Saturday 02 December 1922
ABINGDON BOROUGH COURT. Tuesday — Messrs J. N. Paul and J. Rickets were the magistrates present. The only cases were those of a woman named Akers, who summoned her husband, at the common lodging house for non-maintenance. Both agreed to go into the Workhouse. And Charles Barrett, Abingdon, was fined 10s for having a dog not wearing a collar.
There were only three minor cases at the Abingdon County Bench on Monday. Horace Hart, of West St. Helen Street, Abingdon, was fined 7s 6d for riding a bicycle without a light at Sutton Courtenay, and Elsie Simmonds a like sum for a similar offence at Marcham. A case of non-payment of rates from Milton was adjourned for a fortnight to allow payment.
The Oxford Concert Party “The Nonsensicals,” who are giving their efforts on behalf of the Radcliffe Infirmary, visited the Abingdon Corn Exchange on Wednesday evening in last week. The audience was a very small one.
Mr Harry Tame received congratulations on his success at the age of 22 in passing the final examination of the Institute of Civil Engineers. Mr Tame was a pupil of Mr George Winship, formerly Borough Surveyor, and is now assisting in the Abingdon Surveyor’s Office.
Miss Edith Hounslow, of Paradise Square, Oxford, has been appointed as assistant Nurse to the Union by the Abingdon Guardians. Miss Hounslow has been 4½ years a V.A.D Nurse and has several decorations including the Royal Red Cross, the 1915 star and other medals.
The Abingdon Primitive Methodists brought their anniversary services to a close on Thursday in last week, when Mr Clifford, Oxford City Mission, preached in the afternoon and gave a lecture in the evening on ‘A week in Scotland’. A public tea preceded the meeting.
The Abingdon Wesleyan Church have shown their appreciation of their honorary organist’s 25 years’ service by presenting him (Councillor R. W. Langford, Deputy Mayor of Abingdon) with a handsome clock, with the Westminster chimes, which bears the inscription “Presented to Mr R. W. Langford by the members and congregation of Trinity Wesleyan Church, Abingdon, as a small token of their appreciation of his 25 years’ devoted service as organist.”
Saturday 09 December 1922
The Abingdon Branch of the National Farmers’ Union held their annual meeting last Wednesday evening, with Mr H. Pullen presiding. The report was very satisfactory, showing that the membership had increased by 32 during the year, and the financial statement showed an increase in the balance in hand.
The Mayoress of Abingdon opened a very successful sale of work of the Congregational Church members, and the Mayor was also present. The stalls were well-laden, and there were several competitions.
The Abingdon Provident Society, held a special meeting in the Roysse Room on Wednesday evening for the purpose of allocating a surplus of £2,354, shown by the last quinquennial valuation. The Financial Committee recommended that £400 in bonuses be distributed amongst the members, which makes the eighth in the history of this old established society.
The Choral Society gave an entertainment in the Corn Exchange last week, consisting of a capital rendering of St Cecilia’s Day, the conductor being H Sheldon-Peach, and the ‘soloist being Miss Ivy Sheldon-Peach. The second part of the programme consisted of two very amusing sketches.
The West End Allotment Society, Abingdon, held its annual meeting last week, the Mayor presiding. Mr Archie Staniland, the energetic secretary, was able to produce a very satisfactory report and a financial success. The prizes were distributed for the best-kept allotments of 10 poles to 40 poles, and a special prize for over one acre was given by Councillor Cordell.
Market — There was a good attendance on Monday and a good supply of stock. Prices reached up to the following:—Cow and calf, £31, calves £7 12s 6d, sheep £5 8s, hogs £12 17s 6d, and porkers £6 15s.
A largely attended social evening, was held by the Abingdon and District Conservative Association on Monday in the Corn Exchange, to welcome Mr A. T. Loyd, M.P., on his re-election at the General Election. The social items concluded with a dance till midnight.
We deeply regret to record the death of Mr Archie Kirkman Loyd, K.C., of Downs House, East Hendred, which occurred at his London residence. 60, Cadogan Square, S.W . on the 1st of December, within a month of his 76th birthday. The news of his death cast a gloom over the immediate district in which he lived, and throughout the Abingdon Division he twice represented in Parliament. He was a man of sterling worth whose word was his bond. Although a staunch upholder of the Conservative and Unionist cause, he was ever ready to assist or advise all his constituents to whatever political party they belonged.
Saturday 16 December 1922
Borough Court. Tuesday.—The only case was that of Edward Crossley, of no fixed abode, dismissed with a caution, for being drunk and disorderly.
