AFTER a three days' hearing, L.A.C. Arthur Heys (37), of 22, Harold-Street, Colne, Lancs., was at Suffolk Assizes on Wednesday sen­tenced to death for the murder of Winifred Mary Evans, 27-year-old Harlesden (London) member of the W.A.A.F., whose body was found in a ditch at Ellough, near Beccles. Mr.- Justice Macnaghten, in his summing up, described it as "a murder more savage and horrible than any in my experience of crime."

                                             The jury were 40 minutes considering their verdict. When asked if he had any reason to give why sentence of death should not be passed on him Heys replied: "God knows I am innocent of this foul crime. I know God will look after me. I am not afraid." As he turned to go below he looked at the gallery, where his wife sat in tears.

                                             The prosecution had alleged that the woman had been attacked and assaulted, and, said the Judge, "treated with such savagery and violence that she was not able to breath."

                                             ANONYMOUS CONFESSION

                                             An anonymous letter purporting to confess to the murder was read when the trial opened at Bury St. Edmunds on Monday.

                                             Addressed to the C.O. of an aero­drome and written in block lettering, the letter declared that the man in the dock had been wrongfully accused of the crime. The letter bore the Norwich postmark.

                                             "Will you please give this letter to the solicitors for the airman who is so wrongfully accused of murdering Winnie Evans” stated the writer. "I want to state I am the person responsible for the above-mentioned girl's death. I had arranged to meet her at the bottom, of the road where the body was found, at midnight. When 1 arrived she was not there. I waited some time and decided to walk down towards the W.A.A.F. quarters. Just before I reached this I heard a voice and stood close to the hedge. I heard footsteps. It proved to be an airman. I don't think he saw me. I then saw someone I recognised was Winnie. She said I should not have come down to meet her. A W.A.A.F, friend had offered to go along with her as the airman ahead was drunk and had lost his way She had her cycle with her; no one will ever find this. She told me she could not stay long. I must have been mad and I don’t know what happened.    I know she struggled."

                                             The statement ended by the writer saying that he covered up his tracks and got rid of his clothes, which were bloodstained. “I shall be going overseas shortly. Please convey my humble apologies to the airman concerned.” “Then,” said counsel, “Our case is that the document emanated from the prisoner.”

                                             Mr John Flowers, KC, for the prosecution, said that according to a handwriting expert the block lettering was the same as on leave forms filled in by Heys, who after arrest was taken to Norwich prison.

                                             Mr FT Alpe & Mr MP Solomon appeared for Heys, whose wife sat in the gallery.

                                             Mr Flowers said the case for the prosecution was built upon circumstantial evidence, which in cumulative effect produced the certainty that Heys was the man who killed the girl. Evans and Heys were stationed at the same place. The body of the girl, apparently outraged, and suffocated, was found in a ditch.

                                             After returning from a dance continued counsel, the girl had changed and left for her place of duty about five minutes after midnight. She was accompanied for a short distance by another girl, who, on returning to the station and switching on a light in a hut, saw a man, whom she later identified as the accused. He said he was lost and she told him to get out.

                                             Accused had been to Beccles, where he had attended a dance. Apparently he said he had been drinking, but he was sober.

                                             One of the men would say that it was between one and half past when accused entered the hutment on the station, which meant he had taken over an hour to travel the nine-tenths of a mile from the WAAFs site. His conduct was strange, for he did not show a light, and went to bed, and nothing was said. In the morning it was noticed that his civilian shoes were exceptionally dirty. He spent some time brushing his trousers and cleaning his shoes, and later he was seen cleaning his trousers with a towel.

                                             Later, said counsel, accused made a statement to the police in which he said that after leaving the WAAF Camp he “never passed or saw a soul.”

                                             When the case was resumed on Tuesday Chief Det-Insp. Greene, of Scotland Yard, produced the letter, printed in block letters in blue crayon, and printed matter on a watch tab which Heys admitted was his writing. The Inspector said there were pencils of similar type in Norwich Prison.

                                             Supt. Cherrill, for many years in the comparison and identification of handwriting department at Scotland Yard, said it often happened that in block letters the characteristics were even more significant than in ordinary handwriting.

                                             Mr John Flowers. K.C. (for the Prosecution) “What is your opinion as to whether the anonymous letter was written or not by the same person who printed the letters on the leave forms and tab?

                                             Supt. Cherrill—It was the same person's.

                                             ALLEGED DISPARITIES: Mr. F. T. Alpe (for Heys) cross-examined the witness at length concerning formation of the characters. Asked how he accounted for the difference in many letters, the Superintendent said it might be speed or the desire to write not in natural style. He described some of the letters as " superficially different, but basically not.”

                                             Earlier, the Judge had asked that a plan of the aerodrome and its layout should be produced, a point having been raised as to a path of red brick covered with mud and whether walking on it would cause shoes to be coated with brick dust. It had been stated that brick dust had been found on the shoes of the accused. The plan was shown and witnesses, recalled, expressed the view that brick dust would not come on the shoes from that path.

                                             Dr. Eric Biddle, pathologist at the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital, who saw the body in the ditch, said he formed the opinion that she had been thrown or fallen into the ditch and then jumped on, pinned down and outraged. Compression of chest caused asphyxia.            

                                             Answering the Judge, witness said there were human bloodstains on the man's jacket. In his opinion it was the girl's blood. There was dry gritty material on his shoe soles and on those of the girl, which was similar to that removed from the ditch.

                                             ACCUSED'S EVIDENCE

                                             Heys, in evidence, denied having murdered the girl or written the anonymous letter. He had been four days at the site after returning from ten days' leave with his wife and three children. He went to Beccles and had about three pints of "mild and bitter” and at another public house had five pints. He then went to a dance and lost his bicycle. It was his first night out. He never saw anything of the girl that night.

