January 25th 1930

Two men were killed when their Fairey aircraft crashed at Sudbury at about noon on Tuesday, they were Flying Officer Donald Mackenzie and Corporal Leonard Barnard. An aeroplane was heard over Sudbury but the fog was so dense no-one knew what had happened.
Police said the machine came down in a pit near the Maldon Grey at Chilton, they went to the spot and found the machine and the two dead occupants. Both men were wearing parachutes and the machine appeared to be a new one.

February 15th 1930

Foxearth Village Club has now completed 17 years of useful existance and at the end of the dinner at the new Foxearth Village Hall testimony was paid to Mr D.Ward to the part he played in brightening up the village life. Mr Ward said he remembered organising the club in the village school room, Mr Foster having given them a building which had formerly been a cowshed.

March 1st 1930

At the meeting of the Belchamp and District Education Committee the question of malnutrition in the Belchamp district was brought up. Mr David Ward said it was difficult for the children in the Foxearth to get milk before they went to school as the milk did not arrive in the village until 9-10 o'clock in the morning. The Rev B.Cann said he thought malnutrition was more evident in that area than in the Halstead district. Mr Ward said he could say that the children who attended Foxearth school had every attention. The chairman said he noticed in the report that the children of Foxearth School brought thermos flasks and they must be a superior class,(laughter).

July 26th 1930

Harry Parker a dealer of Foxearth was charged with riding a cycle without a light in Cavendish. P.C.Talbot said stopped defendant in Cavendish street and found he had no lights, when defendant went off he said " I can ride now" I told him he would be reported for a second offence if he did and I received abuse and defendant said " if you come along the road I will see to you". Fined £ 1.

January 3rd 1932

The Rev Robert Flynn of Belchamp St Pauls applied for payment of £ 17 6s 6d from A.J.Halls of Easton Smiths Farm, Foxearth, which he said was a rent charge and not a tithe and payable to the vicar and church wardens at Belchamp St Pauls. Mr Halls had not paid a penny of the amount due in April last. Defendant said he thought Mr Flynn would have given him more time as they know how farming is today and he had to pay £ 120 on his 200 acres. His Honour said he would help if he could, defendant said he had to sell his corn first and suggested paying by instalments. Mr Flynn said this was a charitable trust and this Christmas he had not been able to give a bonus. Defendant said it took 190 sacks of wheat to pay his taxes, tithes and charities. His Honour made a order for payment of £ 10 a fortnight and the balance in 28 days.
An order was also made for Isabel Sullivan against J.M.Jones of Poslingford for payment of £ 105 6s 11d on tithe due on 1st February last year. Defendant said he bought the farm last year when wheat was making 55s per quarter and it is now making 26s.

October 10th 1931

At a meeting of Belchamp District Education Coumcil the clerk reported that a letter had been received from the correspondent at Borley Council School stating that the managers offered no objection to arrange the closure of Borley School on December 31st and transfer the scholars to Bulmer Parochial School.

November 28th 1931

A descendant of the British Admiral who defeated the Danish Fleet of Copenhagen in 1801 has married a Danish girl.
Sir William Hyde Parker of Melford Hall married Miss Ulla Nielsen daughter of Professor Nielsen of Copenhagen. Sir William was formerly a Lieut.in the 1st Dragoon Guards. It was at the battle of Copenhagen that Nelson put his telescope to his blind eye and affected not to see the signal from Admiral Hyde Parker recalling him from the fight.

December 19th 1931

There was an inquest at Borley Hall on the body of William Day aged 40 years, a sorting clerk at Colchester.The body was recovered from the river Stour at Borley. The wife said that her husband had told her that he had tried to commit suicide at Dedham a week before when he had laid his head on the railway line and the train went the other way and that he had a good mind to jump in the river.
Dr Robert Payne of Borley Hall said that he was walking along the river bank and saw a body in the water. P.C.Witham of Foxearth said that he recovered a body from the river and found in a pocket a pawn ticket in the name of William Day. He had received information that a man of this name was missing. Dr Payne said he examined the body and was of the opinion that he had died from asphyxia and the body had been in the water four to five weeks. Suicide by drowning.

