1928

Gazette appeared on Saturdays

January

Correspondence was printed on the front page - on January 7, 'suggestions from Wotton-under-Edge' included "Surely, working men who constitute the majority of the ratepayers, have the right to know what is being done with their money. "To enable them to become members of the Parish Council the meetings should be held in the evening. This course would also permit of the general public attending, and would have a tendency to better or purer administration of affairs and wipe out any suspicion that they are conducted in close and watertight compartments. "If the foregoing were carried out we should have better reports of the proceedings of the Council than we do at the present time." The editor replied: "Meetings of local Parish Councils are invariably held in the evening. "As far as we are aware, there is no suspicion that the meetings are conducted 'in close or watertight compartments', for the Press is always admitted, and fair and accurate reports are given in the columns of the Gazette."

14 - A splendid year's progress was reported at the annual meeting of the Thornbury branch of the British Legion. The annual Poppy Day effort yielded £28 more than in 1926; as the result of the Sacred Concert 40 Christmas parcels were distributed instead of 26 as in 1926; and the Legion standard had become an accomplished fact. Of 49 applications for assistance, they had relieved 43, and placed two members in convalescent homes.

21 - Details of vessels which have arrived during the past week or ten days at Sharpness Docks: SS Maindy Court, with linseed, maize, pollards and wheat, from Rosario, via Avonmouth; SS Dagmar Bratt, with '518 standards of deals' from Skutskar; and SS Aslak with general cargo, from Ghent.

February

11 - A small meeting was held at King's Hill, Dursley, to discuss the desirability of starting a Child Welfare Centre in Dursley, to which mothers from the surrounding villages would also be welcome. When the Centre's premises, equipment and method of running was approved by the Ministry of Health, a grant of money would be sanctioned, covering about half of the expenses of the centre. It was pointed out the Child Welfare movement in England had largely grown out of the Children's Acts of 1905.

18 - Enlarged photographs of each of the pictures appearing in this week's issue of the Gazette can be ordered at 1/3 or 1/9 each.

Possible pic to reproduce - 6) Spectators at the Berkeley Hunt, outside The George, Frocester (front page, Feb 18, Wotton-under-Edge Gazette)

25 - It was recommended the Chipping Sodbury Isolation Hospital on Sodbury Common should be handed over to a joint committee of five local authorities to be used as a smallpox hospital. This followed notification of a case of smallpox at Coalpit Heath.

March

10 - Members of North Nibley Parish Council expressed regret at the fact that owing to difficulties regarding a water supply they had been unable to carry through a housing scheme for the parish.

The newly installed heating apparatus at St Giles Church, Hillesley, is working excellently, and the results have been very favourably commented upon.

17 - Owing to the prevalence of so much illness at Wickwar, the sale for the piano fund in connection with the Congregational Chapel has been postponed until after Easter.

Possible pic - 1) The old Toll-House at the top of Rushmire Hill, Wotton-under-Edge "Reference was made in last week's Local Notes to the precarious condition - the picture shows the cracks in the building quite distinctly."

Pictures, in 1928, all seem to be collected together at bottom of front page.

31 - At a Cam Parish Meeting, Mr F Workman said the Recreation ground accounts has shown a substantial balance in hand - he suggested the provision of recreational facilities for the children of the village, swings and such like. He said the amount of traffic on the roads made it a great danger for children to play on the roads.

April

7 - Arrangements are being made for the conveyance of those from Wotton District wishing to visit Stroud on the occasion of a special visit by Rt Hon David Lloyd George.

14 - As a result of a remarkably creditable run of successes during the holidays Charfield AFC are now practically assured of two championships. Playing no fewer than four matches, they won them all. The most interesting game was on Good Friday, when Hawkesbury were entertained: the visitors put up a splendid fight.

21 - Two Uley youths were charged with causing wilful damage to a water can to the extent of 10s. The wife of a Uley engineer went to meet him on his return from a walk, bringing a water can with her to bring some water back. She placed the can near the spout at the cross-bank, and later, when she went to fetch it, it was missing. It was later found damaged by thrown stones.