                                             Asked by counsel why he went to the women’s ablutions hut, he replied that he thought it was his own site. He did not know there was another road from Beccles. He received directions, went straight to his hut and got there about 12.30. He did not put on a light because it was not the custom to do so unless on duty. He thought his pals were asleep.

                                             Questioned about the anonymous letter, accused said he had been in prison since December 5^th, and only been escorted out to Court.

                                             When his cross-examination was resumed on Wednesday Heys was asked by Mr Flowers “How do you account for the blood on the tunic?”

                                             Accused: “The only reason I can give is that on one occasion I went out with two men and one cut his hand in falling off a cycle and I helped him to get up. It would be last October.

                                             Mr Flowers, addressing the jury, said if anything else was needed to prove the case against the accused it was provided by the anonymous letter. Reading that part of the letter which stated that a WAAF friend had offered top go along with Miss Evans as an airman who was drunk was ahead, Mr Flowers said: “Nobody in the world could have put that in this letter, according to any reasonable view of the evidence, except this man.”

                                             Mr FT Alpe, for accused, quoted from Richelieu, “Give me a dozen lines written by the hand of the most innocent man and I will find something therein which will cause him to hang.” It had been suggested that the letter was smuggled out of prison. Would a man charged with murder be wandering about the prison? Mr Alpe asked. Letters from prisoners were on official paper. Was it suggested he had accomplices in prison?

                                             The judge told the jury that if they thought the statement made by the accused to the police might be true, he was entitled to be acquitted.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 27 Jan    PROPERTY SALE: 113 Denmark Road by Read, Owles & Ashford, a dwelling house and shop, with goodwill of the business, sold to Mr James Crickmore at £500.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 3 Feb     NEW RECTOR of BECCLES: Rev Frank Rideal appointed by Simeon Trustees. He was ordained priest in 1915 at Manchester and is a Licentiate in Theology of Durham University. His first living was at All Saints, Hamer, Rochdale, and subsequently Vicar of Davyhulme, (with a population of 15,000) Manchester since 1932.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 3 Feb     DEATH of Lt-Col HM Smith, aged 75, of the Smith family of Ellingham Hall, who lived at West Wittering, Sussex.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 3 Feb     RIFLE CLUB FORMED by the 1^st Suffolk Battalion G Company (Beccles) of the Home Guard [which had been disbanded in December 1944]. Major ARM Darby, the Commanding Officer is president. Sgt Taylor was appointed Captain, Sgt Aldred, Vice-Captain & Mr F Newson, secretary.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 3 Feb     BECCLES CHORAL SOCIETY now has only 25 to 30 voices on account of wartime difficulties. The shortage of male singers is the chief difficulty. Cowen’s setting of the poem “John Gilpin” was performed followed by 3 part songs etc. The conductor was Mr RH Firth, with Mr O Lloyd Smith the accompanist.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 10 Feb    DEATH of Mrs Elizabeth Rayner aged 98, at the home of her daughter, Mrs William Calver. Her late husband Mr George Rayner, who died in 1917, had spent 56 years working on the GER, having moved to Beccles from Lowestoft to the London Road crossing. They had four sons, two of whom were killed in the Great War, and three daughters. They had 23 great grandchildren.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 10 Feb    14 HOUSES built by Wainford RDC for agricultural workers cost £17,000.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 10 Feb    DEATH of Dr W Wyllys, aged 73, an old boy of the Fauconberge School, practised medicine for nearly 50 years at Yarmouth. He lived for a time in Beccles on retirement, but died in Surrey.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 10 Feb    COMMUNISM: A talk on the Communist Party’s policy was given by Mr Maurice Cornforth, of Ipswich, at a meeting at the Public Hall. There was a small attendance.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 10 Feb    DEATH of Mrs Elizabeth Chambers, aged 94, widow of Mr John Chambers of 75, Fair Close. She dies at 25 Ballygate, the home of the Misses Kerrich, of whom she had been a lifelong friend.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 17 Feb    MISSIONARY WORK in India: Talk given in Tannery house, by kind permission of Mrs Oscar Owles.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 17 Feb    DEATH of Mrs Eliza Taylor, aged 85, of 8 Queen’s Road, widow of Mr Samuel Taylor, who worked at the Caxton Press and who died in 1912. She was the first Beccles woman football enthusiast. She was also a pioneer of Beccles Women’s Conservative Association together with Mrs J Larkman & Mrs Tom Angell.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 24 Feb    COUNCIL NEW HOMES: 20 Temporary houses to be built at Beccles made known by the Mayor, Rear Admiral Johnson. A site should be selected immediately, according to the Town Clerk, Mr Bryan Forward. A site in St Anne’s Road proposed. The three owners of the land had been approached.

                                             POST WAR HOUSING: The Ministry of Health confirmed the decision of 1 November 1944 to compulsorily purchase the site at Sandy Lane, Rigbone Hill and Castle Lane. The valuer put the value at £1,650. Mr Hamby, the Surveyor to design the houses and plans.

                                             FIRE SERVICE PERSONNEL will be reduced in number at some time.

                                             NEW SERGEANT-AT-MACE: Proposed that it should be Mr BL Moore at an annual salary of £20 plus £5 war bonus. Belonging to an old Beccles family he has been a war reserve constable since the outbreak of war. Previously he was attendant at the Bathing Place.

                                             PUBLIC HALL: Improved cloakroom facilities considered, but not urgent.

