BECCLES NEWSPAPERS 1944
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jan CHRISTMAS in HOSPITAL: There were 5 patients in Beccles Hospital over Christmas, including one child. The Mayor, Ald Owles carved the turkey.
CHRISTMAS at SHIPMEADOW: There were 180 patients at St James’ Hospital at Christmas.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jan FIREMEN INJURED: Three members of the NFS received injuries when helping to extinguish a fire at a salvage depot at the premises of Robinson’s Transport (Beccles) Ltd in London Road. Section-Leader Wilson had burns, as did another fireman. The third injured a rib.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jan PRISONER of WAR: Mrs Sawyer, of 9 Station Road, received a postcard from her husband< Lt EA Sawyer, of the Royal Artillery, who is a prisoner of war in Japanese hands. It was the first news she had received from him since she was given news that he was a prisoner nearly a year ago.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jan CIVIL DEFENCE: Mr DC Smith, a former Mayor of Beccles, has moved to Southend-on-Sea, and has resigned as Head Warden for Beccles North. His place has been taken by his deputy, Mr Claud S Darby, senior. The new Deputy Head Warden is Mr Frank Catling, whose successor as Senior Warden is Mr RG Judge.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jan MORRISON SHELTERS: Mr Meen, the Civil Defence Organiser and Chief Warden, has received some more Morrison shelters. People wishing to have one should contact him.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jan APPOINTMENT: Mr Clifford Kirby, of Denmark Road, has been appointed water engineer to Southborough (Kent) UDC. For the past 21 years he has been Assistant Engineer to his father, Mr G Kirby, of Puddingmoor, in the Beccles Waterworks Co. His wife has been a voluntary worker at the library.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jan FIRST OLD AGE PENSIONERS: [PHOTO page 8] The photograph was taken on 1 January 1909 outside the Post-Office at Bintree in Norfolk, when people were assembled to receive their first old-age Pension of 5 shillings.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 8 Jan NEW FOOD CONTROL Committee appointed the Mayor (Mr Allden Owles), Chairman. This committee combines the town & the RDC. Mr WS Clark, Food Executive Officer, said that during the last quarter they had received 265 notices of instructions at the Food Office.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 8 Jan TEACHER MOVES: Miss Naomi Watling, of Grove Road, who has taught at Peddar’s Lane Junior School for 13 years, is moving to Bolton, Lancs.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 8 Jan SOLDIER MISSING: Mrs P Burrows, of 5 Providence Place, has been informed that her youngest son, Pte Gordon L Barnes is missing in the Middle East.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jan DEATH of CANON Charles W BARON-SUCKLING, Rector of Barsham
Church life in the Beccles district has sustained a great loss by the death on Thursday week of Canon Charles William Baron-Suckling, who has been Rector of Barsham since 1921. Since the early part of the war he has also acted as curate-in-charge of Shipmeadow.
Canon Baron-Suckling, who had been ill for about six weeks, attained his 82nd birthday four days before he passed away. A faithful parish priest and sound preacher, he was a wonderful man for his age. He had devoted his life to the service of his fellows and by a host of friends he was held in the highest esteem. The Beccles Deanery will be the much poorer for his passing.
Second son of the late Rev Wm Joseph Baron, he was born in Middlesex in 1862. By Royal Warrant he assumed the name of Baron-Suckling in 1924. He was educated first at Christ’s Hospital, London, and at Christ’s College, Oxford, where he became an exhibitioner. He took his BA in 1886 and his MA five years later.
Canon Baron-Suckling had been in Holy Orders for 57 years. He was ordained Deacon at Lincoln Cathedral in 1886 and priest the following year. The early part of his ministry was spent in the diocese of Lincoln. From 1886 he was curate of St Mary-le-Wigford, Lincoln, and then moved into the county as Vice-Principal of St Paul’s Missionary College, Burgh, and curate of Croft. After two years he became Domestic Chaplain to the late Bishop King, of Lincoln, a position he held from 1891 to 1894.
For the next few years Canon Baron-Suckling worked in the Colonial Church in Australia. He was Rector of St David’s, Allora, Queensland, from 1895 to 1899, and of St Mary’s Brisbane, from the latter year until 1903. When he returned to England it was to the diocese to which he had rendered such good service. He was vicar of the Lincolnshire town of Alford with Rigby and Ailby from 1903 to 1921, and from 1916 was also Rural dean of Calcewaith. His work in the diocese was honoured in 1915 when he was appointed by the Bishop to the Prebendal stall of St Bodolph in the famous cathedral of Lincoln.
Canon Baron-Suckling left Lincolnshire to come to the Waveney Valley as Rector of Barsham on the presentation of the executors of Mrs FHN Suckling. His grandfather was a former holder of the living, which had been in the gift of the Suckling family since 1617. The Canon loved the ancient church of the Holy Trinity, whose interior bears much evidence of his care and attention.
As incumbent, Canon Baron-Suckling lived in the delightful old rectory, with its gables of the Dutch type that were in vogue in the Carolean period. Here was born Admiral Lord Nelson’s mother, Catherine, daughter of the Rev Maurice Suckling, Prebendary of Westminster, who was Rector of Barsham from 1714 to 1730. She was baptised at Barsham Church on May 27th 1725, and was married at Beccles Parish Church to the Rev Edmund Nelson on May 11th 1749. The armorial bearings of the family of the Rev Maurice Suckling are to be seen in the central window on the south side of the nave of Barsham Church, this having been filled with stained glass in 1905 to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. The Rev Suckling’s son, Capt Maurice Suckling, gave Nelson his introduction to the Royal Navy and his first lessons in seamanship.
Canon Baron-Suckling became patron of the livings of Barsham and Shipmeadow. When the latter became vacant in the early part of the war through the resignation of the Rev GL Manson, who is now Rector of Woolpit, near Bury St Edmund’s he was appointed curate-in-charge and ministered faithfully to the needs of the people. He was also lord of the Manor of Barsham.
He was a valued member of Wainford Rural District Council on which he had served since its formation ten years ago. Previously he served on the old Wangford Board of Guardians and Rural District Council. No matter how small they might appear to be, the Canon made a point of bringing before the District Council the needs of his parishioners, and in this way he brought about various improvements that were much appreciated.
Canon Baron-Suckling was fond of sport, cricket and fishing, making a particular appeal to him. He was an expert beekeeper.
Much sympathy will be felt for Mrs Baron-Suckling and the family. It was 48 years ago that the Canon married Miss Hilda Madelaine Hancock. The work of the Mothers’ Union has always made a great appeal to Mrs Baron-Suckling, who is vice-president for the Archdeaconry of Suffolk. Last October she resigned the office of presiding member for the Beccles Deanery, which she had held for 14 years, and the appreciation of the members was shown at the annual meeting when they presented her with a bedside electric reading lamp, National Savings Certificate and an illuminated address.
