January 5th 1928

Floods. Not for over 40 years has the Stour valley had such a flood visitation as descended on it in the small hours of Thursday morning, there was continuous rain which acerbated the huge masses of melting snow, Foxearth was cut off for motorists but horses could get through with difficulty, the water was 3ft 6” deep, conditions at Pentlow were described as awful, it was impossible to reach the village from the Suffolk side and the flood reached such a height that Pentlow Mill was stopped, there serious subsidence on the Bulmer to Borley road as the high banks subsided into the road.

January 19th 1928

The Farm Competition Challenge Cup of the Essex Agricultural Association which is given for the best cultivated farm was won by Mr C.H.Basham of Hole farm, Belchamp St Pauls.

January 19th 1928

A sad accident occurred near High Street, Long Melford which resulted in the death of Mrs Hellen Bond of Kentwell Lodge, deceased was out for a walk with a perambulator in which was a baby she was in charge of, near Mr Deek’s farm Colonel Oliver was passing in his car, he applied his brakes to avoid a dog and the car turned round completely on the greasy road, the vehicle caught Mrs Bond inflicting fatal injuries, Mrs Bond was the wife of Mr E.Bond the Melford and County footballer, Mrs Bond was formerly the district nurse at Melford, during the war Mr Bond was in B.1/5 Suffolks which by melancholy coincidence was commanded by Col Oliver, although the pram was struck the baby was uninjured, everything possible was done for Mrs Bond but she passed away at her home shortly after.

January 26th 1928

Emily Stowe a licensed slaughterer of Monk’s Eleigh was summoned for failing to slaughter a horse within two days of delivery. £2 2s.

February 29th 1928

Advert. Try our Household Flour at 2s 2d per stone. Fred Branwhite and Sons Long Melford.

April 19th 1928

Basil Payne a farmer of Borley was charged with failing to isolate a boar as required by law, P.C.Witham said he requested he be shown a boar with a sow which was on defendant’s premises, in reply to an inquiry why he had failed to isolate the boar defendant said he bought the boar at Chelmsford market and failed to recognise what his duty was. £2.

May 3rd 1928

A meeting of the Trust of Sudbury Common Lands on Monday evening it was decided that the turning on day should be for Monday next May 1st, a charge of £2 15s for each animal to be made, it was also decided that horses-pony’s –cows and heifers should be accepted and that all stock on the meadows be branded.

May 10th 1928

At a meeting of Belchamp District Council Mr Ward brought up the matter of a certain gate near the churchyard at Foxearth which he said was in dangerous state, he asked the Council to take over the gate and after some discussion it agreed to do so and it would to fit a new gate.

May 17th 1928

Joseph Plumb a labourer of Pannells Ash at Pentlow was summoned for neglecting to send his child to school, Mr Hills, the attendance officer said defendant insisted in claiming the right to keep the child who is between 13 and 14 years of age at home three or four times a week, warnings were of no avail. 5s.

May 24th 1928

Great sympathy is felt in Sudbury for the relations of Walter Griggs aged 37 of East Street who was killed at Witham Sewage outfall works, deceased was at work with other men excavating a pit when 10 tons of earth fell upon him, his body was recovered but life was extinct

May 3rd 1928

At Melford Police Court charges of cruelty were brought against a farmer and his two men, Harry Long a horse keeper of Shimpling was charged with ill treating a horse by working it in an unfit state , Albert Richards a farmer of Shimpling was summoned for permitting it to be worked, Henry Byham a labourer of Shimpling was charged with ill treating four horses at Lawshall and Albert Richards for permitting them to be worked. Byham and Long £1 and Richards £3 with £4 15s costs and £2 2s solicitors costs.

May 24th 1928

Richard Joslin a tree feller of Sudbury was sent to prison for 1 month for beating George Potter a labourer of Pebmarsh, Potter said he came onto the Market Hill at Sudbury and picked up with some pals, amongst others he met Jack Treagus of Wickham Ship, just before 10 they left the town and got under the railway arch when near the King’s Head he saw Joslin and others, they got off their cycles to walk up the hill when defendant said “you are Cookie’s pals”, he replied he had nothing to do with “Cookie”, Joslin started saying “yes you are” and “biffed” complainant in the eye, there was a struggle and they went down witness got up with Joslin lying there, then Joslin came after him again and knocked him down. The Bench said they were determined to stop this “gang warfare” and sent Joslin to gaol with one month’s hard labour.

