2 Jan 1953
WAVENEY RAILWAY LINE CLOSES tomorrow.
2 Jan 1953
BECCLES HOSPITAL: the ten patients thoroughly enjoyed the festive season.
2 Jan 1953
DEATH of Mrs Ida Rayner at the home of her only child Mrs Eileen Matheson in Canterbury, where she had gone for a holiday. Mr AW Rayner of Kemp’s Lane was in business for 40 years as a chemist in New Market where Boots is now.
2 Jan 1953
LEFT THE TOWN: Mr & Mrs TE Legg, who have lived at the Lions London Road since the war have moved to Leiston to take up fruit farming. While in Beccles he was engaged on surveying and recording ancient buildings in the Eastern Counties for the Ministry of Works.
2 Jan 1953
THE YEAR 1952: details on page 2
2 Jan 1953
ROBERT HOLMES of 38 Alexander Road, a partner in Messrs Spalding & Holmes, the Score Old Market is building his own house – a bungalow. He bought the plot in Derby Road in September 1951. The foundations were completed before the first Christmas and he started carrying bricks in February. He has worked at weekends and on summer evenings. He has finished the roof and is now putting down the floors and plasterboard ceilings. He has had help from his father and nineteen year old son Colin Holmes.
Only other house built by the owner in recent years is a bungalow at Ringsfield Road recently vacated by Harold Robinson. He and his three children are now moving to Aukland, New Zealand. He has been the metalwork master at the Area School since 1940, except for military service.
9 Jan 1953
WAVENEY VALLEY LINE CLOSURE (see photocopy.)
9 Jan 1953
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL: New school buildings are to be opened in May.
9 Jan 1953
WEATHER. There was a fall of snow on Saturday, but a thaw rapidly set in.
2 Jan 1953
TOWN COUNCIL: The tender of East Anglian Roadstone of £27,169 for roads and sewers for Banham Road was accepted. The Council has applied for consent to borrow that money.
9 Jan 1953
REAR ADMIRAL CS JOHNSON, a former Mayor, is now living with his brother at Crochdantigh, 300 miles inland from Brisbane, Queensland. His siter Miss C Johnson lives in Ashman’s Road.
9 Jan 1953
DEATH of Miss Emmeline Woolner aged 75, of 14 Ravensmere. She lived at the Ship Inn for 40 years. Her husband, the late Arthur Woolner was the licensee. He died ten years ago, and a short time later Mrs Woolner moved to Ravensmere. She is survived by five children, two of whom are still living in the town. One son is Arthur Woolner of Denmark Road, and a daughter Mrs R Boyce, of Caxton Road. Two daughters live at Dorking Nightingale and Colchester, and a son, Harry Woolner, is at sea.
16 Jan 1953
CHAMBER OF TRADE: Elected as President Mr Alfred Stockdale of 26 Northgate, the Manager of Nightingale coaches. He was born in St Alban’s, served with the Royal Artillery in the Second World war, came to Lowestoft in 1946, having married the only daughter of Mr BR Shreeve, Managing Director of BR Shreeve & Sons Ltd, owner of Nightingale Coaches. They moved to Beccles in 1947 and have three young children. He is also Secretary of Beccles Round Table.
16 Jan 1953
DEATH of George Allen Wright, aged 77, formerly of the Boatyard, 35 Northgate. He was a boat builder and repairer and also let boats. He left the town some years ago to live at Gorleston.
16 Jan 1953
LETTER from former Territorial Army man about his service.
23 Jan 1953
TOWN COUNCIL:
1.) Shops should be planned in lay-out of the remainder of Banham Road housing estate fronting Sir John Leman Road. These will be for sale if desired.
A layout of a further 30 houses is planned comprising 18 of three-bedroomed type and 12 with two bedrooms.
2.) Rigbourne Hill: there was to have been provision for the erection of 4 lock-up shops with dwellings above, but there was lack of demand for these. A site has been leased for a public house and a church.
3.) William Clowes site for 28 houses at Duke Street and Queen Elizabeth Road was approved.
4.) St George’s Road – Pleasant Place site: RG Carter Ltd has started clearing the site and preparing to build 10 non-traditional Unity type houses. All components have been ordered.
5.) St Mary’s Road: A footpath is under construction. [PHOTO page 1]
23 Jan 1953
DEATH of Stanley E Hill of 7 Hungate aged 41. A Londoner, he served with the RAMC for 20 years after leaving school. He spent 12 years overseas including 5 during the war. He was a Sergeant- Major when he finished his time in 1947 at the Shaftesbury Military Hospital, Dorset. On his return from abroad he married Miss Phyllis Balls of Beccles. They took over the business of fish merchant and game dealer in New Market previously run by her mother, Mrs EM Balls. They gave up in 1951 but carried on a fried fish shop in Rigbourne Hill.