                                             Sgt LINDSEY TILNEY, RAF thanked the Council for sympathy on the death of his father.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 24 Feb    DEATH of Mr Robert Benjamin Bird, of 39 Blyburgate employed in the coal Dept of the Co-Op. His only son Pte Gordon Bird is serving in Burma.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 24 Feb    NEW BAPTIST MINISTER: Pastor RB Hewitt, late of Notting Hill Gate. He is about 45, is married & has a small son. He is a Londoner. It has been vacant since Easter 1938, when Pastor W Noel Clarke moved to Stowmarket after 2 ½ years in Beccles. He is now at Diss & married a Beccles lady.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 24 Feb    PROPERTY SALE: Messrs George Durrant

1.)             Worlingham Rectory: since the resignation of Rev BHP Smith in summer 1944 the parish has been looked after by Beccles. The house with outbuildings and matured grounds of 1a 3r 32p. Sold for £2,350 to Mrs ACL Corbyn, of Wickham Market

2.)             Worlingham Glebe lands of 5 enclosures containing 27 a 1r 16p of arable & pasture land in the occupation of Mr WJ Burgess at rent of £27 by Mr HC Barrett of Pakefield Hall for £1050

3.)             Innisfall, Waveney Road for the late Mr RA Took, a modern residence with small garden. Purchased Mr JW Burcham for £1850.

4.)             11 Kilbrack, a small house with a garden for late Miss AM Salter, let to Mr Walter Hart at £27 6s pa. Purchased Mrs A Ingate for £650.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 24 Feb    BATHING PLACE: Mr Wm J Money, Mayor of Beccles 1908-10, now of Lowestoft, aged 76+

                                             wrote that he was full of sorrow that it is to be closed. It is the fault of the river and not the Bathing Place.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 3 Mar    DISPATCHES: LAC Robert Ling, RAF, son of Mrs Ling, 60 Denmark Road, a former Town Footballer, mentioned in Dispatches  [PHOTO page 1] He was wounded (for the second time)  in the wrist and taken to hospital while serving in Germany. He has completed 14 years service with the Royal Norfolk Regiment. He was one of the first troops to go to France and was evacuated from Dunkirk, he returned on D Day [Beccles & Bungay, 17 March 1945]

1945     Beccles & Bungay 3 Mar    VESTRY MEETING: Mr AE Bunn, who has been Rector’s Warden since 1934 resigned. Mr W Fowler, the People’s Warden appointed. Mr BS George to be the People’s Warden.

                                             The electoral roll was 897.

                                             SIDESWOMEN. The idea of women sidesmen was defeated by 29 votes to 4.

                                             PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL: Vacancies filled by: Mrs RF Fleming, Miss AM Mc Carthy, Miss Jackson, Mr TG Knight, Dr Wood & Miss Paddle.

 1945    Beccles & Bungay 3 Mar    PRISON for 3 months: Frederick James Allen, of 54 Ingate, for stealing malting barley from John Crisp & Sons, which he hid at the Black Dam Railway Crossing.

                                             AIR RAID: On Sunday, 3^rd March 1945 in the middle of the evening one raider swooped low over the town and dropped a couple of containers of fifty odd anti-personnel bombs. Several fell on roofs of houses in Kemp’s Lane, considerable damage being caused, [one of these fell on Mr Denson’s house] but only one young woman was hurt. Her injuries were of a minor character. The Town Council praised the prompt way in which first-aid repairs were carried out.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 3 Mar    AIR RAID: [from the Newspaper of 29 Dec 1945 recounting the events of the year]. On Sunday, 3^rd March 1945 in the middle of the evening one raider swooped low over the town and dropped a couple of containers of fifty odd anti-personnel bombs. Several fell on roofs of houses in Kemp’s Lane, considerable damage being caused, [one of these fell on Mr Denson’s house, 35 Kemp’s Lane] but only one young woman was hurt. Her injuries were of a minor character. The Town Council praised the prompt way in which first-aid repairs were carried out.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 10 Mar   SUFFOLK BEACHES OPEN for Bathing: some at Lowestoft and Southwold, Walberswick, etc.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 10 Mar   BECCLES CO-OP Board of Management: Retiring Mr J Reynolds. First elected in 1901. He attended 2090 Board meetings.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 10 Mar   MILITARY AWARD: Military Medal to L-Cpl Frederick George Foreman, for gallantry & distinguished service in north-west Europe.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 10 Mar   SALE of PROPERTY in SALTGATE: 208 sq Yards of land, which was part of the bought by the Council for road improvement, and now surplus to requirements. Price £125.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 10 Mar   BECCLES WIDOW, Mrs Alice Lloyd, of 44 Ellough Road, has 5 children in the Services: 1.) Sgt Harry Lloyd, aged 28, of the Green Howard’s, joined up in 1940. In peacetime he was a gardener at the nurseries of Mr WT Wagstaff.  2.) Pte Alice Lloyd, aged 23, is in a mixed anti-aircraft battery. She joined the ATS in 1941. 3.) Pte Pryce Lloyd, aged 21, the only member of the family to have fought overseas. He worked as a bricklayer’s labourer until called up 2 years ago. He played his part in the North African Campaign in the Pioneer Corps, and is now in Belgium. 4.) Winnie Lloyd, aged 20, is on the staff of NAAFI, now in West Suffolk. Before the army she worked at a Beccles fish & chip shop. 5.) Pte George Lloyd, is 18, volunteered for the army last November and is in the General Service Corps. He is now in Northern Ireland. He received good training as a Corporal in No 1 (Beccles) Co of the 3^rd Cadet Battalion the Suffolk Regt. He worked in the nursery of Mr Wagstaff and remained under Mr L Tills until entering the army.

