Saturday 04 November 1922
A special meeting of the Executive Committee of the Abingdon Division Liberal Association was held in the Central Offices, Bridge Street, Abingdon, on Saturday night. There was a large attendance of representatives from all parts of the Division. Mr E. A. Lessing gave a short exposition of his views. The three principal points were that he had always been Liberal, was still Liberal, and hoped to die a liberal. He was a Free Trader and strong supporter of the League of Nations, as the only hope for the prevention of calamities such as had devastated the world, and a preventive of war. Thirdly, he was an opponent of the present Tory Government. Questions on various points were asked of the candidate, at the conclusion of which the Chairman moved, a representative seconded, many of the delegates supported, and it was unanimously agreed that Mr E. A. Lessing should be adopted as Liberal candidate at this Election. Mr Lessing, who met with an enthusiastic reception, thanked the gathering and accepted the invitation to contest the Division,

The Abingdon Labour Exchange returns of unemployment last week showed the number to be 103, of which 98 were males.

A rummage sale in aid of the funds of the Baptist Church was held in the Schoolroom on Saturday afternoon when the sum of £18 was realised.

Abingdon is suffering from an outbreak of scarlet fever, there being nearly 30 cases sent to the Isolation Hospital.

The Abingdon Board of Guardians at their meeting last week discussed the question of the reduction of wages of relief workers and decided to make a reduction of 2s 6d per week.

Saturday 11 November 1922

The nominations of candidates for the North Berks Abingdon Division were made on Saturday. The Conservatives nominated Mr A. T. Loyd, of Lockinge House, Wantage, who represented the Division as Coalition Member in the last Parliament. The Liberal candidate was Mr A. E. Lessing, of Kingston House, Kingstone Bagpuize.

Saturday 18 November 1922

Election Result

At first the estimated time for declaring the poll was from 12.30 to one, later reports put it at two, and then three o’clock, and this was the exact time when the window of the Council Chamber was opened, and the result of the polling declared:

At this time there were between one and two thousand people in Abingdon Market Place, and when the result was known the cheering was loud and long-continued. Mr Loyd was hoisted onto the shoulders of some stalwarts and carried to the Queen’s Hotel, from the balcony of which be addressed the multitude of people, after the cheering had subsided, as follows: “Ladies and Gentlemen, and my very good friends (cheers). We have had a very stiff fight, but we have had a jolly good straight fight (cheers). I owe you all a very great debt of gratitude, and I am very proud of having the honour of being your representative. I know that you will realise that I must go on to visit our friends at Wallingford, Faringdon and Wantage (cheers). But I want in conclusion to just tell you this. I have done one very good deed. I have got Mr Lessing to see that after fighting like this there will be a little tranquillity (cheers). And now I am going to ask you to ‘let me get on to Wallingford to thank our very good friends there” (cheers).

Mr Lessing was accompanied to his Committee Room by a good number of his supporters, where he made a few remarks. He said “I just want to say this: Liberalism has not been defeated in North Berks. We have been defeated only by the rich man’s Rolls Royce car. Now I just want to say that we have had a short, sharp contest and it is over, but the principles of Liberalism do not die, and I hope that when the opportunity presents itself again you will get all the supporters of Liberalism to the poll, and then we shall win. I thank you all for your cordial and loyal support, and can assure you it was a great honour and privilege to fight your battle for freedom ”

National Result (the first time without most of independent Ireland):
Conservatives 346
Labour 138 (the first time labour had been the second party)
National Liberals 54
Independent Liberals 52 (the party had split after ruling in coalition with conservatives)

At the Borough Court on Monday, James Stone, labourer, West St. Helen’s, Abingdon, was fined 2s 6d for being drunk and disorderly on Saturday last. Ernest Gainge, of London, was summoned for driving a car to the danger of the public and Henry de Wilde, of London for aiding and abetting the offence. After a long hearing, both being legally represented, the cases were dismissed. John Saunders, of Abingdon, was fined 5s for riding a bicycle without a light,

The local football on Saturday included a match on the Abingdon ground in the North Berks Minor Cup, between Abingdon and Radley, the former winning by 5 goals to nil.

The Chairman of the Abingdon Board of Guardians at the Board’s Meeting last week stated that since the Guardians had reduced the wages on relief work the men had ceased to work and considered it better to accept the dole. The Board decided to acquaint the Labour Exchange that the men had left work.

The Abingdon Council Girls School held an “at home,” in the School Hall, Wednesday last, when there was an exhibition of the pupils work. A large number of parents were present.

Councillor C Rippon was unanimously re-elected Mayor of Abingdon for a second year. He was proposed at the Council Meeting by the senior Alderman (Mr J. T. Morland) and seconded by Alderman E, J. Cottrell . The Council at its meeting on Thursday unanimously elected Councillor Alec W. Morland to fill an alderman vacancy. The election of Councillor Morland to the Alderman’s bench creates a unique position of father and youngest son being senior and junior Aldermen respectively.

Saturday 25 November 1922

The local fixtures for Saturday last included an excellent game on the Abingdon ground between the North Berks League and Swindon and District League, and there was a good gate, the Berks winning by four goals to one.

At the Abingdon Baptist Church Anniversary public tea and meeting last Thursday, the Rev. F. J. Walkey. O.B.E., M.C… a late chaplain during the war in Palestine, preached in the afternoon, and lectured in the evening in the Baptist Hall, on the subject of ‘The Conquest of Palestine.’

The Abingdon Bowling Club held its tenth annual meeting on Thursday last week, in the Roysse Room, the President (Alderman A. E. Preston, J.P) taking the chair. The report and balance sheet were very satisfactory, and the whole of the officers was re-elected.

The roadmen’s wages were again freely discussed at the Abingdon Rural District Council meeting last week. The wages had been reduced to 25s per week, and several members resented the reduction. Eventually, 1s was added to pay the men’s unemployment assurance.

The Abingdon Lodge of the R.A.O.B. held a fancy dress ball in the Abingdon Corn Exchange last Thursday evening at which over 200 were present. The hall was tastefully decorated, and the arrangements reflected great credit on the Committee. The judges were the Mayoress, Miss Johnson and Mrs Simpson, and the prizes were presented to the winners by the Mayor, The proceeds were towards providing a bed in the R.A.O.B Orphanage. (This must be the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes)

With the elevation to the Aldermen’s Bench of Councillor A. W. Morland, a vacancy on the Abingdon Town Council was created. Mr Archibald B. Woodley, of local football fame, who was one of the defeated candidates at the November election, is standing and has issued his address. The other candidate, it is stated, is Mr Oscar Bromley Challenor, solicitor, son of the late Town Clerk. The election is fixed for December 8th. These elections are not run politically.

Sir,— As Chairman of the Abingdon Division Liberal Association, I desire to make a public comment on one aspect of the recent Election. With regard to the result, Liberals are only less pleased than if we had obtained an actual majority; to come within 540 votes of victory, on a poll of 20,521 with the territorial influence against us and at a time when the general current of political thought is against the Liberal Party, is an achievement of which we Liberals are proud, and one which reflects as we are all delighted to recognise — the greatest possible credit upon our candidate, Mr Lessing. There is another thing upon which we agreed, and that is in regard to the personality of our victorious opponent. We all feel, our candidate as much as anyone, that in Mr Loyd we have an opponent who is a gentleman in the best sense of the word and one who is constitutionally incapable of any mean or questionable action. Having said that, I am free to comment on the action taken by a few – a very few — of the supporters of the Conservative Candidate, who deliberately circulated a malicious lie to the effect that Mr Lessing is a German ….

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive.