2nd September
The only cases before the Abingdon Police Court on Tuesday were Cyril Brett, West St. Helen Street, fined for riding a bicycle without a light on 17th August, and Arthur Fathers, fined 6s, and Charles Wheeler, fined 7s for “committing a nuisance in a public thoroughfare”.
There was a good supply of stock at the market on Monday. Fat beasts made up to £36 5s: calves £9 2s 6d; fat sheep £5 7s; lambs £4 6s; store lambs 44s; fat hogs £1217s; porkers £6 10s.
On Thursday last Wantage bowls club played their return match, with Abingdon Club on the latter’s ground. The scores were Abingdon 69 points, Wantage 44.
Mr W. J. Lawson, secretary of the Abingdon Trade and Labour Council has resigned from that office, and Mr E. Bedford has been appointed to succeed him. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Lawson.
The Abingdon Wesleyans and the Primitive Methodists joined together in their Sunday School treat on Thursday last week when the party enjoyed a river trip to Wallingford. Tea was served in the Wallingford Town Hall.
On Wednesday evening a boy, the six-year-old son of Mr Bartlett, of 96 Ock Street, Abingdon, fell off Abingdon Bridge into the river, when Edward Webb, of Gaol Yard, pluckily jumped off the bridge and rescued the lad, before the current had taken him. He was none the worse.
The funeral of the late Mr F. O. Townsend took place on Wednesday last week in the Abingdon Cemetery. The deceased was the son of the late Mr T. M. Townsend, formerly owner of the Abingdon Tower Brewery. He was educated at Abingdon Grammar School, and afterwards articled to Dr Galpin, solicitor, of Oxford. The deceased was 48 years of age and was for several years a member of the Abingdon Town Council, and also of the Berks Yeomanry. He was on active service in East Africa during the war. He was married to the elder daughter of Mr E. Robson, of Stockham, Wantage.
9th September
Sir F. Gore-Browne, K.C. died while asleep. The deceased was a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Abingdon County Bench. The medical evidence at the inquest at Oakley House, near Abingdon yesterday showed that death was due to suffocation. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned. Lady Gore-Browne stated that her husband enjoyed good health. On the morning previous to his death he was playing golf. He had made arrangements to go to the South of France and Switzerland early this month. He had a glass of milk before going to bed. A manservant stated that he took a cup of tea upstairs on Saturday morning and received no answer to his knock, but went in and up to the bed. The deceased was lying on his left side in a straight position, with his left nostril against his finger. His face was above the clothes. There was no sign of any disturbance. Dr Woodward attributed death to suffocation, due to the deceased’s hand partially covering his mouth and his thumb covering his left nostril.
Early on Saturday Morning last, the death occurred at his residence in Bath Street of Mr Frederick William Ballard, head of the widely known firm of Ballard & Son, iron founders and agricultural implement agents. No townsman could be more highly respected, his gentle and unassuming manner bringing him many friends. He was forty -eight years a valued member of St Helen’s Choir.
The semi-finals and final of the Abingdon Bowling Club for the President’s silver challenge bowl came off Thursday last week on the Albert Park green when the weather was very propitious. The semi-finalists were Messrs C. H. Johnson (captain), L A. King (holder of the bowl), J. B. Greenwood and W. Thomas. The final was between the captain and the holder, with the result that Mr Johnson beat Mr King by 21—18. It was a very interesting and keenly contested game. The Mayoress of Abingdon distributed the prizes.
16th September
At the Baptist Church on Sunday morning, the Rev. J.P. Morris preached the annual Schisms Sermon which is required to be preached in that church by a provision made many years ago for the purpose of reminding succeeding generations of the attempt made towards the end of the reign of Queen Anne – 1702 to 1714 – to crush out non-conformists from the land by closing their academies for the education of ministers and forbidding any of them to act as school masters. The sermon preaching from Rev 2 v 13 ‘Thou holdest fast my name and has not denied my faith’ dealt in an original way with the history of the period and of the Queen who is described in history as ‘without ability and bigoted in religion.’
The Abingdon Pavlova Football Club commenced their season with a home fixture on Saturday last, meeting the Reading Temperance team. Both sides showed some good form, but the home team were victorious by 2-1.
23rd September
Last Saturday the Abingdon Town F. C. opened their season with a match in the 1st Division of the North Berks League when they met on the Abingdon ground the R.A.0.C. Didcot, the home team being the victors by 3 goals to nil.
On Thursday afternoon and evening last week the Abingdon Branch of the Y.M.C A and Boy Scouts held a garden fete on the grounds of Sir George Dashwood, The Warren, Radley Road, Abingdon, The wet weather greatly interfered with the programme, the Scouts display having to take place in the garage.
The Rev. R C, MacKeown B A., for several years Assistant Priest, at St. Helen’s Church, Abingdon, has accepted the living of the Church of St. Martin, Fenny Stratford. Mr MacKeown was of Trinity College Dublin, ordained about 10 years- ago and licensed to Abingdon curacy. During the war, he was a chaplain to the Forces, on the French and Belgian fronts, and was mentioned in despatches by Field- Marshall Haig.
On Thursday last week, the Wesleyan Sunday School anniversary services terminated with an afternoon service in the Chapel, the preacher being the Rev. George Parkinson, of Croydon. In the evening the annual prize giving took place in the Schoolroom when addresses were given by the Rev. G. Parkinson, and the Pastor (Rev. Norman Dando, the newly appointed minister at Trinity Wesleyan Church).
Probate has been granted to Mr A. Harris, Surbiton, of the will of his late brother, the late Alderman Edward John Harris, and four times mayor of Abingdon, who died in January last, the gross value being £11,112 9s 10d with a net personality of £5,108 5s 2d.
The Abingdon Young Helpers League, in aid of Dr Barnardo’s Homes, have collected in boxes the sum of £13 8s 7d for the year’s subscription. The prize for the highest amount in the boxes was awarded to Miss Joan Stark, with a total of £1 7s 10d.
23rd September
Evidence of a plentiful harvest was to be seen in the churches on Sunday at harvest festivals. St Helen’s Church was strikingly decorated, noticeable features being the rood screen and the corner where the gifts of the Girls National School were placed.
St Michael’s was also beautifully decorated, especially the altar, which was a perfect study in colour harmony.
At St Nicolas, the decorations were pretty and plentiful. The collections at the three churches were in aid of local hospitals and amounted to £26 10s 7d.
The harvest festival at Trinity Weslayan Church saw the church tastefully decorated, the produce being sold on Monday and the money devoted to local hospitals.
At the Salvation army, a special structure was erected with a tier of shelves for the produce and goods, which was filled with plates of fruit vegetables bread etc. The platform was decorated with an arch covered with evergreen and hops.
30th September
A large crowd congregated on the towpath and on Abingdon Bridge on Monday afternoon to witness the swimming and water-cycle display given by Miss Zeta Hills, the channel cyclist. The cycle was her own invention and crossed the channel on August 16, 1920.
An interesting wedding took place in Abingdon Register Office on Saturday last, when Mr W H Turner, aged 77, a police pensioner, was married to Miss M Fruin, aged 64. On leaving the office the couple were met by friends who heartily congratualted them.
Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive.
Adverts and the story of Zeta Hills and the Harvest Festivals are brought to you with help from the Nork Berks Herald. The picture of Zeta Hills comes in a Pathe News feature at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihre_soGpoU.