shipmeadow has eased the situation. The Town Council asked the Club to provide meals for the parents of evacuee children, but this resulted in a loss because the parents preferred to go to the billets and see the children there.
Successful provision had been made for members of the Forces. A wireless and additional papers were provided.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 18 May Lt Col Lush awarded Certificate of Merit by the British Legion. The branch was founded by Col Lush & Sam Wade, Petty Officer, RN.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 18 May AIR RAID ADVICE: During an air-raid or air battle overhead, do not go out doors to watch, and if you are out doors go into a shelter or a house, or if you are in open country lie down in a ditch. “Many people in Spain, Poland & Finland lost their lives by not obeying the rule at once. after a short time the survivors learnt do that”
1940 Beccles & Bungay 18 May WHIT MONDAY treated as a day of normal work following the Government announcement.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 18 May PHOTOGRAPH: Factory in Norwich doing work of National importance.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 25 May ACCOUNT of INVASION of HOLLAND by Norwich Firm’s branch manager.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 25 May BLACK DOG OF BUNGAY
1940 Beccles & Bungay 25 May PHOTOGRAPH: Women workers on the Farm
1940 date chart 28 May BELGIUM & HOLLAND SURRENDER TO NAZIS
1940 date chart 31 May BRITISH TROOPS ENCIRCLED on FRENCH COAST
1940 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jun SCHOOL CHILDREN to be EVACUATED from LOWESTOFT was announced on the radio on Sunday, 26 May. Evacuations commence on Sunday 2 June to Herefordshire and Wales. The scheme covered children attending school and not infants or parents, but included children aged 3 to 4 if accompanied by an older brother or sister. The children must take with them their gas masks, identity card, ration card, food for the day, a change of underclothing, handkerchiefs, stockings, plimsols or house shoes, comb, tooth brush etc. They will travel in the care of teachers and voluntary helpers, and parents will be informed of the address of the children as soon as possible. The Mayor of Lowestoft said: “I hope all parents will, if possible, evacuate their children. I hope they will not put obstacles in the way, and that they will keep calm when they are seeing their children off. I appeal to everyone to keep calm.”
1940 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jun DAY OF NATIONAL PRAYER: Between 1,400 and 1,500 people attended the Day of National Prayer service in St Michael’s Church, Beccles. The church was packed by one of the biggest congregations in living memory, and many were accommodated on chairs put in the aisles. The Mayor & Corporation and officials attended. The service was taken by the Curate, Rev CD Hulbert, and started with the first verse of the National Anthem & “I will lift up Mine Eyes”. In the sermon Rev HL Birch said, “In response to the call of their King millions of men and women were gathering together in tens of thousands of churches and chapels throughout this country and all round the world. Clearly the occasion was not for preaching, but for praying.
It was generally recognised in the conscience of men throughout the world that in this tremendous struggle Great Britain had right on her side and that her cause was the cause of freedom and justice and regard for the rights of man.”
1940 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jun BECCLES SCHOOL CHILDREN: “There is no intention whatsoever to evacuate any Beccles school children. The only local places where evacuation of school children is to be effected are Lowestoft and Yarmouth.” The Kent & Essex evacuee children are to be moved fro areas within ten miles of the East coast. The Gravesend County School for Boys pupils will move to Bungay so that they can continue using the Shipmeadow House as their school.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jun ESCAPED: Mr OL Gill of Ypres, who has been in charge of the Imperial War Graves Commission’s horticultural work in Belgium, Germany and Holland, has reached his brother’s home at Beccles. He is a native of the town.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jun MINISTRY OF INFORMATION loudspeaker address in Beccles Market Place on Friday afternoon by Mr JF Coales (the former Conservative Agent for Lowestoft Division) & Mr Knowles: “The recent formation in this country of a new Government was a proof of the unity that existed. If ever there was a time when every individual should place his services at the disposal of the State it was now.”
Mr Knowles emphasised that people should carry their gas masks always, should see that their blackout was perfect, and should not receive or spread rumours. He appealed for support for the Mayor in any action he took”.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jun HISTORICAL SOCIETY have cancelled their programme of visits, but the lecture on “Old Stained Glass Windows” would take place on 5 June.
