Newbury Weekly News

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Thursday, May 11, 2017
150 years ago
9 May 1867
Power to the people
THE Reformers of Newbury have
added their voice to the general
expression of public opinion
throughout the country as to the
merits of the Government Reform Bill.
The resolutions passed at the meeting
at the Town Hall last Friday evening,
and the sentiments expressed by the
various speakers, will give our readers
a fair idea of the reception accorded to
Mr Disraeli’s scheme for extending the
Representation of the People.
It was no doubt well for the Liberals of
Newbury to express publicly their
opinion on the various points of the
Reform scheme, but it must be
remembered that the clauses relating
to compound householders, lodgers
and residents refer only to the
Borough franchise, and have no
bearing upon the register of voters for
the polling place of Newbury.
Our town is not a Parliamentary
Borough, and we suppose never will
be: it is as then as electors for the
county of Berks, that our householders
can be enfranchised, and whatever
may be said of the need of a reform in
boroughs, still more, we think, may be
said in favour of an extension of the
franchise in county constituencies.
It is absurd that gentlemen residing in
the elegant villas in the environs of
Newbury, and the shrewd businessmen
of the town itself, should to a large
extent be debarred from exercising the
suffrage.
125 years ago
12 May 1892
No dignity in the Chamber
I AM afraid the Town Council must be
given up as past reformation in the
manner of conducting their
discussions.
It must be admitted that last Tuesday’s
meeting was a painful experience, and
for the credit of the town and the
reputation of some of the members, it
is hoped the reporters will not record
all the unpleasant things that were
said, and the personal recriminations
indulged in.
It is a matter for regret that
personalities should be imported into
the Chamber.
The transaction of business is thereby
hindered, the prestige of the
Corporation is damaged, and the good
feeling between the members very
much strained, if not destroyed.
It may be remarked that members are
rather too apt to adopt the
conversational manner, and talk to one
another across the table.
If Mr Mayor would insist upon the
observance of standing orders that
every member should address the
chair, considerable more dignity would
be imparted to the debates.
* * *
I WONDER why it is considered
unlucky to bring May-blossom indoors.
It is so lovely to look at, so beautifully
fragrant, that one is tempted to fill
vases with hawthorn branches, but for
the fact that it will not live long after
being gathered.
Ill-luck is said to follow May blossom,
birds’ nests or peacock feathers
brought into the house.
But I am no believer in such
superstitions any more than in the
malefic result of spilling salt, crossing
knives, walking underneath a ladder,
or sitting down 13 to table.
I have known a dinner party to be
upset through the latter contingency,
the guests having been invited and one
of them disappointing at the last
moment. Half of those invited refused
to sit down, and at last one guest
slipped away dinnerless and the bad
omen was averted.
Such silly nonsense shows that even
in these end of the century days we
are in some respects no wiser than
our forefathers.
100 years ago
10 May 1917
Digging for victory
THERE can be no doubt as to the
wisdom of the Education Authority in
providing opportunity for the elder
boys of the three schools to obtain
practical acquaintance with the
science of gardening.
A good deal can be taught
theoretically, but nothing beats
instruction actually on the spot, and
now that the work has been partially
completed in the open, the studies are
being continued in the classroom.
The boys have greatly enjoyed the
outdoor occupation and keen rivalry
existed to be included in the“garden-
ing gang”.
The fathers have undoubtedly made
good use of the gardens and procured
satisfactory crops. But probably the
sons may do even better.
* * *
SINCERE regret is felt in the Boxford
district at the sad news received on
Tuesday, that Gunner George A Eales
of the RFA [Royal Field Artillery] had
been killed in action, somewhere in
France, on 15 April.
The fallen defender of his country
was not a native of Boxford, but had
for some time been stationed in the
village as police constable.
He was of fine physique, an all-round
athlete and as a cricketer, rendered
good service to the Welford Park
Club.
In a letter written from the Front a
short time ago to a friend in Boxford,
he expressed the hope (alas! never to
be fulfilled) that he might once more
enjoy a game on the Welford Park
ground, thus indicating pleasant
recollections even in the time he was
playing the great game of war.