Canon Baron-Suckling also leaves two sons and a like number of daughters. Another son, Mr MN Baron, lost his life in the last war.
THE FUNERAL:
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jan FAMILY SERVING: Six sons and one son-in-law of Mr and Mrs E Goffin, of 14 Mill Terrace, who are serving in the Forces. [PHOTO page 1] QMS Edward Goffin, William Goffin, Arthur Goffin, Stanley Goffin, Peter Goffin, James Goffin & Gunner E Carter. [see 29 January 1944]
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jan RECEPTION for the Officers of the USA Air Force and to those of a Unit of the Belgian Army, and some of the citizens of Beccles, by the Mayor & Mayoress (Ald & Mrs Allden Owles), numbering 170 people.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jan PRISONER of WAR: Mr & Mrs W Yallop, of 17 Northgate received news from the Air Ministry that their elder son, LAC Wilfred E Yallop, aged 23, was a prisoner of war in Burma, which was broadcast by Tokyo radio.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jan ACCIDENT: Mr George E Brown, of Grove Road, met with an accident in the Blackout, and will remain in hospital for some weeks.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jan CHILDREN ENTERTAINED: Nearly 130 children of employees of Clowes were entertained in the Caxton Pavilion.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Jan GOOD SERVICE: Only son of Mr & Mrs AE Bunn, of Ringsfield Road, L?Cpl Edward J Bunn, of the Royal Norfolk Regt, has been awarded the certificate of the Commander-in-Chief Home Forces, for good service. He is an old boy of Sir John Leman School, has been in the Army since July 1940. He is overseer at Beccles Head Post Office. His wife and daughter live at Wrentham.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 22 Jan COUNCIL: POST-WAR PLANNING: The Council suggested that 191 houses should be built in the first year after the war. (150 had been built between the two wars). The sites suggested were: Sandy Lane, 27 acres; off Grove Road, 5.2 acres; Ringsfield Road, 10 acres; South Road & Ringsfield Road 51.6 acres; Frederic’s Road 1.15 acres.
The Ministry’s Regional Architect (Mr P Bicknell), said that thee would be a shortage of labour and materials in the first post-war year. The Treasury had lifted its ban on the borrowing of money for the purchase of sites sufficient for the first year’s programme. Mr Bicknell proposed that the Council should apply to purchase the following for housing: off Grove Road, near Brick Kiln Farm 5.2 acres; and Frederick’s Road 1.15 acres. These would provide accommodation for about 50 houses. The remainder of the sites should be zoned in the Council’s planning scheme for houses at the rate of eight to ten per acre.
DIG FOR VICTORY: Local authorities were urged to intensify their efforts in encouraging people to grow more vegetables.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jan PICKEREL INN: Mr George Goffin, licensee of the Pickerel, [PHOTO page 1] displays a picture frame containing £12 11s for the Lord Lieutenant’s Prisoners of War Fund. He raised the money by shove-halfpenny and other competitions organised in co-operation with his customers.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jan CATHOLIC PRIEST’S DEPARTURE: Rt Rev Dom F Wulstan Knowles, OSB, on re-election as Abbot of Fort Augustus, Invernessshire, after three years in Beccles.
Abbot Knowles has carried out a successful local ministry, and whenever opportunity has allowed he has always shown himself ready to be of service to the community at large. A native of Worcester, he entered Fort Augustus Abbey, one of the country’s leading Benedictine establishments, nearly half a century ago. In the last war he served as a naval chaplain. He returned to Fort Augustus as parish priest and following work in the United States of America as a prior, went back again to the Abbey in 1929 as Abbot.
That important position he filled for 11 years until he came to Beccles at Christmas 1940. At St Benet’s Abbot Knowles took the place of the Rev Fr G William Tate, OSB, who after a stay of just two years, was appointed priest-in-charge of St Mary’s Priory Church, Egremont, Cumberland.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jan NAVAL CONCERT AT BECCLES at the Public Hall in aid of the Beccles Division of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade. The special object was to raise money towards building up a fund for the provision of a permanent post-war home for the division.
The programme lasted for two and a-half hours, was much enjoyed, was of a varied character, with songs, dances and sketches.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jan FAMILY SERVING: Mr & Mrs Edward Goffin, of 14 Mill Terrace, are justly proud of the fact that five of their sons are serving in the Army, as the father did in the last war, and another is in the Home Guard.
Quartermaster-Sergeant EDWARD GOFFIN, the eldest of them, is the holder pf the British Empire Medal. He was awarded the decoration for a reason he was not even able to disclose to his parents, and last summer was summoned to Buckingham Palace to receive it from His Majesty. Edward joined the Army when he left school, and did his time, his service including ten years in India. He was working in this district when he was called up at the outbreak of war as a reservist. He is serving in a heavy anti-aircraft battery of the Royal Artillery. His wife and little girl live at Norwich with her people. The couple made their home in the city on marriage, but they had the misfortune to lose it during one of the horrible “blitzes.”
Pte WILLIAM GOFFIN, next among the soldiers, is in the Royal Army Service Corps, having been called up as a Territorial when war was imminent. At the age of 14 he entered the service of the Co-Op, and made good headway in the clothing department, where he remained until going into the Army.
Pte ARTHUR GOFFIN, who carries on the important job of cook. He volunteered for service soon after hostilities began. Previously he had spent some tears as a baker with Mr Drury, of Hungate, having learned his trade with Mr Clarke, who formerly carried on the business.
Pte Stanley Goffin joined up much at the same time. His wife was born in Lowestoft, where she lives with her small son. Prior to marriage Stanley used to work with his father in Crisp’s Maltings. Afterwards he tried his hand at various jobs, being in the employment of Lowestoft Corporation at the time of leaving the Army.
Craftsman JAMES GOFFIN, who is doing his bit with REME. A single man, he was at one time employed as a packer at the Caxton Press, which he left for a similar line of business at Watford. There he worked for a couple of years before entering the army eleven months ago.
Pte PETER GOFFIN has been a keen member of the Beccles Company of the Home Guard for the past year. He took his brother’s place in Mr Drury’s bake-house. At one time he belonged to the Beccles Parish Church Choir.
Mr & Mrs GOFFIN’S family consists of eight boys and one girl, another son having died.
The DAUGHTER, who lives at Kirkley Run, Lowestoft, is the wife of Gnr Ernest W Carter, who has been in India for a couple of years.
ALL THE GOFFIN CHILDREN received their education at the former National Schools, Ravensmere.
Mr GOFFIN, the father, who belongs to an old Beccles family, served throughout the last war. He spent most of the time overseas, but escaped without injury. After demobilisation he returned to his job as a labourer at the local Maltings.
Mrs GOFFIN, who was a traveller before their marriage at Beccles Parish Church, belongs to Norwich. She devotes the whole of Sunday evening in writing letters to her family. In the week not many times does the postman pass the house without bringing a letter from one or other of them. Naturally they are equally delighted when they receive all the news from mother.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jan PRISONER OF WAR: Pte John J Hammond, of the Cambridgeshire Regiment, previously reported missing, is now known to be a prisoner of war in Japanese hands in Thailand. His mother lives at Lowestoft, but he was Organist of Beccles Parish Church until he joined the army.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jan INJURY: Mr Victor Pye, an LNER fireman, was found lying on the Beccles Lowestoft Main Road at Worlingham with a head injury. It is thought he collided with a bough lying on the ground. He was taken to the Hospital by ambulance.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jan POSTER SUCCESS: Rodney Hutchings, the 13 year-old son of Capt CE Hutchings, MBE, who is a pupil at the Area School, has gained second prize in a national competition for elementary school children and received a £5 cheque. It advertises Empire Youth Sunday, 1945.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jan DEATH: Mr Harry Turner, aged 82, of 58 Ingate, who for many years attended all the local sales, specialising in buying books and pictures. Youngest son of the late Mr Mark Turner, he was born at Ingate. As a young man he went to sea, and afterwards travelled widely as a dealer in fish. He also worked for a time on the old Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway at Yarmouth Beach Station. He leaves one daughter, Mrs H Rogers of Beeston.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jan GAS MASKS: Civil Defence wardens attached to No 5 Post, which adjoins the NFS headquarters at St Mary’s, Ballygate will check gas masks free. The Senior Warden, Mr FS Strong lives at Somerton House, St Mary’s Road.
The Wardens attached to 11 Post, Ravensmere, will also be available.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jan DEATH OF PRISONER OF WAR: Mr & Mrs W Yallop, of 17 Northgate, have heard that their elder son, LAC Wilfred EF Yallop, aged 22, had died in Japanese hands. [He died 29 November 1943] It was only shortly before Christmas that they received an Air Ministry communication giving details of a cheerful message from him broadcast from Tokyo.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Jan BARSHAM DEATH: Mrs Chilvers, wife of FW Chilvers, of School Cottage. She was interested in church affairs, and was a Sunday-School teacher for a number of years. She was a member of the Conservative Association. She leaves a widower and one daughter.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 5 Feb MORAL WELFARE PROBLEMS: At a meeting chaired by Mrs Odam in the Cinema, Saltgate, they
spoke of the “great falling-off in the field of morals, not only in the field of sex. You find a great increase in stealing and disorder among young people and the lack of discipline in the home.”
They defined the two problems:
1.) Girls aged between 14 and 16 needed a Club, where they could invite men friends. This would be much better than the pub. They must all look for suitable accommodation.
2.) Yong married women whose husbands were abroad in the Forces. It was not easy for them. If the older women would only be friends with those of this group it would be a great assistance. What was needed was the real helping hand, not the condemning attitude.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 5 Feb RETIREMENT of the Bishop of Liverpool, Dr Albert David, aged 76. He was the second Bishop of St Edmundsbury, who came in 1921 (remaining for only two years) from Rugby School, of which he had been Headmaster for 12 years. The vacancy was brought about by the death of Dr Henry Hodgson, who was consecrated on 24 February 1914, as the first Bishop of St Edmundsbury.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 5 Feb SOLDIER’S FATAL INJURIES: L-Cpl Roy Lewys, Royal Signals, aged 23, was hitch-hiking from Norwich to Lowestoft to see his wife, when he was picked up by James Burnett, 43 Fair Close at Stockton. Lewys climbed in the back, and he entered Beccles via Ravensmere passing under a low railway bridge. When James Dunbar, who was riding in the cab, alighted at the Public Hall to tell Lewys to get out, he found he had been hurt. It appeared that he was sitting on the spare wheel, facing the rear, when he was struck on the back of the head by the main supporting girder. He later died in Hospital.
The Coroner recalled that in October 1940 he held an inquest on a soldier who met his death under almost exactly similar circumstances. “This is a dangerous bridge.”
1944 Beccles & Bungay 5 Feb WEDDING: Sgt Frank Wm Emmerson Balls, RAFVR, elder son of Mr & Mrs FW Balls, of Puddingmoor and Miss Joyce Olive Brand, younger daughter of Mr & Mrs WA Brand, of Waterworks House, Ringsfield Road. Prior to joining the RAF in the early days of the war, Mr Balls was employed at Messrs Clowes, where his father holds an important position. For the past two years the bride has helped her father in the management of the farm.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 12 Feb AMATEUR GARDENERS in the Beccles Allotment Holders and the Horticultural Society have held five shows during the war and have raised £353 for the Red Cross. The paid-up membership was 148.
The Chairman was Rear Admiral Johnson.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 12 Feb BECCLES AREA PHOTOGRAPHIC CLASS meets every Thursday. Several members of the Forces, including professional photographers have joined. [PHOTO page 1]
1944 Beccles & Bungay 12 Feb RAIDERS OVER EAST ANGLIA dropped incendiary devices on a village.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 12 Feb WAR PRISONERS’ FUND: Collections at the Regal and Saltgate Cinemas last week realised £108
1944 Beccles & Bungay 12 Feb AIR TRAINING CORPS: There is room for more candidates. Anyone wishing to take commissions or become instructors should apply. Those of 15 will be particularly welcome.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 12 Feb DEATH of the Clapton trainer of greyhounds, Mr Harry Woolner. The best greyhound under his charge was Wild Wooley, which he trained to win the Greyhound Derby in 1932. Mr Woolner, who leaves a widow and two children was the son of the late Mr George Woolner, of Beccles, who took an interest in the Aldeby and Hockwood meetings.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 12 Feb ZENANA Church of England Mission meeting was held at Tannery House, Northgate. The hostess was Mrs Oscar W Owles.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 12 Feb St JOHN’S AMBULANCE BRIGADE AGM: Dr C Grantham-Hill took over as Surgeon to the Brigade after the death of Dr Wood-Hill, nearly a year ago. The ambulances showed record figures in the year: 155 invalids removed, 10 road accidents, 13 other accidents, 7 Service cases, and a mileage of 6137. The men did 110 duties involving 284 hours, while the nurses and drivers put in 812 hours o 392 duties. “The war is not yet over and we may have a testing time ahead, but for all that we are thinking of post-war times. The question of a permanent home for the division is occupying our minds and we shall need everyone’s support towards that end.”
1944 Beccles & Bungay 19 Feb COUNCIL MEETING:
HOUSING: The Ministry of Health will not sanction the purchase of both the Castle Hill and Grove Road sites. The Council ask for the decision to be reconsidered. A deputation was to visit Ministry on 28th of February.
RAVENSMERE RAILWAY BRIDGE: It was decided to close temporarily to vehicular traffic the roadway under the bridge. The diversion is by Pound Road and Ravensmere East.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 19 Feb DEATH of Mrs Elizabeth M Stone, aged 78, widow of Mr Ziba Stone, of the Harbourage.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 19 Feb LAND ARMY DANCE: Over 200 people patronised a Valentine dance arranged at the Public Hall by members of the Land Army.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 26 Feb LECTURE to the Historical Society, by Dr H Muir Evans on “The Anglo-Saxon Invasion & East Suffolk Villages”. Place names:
“ham” meant a home;
“Ton” or “Tun” indicated a settlement, being essentially an enclosure with wooden palisade or stockade pierced by a narrow entrance. The great hall was in the central part.
The medium “ing” meant a group of settlers rather than a place.
In this area there was a compact area of such names; Kessingland, Shadingfield, Willingham, Worlingham, Gillingham, Ellingham, Raveningham and Heckingham. In a small area there were twenty of these villages each with its own church built by the people of the clan. These structures were of wood, so little remains.
In Lothingland the names ended with “ton”. Either Old Danish or Scandinavian persons had given these places their particular names.
Up the Waveney were an irregular number of names like Barnby and Toft Monks.
In the Fleggg district of Norfolk all the names ended in “by”.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 26 Feb LABOUR SELECTS CANDIDATE for the next General Election: Mr Edward Evans.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 4 Mar SOLDIERS HOUSEBREAKING: Accused: Sappers Thomas Melvin of Bradford, aged 32, and George Cashmore of Cheddleton Staffs, aged 32, both of the Royal Engineers.
Giving evidence 1.) Col Lush, of The Larches, London Road, said a travelling clock, two bottles of whisky, 20 cigarettes, a utility lighter and 7s 6d cash, had been taken
2.) Mrs Pearle Elizabeth Taylor, of Teemore, London Road, said a four valve wireless set and a loud-speaker and chromium clock plus two hypodermic syringes were missing.
3.) Melvin was separately accused of stealing a bicycle from the house of Dr Sherrard, of Fairseat, London Road, who was caught by War Reserve Pc BL Moore who arrested him after a tussle.
They were committed for trial.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 4 Mar PROPERTY SALE: by Durrants
1.) Ballygate House, Ballygate, for the executors of Mrs Frank Burton, a former Mayoress of Yarmouth.
Purchased by Mr CN Philpot, of Billingford at £2,900.
2.) 135 Denmark Road, for the late Mrs Hannah Sporle
Purchased Mr FG Crisp, of Harleston at £575
The following properties were put up for sale for Mr CD Clarke, and withdrawn, but open to offers:
3.) 14 Gosford Road, a brick and slated house, with small garden let at £4 4s a quarter, plus rates
Withdrawn at £325
4.) 16 Gosford Road, a similar house, let at 9s a week.
Withdrawn at £350
5.) The Old Drill Hall, let at an inclusive rent of £4 17s 6d per quarter.
Withdrawn at £725
1944 Beccles & Bungay 4 Mar POSTMASTER TO RETIRE: Mr ET Young of Ringsfield Road, who has been Head Postmaster at Beccles since 1939, is retiring after 45 years service. He joined in 1899 at Basingstoke, where his father retired from the postmastership in 1902. Then he went to Chertsey, and then to St Albans in 1907. In 1927 as head postmaster at Ruislip, followed by a similar post at Stowmarket in 1933. At Beccles he succeeded Mr JJ Craik. Beccles is the head of a district of 200 square miles, which includes Bungay, Southwold, Halesworth and 48 sub-offices.
In the Great War Mr Young served in the Royal engineers, retiring with the rank of Sergeant. He served in France and Italy.
The new Postmaster will be Mr NER Gates, at present second-in-command at Basingstoke.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 4 Mar THE SAW MILLS, South Road. [PHOTO page 1] A massive piece of elm tree was being sawn, which is the largest piece of timber handled by Messrs H & J Poll since their sawmills were established in 1918. It was 400 years old and was blown down in Ditchingham Hall Park last April.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 4 Mar DEATH of Mr Harry E Chilvers, of 1 Napier Terrace, Grove Road, aged 78. He was employed by Elliott and Garrood, and was the Caxton goalkeeper in 1893 when they won the Suffolk Senior Cup, for the first time, beating Framlingham College.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 4 Mar WILL of BISHOP BERTRAM POLLOCK, aged 79, former Master of Wellington College and Bishop of Norwich, left £31,301.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 11 Mar VESTRY MEETING: The Churchwardens were re-elected: Mr AE Bunn and Mr Foster.
The cost of installing a new boiler and four radiators amounted to £260, whereas the committee had budgeted £1,000. The reduction was due to the efficiency of Mr FH Delf, who carried out the work by doing without the laying of new pipes throughout the church.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 11 Mar SANITARY INSPECTOR: Mr Humphrey W Ellis, aged 32, of Worlingham Road, Wainford District additional Sanitary Inspector, leaving. He came in 1939.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 11 Mar PRISONER in GERMANY: Mrs P Burrows, of 5 Providence Place, has received a card from her son, Pte Gordon Barnes, of the Queen’s Own Royal West Regiment, saying that he is a prisoner of war in Germany.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 18 Mar PRESIDENT of the ROYAL ACADEMY: Mr AJ Munnings, aged 65, elected President. He said “I never expected to be elected. I thought Mr John would beat me. All I can say is that I should have liked to ride down Piccadilly on a horse and dismount in the courtyard.” He was born at Mendham in Suffolk in 1878.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 18 Mar LAND GIRL’S AWARD: Miss Norma Skipper, who is employed on the Roos Hall Estate, gained a proficiency award for hand milking, having obtained 91%.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 25 Mar WAVENEY AREA FARMING: Talk to the History Society by Mr WG Munnings, brother of [Sir] Alfred Munnings: “My mother ; who is 94, can remember when they used to come round with a horse machine to do the threshing. She remembers when they used to thresh all the corn with the flail. They used to cart it into the barn, and have a boy rode a horse round to keep the corn down. Her grandparents, whom she could quite well recall, were friends of William Cobbett, the author of ‘Rural Rides’. She remembered the first part of the Waveney Valley Railway being laid.”
