April 2016 - Northumberland Archives

This Week in World War One, 21 April 1916

08/03/201822/04/2016 by Northumberland Archives

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 21 APRIL 1916

LOCAL NEWS

Lady Teacher’s Long Service: On Thursday afternoon, 20th inst., Miss Phillip, who has been for twenty-five years a teacher in the Church of England Infant School at the Parade, Berwick, was presented with a silver tea service, a china tea set, and cabinet in recognition of her long and faithful services. The presentation was made by the Vicar (the Rev. R. W. De La Hey) in a graceful and eloquent manner, and the gifts were suitably acknowledged by Miss Phillip.

The Parade School can be seen back left in this 1950s photograph of the Riding of the Bounds in Berwick. Pictured also in the background on the right is the Freemasons' Hall. © Berwick Record Office, BRO 1944-1-4008-054. — The Parade School can be seen back left in this 1950s photograph of the Riding of the Bounds in Berwick. Pictured also in the background on the right is the Freemasons’ Hall. © Berwick Record Office, BRO 1944-1-4008-054.

Early advertisement for James Buchanan's Whisky. — James Buchanan’s Whisky.

Alleged Theft of Whisky – At the Norham and Islandshire Petty Sessions on Friday – before John Black, Esq., a railway porter at Goswick, named William Wedderburn, was charged with the theft of three bottles of whisky. It appeared that a case of Buchanan’s whisky had fallen from a railway waggon. The loss was intimated to the officials at Goswick and Tweedmouth, A man named William Skee proceeded along the line and found the case as well as two bottles, which were concealed underneath railway sleepers and another in a rabbit hole. The accused was remanded on bail till Wednesday, 3rd May.

St. Paul’s Church Spittal – Guild Social – It being felt that something ought to be done, for the young people of the village during the winter months, Councillor P.P. Boston,

Early photograph of St Paul's Church, Spittal. © Berwick Record Office. BRO 1887-4-3. — Early photograph of St Paul’s Church, Spittal. © Berwick Record Office. BRO 1887-4-3.

always the friend of the young, was instrumental in calling a meeting at which fifty young people were present. It was decided to reform the Guild of Mutual Aid and Improvement, and to meet once a week in the Hall of the Church. Old and young took advantage of these meetings which were bright and attractive, with an average attendance of eighty, the membership exceeding one hundred. A social was held on Friday evening when one hundred and twenty sat down to tea. The President, Councillor P. Boston in his remarks, gave all a hearty welcome, and hoping that they would have a pleasant evening.

After tea the time was taken up with games interspersed with songs, recitation, etc. The following was the programme: –

Song Miss M. Younger

Swedish Drill by ten members of the Guild

Song Miss Gibson

Recitation Miss S Crisp

Song Mrs J. Moffat

Song Mr Dewar.

The singing of the National Anthem brought a most successful session to a close.

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

SATURDAY

Before A. L. Miller, Esq., and Alderman Maclagan

AN HOUR TO LEAVE THE TOWN

John Duncan, Banffshire, pedlar, minus the right leg, was charged with having on Friday been, drunk and disorderly in Tower Road, Tweedmouth. He pleaded guilty.

Police sergeant Wilson said that on the previous day three women complained to him regarding the dirty and abusive language which the accused had used towards them. He had been asking them to purchase some articles he was selling. The witness remonstrated with the accused regarding his conduct, and told him he would have to clear out of the town. The accused made a very insolent reply, and in consequence he took him in charge. As a sample of the language accused used witness handed up a note of same to the Bench. The accused was selling writing paper, and had a pedlar’s certificate.

Mr A. L. Miller said the accused seemed to have been spending any money he had on spirituous liquors.

The Chief Constable – Without doubt; but we know nothing about him, and have never seen him before.

The accused said he had not tasted drink for a number of years until Friday, and that he was making for his native country in the North of Scotland.

Mr A. L. Miller said that the accused had used the most disgusting language towards the women, and deserved to be sent to prison for a month without the option of a fine. He would be fined 10s 6d or ten days’ imprisonment, but if he promised to clear out of the town within an hour’s time the sentence would not be put in force.

The accused gave his promise to leave the town, and was dismissed.

1920’s Stannington – May Brown’s photographs

21/12/202015/04/2016 by Northumberland Archives

The Stannington Sanatorium project has been continuing at a good pace. Our digitisation and redaction of the patient files is progressing quickly, and we have now completed repackaging them. Our project assistant is now focusing on some of the photographs we have in the collection, and is listing a 1920s photograph album we hope to be able to feature soon. In the meantime, still thinking of photographs, we thought we would share some from another set from our collection, featuring 1920s Stannington Sanatorium.

May Brown was a nurse at Stannington in the late 1920s, and left after her marriage in 1929. Her family have donated these photographs to the Northumberland Archives, which show a little of Stannington life in the 1920s.

The first, NRO 11036/1, shows two patients and some of the nurses at Stannington on the veranda, and is labelled as ‘May 1927’.

This photograph, NRO 11036/3, labelled Bessie J. Young, shows a nurse with a patient on the veranda.

NRO 11036/4 is labelled ‘This is our baby on my ward’. It is likely the ‘baby’ was the youngest patient on the ward, or perhaps a favourite patient of May’s.

Photograph NRO 11036/5 shows the Nurses photographed together. The matron in the centre of the picture is Miss Campbell, and May Brown is fourth from the left.

NRO 11036/6 shows a larger group of the Sisters and Nurses together. This time May is in the middle of the picture, 6^th from the left in the back row.

NRO 11036/7 shows staff and patients gathered outside for a fun day. As it is labelled ‘August 1927’ it could be a sports day or a summer outing.