23 Jan 1953
DEATH of Ernest J Harbour, aged 70, of 5 Knight’s Yard Ravensmere. Born at Dereham, he served on the railway for 50 years, retiring in 1947 aged 65. He joined the old Great Eastern aged 16 and worked at Dereham, Norwich, Lowestoft and Beccles, where he moved in 1912. Formerly he was a porter-shunter, head shunter and goods guard. He was on the Waveney Valley line as keeper of the
23 Jan 1953
LABOUR PARTY MEETING complains of the state of Peddar’s Lane School. “Alarming condition of the building, with a high sickness rate.. A new Junior School is a matter of extreme urgency.”
30 Jan 1953
CLOWES enlargement contemplated and more machinery. At present there are 750 employees. Mr Marsden, Works Manager, said they are fortunate in having plenty of work. Mr AE Pye, the Mayor, attending as a retired employee said that when his father was at the Press it was common for compositors and trade people generally to be unemployed for three months in the year. Conditions were not as bad when he went to work, but there were no conditions of labour. People certainly could not live on their earnings. A soup kitchen was opened at the old fire station and there one got a jug of soup and a hunk of bread for 2d. He used to do 54hours a week starting at 6am on Saturdays to get in the total. They were afraid of losing their post if they kicked at all.
Trade Union officials were invited to meet the respective chapels at a meeting at the Institute. All employees were roped into the Unions. The firm heard of what had been going on and he (AE Pye) was the first official to be interviewed by Col Clowes, who adopted a decent attitude.
Among those retired, Mr Hurren (who left last summer) worked for 62 years at the firm. The Mayor, who retired in 1945 (from overseer of electronic typing and stereotyping department) after 40 years, Mr RW Aldous 33 years in charge of Monotype and worked there for 50 years, his father (a store-keeper) 62 years. His brother Alfred Aldous, still working on Monotype keyboard 63 years – and a son Cecil F Aldous (Monotype) 24 years.
30 Jan 1953
FIREFIGHTING PRACTICE [PHOTO page 1]
30 Jan 1953
RAILWAY ENGINE “Boadecia” one of the latest of the Britannia type of Standard Pacific engines No 70036 was taking an excursion from Liverpool Street to Yarmouth on Sunday.
30 Jan 1953
DEATH of former Beccles organist, Mr William Storeton-West at Lowestoft. He was 88. He was conductor of Beccles Choral Society. He became Principal of Orel House School after being a master at Bromsgrove and Colet Court House schools. Earlier he was organist and choirmaster at churches at Birmingham, Kingston on Thames and Leeds, where he was also Deputy City organist.
30 Jan 1953
TELEVISION PROTEST about lack of television in East Anglia. “The drain on national resources made the extension of television impossible.” –Statement in the House of Commons. The Coronation will not be received here.
30 Jan 1953
METTINGHAM CHURCH TOWER restored at the cost of nearly £500.
1953 Eastern Daily Press 2 Feb GALE DISASTER: At least 100 people are missing or dead in the floods along the Norfolk coast, which started on Saturday night’s gale and high seas. Many are homeless. In Southwold five people including three women and a child are missing. [PHOTO page 1]
6 Feb 1953
DEATH through drowning: Mrs Lucy Bridge, aged 85, who lived at Primrose Cottage London Road for many years until 1950 was drowned at Felixstowe. She was the widow of a retired bricklayer.
6 Feb 1953
FLOODS over three feet at the Corporation Quay on Sunday. Riverside houses had water swirling up to their back doors, gardens awash. At Bartram’s Mill in Fen Lane which extends on to the Quay, water was at knee level. Gardens in Puddingmoor were flooded, but not houses.
6 Feb 1953
THOUSNDS OF TONS OF WATER poured into the marshes between Haddiscoe and Reedham when the biggest of the five breaches on the south bank of the New Cut were torn open again by trhe previous night’s tide. [PHOTOS of FLOODS (not Beccles) page 6]
6 Feb 1953
CLOTHING for FLOOD VICTIMS [PHOTO page 1]
6 Feb 1953
DEATH of Mr George A Dunn, aged 79 at Norwich. He was a partner in the business of his father, a well known builder who died in 1930. Afterwards he moved to Ipswich in 1903 and then Norwich in 1908 and then in 1915 as an executive of Boulton and Paul to assist in aircraft production, until his retirement. In his youth he was an athlete – one of the finest walkers in East Anglia.
Ulph wrote: “Born in Beccles in 1875 of a Norfolk father and an Essex mother, he went to the old Board School, and having an ambition to become a school teacher, he took an additional two years study at the school under the watchful eye of Mr JS Palmer. Claims of family business were too strong and he joined his father as a builder,
He was commissioned by Mr FE Banham to make the cases, which hold the Rix Collection.
13 Feb 1953
SPRING TIDES are due this weekend. The Harbourmaster is Mr William J Thurgur. [PHOTO with his father, the previous harbourmaster and his brother]
13 Feb 1953
POLICE: PC AP Leggett moves to Halesworth after 16 months and PC Couzens takes his place.