1940 date chart 4 Jun BRITISH TROOPS EVACUATED FROM DUNKIRK
1940 Beccles & Bungay 8 Jun EVACUEES LEAVE BECCLES: About 176 Dagenham children left the station on Sunday morning by special train accompanied by 27 teachers and helpers.
Nearly 200 pupils and staff of the Gravesend School for boys on Monday left Beccles for their new billets six miles away in Bungay and in neighbouring villages.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 8 Jun DEATH on ACTIVE SERVICE - died of wounds: Mr Robert FA Throckmorton, aged 20, youngest son of Captain HJA Throckmorton, RN (Retd), of The Grange, Grange Road, Beccles and grandson of Sir Richard Throckmorton of Coughton, Warwickshire, who joined the army at the beginning of this year. He was educated at Sir John Leman School, Beccles & at Beaumont College, Old Windsor. Afterwards he studied as an accountant. He was a member of Beccles Amateur Sailing Club, of which his father is Commodore, and in 1938 won its Coronation Challenge Cup.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 8 Jun PROTEST by WAINFORD RDC at Government proposals to send evacuees to this area. Capt BW Blower said that in view of the dangerous position he thought it was time some protest was made about the proposal. He stressed that residents were perfectly willing and ready to help by taking the children, but there was the question of the wisdom of sending the evacuees to an area so near the East coast as Wainford.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 8 Jun LOCAL FASCISTS ARRESTED. Two from Lowestoft, three at Kings Lynn one of them a churchwarden, two at Eye one a Councillor, one from Sheringham.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jun DEATH IN ACTION: Able Seaman Ralph F Ward, second son of Mr & Mrs RP Ward, of 42 Station Road, Beccles, killed by a German bomb while carrying out his duties as leading torpedo-man on the last destroyer to take part in the evacuation of Dunkirk. He was 29, had taken part in the Altman rescue. He had been in the Navy 15 years having joined at the age of 14½. A native of Yarmouth, he was an old choirboy of Beccles Parish Church. His father had been in the railway booking office for many years. The funeral took place at Gillingham, Kent.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jun MAYOR’S APPEAL: “In view of the great needs of the borough for more volunteers to help in the various organisations in being for the defence of our country, I make this urgent appeal to all who are not at present giving some of their spare time towards the national effort.
One of the most urgent calls at the moment is for the Auxiliary Fire Service, in which those between the ages of 36 and 45 preferably are required for rescue and decontamination parties, and 16 to 19 as messengers and telephone operators.
Application should be made to the Mayor at the Town Hall.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jun NO MOTOR BOATS on BROADS without a licence - which would not be issued except for urgent public affairs. Rowing boats & sailing boats may continue to be used.
The public were advised to “Fish for Victory” as well as “Dig for Victory”. There were hundreds of tons of fish in the Broads and Rivers.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jun FARM WORERS EXTRA PAY. The rate of pay will go up from 38s 6d a week to 48s 6d a week.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jun FARMERS are asked by the Ministry of Agriculture to build their haystacks in the middle of grass fields to prevent enemy aircraft landing. If the field is large two or more stacks should be built.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jun HISTORY of SOUTHWOLD, USA
1940 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jun HOSTEL CLOSED. The Hostel for sick evacuees in Blyburgate has been closed as the evacuees have now left the town. Since September 11th last year an average of 16 beds have been occupied weekly. Practically all the occupants have been Dagenham evacuees.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 22 Jun COUNCIL debated question of extra pay to employees of the Council in Services to make pay up to peacetime level. Future cases will be decided on merit.
OLD FIRE STATION in Newgate to be sold to Messrs Clowes - it does not suit present requirements. Old National School to be adapted. Hiperson’s to do work within three weeks at cost of £73, plus electrical work of £25.