A whist drive in connection with St. Dunstan’s National Whist Championship was held on Thursday evening last in the Abingdon Corn Exchange when over 160 were present. The Mayoress presented the prizes to the winners as follows Ladies—Mrs F. Mott, Mrs Sheard. Mrs Easton, and Miss Carter. Men — Messrs E. F. Roberts. R. B. Pollard, junr, F. Wicks and P Strange.
At St. Helen’s High School for girls at Abingdon, Bishop Shaw laid the foundation stone for a new School Chapel on Wednesday afternoon last week.
County Bench, Monday. Ernest Atkins, of Windlesham, Surrey, was charged with stealing a travelling clock, value £l, the property of a student at Radley College, on or about the 14th of August, whilst the student was at camp with the O.T.C, and the accused was then a servant at the college. The defendant pleaded guilty and was fined £6.
Saturday 23 December 1922
County Bench, Monday—The only business was granting extension licenses to several inns in the neighbourhood on the occasion of slate club dinners.
The Y.M.C.A. held a social evening in their rooms on Sunday evening last, which was attended by about 50 members and friends. The soloist was A. Chivers, and the address was given by Mr W. Wheeler.
The Abingdon branch of the Reading Athletic Club Harriers held an interclub race on Saturday last, the teams being Oxford, Reading, and Abingdon. The result was: -Oxford, 40 points; Reading, 28 points; and Abingdon, 15 points.
The Royal Humane Society’s certificate on vellum, has been awarded to Mr S. L. Buckle, aged 18, son of Mr and Mrs Lewis Buckle, of Spring Road, Abingdon, (on rescuing a man on Sept. 14th, in the sea at Clacton, when in imminent danger of drowning.)
On Monday, the wedding took place at St Helen Church of the only daughter of the Senior Mayor’s Sergeant, Miss Florence Viner, who was married to Herbert Dockerty. The presents included a clock given by the Mayor and Mayoress of Abingdon, who were present at the wedding breakfast at the Roysse Room. The Pavlova works gave the bridegroom several presents from his fellow employees.
Mr Bromley Challenor, the coroner, held an inquest on Thursday last week, at Springfields, Abingdon, the residence of the deceased, into the death of Mr Charles Lowry aged 63 years, who died during the night whilst in bed. The widow in her evidence said the deceased was formerly assistant master at Eton and for 15 years headmaster of Tonbridge School, which office he resigned from at the end of the last summer term, by the advice of his medical adviser in consequence of his breathing trouble, after an attack in the January previous of a cerebral haemorrhage. The deceased came to live in Abingdon last August with his wife and daughter. On Tuesday night, the witness said, the deceased’s breath was very bad, and she got up and administered hot milk, and he afterwards was better. The witness was awakened later in the morning by the deceased’s breathing and sent for the doctor. Dr R. Scott, in evidence, said that when he arrived the deceased was dead, and he was of the opinion the death was due to syncope. Verdict accordingly.
Saturday 30 December 1922
The Christmas festival in Abingdon was celebrated very quietly, and, as is usually the custom, it was the season of many family reunions. The weather on Saturday and Sunday was such as to hold out hope of a dry frosty Christmas. Vendors of holly and mistletoe did a good trade, and several holly wreaths were laid at the base of the war memorial. On Saturday, each family whose breadwinner was unemployed, received, from an anonymous friend, something extra in order to join in with the festival. Many celebrated Christmas Eve on Saturday night, and not a few converted Sunday into an extra Christmas Day. The bells of St Helens heralded the arrival of Monday and Christmas Day. The Three celebrations at St Helen’s church were well attended, as were those in other churches. The weather changed and rain set in, making Christmas Day a fireside one. At the cottage hospital, the few patients had an enjoyable time, whilst the isolation hospital had 172 patients. Thanks to the generosity of local people and the hard work of the matron and her staff, the day was enjoyed. Each patient received a present from the Christmas tree. ‘Christmas at the workhouse’ is an old saying, but its meaning has changed. Instead of being despised, Christmas is made as happy and enjoyable as possible for the old people and inmates. Festivities continued from Christmas Eve to Thursday and ended with a concert.
By boxing Day the rain had stopped. The main attraction was the Old Berks Hunt which was witnessed by a large number of spectators. After a ‘warm-up’ at the Queen’s Hotel, the hounds, followed by the huntsmen and followers went via Bury Street, Bath Street, and Wootton Road out in the country in search of prey. The scent however was not very strong, and although foxes were bolted, the hounds did not affect a kill. In the afternoon, football enthusiasts could witness a match between Swindon Casuals and Abingdon Town, which resulted in a victory for Swindon. There were attractive programmes at the Cinema and Grand Theatre. The Great Western Railway offered cheap excursions to places in the neighbourhood.
Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive. The report of Christmas and Boxing Day are summarised from the North Berks Herald.