13 Feb 1953
The RECTOR, Rev WRF Hares has flu.
13 Feb 1953
INGATE CHURCH: A wire fence and gate have been erected. Any boys aged 8 and over will be welcomed as members of the choir.
13 Feb 1953
DEATH of Mrs Ivy Organ of Worlingham Road aged 30. She was born in Sheffield. During the war she served with the Royal Corps of Signals, first as switchboard operator and then in the gun operation room. While stationed at Gorleston she met her husband and married in 1944 and settled in Beccles in 1944. Mr AJ Organ has been on the staff of Barclays Bank since 1933 and recovered from the loss of an arm in the fighting for Caen soon after D Day.
20 Feb 1953
TOWN COUNCIL:
1. Banham Estate Damage: Contractors report about serious damage done every weekend valued at £30 to £40 – e.g. When the staking-out of the houses was done, the whole of the stakes were either pulled up or broken down, which caused five days extra work in replacing them. Drain pipes and other stores were smashed Last weekend three houses almost ready to hand over were broken into – the false roofs were entered and ceilings seriously damaged – it would hold up occupation for a fortnight. The offenders appeared to be boys aged 12 to 15. Watchmen had been tried, but this seemed to encourage the offenders to play “cat and mouse” and more damage resulted.
2. Additional houses at Banham Road: 30 houses at a cost of £38,682 by contractors Messrs Cadmore and Peacock at Banham Road approved by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. £40,000 is to be borrowed.
3. Additional houses approved by William Clowes & Sons Housing Society for 28 houses at Duke Street and Queen Elizabeth Road for £44,757 by contractors D Leighton & Sons. The Town Council is to borrow on behalf of the Society £43,650, being 90% of the cost of the scheme.
4. The town marshes have been clear of flooding despite the rainfall.
5.County Council to be asked to plant suitable trees at the junction of St George’s Road and London Road to replace those removed for road improvement.
20 Feb 1953
St JOHN’S AMBULANCE to receive a new ambulance on 1 April’ The older vehicle has been running since 1934. Although the service was responsible to the County Council, the whole of the working, except for two paid drivers, was voluntary.
20 Feb 1953
DEATH of Miss Olive Darby, eldest daughter of late Mr & Mrs Darby of 15 Smallgate. She was living at Blackheath. At one time she was a pianist with Carl Rosa Opera Company.
20 Feb 1953
DEATH of Mr Ernest Denny Cutting, of 6 Alexandra Road. He was 82 and was employed at Elliott & Garrood for nearly 50 years. He was foreman of the brass turning department. He retired in 1942. He leaves a widow, a son (who lives in California) and two daughters.
20 Feb 1953
DEATH of Miss Helen Edith Woolner, of 25 Denmark Road, manageress of Bon Marche (Beccles) for about twenty years. Previously she was an assistant of the late Mr J Macbeth, New Market. During the Second World War she was a Civil Defence Warden at the Ravensmere Fire Station. Horse riding was her favourite recreation.
20 Feb 1953
MARRIAGE of Capt. Michael Robertson-Young, the Sherwood Foresters, and Miss Robyna Butterfield, elder daughter of Mr & Mrs Ronald Butterfield of the Old Maltings, Beccles. Married at St Benet’s [PHOTO]
27 Feb 1953
DEATH of Mr Alfred Tedder, aged 83, of Red Tiles, Northgate. He was Overseas Representative of the old Great Eastern Railway, spending much time in Germany. During the First World War he was on special duties with the Government, and was awarded an OBE.
27 Feb 1953
DEMOLITION ORDERS: In April 1949 the Town Council made demolition orders on 32 properties. 12 houses have been demolished, 3 are vacant and it s intended to demolish them. 8 others are empty, but demolition orders are not practicable as they are integrated with occupied houses and 9 are still unoccupied. The owners of 3 others have not demolished them. The Council instructed the Sanitary Inspector (Mr EH Cranmer) to demolish them at the owners’ expense.
27 Feb 1953
POLICE HOUSE: Plans for a police house in London Road submitted by the East Suffolk Police were discussed. It was suggested that the garage be resisted and that the brick facing be altered to be uniform with the Police Station and more building use be made of the land.
27 Feb 1953
DEATH of Rev Frederick J Howden in Shropshire. He was Methodist Minister in Beccles 30 years ago.
27 Feb 1953
THE AVENUE: The lower branches of the trees are being lopped.
27 Feb 1953
DEATH of Miss Minnie E Youell of 12 Mill Terrace aged 63. She was a daughter of Mr & Mrs William Youell of the same address.
6 Mar 1953
OLDEST INHABITANT Mrs Susan Butcher, of 8 Gosford Road celebrated her 97th birthday.
13 Mar 1953
PHOTOGRAPH of the Church Stteple across the Waveney [PHOTO page 1]
13 Mar 1953
DEATH of Mr Alec George Adams, aged 39, of 6 Pleasant Place, and son of Mr & Mrs Adams of 48 Frederick’s Road. He won the DSM and was mentioned in Despatches while serving in submarines. He leaves a widow, formerly Miss Ruby Brighton, of Ellough Road and a six year old daughter.