                                             Mrs Lloyd has been a widow for 18 years. Her husband, Sgt William H Lloyd came from Shrewsbury, was with the army overseas in the Great War and was wounded. She is the daughter of Mr John Hughes, of St Anne’s Road, a retired printer’s reader.

                                             Her other daughter is married to Pte Ronald Quayle, who was stationed at Beccles in the early part of the war, and is a Lancashire man. He went to France on D Day and is now with the Forces in Germany.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 17 Mar   DEATH of 15 year old boy, Norman, younger son of Mr & Mrs J Pigney of Geldeston, a labourer at Messrs John Crisp & Son, at Station Maltings. He was sucked into a heap of barley, which was passing from one bin to another a floor below in the ordinary course of operations. When he was drawn out, artificial respiration was applied by Mr Charles Bennett & Dr Wells, without success.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 17 Mar   OVERCHARGING at BECCLES MARKET: Colin Roper, of Norwich fined £35 at Beccles, when summoned by Board of Trade for overcharging for hairpins and combs at a stall in Beccles New Market. It was described as “fleecing the Public”.

                                             Miss Helen Woolner, of 25 Denmark Road, purchased a 7½ in moulded comb for 3s, whereas the maximum price was 1s, a 4 in moulded comb for 1s 9d, maximum price 5d, two packets of 23 hairpins for 1s, but maximum price was 2d – an overcharge of 500%. No maximum prices were displayed. She reported the over-charge to War Reserve Policeman, Arthur E Moore.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 17 Mar   DANCES at Beccles in the Public Hall. The condition was that nobody should be admitted or readmitted after 9 pm. Inspector Bryant said that dancers came from a distance and many could not get there by 9 o’clock. There were hardly any dancers by 9 pm. That condition was abolished, but no one under the age of 16 was to be admitted, and dances were to end at 11 pm.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 17 Mar   WEDDING: M/Sgt JS Bateman of Pittsburg, USA, and Miss KJ Self of Beccles.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 17 Mar   DEATH of Mrs HEM Jackson, aged 77, at the Crown Inn, the home of her son-in-law and daughter. She was the widow of Mr Hastings Jackson, who was licensee of The Crown for 36 years until his retirement in 1936, when he was succeeded by Mr Holmes. She leaves 5 sons and a daughter. One of the sons is in Australia.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 17 Mar   EXECUTION OF AIRMAN, LAC Arthur Heys, for Ellough murder. He was executed at Norwich prison on Tuesday. There had been no execution at Norwich since 8 March 1938.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 24 Mar   DIAMOND WEDDING: Mr And Mrs William Chatters, of 13 Alexandra Road, were married at Sudbury. Mr Chatters, aged 82, started work aged 13 at Highfield Mill, Sudbury, now demolished. He moved to Raydon Wood near Hadleigh, employed by Mr Walter Green. In October 1901 he came to Beccles when Mr Green took over the Castle Flour Mills. He retired in 1926. Mrs Chatters was Miss Verena Skipper, aged 81, of Sudbury before marriage, is the oldest member of the Women’s Adult School. They have 12 children. 7 are living. One, John Chatters is an engine driver at the Castle Flour Mills. 5 of the 10 grandchildren are on active service, 3 in the army, the others in the RAF. There are also 3 great grandchildren.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 24 Mar   WEDDING: Mr Reginald J Turner, of Beccles, and Miss Constance M Jones, of Herne Kent.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 24 Mar   PROPERTY SALE: by Messrs Read, Ashford & Owles.

1.)             Sandy Bank, South Road, a modern semi-detached residence with garden. Purchased by Mr HS Beare of Ringsfield for £1,100.

2.)             15 Alexandra Road, a semi-detached dwelling with garden, by the Trustees of the late HG Devereux. Purchased by Mr AE Bunn, acting for Mr C Chatters for £560.

3.)             Nos 36 – 46 Denmark Road, producing rentals of £100 -10s, by direction of Miss AA Love, but withdrawn.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 24 Mar   WEDDING: Cpl HA Long (USAAF) of Ohio and Miss K Allgar, daughter of Mr & Mrs Allgar of 2 Northgate.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 24 Mar   WEDDING: Mr Neville Cross, only son of the late Mr JGH Cross, of Norwich & Mrs FWH St John, of Station Road and Miss Joan Naylor, of Halesworth, who was formerly stationed with the ATS in Beccles.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 24 Mar   GRAPEFRUIT: For the first time since the early days of the war grapefruit were on sale in Beccles. There were queues at the shops.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 31 Mar   DEATH of Mr CD Clarke, at South Lodge. He was 70 and started work as a baker’s boy, and had his own business in Northgate at the age of 19. Some years later he gave up to go into farming. Following a period on the Worlingham Hall Estate, he purchased Rose Farm Gillingham. After ten years there he returned to his original trade, taking over the bakery and confectionary business in Hungate, which had been carried on by Mr WJ Money. Mr Clarke remained there for some time, and retired about 15 years ago in favour of his eldest son, Mr Bramwell Clarke. He made his home at Station Road, later moving to South Lodge. During his retirement he has spent much time assisting his sons in business.

                                             A former member of the Town Council, he has been intimately connected with the Salvation Army since the age of 18, and held various offices. He had also assisted Methodist churches in the town and neighbourhood as a local preacher. Having a good baritone voice he did quite a bit of solo singing.

                                             In addition to the widow there are three sons and two daughters. The youngest son, Mr EW Clarke is in business in Melbourne, Australia. Major Margaret Clarke, the younger daughter, is at the headquarters of the Salvation Army’s women’s social work in the East End of London.