When he first went into farming they used to cut all the corn with a scythe and tie up the wheat by hand. In those days the men came from the towns to help with the harvest, and they went fishing and malting at other seasons. He recalled great sheep sales of the district. There used to be 7,000 or 8,000 animals at Beccles and Halesworth every year, 12,000 or 13,000 at Harleston and 24,000 or 25,000 apiece at Diss, East Harling and Barnham. The serious decline in these events has made a great difference to agriculture. When he first started farming, all the little farmers used to buy a few lambs. One could hardly find a farmer without sheep. Today it would cost £200 a year for a shepherd. When he married he told his wife that he would not keep cows, but he found he had to so that money came in weekly. With sheep the money came in once a year. What the farmer received for wool would not pay him to keep sheep, the price being only about half that prevailing in the last war. It was a bad job for the land that they had been given up. He regarded the introduction of tractors as one of the greatest causes of the slump in agriculture in pre-war years.
He said that Suffolk farmers would have been “in the cart” in recent years had it not been for sugar beet. The wheat subsidy had also been a great help. He observed that for 10 years annually prior to this war he lost money annually.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 25 Mar IMPORTANCE of SALVAGE stressed by Capt Gillmore of the Ministry of Supply.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 25 Mar GIRL at LOWESTOFT in Court for absenting herself from essential work. She had failed to turn up for work for half the working hours. She was fined £5 on each of three counts. She could have been sent to prison for nine months.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 25 Mar PRISONER OF WAR: Sgt Samuel Searle, of the Royal Artillery, of 5 New Road, has been moved to another prisoner of war camp. He was captured in the early months of the war.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 25 Mar WVS HOUSEWIVES SERVICE was formed a few weeks ago. They had a lecture from Mrs GAB Boycott, of Dunburgh, Geldeston. There were 40 present. The Head Housewife is Miss Mabel Field, of Waveney, London Road.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 25 Mar CENTENARY OF DARBY’S: Founded by Samuel Darby in the early days of Queen Victoria, the timber merchants had continued through five reigns. Proposing a toast to the “Firm”, the Mayor said, “It is no mean thing for a firm to be carried on for a hundred years by members of one family. To me it is a matter of regret to see these fast diminishing old family firms passing out of existing, and I congratulate this firm upon holding its own in these days, when I am sure there are many who would like to swallow it up.”
Major Darby said his grandfather, Samuel Darby, the founder carried on the firm for forty years. While he did not know him there were three men present who did, they having given over 50 years service to the firm. He was succeeded by Major Darby’s uncle, Mr Edward Darby, and his father, Mr Albert Darby, hence the name Darby Bros. In due course, his cousin, the late Mr Ernest Darby, and himself had completed the century.
Mr Ernest Gilding had done 58 years service with the firm and was still with them, having started at the age of 13. Mr Arthur Swain had done 52 years service.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Apr COUNCIL: HOUSING:
1.) The Council applied to the Ministry for permission to purchase 21.75 acres abutting on Sandy Lane, Rigbourne Hill and Castle Hill, with the intention of building 200 houses over the first two post-war years.
2.) Tradesmen recommended for the next quarter; bricklayer, Betts; blacksmith, Denny; carpenter, Simmons; wheelwright, Brand; stationer, Esling; grocer,, Haines Read; painter, Boyce; ironmonger, Torbell; harness-maker, Keely.
3.) The island in the centre of Old Market be retained and another tree be planted immediately and properly protected, although four trees had been destroyed there consecutively.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Apr BANK PROMOTION: Mr HE Faulke, has been promoted chief cashier at Barclays Bank, Harleston. He came to Beccles in 1936 from Norwich. He has served as a Civil Defence Warden and in the Home Guard.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Apr DIED of WOUNDS: Cpl Anthony Rose, whose parents live at Castle Hill, and his wife, of Gorleston, have been informed that he died of wounds in Italy, He was 27 and had been in the army four years.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 8 Apr COASTAL AREA from the Wash to Lands End to be a banned area for journeys. Those not normally resident there are forbidden to visit them. – with certain exceptions. Most of East Suffolk is within this area.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 8 Apr BRIGADIER Hugh Napier TROLLOPE, DSO, MC, honoured for gallant and distinguished service in Sicily a CBE.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 8 Apr DEATH: Mr William Youell, aged 80, of 12 Mill Terrace, well sinker and wood pump maker. He leaves a widow, eight sons and four daughters. Five of the sons served overseas in the Great War, and all returned.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 8 Apr DEATH of Mrs Frances E Skevens, aged 78, of 18 Station Road. She was the widow of Mr SL Skevens, head of Masters and Skevens, builders’ merchants, who died in 1925.
Like her husband she was a loyal supporter of St Michael’s Church, and was interested in the Mother’s Union.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Apr WEDDING of Lt George Whitaker, of Weobley, Herefordshire and Miss Margaret Fowler, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs W Fowler, of Claremont, Fair Close, who is quartermaster’s secretary, at a Red Cross Establishment for London children near Weobley.
The bride’s father is a businessman and has been Churchwarden for some years, and is secretary of the Beccles YMCA Red Triangle Club.
The bridegroom was taken prisoner in Libya, and flown to Italy. When Italy capitulated he made good his escape from the camp and after a 700-mile journey on foot reached safety in the American lines. The best man, Capt WW Duncan, was with him during the capture and in the escape.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Apr CHORAL SOCIETY, augmented by members of the Choir, sang Haydn’s “Passion” in St Michael’s Church on Good Friday.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Apr WEDDING: Mr Frank Warman, of London & Miss Vera Shiplee, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs EB Shiplee, of 64 Fair Close. A reception followed at Oakleigh House, Blyburgate, lent by Mrs William C McLaren, the bride’s former employer.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Apr WARSHIP WEEK PLAQUE: This is now in the Town Hall.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 15 Apr DEATH of Mr David Jude, aged 84, of St Mary’s Road, Beccles, who for more than 40 years was Relieving Officer, Inspector of Nuisances and School Attendance Officer
1944 Beccles & Bungay 22 Apr SOLDIERS HOUSEBREAKING: Thomas Melvin sent to prison for one year, George Cashmore nine months. [see: 4 March 1944.]
1944 Beccles & Bungay 22 Apr WEDDING: Mr Cecil White, of Beccles, and Miss Barbara Fisher, of Sotterley.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 22 Apr COUNCIL: The Ministry of Health is reorganising the Housing Authorities. Beccles would now come under Norwich area.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Apr WEDDING: Seaman BD Fairbanks, of London, & Miss V Harvey, of Beccles. [PHOTO page 1]
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Apr WEDDING: Lt-Com Archibald Harkness, OBE, DSO, RNR of Ayr, and Miss Elizabeth E Martin, second daughter of Waveney Lodge, Northgate. She was given away by her brother-in-law, Capt CE Montagu. [PHOTO page 1]
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Apr STORES STOLEN by five boys aged 11 to 16. Tins of food were stolen by boys from the emergency food supply stores kept under the stage of a building in Beccles. The door of the building was not locked. Mr Walter V Rivett, of 53 Denmark Road was responsible for periodic inspections, and discovered the loss. They were put on probation.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 29 Apr WEATHER RECORDS of Orlando Whistlecraft, of Thwaite, in the 19th century - extracts given.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 6 May WEDDING: Supply PO Frederick Crone, RN, of London, & Miss Hilda Pooley, WRNS, youngest daughter of Mr & Mrs W Pooley, of 11 Alexandra Road. A contingent of WRNS formed a guard of honour. [PHOTO page 1] 30 guests attended a reception at the 3 Bees Café.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 6 May SALUTE THE SOLDIER WEEK, will be opened on 3rd of June by Dame Katharine H Jones, matron-in-chief of Queen Alexandra’s Military Nursing Service. Although born in India, she spent much of her life at Beccles, to which she came as an infant, with her mother, Mrs Grace Wilton Jones. She is the first cousin to Mr SW Rix, Clerk to the local Bench & Wainford District Council.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 6 May FIRE at SHIPMEADW: A smokehouse belonging to Mr Frank Galer, of Hillcrest, Shipmeadow burnt down.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 6 May RETIREMENT of Mr Reginald P Ward, of 42 Station Road, employed as a Clerk in the Parcels Office, at Beccles Railway Station, for the last 26 years. He had served the GER and LNER for 47½ years. A presentation was made by the Stationmaster, Mr VE Turner.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 6 May WILL of Mrs MI Burton, of Ballygate House, Ballygate, widow of Frank Burton, solicitor, left £22,392. She was at one time Dame President of the Primrose League and a former Mayoress of Yarmouth.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 13 May FLOWERS STOLEN by a boy and girl of 9 years of age from the garden of Mrs Rosalind Lawrance, 35, Station Road. They left the garden in a “disgraceful condition”, they had taken 20 tulips. Since the protective railings were removed the police have received complaints about continual damaged caused by children running in and stamping about on the front gardens of houses. The children were fined and bound over.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 13 May MATRON of the Hospital leaving: Miss Phyllis Sutton, who has been Matron for four years is taking a similar position at Bromsgrove Cottage Hospital.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 13 May DEATH of Rev CH Winter, aged 83, of the Moorings, Waveney Road, for 25 years he was rector of Reymerston, near Hingham, until his retirement in 1924. He had been in Beccles for 9 years, living at first at Cliff House, Ballygate.
He was born at Litcham, educated at Aldenham and Clare College Cambridge, BA in 183, MA 1886, ordained priest in 1890.. He was Curate at Barnham Broom, Mulbarton and Kenilworth, then Rector of Eastwick, Herts until 1899. He played football for Norfolk and was elected Captain of the side in 1890.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 20 May DEATH of Mr Thomas H Ward, aged 79, at Guist, Grove Road. He was an employee of Clowes for 62 years, starting as a compositor’s apprentice at the age of 13½. 20 years later he was promoted to the reader’s department, where he remained until his retirement. Much of the matter he had to deal with was of a technical and legal nature.
In his younger days he was a well-known sportsman. He served as Captain of the Caxton cricket team for 11 years. He was an outstanding rugger player as fullback, and also played for Suffolk County. Owing to injury he retired in 1893, and became a soccer umpire. He leaves a widow, a son and a daughter. [PHOTO page 1]
1944 Beccles & Bungay 20 May WHITE HORSE INN, New Market, was struck by lightning in the second of two thunderstorms on Friday. Mr WE Tooke, the licensee, said there was a terrific crack. He found that the brickwork of the stack had been split, but the worst part of the incident was clearing up the large quantity of soot brought down.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 20 May WEDDING: Sgt Mobbs & Miss B Bates at the Methodist Church [PHOTO page 1]
1944 Beccles & Bungay 20 May COUNCIL:
1.) MINISTRY of WORKS proposes to erect a social Centre for Service personnel in Frederick’s Road. The Surveyor, Mr CL Hamby submitted a block plan of the building. [This did not happen?]
2.) ALSO a recreation room for the Civil Defence Rescue Party at the rear of 24 Station Road
3.) CATTLE should not be taken by drovers across the disused cemetery in Blyburgate on the way to the Railway Station.
4.) HOUSING SITES for use after the end of the war should be chosen and plans made for suitable houses.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 27 May “RELIGION and LIFE” week at Beccles: The Mayor & Corporation went in state to Beccles Parish Church on Monday evening for the opening. 500 people were present.
On Tuesday the Dean of St Paul’s, London, the Very Rev WR Matthews, DD, Chaplain to the King since 1923, a “great Christian scholar, with a world reputation as writer and broadcaster” spoke on “The Christian Challenge to the Churches.”
Other speakers during the week included Mrs AEJ Rawlinson, wife of the Bishop of Derby, who addressed a women’s meeting at the Congregational Church, and Mr Herbert Elvin, an ex-president of the TUC.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 27 May WEDDING: Mr Gerald Suckling, RN, son of Mr & Mrs M Suckling, Braintree, and Miss Carilla P Smith, daughter of Mr & Mrs GW Smith of Beccles. The bridegroom was in Naval uniform, and his brother Capt JD Suckling, was best man. The bride was formerly employed at Messrs Clowes, but moved to a business at Braintree.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 3 Jun “RELIGION and LIFE”: Parade of Youth Organisations: Girl Guides under Capt Ivy Paddle; St John’s Ambulance, Air Training Corps under Flying Officer Johnston Browne; Cadets under Lt OK Bell, and the Commanding Officer, Col FH Kelf & Major GS Odam. Parties also under Rev EG Bevan (Rector of Loddon) & Rev WL McCormick (Rector of Gillingham). Talk by Rev Pat Keating (Vicar of Didcot) on “The Christian Challenge to Youth”.