May

5 - A special programme in celebration of its eighth anniversary was presented at the Thornbury Picture House. In addition to high quality pictures, a musical programme was given. Mrs Grace and the Misses Sally and Elizabeth Grace opened with a trio, violin, cello and piano.

12 - The After-Care Committee for Wotton-under-Edge and district held its first meeting - it was set up for the primary purpose of placing boys and girls leaving school into suitable employment. It was decided to circularise all schools in the area, asking if it was proposed to co-operate, and if the After-Care visitors should include the schools in their visits.

Possible pic - Dursley Secondary School Sports, presentation of prizes (bottom of front page, Wotton Gazette, May 12)

19 - Entrants from Cam were particularly successful at the third open competitive musical festival: the Cam Choral Society won the Cheltenham Ladies' College Silver Challenge Cup for the third time.

Melrose School, Wotton-under-Edge, advertised its services - kindergarten, boarding and day school for girls; piano, violin, singing and mandoline lessons, taught by resident and visiting mistresses and masters.

June

2 - Correspondence took place about flooding at Oldbury and Rockhampton - despite, claims about blockages, the Commissioners of Sewers (for the Lower Level of the County of Gloucester) maintained "no water can get off the land there when the tide is up, it is only to be expected that during a time of heavy rainfall there should be some flooding".

16 - Wotton Young Farmers Club had a reputation for being one of the best organisations of its kind in the country. An article on the front page of the Gazette said: "The principal reason for the success of the Club is undoubtedly that its members are ever on the look-out for increasing their knowledge of farming and its allied industries." This year's outing visited Reading, the home of Suttons seed experts.

Possible pic - Mr Joseph Bennett, with his favourite dog (top of page 5, Berkeley and Sharpness Gazette) - a well-known Gloucestershire farmer, from Cam, recently died. Or bottom right pic on front page of Garden Fete at Norman Hill, Dursley.

23 - A meeting of Dursley Parish Council discussed extending the burial ground at St Mark's Church or acquiring a cemetery. Councillors wanted to know if they were bound to adopt the new Burial Act - they wanted to make sure they were taking the right course, if it was going to be costly for Dursley.

July

7 - Representatives from all Royal Antediluvian Order of the Buffaloes Lodges in South Gloucestershire met at a 'Monster Fete and Rally' held in the grounds of Charfield Rectory. The Abbey Silver Prize Band played for dancing in the evening.

14 - Maison Stokes in Wotton-under-Edge advertise Ladies' Hairdressing, including permanent waving 'by the most up-to-date system', bobbing, shingling, water and Marcel waving - with over twenty years of practical progressive experience.

21 - Large numbers of Wotton people witnessed their first performance of 'living whist' at Wotton-under-Edge Women's Institute garden fete at Bournstream: "a truly charming scene was enacted as the 52 'cards'led by the Joker (Miss Higham) paraded for inspection.

28 - An invitation has been extended to Messrs RA Lister and Co Ltd to send two boys from their works to the annual summer Industrial Welfare camp instigated by HRH Duke of York - "it is a well-known fact that he takes a very keen and personal interest in the movement, and attends the camp himself, living amongst the boys who form his guests." Picture - Mr CW Atkins, from Rowley, Cam and Mr JR Harris, from Red Walk, Dursley - two lucky youths (page 5, Dursley Gazette, July 28)

August

4 - A Thornbury man was fined 5s for riding a bicycle without a light. He said he had been working in the hay field, and his employer lent him the machine to ride home.

11 - A new book, Drama in Gloucestershire, includes the oldest theatrical record relating to the county: an account of expenses at various jousts at Berkeley Castle, 1328.

Visitors to the canal bridge at Slimbridge were entertained by two expert divers - Miss Marjorie Hamilton and Miss Winifred Davis of Bristol.

18 - A public meeting was held at the Church Hall, Uley, to discuss the enlargement of the Uley and Owlpen Church Hall.