May 31st 1928

There was a ploughing match at Bulmer in aid of St Leonards Hospital at Sudbury on Whit Monday, it is 6 years since a ploughing match was held in Bulmer, the match was held on one of Mr Albert Rowe’s off Church Road between the Tye and the Village, some 40 ploughmen took part. Class 1—J.Raymond—2nd R.Smith—3rd B.Tokeley—4th Albert Rowe—5th S.Rowe—6 E.Halls—7th W.Eaves—8th T.Brown.

Class 2—1st G.Rowe—2nd W.Raymond—3rd G.Turp--4th H.Cansell—5th W.Pearson. Mr H.Winch won the draw for a bottle of wine.

June 7th 1928

At Gt Cornard parish church there was a farthing service when the Sunday school scholars brought 1000 farthings which will go to the Diocesan Quota.

June 14th 1928

The Rev J.Davies of Westley Waterless a small parish 5 ½ miles south of Newmarket told the Ely Diocesan Conference at Cambridge that he prays for the success of the King’s racing stables, although he disagrees with gambling.

July 5th 1928

At a meeting of Belchamp Council Mr D.Ward again brought up the question of Russian petrol and suggests that it should go as a wish from this Council that “They don’t deal in Russian petrol”.

July 12th 1928

Polling took place at Shimpling for seven members, the election was ordered by the West Suffolk Council, there were 11 candidates for 7 seats. Results were-Eric Wolton of Shimpling Hall 58 votes—John Robinson the principal of Chadacre College 54 –Reuben Ashworth of the Street, a retired army officer, 42—Ernest Richards of Park Farm 39—Frederick Ince of Twitt’s farm, a builder 36—Thomas Carpenter retired of the Street 35—Herbert Ince of Shimpling Place 34.

August 2nd 1928

Two tragic accidents within an hour of each other took place in the Sudbury district of Friday evening, the 1st was a young man named George Risby of Lavenham who went to Sharford meadow at Gt Cornard to bathe and got into difficulties and was drowned, the second case was a 10 year old child named Albert Weavers of Twinstead who was knocked down on the Halstead-Sudbury road and died from injuries.

August 9th 1928

Melford cricket enthusiasts had the privilege on Monday of seeing in the field one of the test stars in the person of D.R.Jardine of the Oxford University and Surrey cricket clubs who has the batting average of 87, he was one of a strong team got together by Mr W.S.Hyde Parker to meet the 1st Batallion of the Suffolk Regiment, Jardine went in at number three and made 35 in a delightful style. Mr Hyde Parker’s eleven made 155 and the Suffolk Regiment made 121.

August 23rd 1928

Felix Underwood a bootmaker of Glemsford was summoned for being drunk in charge of motor car at Stanstead. £10 with £2 12s 6d costs.

At the annual farm competition Mr W.Basham of Belchamp St Pauls was 4th in the championship cup for the best farmed farm in Essex.

September 6th 1928

To be sold with vacant possession at the Bull Hotel, Long Melford. The King William Inn at Melford (the licence having been surrendered) with frontage to Hall Street of 116 ft with yard and extensive out buildings.

An extensive range of farm buildings and a full stackyard were completely wiped out in a disastrous fire at Hollies Farm in Chilton near the cross roads at the White Horse, Gt Waldingfield, in all 10 stacks of stover, hay and corn were destroyed.

Florence Nice a married woman of Acton applied for sureties against Emily Barnes also a married woman of Acton to keep the peace, complainant said defendant constantly threatened her children and they were afraid of her and she used filthy language. A warrant was issued for her arrest was made as she would not attend the court.

September 13th 1928

Sale at “Nags and Westons” at Wickham St Pauls. Messrs Hills and Warren have been favoured with instructions from the representatives of the late Mr A.Barnes to sell by auction the live and dead stock comprising 3 horses—30 poultry—implements etc.

John Evans aged 43 a butcher of Dedham took his own life by the use of a humane killer which was found lying beside his body.

September 20th 1928

To be sold at Bulmer, a range of four brick and timber cottages with iron roofs in the Street, with large gardens and let to Younger, Rowe and Searle.

At Clicketts Farm, Gestingthorpe, the live and dead stock, two horses-sow—50 poultry—3 stacks of clover and hay for Mr W. Surridge.