After leaving Peddar’s Lane Council school he volunteered for the Royal Navy in October 1929 for a 12 year term. He started as a boy at HMS Ganges and then on to HMS Diana. In 1936 he transferred to submarines on Spearfish, Otway, Thrasher and Tantalus. In the early part of the war he was on Spearfish when she penetrated into German waters and had difficulty in getting out of the Keil Canal. For 48 hours she was stuck in shingle while depth charges were exploding all round.
He was awarded the DSM “for gallant and distinguished service in successful patrols” on the Thrasher. Two unexploded bombs were found on board and were removed after 50 minutes work.
After the war he worked on the railway at Beccles, and then on the erection of a new Silo at the Station Maltings, for John Crisp & co Ltd. [PHOTO]
13 Mar 1953
DEMOLITION COMPLETED of derelict former business property at the junction of Saltgate and Rook’s Lane.
13 Mar 1953
CAPTAIN SEA GREGORY lives in retirement in Beccles. He first went to sea in 1898 and was a ship’s master in New Zealand for many years. He was placed in charge of the 9,000 ton steamer Port Bowen after she had gone aground off New Zealand in 1939. The hazardous task of removing the £69,000 cargo of frozen meat, cheese etc was described. A trestle bridge was erected, but it had to be moved as the ship’s position varied with the tides. Gales defeated all efforts to save the ship and she became a wreck.
The ship proved a useful asset in the war effort. The refrigeration plant was taken off and the hulk became tanks and war weapons.
13 Mar 1953
DEATH of Mrs L Goffin, aged 84, of 23 Ingate. She was the widow of Mr William Goffin, who died about 4 years ago. She was a native of Halesworth. She was a pioneer of the Co-operative Movement. There are three sons and two daughters.
13 Mar 1953
DEATH of Mrs Emily Hall, aged 85, of Midmeadow, Hungate. She was the widow of Mr Frederick Hall, for many years a licensee in Beccles, who at one time kept the Falcon Inn. She came from Lincoln, but lived in the town for the past 50 years.
13 Mar 1953
BISLEY SHOT, Mr Lindsay Tilney represented the county and won the Suffolk County Championship with .22 rifles and was a member of the County team in both classes. Beccles Rifle & Social club began as the old G Company of the Home Guard. They now have 50 members.
20 Mar 1953
TOWN COUNCIL: RATES a shilling rise in Beccles Rate, which includes 2s for water rate. Rates are going up all over the country.
20 Mar 1953
CHURCHWARDEN Mr JC Woodward, for the past six years the Rector’s Warden retires and Mr BS George, the People’s Warden takes over. The Church Council Secretary, Mr AE Boar, said the electoral roll now contained 679 names. The new People’s Warden is Mr Harry King.
20 Mar 1953
MAYOR: Mr Albert Pye re-elected by a unanimous vote.
20 Mar 1953
SALTGATE FILLING STATION: An application by Mr M Knights of Old Market Garage for development of the Saltgate frontage with petrol pumps came before the Town Council.
He agreed: 1.) To stop using the two pumps in Old Market. 2.) No adverts on Saltgate. 3.) The wings should be planted with suitable trees instead of flowers. 4.) The main wall on the west side of the building be constructed of good quality red facing bricks and carried 3 feet above the eaves of the building.
Mr Yaxley said they were proposing to allow the development to take place opposite the Parish Church, a lovely building, one of the most important spots in the town from all points of amenity, and one which they should guard very carefully.
Mr AW Denny: “Agreement has been reached between the Planning Committee and the Town Council to make something out of chaos. “I think it will look very nice. It will hide up what is now an ugly eyesore.”
Mr GE Brown: How could they clear it up if they did not permit the garage frontage to be put there? Years ago there were old cottages on the site. Their predecessors on the Town Council considered them an eyesore and had them pulled down. The place then looked derelict and was never tidied up again. He agreed that the asbestos roof, as it now stood looked ugly, but unless they allowed something to go in front it was always going to look ugly. The open space in front belonged to the owner. Could they stop t from becoming a dumping ground for vehicles as it was today?
The development was approved.
20 Mar 1953
LIGHT INDUSTRY: [back page & PHOTO]
27 Mar 1953
DEATH of James Allgar of 1 Grove Cottage, Ingate, aged 68. Born Wrentham, cme to Beccles aged 3 the last surviving son of George Allgar. His brothers were SR Allgar, licensee of the Cambridge Inn, Northgate and GT Allgar, a greengrocer of Northgate. He was apprenticed at Ingate Ironworks of Elliott & Garrood Ltd. He worked there as a pattern maker for 47 years. He left in 1945 and started on his own account in Hungate, but gave up in 1952. He was a member of the Conservative Club and a member of the bowls team.