                                             Before the internment in the Cemetery there was a service on the lawn of Ingate Lodge. [PHOTO page 1]

1945     Beccles & Bungay 31 Mar   COUNCIL: BECCLES RATES UP by 2s 2d in the £ - a rate of 14s 8d in the £ for the year. The housing scheme was responsible for the increase.

                                             WATERWORKS: Lack of agreement with the Board of the Waterworks as to its valuation.

                                             SWIMMING POOL: Report: “The expenditure of more money on such archaic premises would be wasteful and undesirable.”

1945     Beccles & Bungay 31 Mar   DEATH of AIRMAN: Flight Sergeant Bruce R Judge, elder son of Mr & Mrs RG Judge, of 6 The Walk in a flying accident. He was 21 and had been on 4 missions over enemy territory. For 2½ years he had been a clerk with Messrs Rix & Son, solicitors, Ballygate, until he volunteered for the RAF, leaving in October 1942.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 31 Mar   DEATH: Mr William Gray, aged 80, of 42 Castle Hill, dropped dead outside the Co-Op Branch in Ingate. He had been at work on his allotment earlier in the day.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 31 Mar   LICENCE TRANSFERRED: Pearce’s Stores, Blyburgate from Mrs Lucy Read to Mr Robert Waller of Oulton Broad. He already holds a number of licences in the Lowestoft area.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 31 Mar   WEDDING: Marine Jack Utting, of Hetherset, & Pte Olive Sporle, ATS, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs O Sporle of 1 Lady’s Meadow, at St Benet’s

1945     Beccles & Bungay 31 Mar   HOUSING ESTATE to be built in an orchard. As many trees as possible should be preserved. [No mention of where it is in Beccles]

1945     Beccles & Bungay 7 Apr     RETAILERS of FOOD: Changes: 1.) Exors of Haines Read, provision merchants, to Wallers (Beccles) Ltd. 2.) Mr AW Crack, pork butcher, Blyburgate, to his son, Mr A Crack. 3.) Mr A Aldred, general stores, 113 Denmark Road, to Mr DJ Broadfoot.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 7 Apr     WEDDING: LAC Peter Nicholson, of Flordon and LACW Pauline Wisker, only daughter of Mr & Mrs FB Wisker, of 28 Queen’s Road, at St Benet’s

1945     Beccles & Bungay 14 Apr   PRESIDENT ROOSVELT’S DEATH. He was 63.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 14 Apr   WEDDING: LAC Thomas Smith, of East Ham, and Cpl Edith Bowen, WAAF, daughter of Mr W Bowen of Ellough Road. The Mayor (Rear Admiral Johnson) played the organ.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 14 Apr   MENTIONED in Dispatches: Major HRR Conder, Royal Norfolk Regiment in Burma, whose wife lives in Beccles.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 14 Apr   PRISONER of WAR, Sgt Samuel Searle, RA, son of Mrs G Searle, 5 New Road, has returned to this country by air after being released by US troops from a prisoner of war camp in Germany. He was captured in France in 1940 [PHOTO page 1] [28 April:] General Patton’s tanks broke through the main gates of the camp on Easter Monday. Recently he was forced to take part in a hunger march of more than 400 miles from Eastern Germany by Breslau to the Western part of the country by Frankfort-on-Main.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 14 Apr   V-DAY ARRANGEMENTS: Sub-Committee appointed: Mrs VL Garrod, Mr EW Swindells & Mr C Bennett & the Mayor.

                                             NEW HOUSING: It was decided that the tenants should have electricity installed rather than gas.

                                             BATHING PLACE: It was agreed that the Bathing Place should be opened on 1 May.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 21 Apr   SOCIAL CENTRE for the BLIND opened at Beccles Congregational Church Schoolroom, organised by Miss BK Snell, of Malaya, Ballygate, continuing the work done by the late Mrs SL Barrett of Puddingmoor.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 21 Apr   RESTRICTIONS on house and factory lighting will be removed on Monday – except for a coastal strip five miles deep. Full street lighting should be resumed on 15^th of July.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 21 Apr   BECCLES MAN IN BURMA: Pte C Green, of 17 Old Mill Terrace, was among the men of the Royal Sussex Regiment who played a leading part in the 36^th Division’s swift advance in North Burma. They were the spearhead of a rapid outflanking movement. Towards the end of February the 36^th Division forced a crossing of the Shwell River at Myitson and were preparing to thrust forward to Mong Mit.  A company commanded by Major J Dickson, MC, of Framlingham, was given the task of taking Hill 800. The steep hillsides were covered with thick jungle with patches of shale on which it was difficult to maintain a foothold. There were deep bunkers and many sniper positions on the top. They scaled it under a heavy artillery barrage. At the top instead of a sharp crest there was a small plateau stiff with Japanese positions. The Major was directing us as if we were training, not fighting.

                                             The advance went on at a pace, which was remarkably fast. After taking several villages with only slight opposition the Sussex finally broke out of the jungle into more open country. The lightness of the opposition proved how completely the Japanese had been deceived by the flank advance.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 28 Apr   HOUSING COMES FIRST according to a meeting in Ipswich. An estimate of housing needs must be provided by every Rural District Council.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 28 Apr   V-DAY CELEBRATIONS: A Royal Proclamation will be read by the Mayor in The Walk at noon, followed by a minute’s silence for those who had made the supreme sacrifice. The cessation of hostilities will be marked by the sounding of a prolonged “All Clear” on the air raid sirens.

                                             A united Service of thanksgiving will be held at St Michael’s Parish Church at 3 pm.

                                             The following day there will be a Bowls Tournament, Children’s Sports on the Common. In the evening from 6 to 11 pm there will be music and community singing, followed by dancing, in the New Market. Messrs BW Goodin, JH Esling and AJ Leggett, jun, are asked to organise the programme. Beccles Co-Op will be asked to lend its broadcast and loudspeaker equipment.

                                             The opening hours of pubs will be decided later.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 28 Apr   KILLED IN ACTION: Pte EJ Tye, son of Mr & Mrs J Tye, of Elms Cottage, Aldeby killed in North-West Europe. [PHOTO page 1]

1945     Beccles & Bungay 28 Apr   “NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS: Everybody has been profoundly shocked by the revelation of the bestial horrors of the German Concentration Camps and all are agreed that that never again must anything of this kind be allowed to happen.”

1945     Beccles & Bungay 28 Apr   WEDDING: at Lowestoft Register Office of Lieut Dennis Neale, RNVR of Dover, and Miss Pamela Buckenham, WRNS, the younger daughter of Mr & Mrs Rupert C Buckenham, of the Devonshire Dairy, 14 Hungate, Beccles. Both were in uniform and afterwards returned to duty. The bride was a member of the Town Swimming Club.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 28 Apr   FORMER MAYOR: Mr Arthur Pye, of Palmer’s Green, where he has lived for several years since leaving Beccles, is spending a few days with his brother, Mr Albert Pye, the Deputy Mayor.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 28 Apr   BECCLES and its RAILWAYS: lecture by Mr Frank D Simpson. –full lecture

1945     Beccles & Bungay 28 Apr   CAPTAN POYSER’S LECTURE on his life at sea*** -full story

1945     Beccles & Bungay 28 Apr   LIBERATED PRISONER – Craftsman Kenneth Bird from Lowestoft – full story page 8

1945     Beccles & Bungay 5 May    EVACUEES going home: At Beccles there are just under 200 mothers and children, mostly from Romford – the balance of the 400 unaccompanied youngsters who were sent from Romford last July owing to the flying bomb attacks. Some are people who have stayed in Beccles since the original evacuation at the outbreak of war. It will take four or five weeks before all records can be checked and for them to return home.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 5 May    ROCKET ATTACKS ON THE DISTRICT –full story

1945     Beccles & Bungay 5 May    THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER – Sunday after VE Day. A big parade is to be organised at St Michael’s Church, representing every section of the war effort. Col Brooks will act as marshal. It will be headed by Ex-Servicemen of this war. The Mayor will take the salute at the Town Hall and will address the parade afterwards. Major ARM Darby, the Commanding Officer of “G” (Beccles) Company, 1^st Battalion, Suffolk Home Guard, wishes to have at least four members from each platoon to attend. Many more are most welcome.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 5 May    ATTIC FIRE at 11a Blyburgate, occupied by Mrs Phyllis Cox. Three lads were using the room when a curtain caught light by touching an oil stove. Books and papers were burnt and slight damage was done to the roof.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 5 May    BLACK-OUT & the DIM-OUT, which came into use last September, with a modified form of street lighting, ended on Monday evening. Full lighting will be resumed when Double Summer Time ends in July.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 5 May    BECCLES MUSIC FESTIVAL organised by Mrs GS Odam

1945     Beccles & Bungay 5 May    WEDDING: Staff Capt David Cathcart, 51^st Highland Division, of Bothwell, Scotland and Miss Irene G Buckenham of Beccles. [PHOTO page 1]

1945     Beccles & Bungay 5 May    ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION: Three paintings by FW Baldwin, of Westhall exhibited

1945     National news 7 May         GERMANY SURRENDERS UNCONDITIONALLY

1945     Beccles & Bungay 12 May  HOW THE BIG VICTORY WAS CELEBRATED:

                                             In the same calm way that they had faced the long years of war the citizens of Beccles and Bungay spent VE-Day on Tuesday and, has had been anticipated, the outstanding feature was that there were great congregations at the services of thanksgiving in the different places of worship.

                                             In striking contrast to the previous week, the weather was summer-like. Becclesians were up early decorating homes and business premises with flags of every kind and size. Hundreds of people were in the streets soon after nine o’clock all anxious to discuss the news. Everywhere was a great feeling of relief that the day of sirens – there had been over two thousand since the war started – were ended and that once again it would be possible to lead a more normal life. People found it difficult to explain just how they felt. There was no desire for hilarious celebration. The time for that would come when Japan had been beaten. Thoughts naturally turned to the hundreds of local lads on the Continent who had made such a magnificent contribution towards ensuring the defeat of Germany. The presence of some repatriated prisoners of war was a great joy, although it was ever in mind that far away were many loved ones who had been captured by the Japanese in Singapore and Malaya. For many folk it was a time of sadness because of losses on the fields of battle and the fact that many men were still fighting hard in Burma.

                                             A VAST CONGREGATION: Long before the united service of thanksgiving was due to start at the Parish Church, citizens of every walk of life were flocking there from every direction. There had been vast congregations at the National Days of Prayer throughout the war, but this was greater than any. It was generally regarded as the biggest in living memory. The church, one of the largest in Suffolk, has seating accommodation for upwards of 1,400 people. Every pew was fully occupied and outside another 500 citizens listened to the broadcast of the service.

                                             The new Rector (Rev F Wilkinson Rideal) was assisted by Rev Alfred W Poulson (pastor of the Congregational Church), Rev A Campion Wright, (superintendent minister of Beccles, Loddon and Bungay Methodist Circuit), Pastor RB Hewitt (the new minister of Martyrs’ Memorial Baptist Church), Adjutant H Parkhouse (commanding officer of the Salvation Army Corps), and Rev Wm Barnes (curate), who was responsible for the impressive floral decorations. The Mayor attended unofficially with members of his household, including three lads from Romford, who have been billeted on him since the evacuation of last July.