Cuckoo Tye Farm at Long Melford for Mr Fred Branwhite—11 horses—81 swine—implements etc.

At Acton Hall the live and dead stock of Mr A.H.Cobbald who is retiring—20 Suffolk horses and two Suffolk Colts from Mr A.Webb of Bassets farm—2 tractors—Ford 1 ton lorry.

Whilst building the new public toilets in Gaol Lane at Sudbury, Mr Idris Jones of Stour Street was lifting a heavy piece of brickwork when he caught his foot on a projecting piece of masonry and the brickwork fell on his legs, necessitating medical attention.

A retaining wall to support the road opposite Waits Farm at Belchamp Walter to be built at the cost of £4 10s also it was stated that the footbridge near the Barracks at Gestingthorpe had been repaired at a cost of £1 5s.

October 4th 1928

A little girl at Pentlow, Gwendoline Smith aged 12 has passed away, she was the daughter of a widowed mother who has lost a child and a husband in 16 months, Gwen had undergone four operations but was for ever cheerful. (According to Bernard Mayhew the Smiths lived in a cottage opposite Pentlow blacksmiths shop and a son Donald Smith was killed in world war 11 as an air gunner).

October 25th 1928

After travelling hundreds of miles from their homes in Wales 22 of the 30 unemployed miners who were sent to Bury sugar beet factory under the Government transfer scheme had to return to their native land on Friday having had only four days work in the beet factory.

Sudbury Corn Market—wheat to 44s—best quality malting barley to 55s—oats to 28s.

November 11th 1928

11 Glemsford youths were fined half a crown each for gambling on the highway with cards. William Clarke, Percy Sparkes, Bert Brown, Bertie Wordley, Rupert Brown, William Howe, Henry Gridley, Albert Slater, Harry Sparkes and Arthur Wordley, P.C. Kinsey said he was on duty near Glemsford railway station when he saw this gang of men on the side of the road, he crawled to within 10 yards and watched them for sometime and satisfied himself that he would know them again, he waited till 12 noon to make a raid so he could get the cards and the money, defendants ran in all directions, he shouted to them “I know who you are” but they continued to run away.

November 11th 1928

David Ward a brewer of Foxearth was summoned for wilfully neglecting to stop a motor car when directed to do so by the police. The police alleged that Mr Ward ignored a deliberate signal from a constable on point duty on the Old Market place at Sudbury and passed him, defendant said he misunderstood the signal. 10s with 19s 6d costs.

S.C.Goodchild a farmer of Glemsford was summoned for shooting a dog, defendant is a farmer and farms his won land, on October 19th Mr Brown of Glemsford was walking his dog along a footpath through Goodchild’s land, the dog was 50 yards ahead when Mr Brown heard a shot, both he and Goodchild came up to the dog at the same time and saw the dog was suffering from wounds, it was examined by a vet on the spot. Roger Brown said he was walking on a public path with his dog which was a valuable Airedale. 30s.

November 22nd 1928

John Wilding a well known footballer of Sible Hedingham was found dead beside the Wethersfield –Hedingham road with his motor cycle lying beside him, he was found to have a fractured skull.

Accidental.

A meeting of people engaged in rabbit farming took place at Stanstead, amomg the vistors was Mr Walton of Shimpling Hall and Mr Harold Easey, foreman of all the Stafford Allen farms, Mr Bayst who occupied the chair said that the fur board would pay 19s 6d for Chinchilla pelts.

December 6th 1928

The death of Mr William Jennings Mills of Rodbridge House, Long Melford, is reported, the farm had been in the family for three generations, Daniel Mills farmed it first then his son William Mills and Mr Jennings Mills succeeded to it in 1884. His funeral was at Melford church on Tuesday afternoon, the coffin was borne from the house to the church in one of the harvest wagons drawn by a pair of his Shire horses, immediately behind the wagon was Mr Mills favourite horse all saddled up and led by Mr R.Molton, the eldest employee who has worked at the farm for 50 years.

Oswald Game of Glemsford claimed 30s damages from Shepherd Collis Game a farmer of Glemsford for damage done by his stock which had broken into his garden. Judgement for the defence.