27 Mar 1953
PHOTOS of Beccles Amateur production of “Will Any Gentleman”
27 Mar 1953
TWO NEW AMBULANCES for Beccles Area. Supt CW Chiddel and Mr A Crisp are to collect them from Ipswich.
27 Mar 1953
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL produces Macbeth.
27 Mar 1953
MUSIC FESTIVAL: Parish Church Choir praised by the adjudicator. Mr John Hammond is the organist and choirmaster.
27 Mar 1953
TOWN COUNCIL:
Housing: 320 applicants on the waiting list:
Living in condemned houses 9
Airfield hutments 52
Overcrowded 3 in rooms 20
With relations 42
Getting married 44
Living apart 6
Working at Beccles living elsewhere 46
Regular servicemen 10
Temporary accommodation 18
Requiring better accommodation 46
Wishing to live in Beccles 24
52 houses seemed to be unfit for housing and too expensive to make suitable. Then demolition should be considered. The Council had made demolition ordered on 32 houses in April 1949.
Banham Road contractors for roads and sewers made good progress each house to have front boundary fence of chain link.
2 Apr 1953
RAILWAY STATION: The flowerbed at the south end of the platform is planted with Polyanthi. Mr EC Purslaw, the Stationmaster, said he would “help to brighten the Station in the summer.”
2 Apr 1953
MOVING: Mrs EH Newham, after running a boarding house in Salgate for five years has moved to Canterbury.
2 Apr 1953
BECCLES BRIDGE was first mentioned in 1268 when the Abbot obtained a grant of free fishery. 50 years later St Catherine of Siena noted, “a wooden bridge at Beccles”, during her tour of East Anglia.
10 Apr 1953
MARRIAGE of the Town Clerk’s son, Mr David Clark (the only child) of Eversley Cottage, Ballygate and Miss Jacqueline Constable, elder daughter of Mr & Mrs JW Constable of 18 Northgate and Ambrose Place Worthing. Mr Clark is serving in the Forces. [PHOTO]
10 Apr 1953
CAXTON CONCERT PARTY [PHOTO]
10 Apr 1953
BORDER PLAYERS present “Grand National Night.”
10 Apr 1953
DEATH of Mr Ernest C Farman, aged 67, of the Ingate Bakery. The business was started by his father at the age of 17, who died aged 46. EC Farman carried it on. He had to close it during the First World War when in the Suffolk Regiment. At retirement last October he had the last brick oven left in the town. He is survived by his widow, a daughter of the late Mr Fred Taylor of the Black Boy.
17 Apr 1953
THE WAVENEY: Between 7,000 and 8,000 people visit Beccles by river in the course of the season, said Mr WW Thurger, Harbourmaster, at the 26th annual meeting of the Beccles Anglian Club , which has a membership of about 60 members, at the Cambridge Inn. The Chairman is Mr EW Swindells, the Secretary J Turner and the President Mr G Humphrey Durrant.
Mr Thurger: “Local people appreciated the river much more than they used to. Now there were 40 to 50 boats, all belonging to local owners and anglers, tied up in the Gas House Dyke.” Mr Cook: “I come here every year for a holiday and get it. When I come I not only get fish, but fun. The Waveney is second to none.”
17 Apr 1953
RECTOR OF BECCLES, (Rev WRF Hares) built a dinghy, christened by Mrs Hares [PHOTO page 1]. It took him a year to build the 10ft 6ins dinghy of the Cadet type. At present he runs the large parish single handed.)
17 Apr 1953
DEATH of Major Allan RM Darby at Bridge House, Gillingham, aged 64. He was managing director of Darby Bros Ltd., timber merchants. He died in the room where he had been born. He was the third son of Mr & Mrs Albert W Darby, educated Beccles College. When the First World War broke out he enlisted in the 3rd Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) and seconded to the Machine Gun Corps. While serving in France he won the MC and was mentioned in Dispatches. After being badly gassed he was sent to England, but soon returned to France.
Demobilised in 1919 he went into the family business and was made Managing Director in 1931 following the death of his cousin, Mr Ernest Darby.
In the Second World War he joined the Home Guard in May 1940 and was among those taking part in the opening parade on the Caxton Ground. He was Intelligence Officer at first, then succeeded Major AH Moyes as Second in Command of the local G Company. When, in March 1942 Col RW Brooks, the Commanding Officer, was appointed Second in Command at Battalion HQ, the rural sections were formed into a separate Company. Major Darby was given Command of the Beccles Platoon, which remained as G Company – and remained so till the Stand Down. His first job as OC was to transfer the Company HQ from the old Fire Station, Newgate to the Drill Hall, Peddar’s Lane.
He was a Freemason, joining in 1931 and became Master in 1940. In 1940 he initiated the scheme for the provision of a Masonic Temple and Mr AW Denny gave a site in Blyburgate for this purpose. It is hoped to build one when opportunity arises.