This last photograph, NRO 11036/9, shows the Nurses’ home at Stannington, where May would have lived during her time there. You can find out more about the Nurses’ home through our Online Exhibition tour by clicking on the Nurses’ home.

We hope to be able to bring you more photographs in the future, however if you would like to see more in the meantime have a look on our Voices of Stannington Sanatorium Flickr set.

This Week in World War One, 7 April 1916

08/03/201808/04/2016 by Northumberland Archives

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 7 APRIL 1916

BERWICK LIFEBOAT- MEN IN LONDON

Feted and honoured by the R.N.L.B.I.

It was no small honour that was shown to Berwick in London on March 29^th. At Caxton Hall, Westminster the annual meeting of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was held, and a very large and distinguished company met to hear the yearly report of work done by the Lifeboats, and also to grant awards to Coxswains who had specially done meritorious service.

Image 8 - Lifeboat - RNLB Matthew Simpson - Left to Right - Not known, Not known, Not known, John Wood, Knot known, Jack Lough, George Lough, Bartholomew Lough, Thomas Martin (possible), Not known, Not Known, Alex Patterson Lough. — Image 8 – Lifeboat – RNLB Matthew Simpson – Left to Right – Not known, Not known, Not known, John Wood, Knot known, Jack Lough, George Lough, Bartholomew Lough, Thomas Martin (possible), Not known, Not Known, Alex Patterson Lough.

On the platform were the Right Hon. The Earl of Plymouth, P.C., C.B.,- Chairman; the Right hon. The Earl Waldergrave, P.C. the Right Hon. the Lord Sydenham, G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E.,; the Rev. Hugh B. Chapman, chaplain to the Savoy, and Lt. Col. Fraser, V.D., R.A.M.C. (T.)

After the report had been read and adopted, Coxwain James Jamieson of the Berwick Lifeboat, and Lt. Col. Fraser were asked to stand while the record of their service was read to the meeting. This was done and great applause followed, which was renewed when Jamieson faced the meeting wearing his medals. He thanked the Chairman and those present in a few well-chosen words. Lieut. Col. Fraser also received an ovation when he appeared before the chairman, and was most cordially congratulated.

BAD CASE OF CRUELTY TO A HORSE

Berwick Petty Sessions

Joseph L. Ayton, Berwick, grocer, was charged with allowing a horse to be wrought on the 18^th March, while suffering from sores on the back, Robert Lyons, Berwick, carter, a boy, was also charged with cruelly working the horse at Tweedmouth. Inspector Robinson of the S.P.C.A. prosecuted.

J Ayton grocer's shop in Walkergate Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Courtesy of Berwick Record Office. BRO 1944-1-1408-2. — J Ayton grocer’s shop in Walkergate Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Courtesy of Berwick Record Office. BRO 1944-1-1408-2.

Sergt. McRobb said on the Saturday mentioned he was on duty with Sergeant Wilson. He saw that there was something wrong with the horse, and on examining its back he found a very bad wound which went into the back bone. The saddle was resting on the wound. It was the worst case he had ever seen. He asked the driver if he saw the wound, when he yoked the horse, and he replied that the employer (Joseph L. Ayton) put on the harness. No one could have yoked the horse without seeing the wound.

Sergt. Wilson said that it was a very bad case. There were two wounds, one of them as large as a 5s piece, which went to the bone.

Inspector Robinson said that he examined the animal. It was a black gelding. There were two very bad wounds, one on each side of the back. They were deep wounds and full of matter, inflamed and tender to the touch, and the animal must have suffered great pain. Ayton, the employer, admitted it had two sores, and that he was looking out for a place to send it to.

Joseph L. Ayton, owner of the horse, said he knew there were two sores on the animal’s back and that he was looking for a place to send it to. The horse had been treated by a vet., who gave some ointment to put on the sores, and said it would soon be all right.

Cross-examined – The horse went round the district. He knew that the animal had a bad back, and that it was not in the best condition.

The Bench bound over Lyons to be of good behaviour for the next six months. Ayton was fined £3.

BERWICK TRIBUNALS

BAKER’S CLAIM

John M. Dudgeon, baker, appeared on the ground that he was a partner of a firm of contractors to the army and navy, and that he was under obligation to work every day in the week to execute these.

The British Army on the Home Front, 1914 - 1918. A baker in a field bakery. Author Nicholls, Horace (Photographer) — The British Army on the Home Front, 1914 – 1918. A baker in a field bakery. Author Nicholls, Horace (Photographer)

In answer to Mr Hogarth, the appellant said if his firm had no Government contracts he would be quite prepared to go. He was not only in a certified occupation, but he was personally responsible for turning out 400 loaves daily to the army alone.

It was agreed to grant exemption so long as the appellant remained in his present employment.

MOTOR DRIVERS CASE

Andrew Hogg (27), 18 Ness Street, was claimed by the British Petroleum Company on the ground that his services were indispensable to the Company.

In answer to questions it appeared that the Company supplied contracts to the army, and that a condition was that the oil must be delivered to them. Although badges and other stars had been issued to certain workmen doing this kind of work the Company’s men had somehow been always missed out. The appellant was required for the working of the three depots of the company at Berwick, Burnmouth, and Eyemouth.

It was agreed that the appellant should be asked to serve.

A CONVENIENT CALLING

John Purves (39), Mordington, foreman market gardner, was claimed by his employer, Andrew Ironside, on the ground that his services were indispensable.

In answer to Mr Hogarth it was stated by Mr Ironside that Purves had been in his employment some five weeks.

Mr Hogarth – It is suggested that this man has come to you for shelter, by getting into reversed occupation.

Mr Ironside – I don’t think that is the case. I would not have taken him if I could have got another, and I applied to the Labour Exchange both for men and women

The Chairman said that the decision of the Tribunal was that they saw no reason why the appellant should not be called upon to serve.