BECCLES NEWSPAPERS 1942 on
1942 Beccles & Bungay 3 Jan DEATH of WILLIAM WELHAM [PHOTO]- One of the oldest railway pensioners in the country, aged 93. Son of a coachman, he was born at Buxhall, near Stowmarket. His first contact with trains came at the age of 5 his father took him to one of the railway crossings at Stowmarket. He went to a dame school in Buxhall, but left at the age of seven to work on a farm. Three years farming was followed by three months at school in Stowmarket. At the age of ten he became a page for 18 months, then worked for a butcher at Bury St Edmunds. This job was hard and the hours long, but things were even worse when he took up a similar task in London. Every day he had to work from 3 am until 11 pm. When he arrived in London he had only 14s 6d, and it cost him 5d to ride in a cab through the tollgate at Mile End on his way to Poplar. He could also remember he had to pay tolls at all bridges in the capital with the exception of London and Westminster.
Through meeting an old friend from Buxhall he obtained a job as a cleaner in the engine sheds at the Nine Elms Depot of the former London and South-Western Railway Company. For a 12-hour day he earned 1s 2d, and he worked seven days a week. For four years he was engaged in the sheds as bar boy (the duties were laying grates in the fireboxes of engines), caller-up, lamp lighter and boiler filler. After six years as a fireman on gods and passenger trains working out of Nine Elms he was allowed to drive engines. He began by taking charge of one used in the yard, his wages being 5 shillings for a day of 12 hours. In 1868 he joined the old enginemen’s club and five years later and five years later became a member of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants.
Mr Welham left the L & SW for the former Great Eastern Railway well over 60 years ago. He began at Norwich, but soon came to Beccles as a driver on the Waveney Valley line. He carried out the duties for 35 years until retirement in 1911, twelve months earlier than he would have done normally on account of an injury, which kept him away from work for several months. This was sustained when he gave a helping hand to some platelayers whose trolley had left rails at Beccles.
Every Monday and Thursday 214 miles were covered daily on the branch, the total on other days being 179. On each day he had to make 88 station stops without counting shunting operations and the engine had to be turned five times. There were no trains on Sundays, Good Fridays and Christmas Days. Pay was at the rate of seven shillings a day plus overtime. The heaviest train Mr Welham ever worked on the branch was on the occasion of King Edward VIIs visit to Norwich. Along his route hundreds of people made the journey and getting them home at night was no easy matter. At the different platforms there was only accommodation for four coaches, the result being that the driver had to make three or four stops at each station. When he reached Beccles he was so tired that he forgot to sign off duty and discovering this omission on his arrival home he had to pay a hurried visit to the station to put things in order.
For upwards of 70 years he has been a member of the Odd Fellows, having joined the Nine Elms Lodge in 1867. He moved to Beccles in 1878.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 3 Jan WEDDING: Leading Aircraftman Dennis Leonard Hipperson, second son of Mr and Mrs PL Hipperson of 53 Station Road, and Miss Molly Moyes, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs AH Moyes of 2 Market Street. Best man was Signaller Louis Hipperson (elder brother of the bridegroom). Among the presents was a canteen of cutlery and silver from the employees of GH Hipperson & Sons, builders, of which the bridegroom is a partner and in which he was directly engaged until he joined the RAF a year ago.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 3 Jan KILLED on ACTIVE SERVICE : Mr and Mrs J Spall of 10 Ellough Road have received news of the death of their youngest son, AB Cyril John Spall, RN who was 18. He had been in the Navy since he was 15. In May he was wounded in the fighting of Crete while serving on a destroyer, and was taken to Alexandria. When he came out of hospital he joined another ship. He was educated at Ravensmere Council School and at the National Schools. On leaving he entered the employment of Masters & Skevens. Mr and Mrs Spall have two sons in the army. The eldest, Gunner JR Spall is in a searchlight unit, and the other, Gunner RA Spall is serving with an anti-aircraft battery.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 10 Jan BUNGAY HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, ORGANISTS: First organ built in the church in 1855.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 10 Jan KILLED on ACTIVE SERVICE: Trooper Harry A Took, [PHOTO] youngest son of Mr & Mrs J Took of 69 London Road. He was in the Lothians and Border Regiment and was killed in June 1940. An account of his death has been received by Mrs Took, written on 15 October 1941, by a sergeant in the same squadron, who is now a prisoner of war in Germany. “Took was killed by shell fire in his tank on 5 June 1940. There was an officer killed beside him and another man badly wounded. We were out of ammunition and waiting for the end when Took drove his tank over to us and defended our lives at the cost of his own and that of the officer in charge of the tank. Both of them were heroes and I am proud to have known them. You will be very proud of him as he gave his life for his comrades.”
1942 Beccles & Bungay 10 Jan PRISONER of WAR: Major RJS Crisp of Kirby Cane Hall.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 10 Jan DEATH of Charles William Osborn, who had been at the Ingate Hotel for some years. He was 51 and came to Beccles from another part of Suffolk.
1942 Beccles & Bungay10 Jan WEDDING: Mr Lloyd Spall, of the Royal Norfolk Regiment, 3rd son of Mr & Mrs R Spall of 15 Ravensmere, and Miss Myrtle Louisa Holland, WAAF of Lowestoft. The bridegroom a well known player of Caxton Football Club. The bridegroom’s brother, Flt-Sgt Stanley Spall, the bridegroom’s brother. [PHOTO page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 10 Jan IN THE ARMY: Mr Cecil C Dix of St George’s Road joined the RAOC on Monday, the younger son of Mr Chester Dix of South Road. He has been a clerk employed by Mr JP Larkman, solicitor, Exchange Square, for 21 years since he left school, also in connection with the waterworks of which Mr Larkman is secretary. For the past year he was a special constable.
Also Mr Roy Tricker joined the RAOC. He had an important post at the Caxton Press. He is a clever footballer, was associated with the Caxton team and played for Suffolk Juniors.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 10 Jan WEDDING: AC1 Alan Saunders (RAF) of Grove road married to Miss Mona J Stannard of Castle Hill.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 10 Jan BLACKOUT OFFENCES brought before the Bench: (EJ Hindes, Mayor of Beccles (Allden Owles), Lt Col Granville Baker, Capt BW Blower & A Jordan): Mrs Flora Blomfield, Shanrahan, Northgate Light illuminated the wall of the Cambridge Inn , came from a ground floor window. The maid forgot to draw the black-out curtains when she went in there to finish the Christmas decorations. Fined £3.
Miss Dora Morling of Lowestoft, concerning shop in New Market, Beccles, where lights were left on in an upstairs room. Fined £2.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 17 Jan SALE by Read, Owles & Ashford on instruction from Mrs LA Cousins, who is leaving the town:
No 3 Alexandra Road sold to Mr JC Poll for £635.
SALE by George Durrant & Son on instruction by representatives of the late Mrs EM Abbott
No 5 Lady’s Meadow sold to Mr C Wilson for £280.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 17 Jan BOYS of 17 to Register
1942 Beccles & Bungay 17 Jan LOWESTOFT BOMBED on Tuesday 13 January. Houses and shops badly damaged [PHOTO page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 17 Jan SOARING PRICE of GOODS: Mr WS Clarke, the Food Executive Officer told of someone buying an item for 3s 6d, and a few weeks later the same article then cost 7s 6d. This is contrary to the “Prices of Goods Act” which controls prices.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 24 Jan BARSHAM, HOLY TRINITY CHURCH: Three Active Octogenarians:
Mr J Preston Larkman, the churchwarden, who is Registrar of Beccles ad Bungay County Court, and a former Mayor of Beccles was born 15 November 1861.
Canon CW Baron-Sucklimg, the Rector, was born 2 January 1862. He is an active member of Wainford District Council
Mr Samuel Fiske the Organist, has been a lifelong worshipper at the church and was born on 15 January 1862. He became a member of the church choir in 1870, and 17 years later was appointed organist.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 24 Jan COUNCIL: ASSISTANCE FOR OUR RUSSIAN ALLIES (Mrs Churchill’s Fund) committee appointed: GF Robinson, AE Pye & EW Swindells. A recommendation was made that an additional grant of £100 be voted to the Mayor for making a contribution to the fund. The Accountant (WS Clark) said this would not be within the legal powers of the Council.
Mr AE Pye said the Council had no authority for making charitable gifts from the rates, but they could make a grant to the Mayor, which was not subject to audit, so there could be no surcharge on the proposed payment.
Mr Bent thought that giving the Mayor an additional grant to enable him to provide a contribution to the fund was “just getting round an awkward corner,” and to this he objected.
Dr Wood-Hill said “It is the kind of evasion that none of us in our private capacity would think of employing. Can you not trust the people of Beccles to subscribe, and subscribe freely and generously, to any fund for the Russian people?”
The additional gift to the Mayor was not approved.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 24 Jan PLOUGHING WITH BULLOCKS: Mr Samuel Sherwood, aged 87, at a lunch meeting at Ipswich said that in his early days, while farming near Aldeburgh, he used three bullocks for ploughing. “We used to break them in with horses and used them at first for carting. They walked straight and did excellent work. They were anything but expensive to keep, being fed on the local marshes in the summer and on roots and hay in the winter. In the end they were sent to market as ‘lovely Christmas Beef’. Even in the early years of the 20th century bullocks were still being used for ploughing in the Aldeburgh area. There is a photograph taken in 1903, of a team at work in front of the ruins of Hazlewood Church. A century ago bullocks were used on many farms on the arable counties of England. Oxen pull with a steadier draught than horses even though they make slower progress. They walk close under the hedges and in places where horses refuse to go.”
1942 Beccles & Bungay 24 Jan WOMEN of 32 to REGISTER. Those born in 1909, married or single should go to the Ministry of Labour with their identity cards.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 24 Jan DEATH of Sir JEREMIAH COLMAN, aged 82, Chairman of J & J Colman at his home, Gatton Park, Reigate, Surrey.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 31 Jan DEATH of Hon Edward Lyttelton, aged 86; Headmaster of Eton 1905-16. Born 1856. From c 1876-78 he was assistant master at Wellington College, then 8 years a Eton, 15 years as Headmaster of Haileybury, before returning to Eton as Headmaster. He resigned from Eton [aged 60] following a storm of protest over his suggestion that Gibraltar should be internationalised. [PHOTO page 8]. On his retirement he lived at Grangeorman, Overstrand. He was a nephew of Mrs Gladstone. He was a great believer in co-education. He was the son of the fourth Lord Lyttelton, was married in 1882 to the daughter of Dr J West, Dean of St Patrick’s Dublin. She died in 11. There were two daughters.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 31 Jan HISTORY: The Roads were a hard surface, as a rule consisting only of a thin crust and were not adapted for continuous heavy Traffic. “The roads were usually repaired with flints which in the autumn were tipped into piles by the roadside. The flints were spread on the road surface during the winter and were left for the wheels of passing vehicles to press into place. They were soon crushed and the result was generally an even road which was dusty in the summer and muddy in the winter.”
1942 Beccles & Bungay 31 Jan DEATH of Mr William Welham, of Buxhall, Upper Grange Road, aged 93. For 35 years he was a driver of trains on the Waveney Valley line.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 31 Jan DEATH of Mr Noah Sheldrake of Denton, aged 92, who rode on the first train which travelled on the Waveney Valley line.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 31 Jan SUMMONED FOR WASTING BREAD; A Norwich housewife summoned for having half a loaf and three pieces of bread in her dustbin. She said that she had been out all day and her small daughter must have thrown it away by mistake. The case was dismissed.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Feb RETAIL DELIVERIES meeting at Halesworth, presided over by the District Transport Officer: “Retail deliveries must be rationalised and brought down to the absolute minimum. Every mile and every gallon of petrol that could be saved would help to bring victory in the war effort.”
It was said that a campaign was to be undertaken to encourage the town housewife to carry home her goods, and deliveries to those in the rural areas must be reduced to the minimum. Only bread and milk should be delivered in towns. The scheme would apply not only to the use of goods vehicles, but to horse-drawn, tricycle, cycle and hand-cart deliveries so that some traders would not have advantage over others.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Feb DEATH of Mr Frederick J Moyse of Nightingale, London Road, aged 48. He was a motor taxi and coach proprietor. He had been an invalid for the past 14 years. He began his working career as a bus driver at the King’s Head Hotel and later set up his own business.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Feb PROPOSED BRITISH RESTAURANT: The Surveyor, Mr CL Hamby said some of the equipment had been installed in the Public Hall, but some had not yet arrived.
Mrs McLaren, joint Hon Secretary, wrote to say that her husband, Dr Wm McLaren had left the town for military service, and with the added responsibility for home and children, she wished to resign.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Feb LOWESTOFT AIR RAIDS in January destroyed an extensive range of shops in the heart of the shopping centre. The biggest death toll was at Waller’s Restaurant where there were a number of casualties amongst both staff an customers, who were having tea. Amongst those killed was Mr EJ Morling, head of a radio and music dealer’s firm, together with three of his staff, in premises only recently occupied following the destruction of their original premises in a raid last year. [PHOTO page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Feb BECCLES HEROINE: Miss Irene Taylor, aged 26, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs Frederick Taylor, of the Black Boy Inn, Blyburgate given The Royal Humane Society’s principal award to a woman for 1941.
On 3rd January Miss Taylor’s seven-year-old brother, Gordon, fell through the ice on a deep pond at the back of the inn. Miss Taylor, who was in the house 50 yards away, saw the incident from a window, and immediately raced to the scene. She dived in fully clothed, but failed to grasp him. Again she dived and this time managed to get hold of him by the leg and pulled him to the surface. Both were helped to safety. The lad was little the worse for his adventure, but Miss Taylor suffered for a time as the result of the shock of the immersion.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Feb WEDDING: Mr K Foyster of Beccles and Miss J Smith-Howell of Worlingham. [PHOTO page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Feb DOUBLE SUMMER TIME reintroduced this year, will start on 5 April and continue until 8 August
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Feb HELPING RUSSIA Mr Swindells, manager of the Co-Op is organising fund raising events; a concert and social, a dance, a whist drive, the finals of the Beccles darts championships, and a second dance. All the evets will start at 7.30 pm in the Caxton Pavilion. On Sunday a military band will give an afternoon concert at the Regal Cinema.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Feb FOUGASSE CARTOON [PAGE 5] War Savings Certificates
1942 Beccles & Bungay 21 Feb NO DRUNKS for two years in Beccles. There were 27 full, four beer “on” and four “off” licences, including three held by grocers. Two licences were transferred last year, one a full licence.
There was granted a transfer of licence for the Ingate Hotel from the late CW Osborn to his widow Mrs Florence Osborn.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 21 Feb WEDDING: A/C1 Edward Byles of Beccles & Miss Doris Birt of Hulver
1942 Beccles & Bungay 21 Feb BRITISH RESTAURANT opens at Beccles Public Hall. Menu: Soup & roll, roast beef, baked potatoes, greens, jam tart and a cup of tea. The price for adults 1s; for children 6d.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 21 Feb COUNCIL: The Corporation Marshes had made a profit in the past year, the first for a long time that there had been any profit – consequently there was income tax of £246 to pay.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 21 Feb RAILWAY PARCELS CLERK, Mr Frederick Dix, of 87 Denmark Road, promoted to passenger guard on the Framlingham branch line. He is the elder son of Mr Chester Dix of 30 South Road, a retired signalman. He joined the GER aged 14 as a signalbox lad at Beccles in 1913. Three years later he became parcels porter, but in 1918 left for service with the Royal West Kent Regt. Following demobilisation in 1920 returned to Beccles as parcels porter. He has acted as guard, also as emergency motor driver.
Mr Dix joined the NUR at the age of 16 and became secretary of Beccles branch two years ago. He has belonged to the Home Guard since its formation and is a corporal.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 21 Feb DEATH of Mr Allen Runacres, aged 70, of 22 Gosford Road. He had been in the employ of John Crisp & Son, Ltd, maltsters for 20 years, and previously with Walter Green & Sons, Castle Flour Mills. He was connected with Station Road Methodist church.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 21 Feb LOYAL TEMPLE OF FRIENDSHIP LODGE, Beccles, Secretary AE Reynolds, presided as retiring Grand Master of Norwich District of Oddfellows at Norwich.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 21 Feb BRITISH RESTAURANT Official Opening: “Best in East Anglia for its size.” 147 diners were catered for at the lunch.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Feb WEDDING: Mr Murrough Loftus, Scots Guards, elder son of Mr PC Loftus, MP and Mrs Loftus, of Reydon Covert, Southwold, and his bride, Miss Anne Elizabeth de la Pasture, only daughter of the Marquis and Marquise de la Pasture, of Redhill, Redmarley, Gloucs [PHOTO page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Feb WEDDING: Mr WE Marjoram of Lowestoft & Miss IK Holmes of Beccles [PHOTO page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Feb DEATH: Mrs Christian Darby, aged 86, of Cameron House, [23] Ballygate, She was born in Maidstone. She came to Beccles about 60 years ago on her marriage to Mr Albert William Darby, one of the partners of Messrs Darby Bros, timber merchants, a businessman and yachtsman.
Since her husband’s death in 1915, she has lived at Cameron House. She took a keen interest in church work and other good causes. She is survived by her daughter, Miss Christine Darby, who has lived with her, and five sons, one of whom, Mr Gilbert Darby, lives in Canada.
[Funeral reported 7 March]: Family mourners: Miss Christine Darby, Mr and Mrs Reginald Darby, Mr Frank Darby, Miss Jacqueline Darby, Miss Irene Darby, Mrs WC McLaren, Mr TA Bent and Mrs AR Lark. Three of the five sons - Messrs Rowland, Gilbert (who is in Canada) and Colin Darby were unable to be present.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Feb DEATH: Mr AR Goddard, aged 74, at Avondale, Grove Road. He was born at Stourbridge, but lived in Beccles for 14 years, and was in business at 49 Smallgate. In his early years he was a cashier for a bank, but set up on his own in accountancy. He moved to Beccles from Andover, Hants.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Feb HELP RUSSIA WEEK: A cheque for 1,000 guineas was handed over to Mr D Chater, MP, the proceeds of the Beccles fund, but there was still more to come.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Feb WASTE PAPER CAMPAIGN: Messrs Darby Bros produced a ton of material, consisted of books and letters covering the period from the foundation of the firm in 1844 until quite recently. There were thousands of copies of letters, which had been written by hand.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Feb ACCIDENT: Two plate glass windows at Twyford House, the shop of Mr Frank Foster, outfitter, were smashed when an army truck skidded in Exchange Square. The vehicle, which was travelling round the traffic bollards towards Blyburgate mounted the pavement. The contents of the windows were unaffected.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar NONCONFORMISTS: Rev Alfred Poulson, minister of the Congregational Church, to the Beccles & District Historical Society:
CONGREGATIONALISTS: Mr Ottie, a Yarmouth man, retained his pastorate for about 30 years, dying in 1689. He had been described as “an earnest, animated and useful minister, abundant in labours, and as an interpreter one of a thousand, an Appollos mighty in the scriptures”. There followed a series of short pastorates and the church membership gradually declined until only four remained. However, the troublous years came to an end, and through the exertions of ministers and friends in the neighbourhood, Mr Joseph Heptinstall was secured as minister.
THE BAPTISTS: Outstanding among his [Rev George Wright] successors was the Rev LH Colls, who also taxed the accommodation by the prosperity of his work. During his ministry the present school building at the rear was built, the foundation stone being laid by Mr James L Judd of London, on September 18th 1899. Within recent years the pastorate had frequently been vacant and today services were conducted by laymen. In company with all sections of the Christian Church this had witnessed a falling away in numbers.
METHODISTS: A century ago the Wesleyans in Beccles were described as “lively and consistent Christians”. Their chapel was “a neat building, and though small, yet it will contain about 200 persons. In front of the chapel is a schoolroom and yard so there is plenty of room for enlarging the chapel without the purchase of more ground. A resident minister in this place would soon make this a work of necessity. This building was the present Salvation Army Hall in Northgate. Originally the Methodists were connected with the Lowestoft circuit, remaining so until their services were discontinued in 1853 for a short time. A few faithful friends were not satisfied, and still wished to remain Methodists, so they asked the Bungay circuit to take over Beccles. This was done, but in 1855 services were restarted at Northgate.
After a few years two families removed from Loddon to Beccles and were dissatisfied with the hired chapel, so they set themselves to work for and provide a better building. Station Road was then being laid out, and on a site given by Mr John Crisp the present chapel was built in 1872, the schoolroom and vestries being added in 1887. Beccles was made head of a circuit in 1890, the Rev TE Sharp being the first superintendent, but there was a return to the Lowestoft circuit in 1906.
PRIMITIVE METHODISTS: The Primitive Methodist Church was worked as a part of the Yarmouth Circuit until 1837, when it was transferred to the Yarmouth Circuit. At first they worshipped in a hired building in Peddar’s Lane, now known as May Cottage [this is probably not correct] Later, very largely through the devotion of Mr G Grimson and Mr W Harper, the present building in Smallgate was erected and opened in 1872. The foundation stone of the building was laid on November 15th 1893, by Mr Alfred Woods, the Deputy Mayor. In 1933 came the Methodist Union, one circuit being formed from Beccles, Loddon, Bungay and surrounding villages.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL: Miss L Jones resigns, who has been a member of the staff for a quarter of a century. She has been in charge of the preparatory department and games.
The school has taken over the second floor of Peddar’s Lane Council Junior School as a special subjects block. Art and manual instruction are among the subjects taught there.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar BADGER SHOT at Grove Farm, Aldeby, weighing 26lbs – supposed to be extinct in Norfolk.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar WARSHIP WEEK at Beccles to be from 21st to 28th of March. It was hoped to raise £60,000. On Sunday 22 March at 11am there will be a united service at St Michael’s attended by a parade of the Forces, Civil Defence and other organizations. The Earl of Stradbroke, Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk will take the salute outside the Town Hall. A naval band will head the parade and attend a concert in the Regal Cinema in the afternoon.
Mr GE Brown, the entertainments organizer, has formed a committee of the Townswomen’s Guild, the Choral Society, Co-op Women’s Guild & Caxton Amateur Athletic & Social Club – which has offered free use of its pavilion for events.
The events: on Saturday a naval dance at the Public Hall; Monday – Social evening at the Caxton Pavilion; Tuesday – entertainment by Miss M Smith’s dancing pupils, & dramatic performances by the Townswomen’s Guild; Wednesday – general knowledge competition and Brains Trust; Thursday – “Rise and Shine” naval concert party at the Regal Cinema; Friday – whist drive at the Pavilion; Saturday – dance at the Pavilion.
Exhibitions: Capt FC Poyser, of Montagu House, Northgate, is providing an exhibition of models of ships and figureheads in the Council Chamber. There will be 30 to 40 exhibits, including two ship models made by prisoners of the Napoleonic wars.
In the windows of the Co-Op will be displayed wooden models of a cruiser and two submarines, presented by Mr B Foyster, which will form prizes for a competition.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar FARMERS DEMAND REVISION OF PRICES on cereals. The minimum wage of £3 a week was introduced without opposition, but the present price of wheat at 36s a sack cannot pay for the increase.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar ORDINATION of Roman Catholic: Rev Basil W Jones, younger son of Mr & Mrs W Jones of Ballygate by the Bishop of Northampton.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar BECCLES & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY asked by the East Suffolk Planning Officer to produce a list of buildings of architectural, historical or romantic interest - to be considered by the committee.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar BRITISH RESTAURANT continues its popularity, serving upwards of 100 meals a day.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar WORKHOUSE at BULCAMP - the RIOTS of 1835 – long article
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar DEATH of Miss Emily Kerridge, aged 78, at Geldeston, late of Beccles. She was the daughter of the late Mr & Mrs George Kerridge, of Beccles. She was a teacher of music in her native town, and was an accomplished pianist. Since the early days of the war Miss Kerridge lived at Geldeston, but previously spent much of her life at 11 Station Road. She is survived by a brother, Mr John Kerridge, of Fair Close, and a sister, Mrs LM Ingate, of 5, Station Road.
At the funeral the mourners were Mr & Mrs LM Ingate, Mr & Mrs John Kerridge, Mrs Etheridge (Geldeston), Miss W Kerridge and Mr D Roberts (Fressingfield). Friends at the church were Mr RC Dunt, Mr & Mrs Frank Foster, Mrs Frank A Clatworthy, Mrs McQueen, Miss Delf, Miss Lee, Miss D Chambers and Mrs IC Meadows.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar BISHOP of NORWICH, Dr Bertram POLLOCK to resign. He is 78 and was consecrated Bishop of Norwich in 1910. Appointed a KCVO in 1921, he took a leading part in the settlement of the Norfolk farm labourers’ strike, his “round table conferences” at the Bishop’s Palace bringing the two sides together. Later in 1927-28 he took a prominent part in the Revised Prayer Book controversy, both in and out of the House of Lords.
The Bishop was married in October 1928 to Miss Joan Ryder, third daughter of the Rev ACD Ryder, Rector of Maresfield, Uckfield, Sussex, and has one daughter.
Dr Pollock is the son of the late Mr George Frederick Pollock, formerly Senior Master of the Supreme Court and King’s Rembrancer, third son of the late Lord Chief Baron Pollock.
After being educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College Cambridge, he was ordained in the Salisbury diocese and in 1893 succeeded Dr Wickham in the Mastership of Wellington College, where more than one royal prince came under his care.
He held this responsible post until his appointment to the See of Norwich. In his younger days the Bishop was a great athlete and attributed his success to the fact that he was a total abstainer. [PHOTO page 8]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 7 Mar WEDDING: Mr E Oxborough of Beccles & Miss T Galer ofv Church Farm, Shipmeadow. [PHOTO p.1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Mar St MICHAEL’S VESTRY MEETING: Churchwardens: Mr AE Bunn (nominated by the Rector) Mr W Fowler (People’s Warden, proposed by Mr RC Dunt), bur Mr Fowler was uncertain if he would be able to serve. (He later agreed to serve). The electoral role was 967 – the highest recorded in the past was 1150.
Mr Bunn said, “He and his colleagues would be glad to see more pews occupied for the Sunday services, and hoped there would be a big improvement in attendances.”