                                             The singing was led by the robed choir, with Mr AE Groom at the organ. The Rector said: “This war for English folk had been different from the wars of the past. We have all been in the front line. We have the scars of war to show in our own home country. We have suffered something of its terrors, something of its cruelties, and so to some extent we can share with those brave men and women of the Forces something of the thrill, which comes when we know that the war in Europe is over. There is a deep sense of relief.”

                                             There were thanksgiving services at the different places of worship in the evening. The Salvation Army Corps also held an open-air service.

                                             Rev Alfred W Poulson said that in that truly historic hour there was flowing through the hearts of freedom-loving people everywhere a wave of pride, gratitude and relief. They had been delivered from the hand of the most cruel, bestial and ruthless enemy that had ever threatened the freedom of mankind. While the mingled feelings in their hearts were dominated by thanksgiving, they were very mindful of the fact that there were many who shared their relief but had no heart to rejoice. Even their own relief was chastened by that fact, and he wanted it to go out from the service that they were not forgetful of the widowed and fatherless, the bereaved and those whose hearts were still filled with great concern, or whose lives had been so altered that they could never be the same again.

                                             The Mayor was among a large crowd who gathered in New Market for the broadcast of the King’s speech. Afterwards there was impromptu dancing in the square for the first time for several years. Visitors to the town caused some excitement by firing thunder-flashes and rockets. The floodlighting of the church clock, another link with the old days of peace, was greeted with enthusiasm.

                                             By midnight the square had practically resumed its normal quietness. The stillness of the night, however, was broken by explosions in the surrounding countryside, as coloured rockets sped up into the sky.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 12 May  INDUCTION of NEW RECTOR: The Institution was performed by the Bishop of St Edmundbury (Dr Richard Brook). The Archdeacon of Suffolk (Ven TA Wonnacott) carried out the induction. One of the acts of the new Rector was to toll the sanctuary bell). Other robed clergy were Canon EFP Durnford (Rector of Shadingfield with Sotterley and Willingham and Rural Dean of Beccles). Canon EG Clowes (Rector of Ellough with Weston), Revs Wm M Lummis (Rector of Holy Trinity, Bungay and Rural Dean of South Elmham), WE Harper (Vicar of St Mary’s Bungay and formerly curate of Beccles),  HS Verrells (Rector of Ringsfield-with Redisham and another former curate of Beccles), GI Soden (Rector of Barsham with Shipmeadow) Wm H Barnes (curate of Beccles, who acted as the Bishop’s chaplain) WM Abernethy (Rector of Kirby Cane), WL McCormick (Rector of Gillingham), Henry Gordon (Rector of Carlton Colville), and JE Swain (Vicar of St Mark’s Oulton Broad)

                                             Rev HH Dudgeon (Rector of Barnby with North Cove) was in the congregation in which Rev Alfred W Poulson (pastor of the Congregational Church), Rev A Campion Wright, (superintendent minister of Beccles, Loddon and Bungay Methodist Circuit).

                                             The Mayor (Rear Admiral CS Johnson) was accompanied in state by the Deputy Mayor (Mr AE Pye), Aldermen EJ Hindes and Allden Owles (both former churchwardens), Capt FC Poyser, Mr EC Ulph, Mrs GS Odam, Mrs VL Garrod and Mr C Bennett (members of the Town Council), Mr Bryan Forward (Town Clerk), Mr WS Clark (Accountant), Inspector Wm T Bryant and Mr BL Moore (Sergeant at Mace).

                                             Mr W Fowler, the Rector’s Warden, was unable to carry out his duties owing to indifferent health. His predecessor (Mr AE Bunn) co-operated with Mr BS George (People’s Warden). The singing was lead by the Choir, with Mr AE Groom at the organ. 

1945     Beccles & Bungay 12 May  PRESENTATION: Mrs Partridge, of Montagu House, Northgate, who has rendered much voluntary service as an ambulance driver, British Restaurant and WVS Services canteen helper since coming to Beccles nearly three years ago, returned to Norwich this week.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 12 May  SHELTERS FOR SALE: Those who have Government shelters can now be purchased. The charge for Anderson shelters is £1 and for £1 10s. Applications should be made to FJ Meen.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 12 May  DEATH of Mr Sydney W Spalding, aged 68, of 32 South Road, had served with the Metropolitan Police Force. When he retired about 1923 he was station sergeant at Leytonstone of “J” Division. For some years he served as bailiff of Beccles and Bungay County Court. Since the war he has been a Civil Defence Warden at No 4 (South Road) Post, these finishing a short time before his death. He was a member of the Allotment Holders’ Association, and an excellent rifle shot. In addition to his widow there are three sons, the second who is serving with the Fleet Air Arm, is in hospital.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  THANKSGIVING FOR VICTORY: A congregation even bigger than that of VE Day packed Beccles Parish Church on Sunday morning for the thanksgiving service. There was a record victory parade 640 strong, and afterwards the Mayor of the borough (Rear Admiral CS Johnson) took the salute at a march past and addressed the great assembly. It was one of the most memorable events in the town’s history and provided a fitting conclusion to the end of hostilities in the European theatre.

                                             The parade was admirably marshalled by Col Brooks. Assembling at Station Road there were these units represented: The Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, WAAF and Fleet Air Arm from Ellough station, Beccles and Loddon Squadron of the Air Training Corps, “G” Company of the 1^st Battalion Suffolk Home Guard, No 1 (Beccles) Company of the 3^rd Cadet Battalion the Suffolk Regiment, Beccles National Fire Service, Beccles Section of the East Suffolk Special Constabulary, Women Police Patrols, Civil Defence Wardens’ Service including Report Centre and Control Staff, Rescue and decontamination Squad, Men’s Nursing and Cadet Division of Beccles St John Ambulance Brigade, Beccles Women’s Division of the Suffolk Red Cross, British Restaurant Staff, and the first Company of Girl Guides and Sea Rangers. Music was provided by the band of Bungay Company of the Army Cadet Force. Members of the Beccles Centre of the Women’s Voluntary Services and the Townswomen’s Guild went straight to the church.