25 - A sensation was caused in the Rangeworthy district when it became known that the two daughters of Mr Pickford, Bagstone, had eloped with the two sons of a neighbouring farmer, Mr Powell of Rangeworthy. They travelled by bus to Bristol Registry Office, where they were married, the couples acting as witnesses for each other.

September

1 - The Berkeley Harvest Show is 'the working man's harvest show', according to Rev John Morgan, chairman of the committee. He said: "This is the working man's way of showing his love for the Berkeley Hospital and his gratitude to God for health." All proceeds go to Berkeley Hospital.

8 - A farewell concert was given in Lister New Club Hall to Mr and Mrs RA Malloch from Lister's largest agent, in Australia. Mr Malloch said: "I feel quite overwhelmed just now, because of the overwhelming kindness that you have heaped upon me during my stay in Dursley."

22 - At a meeting of Thornbury Parish Council, a councillor said he had always held and still held that the Fire Brigade was a plaything, and a very expensive one: he could not understand the need for any outlay. The recommendation of the Fire Brigade Committee, to purchase clothing and make repairs, was adopted, however.

October

6 - William Rymer of Elcombe Farm, Uley, has installed a plant and conformed to the numerous regulations for the preparation of Grade A milk. He intends to retail it to residents of Dursley and Uley district at the same price now paid for ordinary milk. 100 per cent purity is demanded for Grade A milk - of inestimable value for infants, young children and invalids.

13 - 1878 - 1928: next Saturday (October 20)will be The Gazette's Jubilee - a Special Enlarged Number will be issued, and it will contain many interesting features, in addition to the usual weekly news. Order a copy for yourself and one for your friend away.

20 - "There was scarcely a person throughout the country on whose lips the name of Charfield was not present during the last weekend. "The terrible train crash there early on Saturday morning when 14 persons were pinned under the fiercely burning wreckage and lost their lives stirred the heart of the whole nation."

27 - A Slimbridge labourer is claiming £20 1s 10d for damage to his motorcycle - it was in collision with an elevator drawn by two horses. His handlebars struck one of the horses which reared up and the motorcyclist went under the horse.

Need something on Charfield crash

November

10 - A most enjoyable evening was spent at the Swan Hotel, Tytherington, when the local poultry keepers held their annual supper. The proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem.

10 - Thornbury Parish Council is involved in moves to create bye-laws against nuisance from gramophones and loud speakers.

17 - Charfield Police Officer PC Nash was presented with the 'silver braid' for gallantry in attempting the rescue of Mrs Burnell who was entrapped in burning wreckage. She was one of the victims of the railway disaster last month. Chief Constable Major Stanley Clarke inspected thirty men; and read a letter from the LMS Company expressing admiration for and appreciation of the manner in which the police dealt with the injured and controlled the traffic. PS Crook from Wotton was also commended.

December

8 - The Editorial wrote about 'echoes of recent calamity'. The Charfield Railway Accident (Oct 13) "disturbed the even tenor of the life of the local countryside as very few events have done during the past 50 years..... "The accident revealed what a wonderful body of men there is in the local force, and what an efficient organisation the police force is."

15 - Frampton Cotterell Male Voice Choir gave a concert at the YMCA Hall, Dursley - almost every seat was occupied. The choir's fame has spread throughout the whole of the south of Gloucestershire, and it has won a number of prizes.

22 - A narrow escape from a serious conflagration occurred at Wotton-under-Edge. Mr and Mrs C Smart, who reside with Mr and Mrs Frank Kathro, at Church Street, were awakened by a strong smell of smoke. A mantleshelf and adjacent panelling in the sitting room below was well alight - the fire originated through a smouldering beam. Prompt work with buckets of water, and the cutting away of the burning woodwork prevented anything in the nature of a serious outbreak, and the services of Fire Brigade and police, who were promptly on the spot, were not required. As it was, the havoc wrought to some antique pictorial panelling is in itself a matter for much regret.