March 5th 1932

At the dinner of Foxearth Working Mens Club it was arranged to lay the foundations for a new building fund to try and secure a piece of land behind the village hall.

April 16th 1932

Death of Charles Ray at Mill House, Clare, aged 73.
As an agriculturist Mr Ray was well known, farming a good deal of land.
He started first in the Foxearth area taking over the Hall and farming Liston Hall, Cardinals, Park Farm and Place Farm Liston. He gave these up and took Hall Farm, Clare, renting it from Lady May, he was owner occupier of Colts Hall, Cavendish and Gages and Shearing Place, Belchamp St Pauls.

June 4th 1932

George Duce a horseman of Red Cottages, Foxearth was sued by his wife for cruelty and she applied for a separation order. It was stated that the parties were married in 1918 and had six children.
Complainant said that her husband had turned her out of the house and caused a bruise by a blow, she said he had never complained that she had failed to prepare his meals, she said she went out three evenings a week to the pictures. Defendant contradicted most of her evidence given against him and said his wife would smash anything in the house in anger, she would insist on going out certain evenings and returned at a late hour and leaving him to attend the children when he came home from work. A fellow worker testified to his uniform good behaviour. The chairman said he could not grant application.

October 9th 1932

An inquest was held at Melford Police station on Doreen Rose Roper aged two years nine months of 3 Little St Mary's who was killed when a wall fell on her. William Roper the father said he was picking up potatoes in his garden when he heard a crash. Death by misadventure.

March 11th 1933

A Foxearth farmer Wilfred Percy Ewer of Western End, Foxearth, attributed his bankruptcy on the depression with liabilities of £ 4195

When he left Earls Colne grammar school in 1919 his father died and he was employed by his father's executors until 1925 when his mother died. His father's estate was then distributed and he received £ 3000 by instalments. He subsequently took over Western End an acreage of 272 acres rented at £ 385 a year with another 15 acres with premises rented at £ 30. He spent £ 411 on implements and £ 224 on horses also £ 317 on heifers, he never kept accounts but the farm was never successful and he lost £ 300 on swine fever an he had abortion in the heifers losing £ 1000. The pea and barley crop was ruined by the weather and the wheat was blighted. Mr Goatlee said you would still have been going on if your landlord had not put a stop to you. " Yes I was living in hopes.

May 20th 1933

I will have a pint after that said William Munday of Foxearth after a court hearing when he was dealt with under a paternity order. Defendant said he had a wife and three children and that he had sold everything to keep them and he owed eleven weeks. I told my wife I would pay when I sold some willow trees, they would fetch about £ 100, I have a meadow with some willow trees on it. He had no work at the present as he usually plucked chickens, he had signed forms to go to Jersey under a government scheme. Instalments of 5s a week to be paid off the arrears.
Note:-William Munday was the gypsy accused of murder at the site of the old water mill Foxearth. (G.H.)

April 26th 1933

Arthur Chinnery of Glemsford was summoned for using indecent language at Pentlow. P.C.Arthy of Foxearth said the language was loud and objectionable. After defendant was reminded of witness's proximity he replied with disgusting words. William Self of Pentlow also gave evidence. P.C.Arthy said he went to defendant's shop at Glemsford and he regretted his language.

September 9th 1933

William Tharby of Cavendish was summoned for assaulting P.C.Cheesman at Cavendish. P.C.Cheesman said he asked defendant to be quiet as he was talking very loudly at 11-10 pm.
He used bad language to me and I said I would report him, he then struck me on the jaw, I had to close with him, he then struck me again knocking me down, as I was getting up he rushed me again, I then hit him with my fist in self defence and defendant went down he then got hold of my ears and continued struggling, I told him I would hit him with my staff if he was not quiet. Tharby said the constable's evidence was 95 per cent lies and said " when I was down the policeman helped me up and then pushed me down and kicked me twice." Fined £ 3 and 14s costs.