CEMETERY SUPERINTENDENT (Mr AW Robinson) to be replaced as a result of the District Auditor’s Report: salary £3 - 6s and free lodge.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 22 Jun SAVINGS DRIVE in BECCLES next week in order to help finance the war. The WVS under Mrs Wood-Hill have had about 40 members going from house to house to endeavour to interest all residents in the National Savings campaign.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 22 Jun BISHOP at SPEECH DAY of Sir John Leman School.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 22 Jun OLD GERMAN GUN at Beccles is to be sold by the Corporation for scrap to assist in the metal campaign.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 22 Jun DRIVER KILLED by Tyre Burst. Sidney John Day, aged 35 of 7 Gladstone Terrace, St George’s Road was employed by Robinson’s Transport (Beccles) Ltd as a lorry driver. He and Ernest Sharman, of Ellough Road were seriously injured when the tire they were mending burst, throwing Day against a neighbouring lorry. Mr George Robinson, the employer paid tribute to Day who had worked for him for 12 years. The Coroner found it a case of accidental death.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 22 Jun PHOTOGRAPH: Watch for the Enemy Planes (page 6)
1940 Beccles & Bungay 22 Jun EVACUATION OF CHILDREN: 3,000 more to leave East & South-East Coast Towns next week going to the Midlands & South Wales. 39,000 were evacuated from these areas on 2nd of June. 120 school children will be moved from Aldeburgh & Southwold to Warsop in Notts.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jun BECCLES REGATTA cancelled
1940 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jun WEDDING at St Benet’s Roman Catholic Church: Sergeant Reginald G Jones, son of Mr & Mrs GV Jones of Fair Close and Miss Irene M Hughes, daughter of Mr & Mrs J Hughes of St Anne’s Road, Beccles. The Bridegroom joined the RAOC some three years ago. He was one of those recently evacuated from Dunkirk. For the past seven years the bride has been in the service of the LNER at the Lowestoft Central goods office.
At the reception held at the Three Bees Cafe, Rev Father GW Tate, OSB, paid tribute to the Bride who had been organist at St Benet’s, a position he understood had been filled by the Groom before he joined the Forces.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jun FIRE BUCKETS: Chief Officer CL Hamby of the Beccles Fire Brigade has asked the public to give assistance in the event of the enemy dropping incendiary bombs, to place one or two buckets of water outside the front door, which will enable any party with a stirrup pump to get to work at once to render ineffective any incendiary bomb that may fall.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 6 Jul EVACUATION PLANS: The whole of the East Coast of England is now a defence zone. Persons proceeding to any point in the area that is within five miles of the coast must produce satisfactory evidence that they are engaged on business or for similar good reasons. Otherwise they will be required to leave.
This will apply to all holidaymakers and persons engaged on any kind of pleasure trip.
Circumstances may well arise under which the compulsory evacuation of the bulk of the population of certain districts threatened with invasion will require to be directed as a matter of military necessity.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 13 Jul DEATH of Albert Edward Orford, age 74, of 52 Blyburgate. After completing almost half a century’s service with the LNER & the GER Mr Orford retired in 1931, on reaching the age limit. As pilot of the trains over the bridge crossing the Waveney between Beccles and Aldeby that Mr Orford became well known. He started work at St Olave's as bridge assistant. After coming to Beccles for duties as assistant pilot of trains over the river bridge he went in turn to Somerleyton and March junction, then to Foulsham as porter signalman, Cantley as signalman, and Whitlingham, first as signalman and then as foreman porter. In 1890 Mr Orford returned to Beccles swing bridge as pilot, remained there about 35 years until the present electrically operated bridge [1926] was opened about 14 years ago. He finished his service as a gatekeeper at Grove Road crossing, Beccles.
The opening of the bridge [to allow river traffic to pass] was performed in about three minutes. “Before the Great War there used to be a lot of Sunday League and other excursions and the passengers would look out when the train stopped at the bridge. I would get up on the engine on the side of the bridge, pilot it over, and get off where the double track started on the other side.” All the time he was on duty there was not a single accident.