He was a founder member of Beccles Rotary Club in 1949. He has been a Beccles Feoffee for many years. He was a devout churchman, brought up at Gillingham Church, with which the family had been closely connected. While living at 25 London Road he worshipped at St Michael’s, but on returning to Bridge House, his home for the last 25 years, he returned to Gillingham, where he was Rector’s Warden until 1950 and since has been People’s Warden. He had been a leading member of the now defunct Social Club at Gaol Lane.
The Rector of Gillingham opened a fund for a permanent memorial to Major Darby at the Parish church. The form would be decided later. Donations could be sent to the Church Treasurer, Mr LC Battell of Treherne, Frederick’s Road or to him at Gillingham Rectory. [PHOTO].
17 Apr 1953
BARCLAYS BANK Manager Mr BS George.
17 Apr 1953
DEATH of Mr Edward Plume in Banningham. He was employed at one time as coachman at Roos Hall. He had been married for 65 years.
17 Apr 1953
CHURCHWARDENS of St Michael’s Church: Mr JC Woodward resigned as Rector’s Warden. Mr BS George, formerly People’s Warden appointed Rector’s Warden and Mr HE King, the new People’s Warden.
17 Apr 1953
RURAL DEAN: Rev WRF Hales succeeds Canon Bonsey, the Rector of Wrentham.
17 Apr 1953
INGATE Mission Church and Cottage repaired at a cost of £172.
17 Apr 1953
BORDER PLAYERS present “Grand National Night”. Producer: Bud Hope Smith; players: Margaret Greengrass, Robert White, Jack Belgrove, Brian Patrick and Bud Hope Smith. [PHOTO page 7]
24 Apr 1953
FIREMEN at Beccles receive a water tender costing £4,500 outside the Fire Station. [Photo page 1]
24 Apr 1953
CONTEST for COUNCIL [see Photocopy]
24 Apr 1953
DEMOLITION of MANSIONS. Since last Summer the demolition of Flixton Hall has been in progress, and the felling of trees.
This week Henham Hall, built at the end of the 18th century for the first Earl of Stradbrooke has been sold as a shell following the disposal of the fittings and fixtures. The purchasers are a firm of demolition contractors. It will take a year to demolish.
The magnificent doors in the State Rooms (sold for £1,000) are to hang in the new Hall of the Mercers’ Company, while one of the old fireplaces goes to the Butchers’ Company. Both Livery Halls were destroyed in the Blitz.
24 Apr 1953
ULPH’S TALK on Women in Beccles: 1.) St Catherine of Siena (she mentioned the Bridge in 1300) 2.) Fen Rights gave the right for “women gathering rushes”. 3.) Lay Gresham gave her name to “My Lady’s Meadow”. 4.) Hemp fibre was beaten by women (mardling). 5.) Sarah Elmy 6.) Catherine Suckling. 7.) In the First World War women did war work in place of men. 8.) The first woman Magistrate was appointed between 1918 and 1939. 9.) During the Second World War the first woman joined the Council. 10) So far no woman has become Mayor.
24 Apr 1953
TALK by Lt-Col TM Carpendale, of Worlingham Manor about the voyage of his daughter, her husband, five year old son, three year old daughter and a cat in their 20 month voyage in a 32ft sailing boat of 17 tons to New Zealand.
24 Apr 1953
HENHAM HALL was designed by Wyatt and built in 1793, but reconstructed in the 19th century. It contained eight reception rooms, 53 bedrooms. It contains 100,000 ft of timber, 35 tons of lead, one million white facing and red bricks, largely laid in mortar, and plain and worked stone facings.
The house had been offered as a school or institution, but was not taken up. Maintenance was quite impossible.
It was purchased as a shell by Mr George Kenny, of George A Kenny & Sons Ltd of Ipswich for £3,100. The doors to the State Rooms were bought by Harry D Watney for the Mercers’ Co for £1,000. “The gem of the collection” – three pairs of six panels 7ft 6ins by 3ft 6ins, made to the design of Wyatt. The doors were hung on concealed dogs, which are perfectly matched and have period handles and escutcheons.
The Chimney Piece with white marble surround in the saloon, one of the State Apartments, was sold to Mr Joseph B Swain ? of the Butchers’ Co for their building.
The oak floors of the saloon were sold for £102-10s, of the ante room for £42-10s, of the dining room for £75, of the Library £52-10s.
The corner fireplace with basket grate and white marble Adam surround in the ante room was sold for £40 while the cantilever stone staircase leading to the upper hall £31 and the library suite of bookcases designed by Wyatt fetched £265. [More details in newspaper]
1 May 1953
TOWN COUNCIL: A HOUSING motion put before the Council by Mr JE Coney was defeated by 6 votes to five:
The Council should consider the number of houses required in the future. Since the war 376 houses had been built. Now 86 were under construction and sites in hand would accommodate 78 more. That would make a total of 689 erected and owned by the Council, representing 30% of the total number of houses in the Borough.
Every house erected was costing the tax and rate payer in subsidy 13s 8d a week. Every house erected was costing the ratepayers of the town, irrespective of their means 3s 5d a week on their rates.