April 28th 1934

Oscar Murkin an 18 year old of Lower Road, Cavendish, was charged with house breaking and entering a dwelling house of Thomas Bright Ambrose of Nether Hall, Cavendish, and stealing 11s. P.C.Keeley of Glemsford said as a result of information received by the police from Mr Ambrose he made inquiries and interviewed defendant who said " I took it, I got the key off the top of the wash house door and got the money out of a tin, when I got home I counted it and there was 11s. The reason I took the money was because I had not got any money and did not know how I would get on if I was fined today". The chairman said he was referring to a charge at Halstead court that was coming up today. He was remanded on surety of £ 20 from his father and £ 5 from himself. Two weeks later defendant was put on 2 years probation.
At Halstead court Oscar Murkin of Cavendish was charged with stealing two bicycle lamps from Maplestead village hall. When a dance was held there, several people left their cycles outside with the lamps. Murkin went to the dance with a man named Tharby in a car driven by a man named Ham. Tharby was charged with receiving a lamp but he did not appear and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Murkin was bound over for 1 year.

June 16th 1934

There was a meeting of the creditors of Albert George Ashby a licenced victualler of the Perseverance Hotel, Melford. There are liabilities of £ 1211 and assets of £ 774.

June 16th 1934

Ethel Harvey aged 22 of Oakley near Harwich was seated under a tree with her fiancee when she was shot dead by a man out shooting rabbits, he fired a bullet thinking he was shooting at a rabbit.

June 16th 1934

Wedding at Cavendish of John Elliot Howard of London and Patricia Cheeney daughter of Mrs Hasted of the Old Rectory, Lyston.

June 16th 1934

Wedding at Foxearth of Robert Brown son of Mr and Mrs Brown of Pentlow and Queenie Evans eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs S.Evans of Foxearth. Mr Brown senior is manager of the Pentlow Mill.

July 14th 1934

Top price of 66s was secured at the Haverhill Lanb sale, was this year shared by Mr J.P.Brand of Brook Hall, Foxearth, and Mr E.Dawson of Newmarket. Mr Brand has had this distinction for several years

September 15th 1934

There was an inquest on George French aged 71 of High Street, Cavendish. Mr French took an un-permitted ride on a lorry from which he overbalanced and fell. His son Mr Charles French said that outside the Fir Trees Inn his father got on a lorry to ride back to Cavendish. Alfred Keyton said he was painting white lines near Hale's corner when he saw French sitting on a small cask on a lorry, the old man lost his balance and fell off. Albert Beavis of Glemsford said he shouted at the driver who stopped immediately. The lorry driver, Mr Robert Andrews a licenced victualler and coal merchant of the Bull Inn, Cavendish said he delivered coal to the Fir Trees and French followed him out and appeared to be talking to another man, he did not ask permission to get on the lorry and he did not know he had mounted, when he came to the white lines he heard a shout and thought dropped a bag of coal. Accidental death.

September 29th 1934

There was an inquest on Frederick S.Branwhite of Holgate, Melford, who's body was found near a crossing on the Bury- Melford line called " the steps". Mr Fred Branwhite, manager of the Melford Malt Company said his father had been a widower for 34 years, he was very deaf and had bad eyesight, 6 months ago he had had an illness which left him with a weak heart, he occasionally went for a walk over the crossing. Walter Butcher an engine driver of 11 Belle Vue, Sudbury, said he was driving the 9-19 to Bury when he saw Mr Branwhite walking on the crossing, before he could stop he had run him down. Accidental Death.