Mr Orford’s son, Mr E Orford has been a parcels porter at Beccles Station for some years.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 13 Jul SAVINGS WEEK: The total receipts during the National Savings Week at Beccles raised £8,289, which represents about £1 a head.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 13 Jul YARMOUTH MAGISTRATES sent to prison for 14 days for her third blackout offence.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 13 Jul NAZIS bomb East Anglian Town. [no location given] Several civilians killed in daylight raid.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 13 Jul PROTECTION IN AIR RAIDS: Basement or semi-basement rooms are usually the best because their lateral strength is secured by the surrounding earth.
Rooms facing soft ground or gardens are safer than those looking out on the street.
Ground floors of flats should be set aside and strengthened. Occupants of upper flats might be welcomed. They will usually be willing to share the cost of preparing the refuge.
Ceilings should be supported in case of the collapse of a roof or upper storey.
If the walls are thinner than 13½ inches of solid brick or stone, boxes filled with earth can be usefully be piled to a height of six feet.
Householders can paste muslin, calico, and cotton over the glass. If loss of light is not important cardboard may be pasted over the windows.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jul COUNCIL: AIR RAID SHELTERS: More needed: suggested sites: Shelter to accommodate 40 to 60 people on vacant sit in Saltgate and to convert a section of Crisp’s Maltings in Station Road for 150 people. Asked Mr Meen to draw up plans for Communal Shelters in parts of the town where residents cannot provide shelters.
PUBLIC HALL CHARGES: Theatrical entertainment: 30s for the first day, 20s the second day & subsequent days; local concerts or theatrical entertainments 20s; bazaars, religious or charitable 20s etc.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH: All restrictions on keeping pigs and poultry on local authority housing were suspended.
GAME LICENCES: J Leggett, Blyburgate; Mrs E Balls, New Market; LR Tilney, Smallgate; WJ Seppings, Hungate.
ALLOTMENTS: Council will approach owners of vacant land to use as more allotments
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jul CURATE of BECCLES Rev Charles Hulbert, to be new Rector of Halesworth, He has been Curate of Beccles for two years and has done excellent work, particularly among young people. Thanks to him and his wife the St Michael’s Youth Fellowship is playing an important part in the life of the parish.
The most distinguished Rector of Halesworth was Richard Whatley, who held the living from 1822 to 1831 and subsequently became Archbishop of Dublin. One of Whatley’s friends was John Keble, the divine and poet, who wrote part of his most famous works at Halesworth.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jul FINANCIAL PLIGHT of EAST COAST towns because of the War
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jul TOWN SWIMMING CLUB to carry on during war.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jul WVS MESSAGE from the Regional Administrator: If all 60,000members in the region keep calm, courageous & cheerful spirit during the difficulties their influence will be of the utmost value to this country.
There are three things of special importance if an invasion should be attempted;
1. They should stay in their houses and not “take to the road”
2. People are worried when sirens are not sounded whenever an enemy aircraft is thought to be in the area. We should trust the C-in-c Fighter Command as to whether it is wise to have warnings or not.
3. Do not listen to or spread rumours.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jul PROPERTY MARKET: Southelmham St Michael: The Poplars Farm, 216a including two double cottages, farm house & agricultural premises - Bought JB Ashford, for a client, £800
The others withdrawn.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jul OVERTIME for HARVESTERS: Adult male workers employed on the corn harvest in Suffolk to get special minimum rate of 1s 3d per hour for overtime.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 27 Jul SCHOOLBOYS TO FELL TREES: Next month senior boys of the Sir John Leman School, together with male members of the staff are to undertake felling of trees at Broome under a Government scheme. The Headmaster, Mr GS Humphreys will be in charge and catering at the camp will be carried out by mistresses at the school.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 27 Jul Herbert Symonds, 11 St George’s Road, Bailiff of the County Courts sued Thomas William Cook of Chapel Farm, Ilketshall St Andrew, for assault while in the execution of his duty. Symonds had a warrant of execution for £5 10s and he visited his farm accompanied by Mr Baker of St Michael’s to value some calves. Cook attacked Symonds and then came out with a gun and threatened to shoot them. He was fined £2. He said, “I shan’t pay.”
