Abingdon 100 years ago – January 1923


Friday 05 January 1923

GOLDEN WEDDING: Many congratulations were received by Mr and Mrs George Winship, Conduit Road, Abingdon, on their golden wedding day (Christmas Eve). Mr G. Winship was for over forty years the Abingdon Borough Surveyor having moved to Abingdon during the construction of the sewerage draining scheme, and retired a few years ago but holds the position now of consulting engineer to the Abingdon Corporation. One of Mr Winship’s sons is a brilliant musician and organist and choirmaster of All Saints’ Church, Torquay. He served in the Artiste Rifles during the war and was awarded the M.O (or M.C?).

A NEW INDUSTRY: What was formerly the Abingdon Hygenic Laundry, Ock Street, Abingdon, has now been turned into a golf club manufactory, under name of Messrs Sherlock, Ray and Turner. The club-making staff include several excellent golfers, one being the challenge cup winner.

ISOLATION HOSPITAL: The Fund for this institution received many gifts for Christmas, including a cheque for £51 14s., kindly collected by the Rev. J. K. Sitwell, curate, and Messrs. W. Brind, L, Hamblin, and J. Beadle. A Christmas tree, from Rev. C. H. Gill, the Congregational minister, was much enjoyed by the patients.

COUNTY BENCH: The magistrates sitting at this Court on Monday were Admiral W. Clutterbork, and Messrs M T. Tatham and W. Hays. The only business for transaction was in an application for an extension of an hour and a half to the licensee of the Flour do Lys, Dry Sandford, on the occasion of a slate club dinner: and a two hours’ extension for the same purpose to Mr S. Taylor, Wheatsheaf, Drayton.

BOROUGH POLICE COURT. Tuesday – Before Mr J. F. Dunning, Coun H. T. Clarke
MOTOR OFFENCE. Albert Viner, of Winterbourne Road, Abingdon, was fined 10s for failing to have an identification plate attached to a trailer. Allowed a week to pay.
STRAY DOG. Walter Thatcher, of Stert Street, Abingdon, and Albert Victor Berry, of Queen Street, Abingdon, were summoned under the Lost Dog Act for failing to report the finding of a stray dog to the police authorities. Both defendants pleaded guilty and were fined £2.


Friday 12 January 1923

FLOODS: Nearly the whole of the meadows adjoining the Thames at Abingdon are flooded in a consequence of the overflow of the Thames and the Ock.

MORRIS DANCER: The oldest Morris dancer in the Abingdon neighbourhood is Mr William Hemmings, of Ock Street, Abingdon, who is now over 73 years of age. The Hemmings brothers have long been associated with old Morris dancing, and their services have been requisitioned by the English Folk Dancing Society several times. Mr W. Hemmings has now been presented with a splendid concertina from the society, bearing the inscription as follows “Presented to William Hemmings by the English Folk Dancing Society, November 1922. It is interesting to note that the brother of William Hemmings, James, is also an old Morris dancer and is nearly 70 years of age.

DEATH OF AN OLD RESIDENT: The funeral took place in Abingdon cemetery on Thursday afternoon of Mr Elijah Paxman, of St John’s Road, Abingdon, who died the previous Tuesday at the ripe age of 89. The deceased carried on the business in the Market Place of a grocer and provision merchant for sixty years, retiring about two years ago. The deceased had been married three times and had a family with each marriage. The deceased was of the strict Baptist persuasion, the meeting house being in the Abbey, Abingdon. The deceased had also been a farmer for nearly thirty years, farming Bridge Farm, Appleford. The funeral service was conducted by Mr William Tiptafty of Parkgate, Yorkshire, a son-in-law. There was a large number of relations and friends of the deceased attending the funeral, including many of the local tradesmen.

OLD BERKS HUNT: The annual Old Berks Hunt Ball took place on Thursday night at Abingdon when the whole Borough Buildings at the Guildhall were used for the occasion. The ball was in the large Council Chamber, the small one was used as a refreshment room and the Roysse Room as a supper room. The Abbey Room and the magistrates’ room were arranged with lounges, and the Mayor’s Parlour was used as a cards room. The company numbered upwards of 200, and the music was supplied by Van Lief Orchestra. The whole was an imposing sight, and much appreciation was expressed for the excellent arrangements. The catering was done by a London firm. and the furnishing by Messrs. Coxeter Bros. Abingdon.