Station Road Methodist Church was the venue for parents, teachers and youth leaders when Dr JW Skinner, Headmaster of Culford School addressed them on “The religious Education of the Child.” Dr Leslie Wood, Headmaster of Sir John Leman High School took the Chair.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 3 Jun SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL SPORTS: The outstanding performance was that of 17 year-old Arthur Pye, beating the 100 yards record set 23 years before. He beat the 1923 performance of Reginald Tricker in the long jump of 1923. He is the elder son of Councillor Albert Pye, and is going to Goldsmith’s College, Nottingham in September.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 3 Jun BECCLES POLICE including 30 members of the regular, war reserve and special police visited a bomber station of the United States Army Air Force. They were accompanied by Major ARM Darby, (commanding officer), and Capt FP Glover, of Beccles Company of the Home Guard. The visit was arranged by Deputy Section Officer GH Lawson, of the Special Constabulary.
The object was to learn the quickest and best ways of rescuing crews of a Liberator aircraft in the event of an emergency.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 3 Jun DEATH of Mrs Ellen Read, aged 90, of Debenham House, Upper Grange Road, the widow of Mr JW Read of Debenham.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 3 Jun METHODIST CHURCH STATION ROAD was packed to capacity, on the visit by a coloured choir belonging to the United States Army.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 3 Jun PROPERTY SALE: by Messrs George Durrant:
LOT 1.) No 18 Station Road by executors of Mrs FE Skevens, who lived there for many years, until her death.
Containing Hall, 2 Reception and 4-5 bedrooms, and usual offices, small Garden.
Purchased by Mrs Wood-Hill for £1,325.
LOT 2.) No 20 Gosford Road, for Mrs R Hinsley, who has left the town. A freehold brick and slate house, containing 2 sitting rooms, 3 bedrooms, kitchen, with small Garden.
Purchased by Mr CW Betts for Mrs Lowe, of Frederick’s Road for £575.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 3 Jun 1530 WILL of John Rychers
1944 THE WAR: Tues 6 Jun WAR NEWS: “D” DAY LANDINGS in NORMANDY
1944 Beccles & Bungay 10 Jun “SALUTE THE SOLDIER”: Dame Katherine Jones, Matron-in-Chief of Queen Alexandra’s Nursing Service, taking the salute outside the Town Hall on Saturday 3rd of June [PHOTO page 1]. Among those attending was Miss Lottie Jones, her sister. A guard of honour was formed of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade, and the British Red Cross. The civic party comprised the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr PC Loftus, Deputy Mayor (Alderman Hindes), Mrs Henry Wood-Hill (Commandant Red Cross), Miss E Tedder (Superintendent St John’s Ambulance), Lt-Col Granville Baker (Military Welfare Officer), Alderman WH Simmons, Councillors GF Robinson, Rear-Admiral Johnson, AE Pye, EW Swindells, AT Bent, Capt FC Poyser, EC Ulph and Mrs VL Garrod, Mr W Bryan Forward (Town Clerk), Mr CL Hamby (Surveyor), Mr WS Clark (Accountant), Mr W Clark (Sergeant-at-Mace). Inspector Wm T Bryant, and the Rector (Rev HL Birch).
This was the fourth great National Savings Drive of the war, with an objective of £75,000, the cost of maintaining a medical unit for a year. Dame Katherine Jones said: “There is in the whole world no place to which I come back with more pleasure than Beccles. - Their money would not be expended on guns, shells, and planes, which, of course, were highly necessary, but for the return to them of something more precious. It would help to restore to them the lives of men of their own town and of many more throughout the country.”
Mr Loftus, MP said that they were, “on the eve of the greatest military undertaking in all history.”
In the evening the Cadet Company, under Capt Hector Hadingham staged the mounting of the guard in The Walk. The Home Guard presented L du Garde Peach’s “According to Plan” in the Public Hall. Proceeds will go the Prisoners of War Fund. [PHOTO 24 June 1944 page 1]
On Sunday there was a parade for a drumhead service held in the paddock of Roos Hall, by the Kindness of Major and Mrs Walter D Robinson. In the evening there was community hymn singing in The Walk led by the Salvation Army.
On Monday evening there were boxing contests at the Area School, which attracted a large audience. There was also an American Bowls Tournament in which 48 players took part.
On Tuesday there was a demonstration by the National Fire Service. On Wednesday there was another bowls tournament and a dance at the Caxton Pavilion. On Thursday there was a whist drive at the Caxton Pavilion. On Friday there was a seven-a-side football match.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 10 Jun AWARD for COLONEL BROOKS: Colonel Reginald Womack Brooks, TD, Colonel-Commandant Army Cadet Force Suffolk. [PHOTO page 5] He is Chairman of the Beccles British Legion. He is the elder son of the late Mr and Mrs Womack Brooks. He retired from the Army in 1930 after 25 years service, but still under the age of 40. He joined the Cadet Corps as a gunner, and was later given a commission in that unit. In 1912 he transferred to the 3rd East Anglian (Howitzer) Brigade, RA, and mobilised with them on 4th of August 1914. During the Great War he served in France, Palestine & Syria, being slightly wounded on two occasions. In 1916 he was promoted Captain, and early in 1916 Major, being temporarily in charge of his Brigade for three months of that year. He was in command of a Battery in the Army of Occupation.
He took part in the three battles of Gaza and was also present at Beersheba, Jaffa, the crossing of the Auja, and was a Captain in one of the first Batteries to enter Jerusalem in December 1917. He commanded a Battery in General Allenby’s final advance and his unit was one of those selected to be in the van with the cavalry.
He was demobilised on 4th of August 1919, and in 1920 was asked to raise and command his old Battery. It was one of the first to reach establishment, doing so in less than a year. In 1926 he was given command of the 106th Suffolk Field Brigade, RA, and after completing four years in charge retired automatically. He received the Territorial Decoration in 1925. His work was entirely voluntary.
After his retirement in 1930 he carried on with the Army Cadet Force and restarted the local Battery. In 1935 he was appointed Colonel Commandant for Suffolk, a position he has filled ever since. Last month he completed 40 years continuous service with the ACF, having joined in 1904. [He was baptised in May 1890].