January 5th 1935

Henry Brewster a retired grocer of Cavendish was charged with killing a swan at Bower Hall, Cavendish. Harry Playle of Bower Hall said he heard two shots and then saw a swan in the rushes nearly dead, Brewster was on the other bank and asked him if the swan was dead. Defendant said he did not know there was a law agaist killing swans and he thought it was a goose anyway. The chairman said he should have known a swan from a goose and said the dead swan belonged to the King. Fined £ 1.

September 28th 1935

Richard Joscelyne a timber feller of Ballindon was charged with assaulting P.C.Cheesman at Cavendish. The constable stated that he found the prisoner lying on the side of the road with a motor cycle beside him, he asked if there had been an accident and Joscelyne said" no", he examined the machine and found the road fund was not in order, upon this being pointed out the prisoner attacked the constable and they both fell fighting, a passing motorist was asked to call at Melford police station and to send assistance. P.C.Nott said he was returning to Clare police station when he came upon the struggle, he rendered assistance and they secured the prisoner. Joscelyne said sometime ago he received injuries to his head and became excited and did not know what he was doing. Fined £ 1 and 11s costs.

July 18th 1936

Miss Ethel Slater of Hill View, Glemsford, summoned Mrs Elizabeth Beavis and her two daughters Florence Willings and Elizabeth Beavis for assault. Miss Slater said she went to Cavendish fair with Mr Albert Wordley who's deceased wife was a daughter of Mrs Beavis, the three members of the family went up to Mr Wordley apparently taking objection to him accompaning her to the fair. Miss Beavis abused Mr Wordley and Miss Slater walked away, when she returned, Mrs Beavis struck her in the face and the two daughters also assaulted her. Albert Wordley said his wife died last November and when he went to the fair the whole family abused him terribly. Bound over.

August 15th 1936

At a meeting of Little Yeldham school managers a minute to give Mrs Gower the head mistress notice to terminate her appointment on August 31st was rescinded. The meeting was called at the request of two managers and four were present. The chairman was instructed to convey to Mrs Gower an expression of regret for any inconvenience caused to her.

August 29th 1936

Miss Martin of Lower Street, Cavendish, has received congratulations on her plucky act in going to the help of a girl who got into difficulties while bathing at Clacton.
September 5th 1936. Funeral at Belchamp Walter of Mr Edward Ernest Tilbrook of Waites Farm. There was a large congregation of friends and relatives.
The pall bearers were G.Reeve, H.Brown, A.Martin, C.Chatters, R.Ratcliffe and P.Brown who are employees at Waites Farm.
October 10th 1936. Mr E.Tilbrook of Belchamp Walter left £ 4.454.

September 26th 1936

Oscar Charles Murkin a labourer of Cavendish was sent to prison for 14 days hard labour for stealing a electric light the property of Reginald Ambrose of Long Melford on July 31st at Melford.

October 17th 1936

There was an inquest at Wash Farm, Hudon, on Saturday evening on the body of Seymour Fisher of Colts Hall, Cavendish, into the circunstances of a fatal accident on the previous day which occurred on the Hundon to Cavendish road nearly opposite Wash Farm. Fisher, aged 24 was returning from work at Stradishhall aerodrome at about 5 pm on a motor cycle with Victor Turner, a bricklayer, aged 25 of Cavendish as passenger. As they rounded a bend they were in collision with a three ton lorry driven by Mr Frederick Shadbolt who is living at present at the Railway Tavern, Stoke by Clare. Fisher was dead when he was picked up and Turner was unconcious. The father of the dead man Mr B.S.Fisher, a farm foreman at Colts Hall, Cavendish, said his son had ridden a motor cycle for seven years. Turner was removed to his house in Cavendish.

November 18th 1936

There were a large number of entrants at last weeks Brewers Exhibiton in London. Some of the samples which numbered 743 in casks and bottles were sent not only from the British Isles but from India, Canada, South Africa and several large and important breweries in the U.S.A. Messrs Ward and Son of Foxearth are to be heartily congratulated on their present success and many past successes, on this occasion they secured a championship gold medal.