December 27th 1928

At Melford Petty Sessions Leonard Pickard a butcher from Lavenham was charged with having in his possession a weighing machine which was unjust, Albert Bass, Inspector of Weights and Measures said he entered the shop at Lavenham and in the presence of defendant’s wife proceeded to test the scales, on the weight pan were a half and quarter pound weights, on removal of goods the goods side went down with a bump, witness took the china plate off and discovered a 2 ½ oz lead weight which meant every customer was defrauded of 2 ½ oz. £5.

January 10th 1929

Football. Clare beat Cavendish 5—2. Cavendish team---Keyton-Perkins-Smith-V.Turner-C.Turner-Brown-Wells-Clarry-Maxim-Creane. Clare-Atkins-Bareham-Price-Bruty-Long-J.Twitchett-A.Twitchett-Pashler-Jarvis-Orris-Hickford.

January 10th 1929

Inquest in the Parish Hall at Bulmer on Arthur Radley aged 58, William Radley, labourer of Smeetham Hall Lane, said he was called to his brothers cottage at about 1-30 on Saturday where he was lying dead, his brother suffered from fits, Mrs Florence Mills of School Meadow said she saw deceased about 12-30, she spoke to him and he did not answer she was standing at her front door and saw deceased go indoors, a few minutes later she saw deceased’s foot sticking out from the lavatory door, she thought he might be having a fit and looking from a distance she saw him covered in blood. Temporary insanity.

January 17th 1929

Licensing Act. I Herbert Kemp the undersigned of the Pinkuah Arms at Pentlow in the County of Essex give notice of my intention to apply for an Excise License to sell beer by retail on or off the premises. The registered owners are Messrs Ward and Son. 11th of January 1929.

January 24th 1929

Mr Shingfield the prospective Labour candidate said that 100 people in Clare and 80 in Glemsford were out of work.

February 7th 1929

Death at Belchamp Otten of Mrs Agnes Cornell of the “Tower Mill”, she was the daughter of Mr Walter Scott of Woverton, Bucks and was 50 years old.

February 28th 1929

Funeral at Liston Church of the late John Campbell Lambert of Foxearth Hall, he was 91 years of age and well known in the district, he was born at Liston Hall and lived there as a boy, his mother and father went abroad until he was 12 and then came back to England where he went to Cheltenham College then entered the Civil Service being at the War Office for 23 years, he was considered an excellent rifle shot.

March 14th 1929

On Saturday Mr and Mrs David Plumb celebrated their silver wedding at King’s Farm at Pentlow, they married in 1904 and have 7 children, Mr Plumb has been a member of the church choir for 40 years.

March 21st 1929

The marriage at Pentlow parish church of Miss Rownea Bull the youngest daughter of the late Rev Felix Bull of Pentlow Rectory and Samuel Yellowly the eldest son of Commander John Yellowly of Cavendish Hall.

Mr Shingfield speaking at Hargrave protested against the reintroduction of Irish labourers in the Sudbury district in connection with hoeing, cleaning and harvesting sugar beet, he said 100 or so Irish Labourers had arrived a day or so ago in Bury St Edmunds.

May 21st 1929

Large crowds were attracted to a ploughing match at Armsey farm at the top of Ballingdon Hill on Whit Monday which was in aid of St Leonards Hospital. Results of drawing competion-1st A.Arbon—2nd W.Eves—3rd J.Raymond. ---Ploughing---1st W.Over –2nd A.Pearson—3rd C.Warner—4th B.Smith.

2nd class drawing –1st B.Moulton—2nd S.Rowe—3rd W.Over—4th C.Warner -5th C.Felton. Tractor ploughing – 1st J.Rowe—2nd E.Elliot - 3rd H.Cansell.

July 4th 1929

At Hedingham Police Court Cecil Whitome of Brundon was summoned for allowing 15 beasts to stray on the highway at Bulmer, P.C.Georges said he was on duty at Bulmer when he saw 14 heifers and one bull on the highway, he knew who they belonged to and he saw Mr Whitome who said they must have got through the hurdles which had been removed wilfully, defendant told the Bench this subject caused him a good deal of annoyance on many occasions.

July 11th 1929

Thomas William Ambrose of Wales Farm, Cavendish, passed away on Saturday, deceased had been ill for some time, he had resided at Wales Farm for a number of years following his father in the farming business, the Ambrose family had held the farm for upwards of 200 years, for a long number of years he was sub-manager of the South Suffolk estate of Earl Howe, the connection being severed when his Lordship disposed of the farm, Mr Ambrose then bought the farms where his family have lived for so long, about 8 years ago he retired and the farm was taken over by his son T.B.Ambrose the well known cricketer, he was 68 last Wednesday, he leaves a widow and one daughter and two sons one of whom (George) now lives in South Africa.