Mr Goodin, (secretary of the Parish Church Council) said the new Curate, Rev WR Barnes, had brought to the parish an abundance of energy and enthusiasm. Mr AE Groom had rendered voluntary service as organist and Choirmaster and thanks were also due to Admiral Johnson, who had played the instrument on a number of occasions.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Mar WEDDING: Leading seaman McAllister, DSM, and Miss V Cornish. [PHOTO page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Mar PETROL: With the object of putting an end to pleasure motoring and effecting the removal of all unessential cars from the road, substantial cuts in the basic & supplementary petrol allowances are to be made. The value of the basic ration coupons for May and June will be halved, and as from 1 July the basic ration will cease to exist.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Mar PRISONER OF WAR at Stalag VIIIB, Germany, Bombadier SS Searle [PHOTO page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Mar SUICIDE of WOMAN, Mrs Alice Whitlam (54) of Kessingland, broken hearted by the death of her daughter in an air-raid.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 14 Mar CONSCRIPTION FOR HOME GUARD: Norfolk & Suffolk are included in the areas in which powers of compulsory enrolment in the Home Guard are to be put into force owing to voluntary recruitment having been insufficient to bring the units up to strength.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 21 Mar PRISONER OF WAR at Stalag XXB, Germany, Rifleman Leonard Chipperfield, aged 22, son of Mr & Mrs Alfred Chipperfield of 63, Denmark Road. He was a boy at the National Schools and a chorister at St Michael’s Church. He was the employed as a hairdresser by Mr HE Forster for four years before enlisting in the Rifle Brigade a year before the outbreak of war. He was taken prisoner at St Valery, France in July 1940. His father was a prisoner of war in Germany in the First World War for a year, having been captured at Cambrai. [PHOTO page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Mar MISSING: Mr & Mrs W Fowler, of Claremont, Fair Close, informed that their third son, 2nd Lieut Henry Fowler, of the Royal Norfolk Regiment has been reported missing in Malaya. Before the war Lieu Fowler was a schoolmaster. One of the best known local tradesmen, his father is People’s Warden for St Michael’s and secretary of the YMCA Red Triangle Club.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Mar SUFFOLK FARMERS FINED for non-cultivation of land at the Hall Farm at Burgate, after being given orders to do so. They failed to break up and prepare a field for an approved crop for the harvest of 1941, and for failing to cut a crop of linseed on the field and cart and stack it. They were fined £15 each for one offence and £1 each on the other, and were summoned to pay £154 expenses incurred by the East Suffolk War Agricultural Committee for ploughing, sowing and harvesting a crop on the field.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Mar FOOD: Lord Woolton announced that the wholemeal loaf to replace the white loaf next month will be known as “National bread”.
National Flour is as easy to cook with as white flour, but requires more liqid for mixing. Cook, boil or steam a little longer and give baking tins an extra greasing.
There will be an increase in non-priority adult milk allowances fro two and a half to three pints a week.
All sales of new potatoes of the 1942 crop, including potatoes in the ground are now prohibited. Producers who have grown crops under glass for early sale should apply for sales licences. Supplies of old potatoes will be on the market instead.
The price of jam will increase, eg strawberry jam will cost 1s 3d for a pound.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Mar WEDDING: Mr S Jones of Tottenham & Miss Joyce Wodgate of Beccles.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Mar IF INVASION COMES: Sir John Anderson, Lord President of the Council outlined the duties of the population in the event of an invasion. Three broad principles:
All must do everything they can to help each other.
No one must do anything which would be of the slightest use to the enemy.
All have the right and duty to do everything they usefully can, under responsible direction to defend their hearths and homes and their native lands.
He emphasised the necessity for standing firm so as to avoid those refugee movements, which proved so disastrous in France. He did not mean that the civilian population must play a purely passive role. On the contrary, every citizen would regard it as his duty to hinder and frustrate the enemy by every means which ingenuity and common-sense could devise.
Remarking that the unorganised individual fighter represented an uneconomic use of men and weapons, he said, “All fit men who can find time for necessary training should join the Home Guard.”
1942 Beccles & Bungay 28 Mar AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTER from BECCLES: Rev Harry Reeve, youngest son of the late Mr & Mrs John Reeve, of Blyburgate, and brother of David G Reeve of Northgate. He celebrated his 59th birthday in January.
He was at the National School under Mr RC Dunt and won a scholarship to the old Sir John Leman School in Ballygate, of which the late Mr William Boyce was Headmaster. He was a member of the Baptist Church in Station Road. He threw a great deal of energy into the work of the Independent Labour Party. He strove hard for the formation of trade unions in East Anglia, and at Brampton Old Hall he started a little agricultural community in which every worker was to be a shareholder [it was owned by the Elliott family - see East Suffolk Gazette, 30 June 1907 & 5 September 1911]. These efforts, however, were often most discouraging to him, as the very people he was out to assist were frequently his greatest detractors. He left for Australia in 1910, mainly for health reasons. Since 1928 he has been minister of Perth City Baptist Church. He has been doing the the national devotional service regularly on Saturday mornings, and this has gained him such a wide circle of listeners that his own church has relieved him of much routine work to enable him to cope with the new responsibilities that radio has thrust on him. He always has a huge mail to collect – most of the letters telling of some difficulty or asking some favour in the way of a hospital visitation or a burial. Some tell of love problems, some of a lonely bachelor wanting a wife.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 4 April WARSHIP WEEK: The target for – Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and Wainford was £136,000, but was exceeded by nearly £100,000 reaching £233,366 in savings. The target for Beccles was £60,000, but £95,941 was invested.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 11 April WEDDING: Lieut-Col Joseph Picton Phillipps of the Royal Marines, younger son of the late Lieut-General Picton Phillipps, CB, CMG, MVO and of Mrs Picton Phillipps, of Stockton Old Rectory and Miss Aurea Manning Dowson, the eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs RM Dowson, of Greenbank, Geldeston.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 11 April WEDDING of Lieut David AA Treherne, son of Mr & Mrs Treherne, of Hollow Hill, Ditchingham, (grandson of Sir Robert Shafto Adair, Bart & Lady Adair, of Flixton Hall) and Miss Daphne Balders, only daughter of Brigadier DVM Balders & Mrs Balders of Cleveragh, Waverley Drive, Camberley, Surrey.
The ceremony was performed by the Rev WM Lummis, MC, Vicar. His address: “I little thought when eleven and a half years ago, I left the Suffolk Regiment on Trafalgar Day, with Nelson’s last signal ringing in my ears, that one day it would be my duty, as well as my very great privilege and pleasure, to officiate at the wedding of the daughter of my last commanding officer. It is a pleasure greater than I can express, and I wish to add my very best wishes to the bride and bridegroom for a very happy life and distinguished service in the days that are to come.” [PHOTO 18 April, page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 11 April SACRED CANTATA “Olivet to Calvary” by Maunder rendered at St Michael’s, by the augmented Beccles Parish Church choir on Good Friday evening. The conductor was Mr AE Groom, who is organist & choirmaster of St Michael’s, which he has built up to between fifty and sixty voices since he took office last year. Mr O Lloyd Smith, his son-in-law, who has been his hon. accompanist of Beccles Choral Society since its inception, played the organ.
Three of the four soloists are members of the choir, the other being the tenor, Mr C Wallis, of Ipswich, Miss Jean Buck was the soprano, Mr BW Goodin (baritone), Mr J Howes (bass).