It was the Government’s policy that the Council should encourage people to buy Council houses and a short time ago they had that opportunity. The Council would not agree to sell the houses.
1 May 1953
FIREMEN HONOURED: Fireman John E Barlow of 5 Hungate, aged 41, was called to premises in south Lowestoft, and waded into flood water up to his neck and saved a man who was floating on the water and applied artificial respiration. The man survived. Marlow was awarded the BEM (Civil List). He was born in Lancashire, became a printer, moved to Beccles in 1938 and worked at Clowes. He volunteered for the Auxiliary Fire Service and became full-time at the outbreak of war.
1 May 1953
LAST BOAT constructed by Mr Herbert Hipperson at the Waveney Wharf is to be launched. He has produced 8 cruisers, 2 yachts, 5 houseboats and a host of smaller craft, such as rowing boats and dinghies.
The boat, a three berth cabin cruiser “Sunny Days” cost £1,000. It is powered by a 10 hp Morris Marine engine and is made of Gold Coast Mahogany. Her sister ships are “Happy Days” and “Lazy Days”. Mr Hipperson is in the foreground [PHOTO page 1]
1 May 1953
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL: The Headmaster, Mr RA Bowman, stressed the necessity of education continuing until the age of 16+ and even 18. He was distressed by the number of boys and girls who left the school at 15 to take up local situations quite unsuited to a grammar school pupil. Grants were available to stay at school until 18 and then at University.
1 May 1953
RETIREMENT of Mr John Bird, for the past five years Clerk to the Magistrates. In a reorganisation Mr John Martin of Leamington Spa will become the whole-time Clerk to a number of Courts in north-east Suffolk. Major BW Blower, Chairman presented an inscribed silver tankard.
1953 Beccles & Bu wereng 1 May REDUNDANT PUMP in Kemp’s Lane to be removed.
1 May 1953
PLANNING APPROVAL for the erection of a bungalow at Ringsfield Road and another at South Road.
1 May 1953
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL: The rough ground between the new Assembly Hall and Ringsfield Road has been levelled and grass planted.
1 May 1953
Co-Op dividend of £19,681 among members.
1 May 1953
BARSHAM CHURCH: Rogation Sunday, 10th of May, will be observed by the singing of the Litany outdoors in procession, for the blessing of the crops before the 11am Mass at Holy Trinity Church.
1 May 1953
HENHAM HALL now in process of demolition [PHOTOS page 8]
1 May 1953
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION CENTRE in Beccles has returned to productivity after the foot and mouth disease. Mr Geoffrey F Smith, Chief Veterinary Officer, said that artificial breeding in the area started nine years ago. They had 183,920 new services during that period.
1 May 1953
COUNCIL MEETING:
1.) Marsh Letting had an income of £2,762 according to the Borough Treasurer, Mr JA Scettrino.
2.) The Coal Position in the town was good
3.) Housing: There were problems with the design of the houses in Banham Road, which were being built. The store, instead of being a separate building outside at the rear, was planned within the walls of the house and there was no provision for a separate access to the rear of the blocks of four and six houses. It was decided that provision be made for a rear access to all blocks of four and six houses. Brick coal bunkers were to be provided.
A further 3 bungalows at Centre Close, Rigbourne Hill to be negotiated with Cadmore & Peacock Ltd as an extension of the present contract.
St George’s Road “Unity Houses”; Slow progress was being made. They had chosen this type of house because of its speed of construction and they had been “let down”. Letter is to be sent to the contractor, RG Carter.
8 May 1953
COUNCIL ELECTION: Conservative Victory.
AE Bunn (C) 1544 elected
Mrs PG Taylor (C) 1467 elected
EG Gilbert (C) 1442 elected
AW Denny (C) * 1387 elected
KJ Norman (Lab) * 1351 not elected
EW Cooper (Lab) 1324 not elected
LA Yaxley (Ind)* 1238 not elected
GH Mortimer (Lab) 1190 not elected
JR Graham (Lab) 1189 not elected
* Means member of the previous Council
There was a record poll of 62%. Mr TGW Tyler (Lab) did not defend his seat as since last summer he has been serving with the Royal Navy.
Mr EA BUNN for many years Managing Clerk with Messrs Larkman & Robinson, solicitors. He is a prominent churchman. A long time Rector’s Warden. For 34 years he was Secretary of the Hospital.
Mrs PE TAYLOR is the wife of Capt JC Taylor the vet. Resident for nearly 25 years; Superintendent of nursing division of Beccles St John’s Ambulance, also rank of County Nursing Officer with charge of all medical comforts depots in Suffolk.
Mr EG GILBERT, partner in Messrs Cadge and Gilbert of Loddon and Beccles. Aged 34, he is the youngest member.
Mr AW DENNY. He was a founder member of Beccles Rotary Club, and resident in Beccles for 33 years. He is Manager of the Beccles & Yarmouth Group of the Road Haulage Executive.