Friday 19 January 1923

ABINGDON CATTLE MARKET. The local Auctiomers, Messrs. Adkin, Belcher and Bowen, had some excellent stock in their sales entry list, which met a ready sale. In the total of 34 fat beasts entered: a very nice fat steer, weighing 10 1/2 cwt. from the farm of Mr A. H. Cornish, of Eaton, fetched £33 5s., and a heifer 3 3/4 cwt from the Lockinge Estate made £27. The supplies of stores were short. There were 50 calves, which ‘made up to £8 10s. The fat sheep penned numbered 130, and tegs from Mr Durmer, of Hanney, made up to £5 16s., whilst those from the farms of Mr Hawker. Pusey. and Mr A. E. Allnut Drayton. fetched up £5 16s. to £5 6s. respectively. The pig pens contained 112, and the prices realised as follows: Hogs, £13 15s. porkers. £6 10s. ; fat sows, £15 5s and stores £3 16s. 6d.

A SOCIAL PARTY is being arranged to meet the Member of Parliament, Mr A T Loyd, on Wednesday, January 31, in the Corn Exchange, by the Men’s and Women’s Constitutional Association members.

LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY The Spring session of the above commences on Monday when a debate between members of the Society and Ruskin College on ‘whether the influence of the Cinema is beneficial or detrimental.’

THE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION: The Abingdon Division is holding an entertainment at the Corn Exchange to meet Mr E A Lessing. Dancing will take place after the other entertainment.

THE SALVATION ARMY: At the evening service on Sunday evening Mrs Goddard conducted the swearing-in under the flag of five soldiers and three recruits. One of the sisters, Mrs Pancott, gave a personal testimony. The address was given by Adjutant Goddard on ‘God Knows’. Brother Bonner has recently taken up the position of Junior Sergeant-Major.

ABINGDON BOWLING CLUB DINNER: Forty members gathered around a festive board at the Lion Hotel on the occasion of the annual dinner.


Friday 26 January 1923

RELIEF WORK IN EUROPE: On Friday, February 2, all interested in the reconstruction of a war-devastated world will have the opportunity of seeing at the Stert Street Kinema, several lantern slides showing the work of the Friends Relief Committee in France, Austria, Russia, and Poland. There will be no charge for admission, but a collection will be taken for relief funds.

SHOVE HA’PENNY MATCH: The Steam Plough Shove ha’penny team visited the Assembly Roooms on Monday evening and played a match against the Railway Inn team. The games were closely contested and ended at five a piece. Supper was served afterwards.

CONCERT AT THE UNION INSTITUTION: A concert arranged and organised by Mrs Roberts and given by the children of Dry Sandford School, songs being rendered by the children, took place at the union and was a great success. Mrs Reynolds generously supplied the inmates with refreshments during the interval.

THE COTTAGE HOSPITAL: The hon. secretary acknowledged with grateful thanks the receipt of £2 10s 6d from the Railway Inn Slate Club.

FOOTBALL
Berks and Bucks Junior Cup
Abingdon Town 2 Abingdon Pavlova 1
There is always a struggle for supremacy between these two teams, and Saturday at Westfields was no exception. Pavlova, who were expected to win, had to start the game with 10 players because Johnson of the Pavlova had not arrived, and Pavlova started on the defensive until Johnson came on. There was fast, even play, and Pavlova came near scoring from a corner which Carter shot high over the bar. Ivey was penalised for handling in the fatal area, and Crook, The Abingdon captain, took the kick and scored just before the interval. In the second half, Ivey equalised for Pavlova with a splendid shot. A grim struggle followed until Nickless of Abingdon scored the winner despite being hampered by two defenders. Pavlova made great efforts to save the game, but when the whistle blew, Abingdon had won a hard game.

Thank you for the extracts from the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive. Also, some stories were taken from the North Berk Herald and shortened. The football cartoon comes from The North Berks Herald. With thanks.

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