1942 Beccles & Bungay 11 April MISSING: 2nd Lieut EA Sawyer, of the Hong Kong & Singapore Royal Artillery, husband of Mrs Sayer of Station Road and son of Mr & Mrs AF Sawyer of 51 Caxton Road, reported missing in the capitulation of Singapore. He joined as a gunner in July 1940 and received a commission last June. Before the war he was in active partnership with his father at Ringsfield Dairy, Caxton Road.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 11 April MISSING AT SINGAPORE Pte Alec Bond, of the Camridgeshire Regiment, only surviving son of Mr & Mrs Edward Bond, of 54 Blyburgate reported missing. He joined the army just over a year ago and served first with the Suffolk Regiment. Previously from 1937, he had been a special constable at Beccles. An old boy of Beccles College, he used to assist his father in the corn merchant’s business.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 18 April CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ADDRESS by Lay Chairman of Congregational Union: “Go to any of our churches on a Sunday morning or evening. Are there queues waiting to get in? Are the youth of our land sharing in the work and endeavouring to draw others to enjoy the fellowship that one expects to find there? We all know there are far too many seats in these days and far too much apathy inside the Church.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 18 April BRITISH RESTAURANT is now serving about 300 hot meals a day
1942 Beccles & Bungay 18 April RETIREMENT of Rev Arthur Lockwood, of 3 Frederick’s Road as superintendent Methodist minister of the Beccles, Loddon and Bungay circuit, which he has held since 1938. He completes his 41st year in the Ministry this year.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 18 April MAGISTRATE: Mrs Dorothy Smith, of the White House, Ashman’s Road appointed a Magistrate. She is the wife of Dr Sydney F Smith. She has been a keen worker for the WVS, particularly the canteen it runs at the Adult School for members of the forces. She is hon organiser for the Central Hospital Supply Service. She and her husband are members of the Historical Society. They have lived in the town since 1918, living at Loreto, Ringsfield Road, which is now the residence of Dr Smith’s sister, Miss M Smith. There are three daughters, the eldest, Miss Ellen Smith having recently completed a yea in the Wrens, one is at college and the youngest at St Felix School.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 18 April MISSING at SINGAPORE: Pte Stanley R Fiske of the Royal Norfolk Regiment, youngest son of Mr & Mrs F Fiske, 100 St George’s Road. Before being called to the colours in 1940 he was employed by W Chilvers & Son, builders, Gresham Road. [PHOTO Beccles & Bungay, 9 May, page 3]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 18 April POLICE COURT: Frederick Rix, the Brickyard, Darby Road fined £1 for riding a bicycle without lights. War reserve Pc BL Moore said he gave a false name and address, but witness knew his proper name.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 18 April TAXATION INCREASED by Sir Kingsley Wood, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Beer 2d a pint, whisky 4s 8d a bottle, wine between 6s to 8s a gallon;
Tobacco 3d on a packet of 10 cigarettes now sold at 9d
Entertainment Tax doubled, rises in cinema & theatre prices, boxing, football & racing.
Purchase Tax doubled on luxuries & non-essential goods – silk dresses, fur coats, trunks, bags etc
Income Tax. Married women’s allowance increased from £45 to £80 a year.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 25 April ISSUE MISSING
1942 Beccles & Bungay 2 May FIRE at SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL: Considerable damage was done on Friday afternoon by a fire, which started in a false roof. The new term had started only the previous day. There are 300 pupils on the roll, but only 220 were in the building at the time. All left in perfect order and calmness.
The outbreak which was detected shortly before 3 o’clock, was fought by the staff and senior boys using extinguishers and stirrup pumps until the NFS arrived in response to a telephone call from Messrs H & J Poll’s saw mills in South Road. From the mills it had been noticed that smoke was coming from the school roof.
Fire service units were quickly on the scene and reinforcements came from the district. The fire burned furiously, but the firemen succeeded in getting it under control later in the afternoon. The roof of the main part of the building was destroyed, but firemen confined the damage by flame to the upper part of the school. Some of the windows were unbroken, and the walls appeared to be quite sound structurally. The main hall was undamaged, as was the caretaker’s house, which adjoins the main part of the building.
A great deal of the equipment of the school was got out by men and women members of the staff, senior boys and helpers from houses in Ringsfield Road close by. This salvaged property was put on the tennis courts and afterwards removed to houses and garages in the immediate vicinity.
The whole of the equipment of the school flight of the Air Training Corps was saved
“I was thrilled to be able to retrieve from the wreckage an old school bag of 1640 which was in the museum,” said Mr Humphreys, the Headmaster, “It was only a little stained. This leather treasure belonged to a pupil at the original Sir John Leman School.”
The most serious loss was sustained by sixth formers, due to take their Higher Certificate Exams in the summer, who had lost their books and notes. The records of the school were quite safe. Both his and the staff room were undamaged.
The 150 children who took their mid-day meal at the school would be able to eat at the British Restaurant at 11.45 am each day, thanks to Mrs JE Coney’s prompt assistance. Some of the school would be housed at Peddar’s Lane Council Junior School, and at the Area School through the kindness of their respective head teachers. There were no casualties in the fire. [PHOTO page 5]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 2 May SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL in the First World War: The opening of the school occurred on 14 September 1914, and within a month had 90 pupils on the roll. Soon after the opening the military authorities approached the Governors with a view to handing over the premises for the billeting of troops during the winter months. After giving very careful consideration to the educational and military aspects the Governors, for purely patriotic reasons, and with the consent of the East Suffolk County Education Committee, decided to offer the use of the building to the army for the ensuing winter. However the Staff Captain of the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade, which was stationed at Beccles at the time, wrote to the committee’s secretary stating that the military authorities had decided to erect hut accommodation for the troops in the area and that accordingly, the school would be undisturbed.
Among the assistant teachers at the outset were Mr FP Glover & Mr P Cross, who are still doing excellent work on the staff, and Miss Dealey, who retired comparatively recently.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 2 May Mrs Emily Phillips, who has died at her home at Worthing, was Headmistress of the National School girls’ department until the amalgamation of the boys’ and girls’ department into a mixed school in 1913.
The Girls’ School log book records in Mrs Phillips’ handwrighting: “I commenced duties in the school on Thursday February 1st” and that her predecessor, Mrs Anderson, left the school on January 31st, 1900. She continued at the school until 1922, a period of nearly 23 years.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 2 May NORWICH ATTACKED in two nights of raids by bombers coming in three waves for well over an hour. There were many casualties. [PHOTOS page 6 & Beccles & Bungay 9 May, page 6 & 8; 30 May page 8]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 2 May SECRETARY’S RETURN: Mr AE Moore, of 51 Caxton Road has been discharged from the army on medical grounds. He has resumed the hon. secretaryship of the Beccles United Football Club
1942 Beccles & Bungay 9 May BECCLES ARMY CADETS: 70 boys belonging to the recently-formed 1st Cadet Corps, Suffolk Regiment were on parade at their headquarters, the Area School when Col RW Brooks, TD, the Colonel Commandant carried out an inspection. Capt GS Odam (commanding officer) & 2nd Lieut HR Hadingham were in charge. There are vacancies for about 20 lads between the ages of 14 and 17. [PHOTO page 3]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 16 May GALLANTRY MEDAL: Flight-Sgt Owen Hawes, No 38 Sqadron; awarded the DFM. He has taken part in many sorties including attacks on targets in Germany, Southern Italy & Libya.