                                             Watched by many citizens, the parade made its way to church by Market Street and the new Market, entering by the great west doors. Traffic control duty was undertaken by regular War Reserve and Special Police, together with the United States Army Police.

                                             After the service the parade reassembled, and then watched by a big crowd, marched past the saluting base on the churchyard wall in front of the church. The parade passed along The Walk, down Saltgate and round the Old Market, to Smallgate and then through Exchange Square, back to The Walk.

                                             The Mayor began his address by a tribute to his predecessor Alderman Allden Owles, in office from 1938 until last November, who, with Mrs Owles bore the brunt of the war work in the borough.

                                             The Mayor: “We thank the seamen, soldiers, airmen and civil workers of all the Allies, especially the infantry, for their magnificent and sustained efforts which have brought the war in Europe to such a triumphant conclusion. We wish that their continued efforts may result in a speedy ending of the war in the Far East and a quick release of the prisoners now in Japanese hands, many of whom are so well known and dear to us.” [PHOTO page 1]

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  WEDDING of Pte Edmund Van Lommeren, of Antwerp to Miss Phyllis Warnes, only child of Mr & Mrs S Warnes, of 94 Denmark Road. The bridegroom, who was formerly stationed in the borough with the 1^st Belgian Armoured Car Squadron, had come on leave from the BLA. His father, who is in the Belgian Merchant Navy, was unable to attend, but his mother travelled from Liverpool, where she had been living since the war. Mr S Warnes is a foreman at Beccles Station. [PHOTO page 1]

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  COMBINED SEWAGE SCHEME proposed, with the sewage works at Worlingham.

                                             HOUSING SITES: The site for temporary dwellings was 2½ acres in St Anne’s Road owned by the Co-Op valued at £165.

                                             Permanent Houses on a site of 13 acres on Sandy Lane and Rigbone Hill owned by the Misses Hemmant. The value was £50 an acre.

                                             AN APPLICATION for building development at St Anne’s Road was made by Mr FH Reynolds. The committee was not satisfied the site was suitable owing to the liability of flooding.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  50 YEARS AN ORGANIST: Mr AE Groom of Wembley Avenue, served in turn at Norwich, Mundesley, and North Walsham before going to Lowestoft, where he held office at St Peter’s for 30 years. On retirement he was presented with a gold watch. Since the beginning of the war he has acted as organist and choirmaster at Beccles Parish Church. Some years ago he played a leading part in the revival of the town’s Choral Society.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  OLD BLACK-OUT MATERIAL: The WVS has been asked to collect old blackout material as suitable wearing apparel for French children.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  AUCTIONEER: Mr Brian Ashford, senior partner in the firm of Read, Owles & Ashford elected junior Vice President of the East Anglian Branch of the Auctioneers’ and Estate Agents’ Institute at Ipswich.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  CHRISTENING at FAIR: Rev Campion Wright, Methodist Minister, christened 3 babies at the amusement fair at the Black Boy Meadow. There were two boys and one girl, the ceremonies talking place in a couple of caravans. The fair, which was the first to be held in the borough since [the beginning of] the war, did good business. On Monday it left for Wisbech, where it will remain over Whitsun.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  ALDERMAN HW SIMMONS has been prevented from attending Council meetings owing to indifferent health, was welcomed by colleagues when he attended the march past on Sunday.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  PROPERTY SALE: by Read, Owles & Ashford:

                                             Nos 2 to 12 Gosford Road (even numbers) by Trustees of the late Mr H Hopson. This is a block of dwelling houses producing rentals of £96-14s pa, purchased by Mr JC Read at £920.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  MAYOR ENTERTAINS EVACUEES at School in Beccles at the Beccles Area School. This was in the nature of a farewell treat as arrangements are being made for their return home. 89 out of 107 invited guests turned up. Practically all of them came from the Essex borough of Romford last July owing to flying bomb attacks, the remainder having been at Beccles since they were sent here from Greater London at the start of the war. The Mayor of Romford (Ald AJ DYER) and his Town Clerk made a special journey to attend the function and express gratitude to the citizens for their kindness to the evacuees. They motored back in the evening, as they had to be at Romford for the Thanksgiving Sunday observance.

                                             The Mayor, who still has three Romford evacuees at Meadowcroft, extended a cordial welcome to Alderman Dyer and hoped he would be able to spend a fortnight’s holiday at Beccles and thus see for himself what the place was like.

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  WEDDING: Cpl Jack Biver, Belgian Army, and Miss Jean Davidson, of Beccles [PHOTO page 3]

1945     Beccles & Bungay 19 May  OUR FORCES OVERSEAS: Sergeant Jack Ellwood, of Beccles, serving with the Suffolk Yeomanry in Holland: “Shortly after we entered Holland, I heard that the Americans had liberated Tongeren in Belgium. I remembered my aunt (who I had not seen since I was eleven) had last written from there to my mother through the Red Cross in 1941, so I decided to try to find her. I managed to get a lift in a Jeep, and I crossed the Albert Canal over two planks.

                                             I had no idea exactly whereabouts my aunt had lived, and quite expected to learn that she was dead or in a concentration camp. However, when I arrived there I saw one large Union Jack among the Belgian &United States’ flags, which were flying from every house in the main street, and I thought to myself ‘That must be the House.’