1944 Beccles & Bungay 10 Jun KNIGHTHOOD for Alfred J Munnings, the President of the Royal Academy.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 10 Jun LIBERAL CANDIDATE at the next General Election: Lt Matthew Crosse, RNVR. Aged 30, was before the war a public relations consultant. Joined the Navy as an ordinary seaman in 1940.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 17 Jun SALUTE THE SOLDIER WEEK: Over £100,000 raised at Beccles.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 17 Jun WEDDING: Flying-Officer Bernard Woolfson, of Beccles, and Miss Maureen Clark of Perth.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 17 Jun AWARD: Pte Albert E Shiplee, of 18 Ingate, who is serving in Italy, has been awarded the Military Medal. His wife is a full-time member of Beccles NFS. He is the youngest son of Mr & Mrs EJ Shiplee of Grove Road. He has been in the army about 18 months. He went overseas a year ago and fought in Sicily before going to Italy. He is a painter, decorator and plumber by trade.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 17 Jun BOOK PUBLISHED shortly before “Sting-Fish and Seafarer” by Dr H Muir Evans, of St Mary’s Road, recounts his experiences in the Great War, including being stung by jellyfishes at Dunkirk.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 17 Jun PLANTS for Medicinal purposes wanted: stinging nettles, the leaves of the coltsfoot and burdock, and the flowers of the lime and elder. All plants must be dried immediately they are collected.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 17 Jun MEN INJURED by collision of lorries in Norwich: William Horwood, the driver and Gordon Murray, who was detained in hospital.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 17 Jun BARSHAM RECTOR: Rev Geoffrey Soden, at present Vicar of Searby, Lincs, to become Rector of Barsham. He is the eldest son of Rev JE Soden, who has been Rector of Horam, near Eye, since 1900, also being patron of the living. His grandfather and great-grandfather were also East Anglian country parsons. He was born in 1902, educated at Roydon Hall & King’s Canterbury, and Lincoln College Oxford, where he took his MA in 1929. He is a bachelor, was chaplain of the Royal Hospital School, Greenwich, which subsequently moved to Holbrook. While priest in charge of St Cha’s, Devenport, 1932-36 he started a social centre for the unemployed, which had 700 members. Then he was Rector of St James Wednesbury for four years, a large parish in the Black Country. Early in 1940 he offered himself as a chaplaincy to the Forces. The Bishop of Lichfield was unable to spare him. On health grounds he moved to Searby. At one time he was assistant curate at the London Church of St Alban, the Martyr, Holborn, since destroyed in the Blitz, which was the church of which the Rev RA Suckling, previously Rector of Barsham, was Rector.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 24 Jun COUNCIL:
1.) Proposal to include Worlingham and Ellough in the borders of the town accepted by the Council and would be forwarded to the County Council. [There seems to have been no consultation with the two villages concerned]. The County Planning Officer said that Worlingham and Beccles should be planned together, but this did not effect whether they were separate entities or not. Councillor Admiral Johnson was in favour of a public meeting with the villages, but Councillor Swindells was keen to press ahead and did not like this “reactionary attitude”.
2.) HOUSING: The Ministry of Health saw no objection to the acquisition of the sites of 21.75 acres abutting on Rigbourne Hill and Sandy Way and Castle Hill, and the 5.2 acres at Brick Kiln Farm off London Road. The District Valuer would give a price.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 24 Jun DEATH of Mr Frank Beckett, of Beccles, aged 71, who was the son of Mr James Beckett, a former Mayor of Lowestoft, was for many years in business in Oulton Broad. He was a prominent Freemason, being a Past Master of Lodge of Unity, No 71, and Past Grand Registrar of the Province of Suffolk.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 24 Jun HISTORICAL SOCIETY AGM held at Staithe House, Northgate by kind permission of Mrs Henry Wood-Hill. During the winter aspects of the Waveney Valley were studied; geological by Mr W Fowler; ethnological by Dr Muir Evans; agricultural by Mr G Munnings; ecclesiastical by Rev Williams. The President was Lt-Col Granville Baker, Mr RC Dunt, the Secretary, Mr AAE Smith, the Treasurer.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jul WORLINGHAM RECTOR RETIRES: Rev BH Perrott Smith, is resigning owing to health problems and moving to Fulham. He is a bachelor, and has held the living since 1929, and has been in Holy Orders for nearly 50 years. During his incumbency the Church Hall had been obtained. He was presented with cheques.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 24 Jun COUNCIL: Mrs VL Garrod reported on her visit to London to inspect the emergency factory-built house prepared by the Ministry of Works. The steel bungalow “with four windows front and back, no windows at all on the sides, and a gently sloping pent roof with overhanging eaves, the outside appearance is not displeasing. It contains five tons of steel, and is intended to last ten years. It has a dining room, two bedrooms, bathroom, lavatory and shed and covers an area of 616 square feet. Inside, there is an entrance hall with one small cupboard for gas metre etc, a hot air cupboard for drying damp clothes, and a lavatory. Etc
Criticisms: These houses have been planned for four, but the children must be of the same sex because there are only two bedrooms. The noise of the steel house is terrific and one wonders how it will affect the nerves of the tenant. Floors were fully covered with a fitted carpet. My greatest disappointment was that there were no facilities for the housewife to do her weekly washing. The sinks are too small and shallow. There is no copper and no room for a washing machine or mangle. Surely in all modern houses these things are a necessity. Then again the house has never been used, or the cooker tried and I feel a practical test is very necessary. The ceilings throughout are barely 7ft high and one has the feeling when inside that they must be made higher to enable one to breathe freely. There is only one door. This naturally opens into the hall, but it will have to be made to swing outwards when a pram has to be taken outside.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jul ACCIDENT: Mrs Kate Baldwin, a widow, aged 72, of 12a Newgate injured when she walked into the back of a car driven near her home by Mr Frederick John Meen, architect, of Lyngate, Grange Road. She was able to leave hospital the next day.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 1 Jul DAME KATHARINE JONES to retire as Matron in Chief of Queen Alexandra’s Nursing Service.
1944 Beccles & Bungay 8 Jul WORLINGHAM MAN writes to Wainford Rural District Council: Mr GA Dodd wrote concerning the statement that Beccles Town Council decided to seek powers to incorporate Worlingham and Ellough into the borough. “It appears that this decision has been arrived at without putting the matter before you to obtain your reactions to the proposal. It seems that the residents and agricultural interests in the parishes concerned are being ignored, and if this is the case, whilst development and progress, dealt with in the proper manner, are beneficial, to start in such a dictatorial manner in these times is, to say the least, incorrect.”
1944 Beccles & Bungay 8 Jul HERRING INDUSTRY: Mr PC Loftus, MP, speaking in the House of Commons, about a Bill designed to give grants to firms with fishing vessels, said that he could never forget ten days in October 1934, when the sea off East Anglia was thick with herring. “You could go in a rowing boat and scoop them up with a bucket. While in the streets of Yarmouth there were seven or eight thousand fishermen idle. The harbour was full of fishermen and the sea was full of fish. I believe this Bill will help enormously in ensuring that this will not recur.”
1944 Beccles & Bungay 8 Jul RATION BOOKS: The issue of new ration books went very smoothly thanks to the help of unpaid volunteers under Mrs Wood-Hill, with Mrs AH Moyes in the office, while Mr F Bloom dealt withy the numerous queries before applicants got to the issuing table.
1944