In September 1941 he captained an aircraft, which attacked an escorted convoy in the Mediterranean. He carried out a low-level attack on the largest merchant vessel, obtaining two hits. He then attacked another merchant vessel, securing five hits, which set it on fire, and the glare from the flames assisted other aircraft of the squadron to the target.
“This airman has invariably displayed great courage and determiation,” says the citation.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 16 May NEW RATION BOOKS: You Need 1.) Your present Ration Book with Reference leaf filled in 2.) Your Identity Card. There is a special office opened at two lock-up shops directly opposite the Food Office in Blyburgate. If the Ration Book and Identity Card are found to be correct, the individual will be given a personal ration book (black for over 16 and red if under) and a clothing coupon book, the latter having an extra sheet of 10 coupons if the holder is under 16. Certain details are required to be answered by the holder of each of these documents and this must be done before they are used. The main ration book for the new rationing period will be delivered through the post at a later date.
Full instructions regarding the use of the new clothing book will be found inside the book itself.
The temporary office dealing with applications for the new ration books will be open from 9am each day during the fortnight starting next Monday.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 23 May PRESENTATION to the SERGEANT-at-MACE, Mr William Clark, of the Lodge, London Road to mark his completion of 20 years faithful service, of a suitably engraved silver salver, which had been subscribed to by members of the Town Council.
Mr Clark joined the Police Force on September 1st 1883 and retired as Sergeant at Beccles in March 1919, with nearly 36 years of service to his credit. He was Captain of the Beccles Fire Brigade and retired through ill health in 1934. He had completed nearly 59 years of public service.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 23 May CRITICISM of the FIRE FIGHTING at the Leman School fire, unjustified according to the Fire Force Commander, WH Barrett. “The original call was to smoke in the direction of the school. The light trailer pump dispatched was at the scene within three minutes, so that there was no delay. Afterwards a call was received from the school and a further pump was sent within five minutes of the original summons. The first pump capable of providing 100 gallons a minute got to work in a hydrant in Ringsfield Road. A section of umps arrived from Lowestoft within 18 minute & the escape-carrying unit from Yarmouth within 22 minutes. No time was actually lost and the placing of the jets was absolutely ideal, the fire being fought to the wind, which was blowing at gale force.
Commander Barrett spoke of the “invaluable assistance rendered by full and part-time members of the Beccles Brigade during the recent enemy attack on Norwich. “The task allotted to them was one which called for the utmost endurance, and I can assure you that I am happy to be associated with men of such spirit.”
COUNCIL: BRITISH RESTAURANT: Profit for April £22, the number of maim meals served 5171.
EXCHANGE SQUARE Static Water Tank to be built underground.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 23 May BECCLES ENTOMOLOGIST, Alderman Ernest T Goldsmith of Fair Close spoke of the Large Tortoiseshell butterfly, one of the finest British butterflies has become a rarity.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 23 May DEATH of Mr William Elliott Downing, son of Mr & Mrs William Edward Dowding of Longlands, Upper Grange Road. He was 46 and had been in indifferent health for some years.
Born at Bungay, he was educated at Beccles College under the late CC Hall and afterwards at Felsted. Then he went to the Wolsey motor works as a pupil for three years, but nine months before the completion of the course he joined the army in the last war and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the RAMC (Motor Transport). He saw much service in France.
After demobilisation, Mr Downing returned to the Wolsey works and was sent to Wiltshire as their salesman, living in turn at Chippenham, Salisbury and Swindon., being at the latter town several years with Messrs Skurrays. He was an excellent motor driver. After leaving Swindon his health broke down and he returned to Beccles, where he was in the motor business with Herbert Hipperson at Ingate Garage.
At the time of his death he was on the staff of Elliott & Garrood. He leaves a thirteen year old son.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 23 May CURATE ORDAINED: Rev William B Barnes is to br ordained by the Bishop
1942 Beccles & Bungay 23 May METHODIST ORGANIST Miss Maud Watling given presentation by Rev Arthur Lockwood. She succeeded Mr JW Frost, when he retired some years ago, and will continue in office.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 23 May POLICEMAN Melville Paine, who for four and a half ears has been stationed at Beccles is moving to Ipswich.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 23 May AIR RAID SHELTERS: Morrison Shelters allocated to the Borough by the Ministry of Home Security have been delivered to the town.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 23 May INJURY: Miss Peggy Adams, youngest daughter of Mr & Mrs GW Adams of 48 Frederick’s Road, sustained serious head injuries through an accident at the Caxton Press [She was working at Elliott & Garood, not the Caxton Press]. She was detained in hospital.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 23 May ADMIRAL VERNON of Nacton Park: article.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 23 May BECCLES HOSPITAL: Annual appeal for eggs: 3357 donated, and cash gifts of £17.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 30 May ASSAULT ON BECCLES GIRL: Miss Catherine E Meadows, 22 London Road, secretary, summoned Colin Kett, 3 Pound Road, cinema manager, for assault. The case had been going on for two and a half years since complainant, who was at one time friendly with defendant, informed him that she did not wish to receive his attentions any more. Nearly every day defendant had waited outside complainant’s house and said he wanted to walk to the office with her. Although she told him she did not wish him to do so he had persisted. Sometimes he had gone to her house and continually rung the bell. Later she consulted solicitors, and asked them to write to him, but that did not have any effect. In the meantime complainant had become friendly with an army sergeant, who asked defendant to keep away, and for several weeks he did so, but later he resumed. Finally on May 16th she left her house going a different way, but defendant came up with her, and asked her if she was engaged to the army sergeant. When she said yes, he lashed out sideways with his gloved fist, so she fell against the wall and on the ground. Someone took her to the office.
He said that he would not molest her any longer. He was fined £1. Both sides would pay their own costs.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 30 May FAUCONBERGE SCHOOL: At the Trustees meeting of the Foundation, the retiring Bishop of Norwich, Dr. Pollock, took the chair. The Trustees have funds for granting substantial exhibitions to enable boys requiring financial assistance to enter boarding schools. No applications had been made.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 30 May MARRIAGE: Mr Reginald G Jordan, son of the late AW Jordan, who was at one time in business in Beccles as a printer and stationer and was closely identified with the Parish Church, was married at Kenwyn Church Cornwall. The ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Truro, the bridegroom being the Bishop’s platoon commander in the Home Guard.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 6 Jun SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL Prize Day. The school intended for 160 children now had 300. Repairing the school after the fire required sanction from the Ministry of Works for the necessary steel and timber, but this has now been granted. The Bishop of St Edmundsbury (Dr Richard Brook) distributed the prizes an spoke about education. [PHOTO of Sports Day, page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 6 Jun SUFFOLK CHURCHES: Ringsfield Church described.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 6 Jun MIDLAND BANK MANAGER, Mr FP Edwards of Northbury, Frederick’s Road moving as manager to Skegness, Lincs. He has been manager at Beccles since October 1935, coming from Yarmouth, succeeding Mr HE Davis, who was promoted to Cambridge. From him he took over the tReasurership of Beccles Bowls League and he has since carried out similar duties for the Choral Society and the peacetime Beccles Football Club.
On the formation in 1939 of the Beccles Horticultural Society, in which he took a leading part, Mr Edwards was appointed its first Secretary, and he also assumed a similar office when the Allotment holders’ Association was brought into existence shortly after the outbreak of war.
He is a member of Beccles National Savings Committee and served on the special committees, which organised the borough’s War Weapons and Warship Weeks.
Mr Oliver Lloyd Smith, who came to the Beccles branch from Lincoln in 1933, has been promoted successor to Mr Edwards. At present he is second officer. Mr Smith is well known for his activities in connection with Beccles Choral Society, which he helped to found and of which he is an hon. accompanist. He has rendered service to the YMCA Red Triangle Club. It is understood that he will carry on Mr Edwards’ duties in connection with the Horticultural Society and Allotment Holders’ Association. [PHOTO Beccles & Bungay 13 June, 1942]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 12 Jun PRISONERS OF WAR: in Germany; Two Beccles brothers; Pantryman Clayton Hembling (28) eldest son of Mr & Mrs EA Hembling, the Hermitage, Bridge Street, and Assistant Butcher Clifford Hembling (23) their second son. Members of the Royal Merchant Navy, they were captured two years ago when the ship on which they were serving was lost. [Photo page 1]
1942 Beccles & Bungay 12 Jun UNITED NATIONS DAY at Beccles: to be held in the paddock in front of Roos Hall, by kind permission of Mrs Walter D Robinson. All the organised bodies in the borough have received an invitation top take part. The service starts at 3 pm.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jun FIRE IN BLYBURGATE burns down the Thatched House
1942 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jun TOWN COUNCIL: Criticism of Fire arrangements: Mr Swindells: Although the warning of the fire in Blyburgate was given at 4.55 pm it was twenty minutes before a decent jet of water was on the place, and in his opinion, from the wrong side. When the first tender atrrived there was nobody in real control. No ladder was used and no one went anywhere near the roof to investigate the seriousness of the fire. The first tender was at the scene less than five minutes after the call. The fire was then of a very small nature at Mrs Watson’s end. When the men did get water out of the hydrant it was only first floor height and they were trying to get it over the roof from the wrong side. The side from which they were fighting it had no fire. The men were told time and time again by a former fireman to go to the main in Peddar’s Lane, but this was not done, until after 15 minutes Mr Hamby arrived with reinforcements. It was only then that the fire was beginning to rage, that a force of water was being got on the job. Lowestoft brigade arrived after 25 minutes with a fire escape. Why was there not one in the borough?
The promised static water supplies should be installed at once, not even in two or three months’ time. The Town Clerk (Mr Bryan Forward) said the root of the problem was the inadequacy of the water supply. However good the equipment, without sufficient water to fight a fire it was no good.
SALARIES OF OFFICIALS: The Town Clerk to receive £100 pa, exclusive of clerical assistance and legal costs.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jun BECCLES SOLDIER HOME: Mr Jack Mayston, eldest son of Mr & Mrs HG Mayston of Gillingham, of 91 Castle Hill, has been serving in the army in the Middle East, came home on compassionate grounds because of the illness of his wife, who has since recovered. He met his four-and-a half-year-old son for the first time. He went to St Benet’s School and joined the army in 1934. He was sent to Palestine in November 1937, and while in that country visited Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
After leaving Palestine he was stationed in Greece and sent to Athens. At that time the Greeks were engaged in their memorable struggle with the invading Italians. Any little victory by the Greeks was marked by the citizens of Athens, carrying shoulder-high those members of the British Forces who happened to be walking about the streets in uniform. When the Germans entered the war life became “pretty hectic” and he considers himself fortunate to escape injury there. When the enemy reached the capital city he and his colleagues left by the port of Piraeus, and went to Egypt. It was while there that the Beccles soldier met his brother Leslie, who is in the Marines. It was the first time they had met each other for four years. When they parted in their home surroundings Leslie was just leaving school, so it was not surprising that his brother found some difficulty in recognising him. The meeting was due to the efforts of the young Marine, who knew his brother was in Egypt, and on arrival there on his way to the Far East took successful steps to ascertain his whereabouts. This was the only meeting with anyone he knew that Jack had the whole of the time he was away from Beccles. In the second battle with the Germans and Italians in the Libyan Desert Jack was sent as far as El Adqm, but again escaped injury or capture by the enemy.
Some years ago he performed a brave act by rescuing from the River Waveney a man who had fallen into the water. Had it not been for his quick action the unfortunate person would have lost his life. The deed was officially recognised by the Royal Humane Society, who presented him with a commemorative parchment.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jun BECCLES UNITED FOOTBALL TEAM [PHOTO, page 1]: Standing: A Morrison, J Hurren, D Nichols, B Archer, A Moore, R Woolfson (capt), T Taylor, R Spalding (trainer); Seated: K Strong, H Baker, P Chatters, P Hill & P Spall.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jun HISTORY of GILLINGHAM: Visit by the Historical Society.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 20 Jun DANCING DISPLAY by the fifty [see 18 July] pupils of Miss Maureen Smith for the benefit of Beccles Hospital, which raised £27.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 27 Jun WEDDING: Hon Peter Rouse, 4th son of the Earl of Stradbroke & Countess of Stradbroke, of Henham Hall to Miss Elizabeth Fraser, youngest daughter of Maj the Hon. Alastair & Lady Fraser, of Monlack Castle, Kirkhill, Inverness.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 27 Jun ACCIDENT TO CYCLIST: Mrs Mabel Gower of 22 Northgate, cycling down Northgate with her husband, Mr EW Gower, struck the kerb and was detained in Hospital.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 27 Jun BAPTIST CHAPEL: Sermon preached by Rev W Noel Clarke, of Stowmarket, a former Minister of the Church, who left Beccles four years ago.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 27 Jun MUSIC FESTIVAL at BECCLES: Over 200 singers took part
1942 Beccles & Bungay 27 Jun SOME EAST ANGLIAN VILLAGES to be taken over for army exercises. All villagers and farmers to leave by 20 July. The larger of the two battlefields is of 18,000 acres, displacing 800 people. The situation was explained By Lieut Gen Anderson, GOC Eastern Command. “This is the most unpleasant task of my army career.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 27 Jun W£ATERCOLUR of Northgate from the river by Edward Walker in the Pilgrim Trust exhibition illustrating “The changing face of Britain,” at the Castle Museum, Norwich.
1942 Beccles & Bungay 4 Jul BECCLES AIRCRAFTSMAN in MALTA: Leading Aircraftsman Robert G Ling, serving at an RAF station on the Island of Malta, wrote to thank the Mayor of Beccles for the Christmas card and postal order, which he eventually received at the end of May. His letter is dated 1 June: “No doubt you have read and heard pl