Newbury Weekly News - May 11th 2017

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

Rabbit is on the menu at schools Hugesupplyofmeatis readilyavailable forpupils,May7,1942 OLD MEMORIES REVIVED Extracts taken frompastcolumns ofthe Newbury Weekly News

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. 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. 50 years ago 11 May 1967 Welcome to Burghulbury

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.

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. co.uk, attaching acopy ofthepicture with details about it,orsend itto:LocalHistory, NewburyWeeklyNews, Newspaper House, Faraday Road,Newbury, Berks RG14 2DW.

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

sons may do even better.

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

* * * 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-

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