1940 Beccles & Bungay 27 Jul ALL LOFTS & ATTICS must be cleared of all moveable articles as a precaution against fires caused by incendiary bombs. It will also benefit salvage schemes for paper and scrap metal.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 3 Aug NORWICH HIT by single GERMAN PLANE; 5 people killed and others injured.. Windows a quarter of a mile away were broken.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 3 Aug FOUR TEACHERS at SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL to go into Services.
Mr Frank Glover, senior master, in charge of athletics to go into the army. He served throughout the last war finishing with the rank of Captain. He came to the school when the present building was opened in 1914. He is a well-known cricketer, having captained Lowestoft & played for Suffolk.
Mr Robert E White, Art master at Beccles & Bungay Grammar Schools for the last year was married at Guildford on Saturday and joined the RAF on Wednesday. He was presented with a standard lamp by the Headmaster.
Both Mr F Newborn, the PT organiser & Mr Lindsy R Tilney, swimming instructor, have been appointed to the RAF. Mr Tilney who is an all-round athlete has been instructor for secondary & elementary schools in the East Suffolk area. He is due to leave next week.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 3 Aug MARRIAGE: Patrick A Spashett, younger son of Mr & Mrs HA Spashett of Market Street & Smallgate & Miss Hilda Bezentin Abbotts, Hollow Hill, Ditchingham. The groom is well known as a newsagent and stationer in business in Bungay & Ipswich. For the past 13 years his parents have run a similar business in Beccles.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 3 Aug SWIMMING GALA in Beccles for under 16 year olds. Entries totalled over 150 in spite of the fact that the event was not planned until last week.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 3 Aug RURAL AREA CURFEW now in force including the area east of the road from Acle to Beccles, following the line of the railway through Beccles, Halesworth, Saxmundham, Woodbridge and Ipswich.
Those areas not in the confines of any town or village: no person may be out of doors one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise, except in case of special necessity such as will satisfy any police officer or member of Forces. The curfew applies to all persons whether in vehicles or not, except for urgent & sufficiently important duties. People out at night must carry their identity card. These restrictions do not apply to A or B roads.
1940 Beccles & Bungay10 Aug BECCLES FAMILY in SERVICES: All five sons of Mr & Mrs HW Fitt of Beccles are in the services. Each had joined up before the outbreak of war, the youngest entering the Navy in July last year.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 10 Aug WEDDING of old pupils of Sir John Leman School: Harry Croucher, only son of the late FJ Croucher & of Mrs Croucher of 37 Fair Close, who was joint secretary of the Old Students’ Union for 12 years & a member of Beccles Parochial Church Council for 10 years. The Bride was Miss Phyllis Castell, only daughter of Mr & Mrs A Castell, formerly of Worlingham, now Norwich. She is Captain of 1st Beccles Girl Guides, and members of her company formed a guard of honour at the church. For the past 3 years she has been on the staff of Halesworth Area School, where she will continue teaching. Previously she taught at Stowmarket and at the now closed Beccles National School. [Photograph]
1940 Beccles & Bungay 10 Aug AIR RAIDS Those who have no official duties to perform are asked to keep off the streets during an air raid warning. The police and the ARP will want the streets free so that they can carry out their duties. It is also in people’s best interest to keep under cover. Not until the “all clear” is sounded should shelter be left.
THE HOSPITAL is in need of more subscribers - it needs every penny it can get.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 10 Aug RETIREMET of RECTOR of SHIPMEADOW, Rev GL Manson, who has been Rector for 11 ½ years. He said that during the last century there have been 5 Rectors& he paid tribute to the first of the, Rev Maurice Suckling. The faithful ministry of his predecessors had made his own work easier, and like theirs his chief aim was to foster the family spirit in the church.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 10 Aug St MICHAEL’S: CHURCHYARD: Credit is due to the Verger (Mr C Boggis) for the well-kept appearance of the Churchyard in which beds of roses have been a feature this summer.