July 18th 1920

A serious fire broke out at Pentlow Street farm which belongs to Mr J.P.Brand, it was caused by lightning, workmen were sheltering from the heavy rain when the saw a vivid flash, the next moment flames were seen to come from a straw stack at the back of the barn, the alarm was raised and all turned out together with two men in charge of a steam tackle, a horse was taken to safety but two stacks of straw were destroyed with a large thatched barn, the blaze was so fierce that the leaves of a walnut tree and of a chestnut standing 50 yards away were shrivelled.

August 8th 1929

Cricket. At Melford on Monday Mr W.S.Hyde-Parker v Suffolk Regiment. Suffolk Regiment scored 134 with Mr W.S.Hyde-Parker’s eleven 108, to the disappointment of a large crowd D.R.Jardine of Surrey and England scored only 2 runs.

240 guineas was the price paid for a ram lamb from the flock of Messrs Ewer and Pawsey of Foxearth at Ipswich Suffolk sheep sale.

A disastrous fire broke out in a small holding at Glemsford when a factory and warehouse and two cottages were destroyed, the out break was at the top of Hunts Hill.

The oldest employee at Foxearth brewery, Mr Walter Martin, made a presentation of a ebony walking stick to Mr David Ward on his attaining his 70th birthday, Mr Ward thanked the men for their kind wishes and he said it was 49 years ago when he started the brewery with one man and a horse.

October 24th 1929

At a meeting of Belchamp Council an application has been received on behalf of the Post-Master General to erect an over ground wire from Ovington to Pains Manor at Pentlow.

November 7th 1929

Willeby Parker a dealer of Clare was summoned for neglecting to maintain his wife and two children, she sought separation and the custody of her two children aged 8 and 10. To pay 20s towards her maintenance and 10s for the children.

November 21st 1929

At a meeting of Belchamp Council the housing committee accepted tenders for 16 houses including paths and fences. Borley 2 houses at £702 per pair by Mr Gooday, Bulmer and Belchamp St Pauls 4 houses at each by Messrs Palmer and Corder at £670 per pair, Pentlow 2 at £709 per pair.

November 28th 1929

An elderly man Mr William Buxton aged 62 living at Alpheton was knocked down and killed within a shadow of his house by a motor lorry. Accidental.

December 5th 1929

Mr Whitome of Brundon Hall has experienced a wholesale loss of fowls which he says amounts to 300 birds, at Sudbury Police Court Richard Joslin a tree feller of Sudbury was charged with stealing two fowls to the value of £1, the prosecutor said on November 27th in the evening he saw lights on Broom Hill, he went up and found P.C.Knott and P.C.Reeve and the prisoner, P.C.Knott said acting on information and accompanied by P.C.Reeve they went to Broom Hill and kept observation on a hutch containing white 12 hens, at about 6 pm the prisoner came on the scene and commenced taking hens from the hutch and placed them in a bag, witness dashed out and flashed his light upon Joslin who dropped the bag and took to his heels, witness followed him and shouted “It’s alright Joslin you can stop now.” 3 months hard labour.

December 3rd 1929

Mr and Mrs A.H.Cobbald of Acton Hall have just celebrated their golden wedding and at a family party gathering of nearly 30 which included nine of their 10 sons and one daughter , Mrs Frances Dorman now in New Zealand was absent, present included Tom Cobbald of Ashford, Kent, John Cobbald manager of an estate at Finchingfield, Douglas Cobbald who farms in the Waveney valley, Arthur and Martin Cobbald who have taken over Acton Hall, Mrs Margaret Farrow of Eldo House, Bury St Edmunds, Miss Mary Cobbald of Felixtowe, Mrs Thomas Oxted , Mrs E.Johnstone of Rushmere, Ipswich. The Cobbald family have been farming in Suffolk since 1635, the present head of the family is approaching his 80th birthday, he was born at Potkiln farm,Combs, on August 16th 1850, he was one of a family of 10 and for some years he was at Eldo farm at Bury St Edmunds where he had 500 Suffolk ewes which he says paid him better than anything else, he is also a warm supporter of local breeds of Suffolk horses, Red Poll cattle and Large Black pigs.