75 years ago
7 May 1942
Girls help war effort
GIRLS of 16 to 18 living in Newbury
and District are to have the opportu-
nity of helping in the country’s war effort, for a
Girls’ Training Corps is shortly to be formed.
Its object is to occupy them after leaving school in
useful service, and by providing mental, moral and
physical training to develop in them the principles
of patriotism and good citizenship.
It is anticipated that uniform will be worn, and
instruction will be given in physical training,
despatch carrying, firefighting control, first aid,
hygiene and army drill.
There will also be a handywomen ’s course.
* * *
TO every school in the country, the Board of
Education wants the rabbit-keeping habit to be
spread.
In a memorandum, the authority asks for a large
increase in the occupation.
Schools have already made a notable contribution
to the nation’s larder in producing vegetables, and
a good many of them are already busy breeding
rabbits.
But in order that this number may increase
substantially, the Board of Education have
circulated advice on feeding and housing.
Any school which has a garden, allotment or access
to hedgerow waste could support four breeding
does and their of -spring and this would produce
about two hundredweight of meat in a year. Large
schools, of course, could keep a bigger stock.
50 years ago
11 May 1967
Welcome to Burghulbury
IT WAS on 5 August 1954 that the last Court Leet of
the Manor of Bucklebury was held and its revival
at Bucklebury Memorial Hall on Wednesday
created considerable interest.
In addition to a jury of 12, with Air Cdre JMD Ker
as foreman, over 60 people were present when the
bailiff Mr HH Dennis, opened the court according
to ancient custom.
Mr Peter Faulks presided as steward appointed by
the present Lord of the Manor, Mr D Hartley
Russell, and he explained that the original grant
was made in 1541.
He said the Court Leets had been held from time
immemorial, but gradually their powers were
whittled away as they were taken over by courts of
the Realm.
He said the feeling now was that because of new
legislation, the court should again be held to bring
presentments up to date.
On display at the meeting was the original Grant of
the Manor to John Wynchcombe. This is the first
time this has been displayed at a Court Leet.
The Grant carries a massive seal, and alongside it
was an abstract showing that John Wynchcombe
paid £2,619 13s 4d to the treasurer of the King’s
chamber.
This gave him the grant to “our manors of
Burghulbury, otherwise Bokulbury, and Thacham,
and all our borough of Thacham, in the county of
Berks, to the late monastery of Redyng” .
The grant is dated 12 February 1540. A table show-
ing the descent of the Manor was also displayed.
This showed the holders of the Manor from 1086 to
1959, when the present Lord of the Manor
succeeded his father Mr HHA Russell.
25 years ago
7 May 1992
Making most of May Day
MORE than 200 Kintbury villagers turned out on
Monday to take part in May Day festivities.
In the morning everyone met at the Notrees old
people’s home and the village children performed a
maypole dance for the residents.
The May queen’s crowning followed, at St Mary’ s
Church. Last year’s queen, Linzi Cable, aged 11,
arrived in pony and trap, courtesy of Miss Polly
Lawrence of Thatcham.
She handed over her crown and cloak to this year’ s
queen, Helen Brookman, aged 11.
Katie Barnett, age seven, and Charlotte Boxshall,
age six, were the May Queen attendants.
After the ceremony a procession filed through the
village on to the green at Bradley Close.
10 years ago
10 May 2007
Oakes on the move
A HUNGERFORD machinery company which has
traded in the town for more than 180 years is relo-
cating.
Oakes Bros Ltd, established in 1825 is merging its
Hungerford and Reading businesses into an exist-
ing site in East Ilsley. The move is expected to
result in some redundancies.
The company specialises in lawn, garden, agricul-
tural and groundcare equipment.
Rabbit is on the
menu at schools
Hugesupplyofmeatis readilyavailable forpupils,May7,1942
OLD MEMORIES REVIVED
Extracts taken frompastcolumns ofthe Newbury Weekly News
CHILDREN fromRobert
Sandilands School
present gifts totheir
school secretary,Mrs
Daphne Ellerington, on
herretirement in
December 1985.
n Anyone wishing to
submit animage forthis
page should email
editor@newbur ynews.
attaching acopy
ofthepicture with
details about it,orsend
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