BOY CHORISTER WANTED: Mr John Hammond, the new organist wishes to increase the number of choristers. Choir practices are held on Monday, Wednesday & Friday evenings.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 10 Aug KILLED IN ACTION: Mr & Mrs W Martin of 55 St George’s Road have received news that their eldest son, Bertie Martin was lost when the Orama was sunk by the enemy. He leaves a widow and one daughter aged 18 months.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 10 Aug RETIRING from the CAXTON PRESS Reading Staff: Mr George Saunders who had been employed for more than 50 years & John Hughes of 38 years service. Mr JH Hayward, head of the Reading Department did presentations.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Aug SHIPMEADOW CHURCH: The church is now without a Rector. The single bell in the tower bears the inscription: “John Brend made me 1640”. The maker, a member of an old Norwich family of founders who cast many bells for churches in widely separated parts of Norfolk and Suffolk. For 170 years there has been only one bell in the tower, but in 1553 the church was stated to possess three “great bells” & one of the Sanctus type. In 1602 “The Chancel is in ruin and so hath been twelve months, by default of the parson there, Mr Thomas Tunstall.” In c 1290 Flixton Priory granted to Adam de Walpol a free chantry in his manor of Shipmeadow.
THE SHIPMEADOW WORKHOUSE: in 1801 there were more than 300 inmates, but by the time it closed in January 1938 the number was down to about 60.
NUNNERY FARM, Shipmeadow was the place where an institute was founded, which moved to Ditchingham. This today is the Allhallows Country Hospital. The Shipmeadow property, which stands just off the Beccles Bungay Road, where a rough cart track goes towards the river from the bottom of the hill, was known as the Norfolk & Suffolk Penitentiary. In 1855 there were 18 inmates [see White’s Suffolk 1855]
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Aug AIR RAIDS on SE ENGLAND
1940 Later Paper Aug 1945 Beccles & Bungay 15 Dec WARTIME BOMBING: In August 1940 incendiary bombs were dropped on Hill Farm, Weston the home of Mr Philip T Skete. The incident occurred about four o’clock in the morning. Those of course were early days in the use of these missiles and the total number was four. One incendiary set fire to a small clover stack, the outbreak being tackled promptly by the parish [fire] wardens. Beccles Auxiliary Fire Service was summoned, but was unable to prevent the stack being destroyed. This was the brigade’s first call to a wartime fire resulting from incendiaries. The other bombs fell on open fields and were dealt with by the wardens.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Aug SALVAGE at BECCLES of waste paper and card since April 5th raised £165 for just under 40 tons
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Aug FOOD WASTE: It is now illegal to throw food away or to buy more than is required by Ministry of Food Order.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Aug “BATTLE OF BRITAIN HAS STARTED”
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Aug CONSCINCIENCIOUS OBJECTOR Arthur Edward Cousins summoned for failing to submit to medical examination contrary to National Service Act 1939. The Clerk said Cousins failed to appear before the local tribunal and his name was struck off the register. The Bench issued a warrant for Cousins to be brought before the Court.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 17 Aug [WIRELESS: There was only one radio station and only one programme. Broadcasting started at 7am with news and finished at 12 midnight with the news. During the day there were programmes such as concerts of light music, “The Kitchen Front”, News in English, Welsh, Gaelic and Norwegian, the BBC Military Band, “The Six Counties at War, an impression from field, farm and factory in Northern Ireland”, “Women in War, the Land Army”, Sunday service, Piano solos, Octets, Quintets, the Polish Army Choir, A talk by Dorothy L Sayers, “Escape into England” - a talk by Clemence Dane, the National Anthems of the Allies, the Halle Orchestra, “And so to Bed”.
1940 Beccles & Bungay 24 Aug RESIGNATION OF ALDERMAN DC Smith [photo] from Council as he has been appointed Milk Officer For Wainford and Beccles. A former Mayor 1929-30, he has been a member of the Council since 1922 and an Alderman since 1937. Mr WH Simmons [photo] was elected Alderman in his place. Mr EW Swindells, who has been managing secretary of the Co-Op for some years, was co-opted to the Council.