8 May 1953
DEATH of Mr Robert George Keable, aged 66, of 17 Mill Terrace, a hay dealer.
8 May 1953
HOUSES DESTROYED: [see East Anglian Magazine, May 1953]
SUFFOLK: Henham Hall, Flixton Hall, Calton Hall (near Saxmundham), Easton Hall, Georgian portion of Redgrave Hall, Theberton Manor and Thorington Hall (not far from Halesworth)
NORFOLK: Bayland Hall at Morningthorpe, Rollesby Hall.
SAVED by adaptation to other uses: Brandeston Hall, now a junior house to Framlingham College, Glevering Hall near Wickham Market, (part granary, part flats), Greyfriars Dunwich (flats).
15 May 1953
FORMER RESIDENTS at Telport, Puddingmoor, Sir Kenneth & Lady Harper entertained Diss Horticultural Society at the Paddocks, Scole, where they moved last year.
15 May 1953
VISITED HOLLAND as a member of the Building Trades Employers, Mr Percy Hipperson.
15 May 1953
DEATH of Mr Thomas Playford, of 2 Newgate, aged 64. He was a survivor of Mons. He enlisted in the Labour Corps in 1916, serving as a Private and was demobbed in March 1918. He was a member of an old Beccles family.
15 May 1953
DEATH of Mr William Jones of 42 Fairclose, aged 62. He was on the staff of British Railways.
15 May 1953
UNEARTHED: Beccles Medal struck to commemorate the Coronation of King Edward VII on June 22 1902. One found on his allotment by Mr J Reeve of 22 Ballygate on his allotment behind St Benet’s Church. Another found by Mr Jack Youell while digging at 5 Ingate Cottages, Ellough Road, his home for two years. The site was for many years occupied by a mill belonging to Mr RJ Read.
15 May 1953
WORLINGHAM CHURCH RINGERS [PHOTO page 1]
22 May 1953
MAYOR: Mr Albert Pye re-elected Mayor for the second year. [PHOTO page 1]
22 May 1953
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL: New buildings opened by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder. The Earl of Cranbrook, Chairman of the County Council presented the buildings to Mr John Coney, Chairman of the Governors.
In 1948 the Cloak Room Block was built; in 1949 the Science Block; in 1952 eight classrooms, the Assembly Hall and the Gymnasium. All were designed by the County Architect, Mr EJ Symcox.
22 May 1953
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL: The Headmaster, Mr RA bowman is moving to Whitehaven Mixed County Grammar School, Cumberland. The roll is 367 boys and 476 girls, one of the biggest in the country. It is an important coal mining town with seams going under the Irish Sea. There were 20 headmasters applying for the job. There were six on the short list. Bowman was at Trinity, Cambridge 1925-29, MA 1932, read science with chemistry as his principal subject. He taught at King Edward VI School, Retford and was a housemaster. From 1939-42 he was at King’s Norton Boys’ Grammar School Birmingham, and from 1942-45 he was Head of Science at King Edward VII School Sheffield. In 1946 he became Headmaster of the County High School Bishop’s Castle Shropshire. He lives at 23 London Road, is married and has two young sons. He is interested in music, became LRAM and ARCM in 1941. He is Chairman of Beccles Music Festival and Secretary of the Beccles Arts Council.
22 May 1953
THE DEPUTY MAYOR Mr George Ernest Brown was first elected to the Council seven and a half years ago. Early last year he was made a Director of Page Bros, Norwich, the Printers; he is also book and publications manager. Previously he was works manager, having joined the firm in 1947 after 35 years at the Caxton Press, where he became composing room manager. He is a Magistrate.
22 May 1953
DOROTHY MARY CROWFOOT HODGKIN, FRS unveiled a plaque at the new Science block in the Sir John Leman School. Mrs JW Crowfoot (Dr Hodgkins’ mother), Dr Thomas Hodgkin her husband, and Mrs Wood-Hill were present. Mr Bowman the Headmaster said that Dr Hodgkin had been top in the whole country in several subjects in the School Certificate Examination.
22 May 1953
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL: Mr Thomas Duncan, of 4 The Harbourage, has been appointed senior Physics master at King George V Grammar School Southport, Lancs. He will be leaving after four years as senior Science master.
22 May 1953
GONE BLIND: Mr Horace Elsey was wounded while serving in the 8th Battalion Suffolk Regiment in 1917. He is now living in the Wood-Hill Memorial Houses. He had to give up as keeper of the village stores and sub-postmaster after 32 years. He is well-known as a singer and dialect entertainer.
22 May 1953
DEATH of Mr Frederick Frank Garrood, senior director of Elliott and Garrood Ltd, of Ingate Lodge. He was 86. He was educated in London and started as an architect with his uncle in Hammersmith. He moved to Lowestoft where he had been with his firm for 55 years. He had one son, F Keith Garrood, the Secretary of the Company, and three daughters.
29 May 1953
CORONATION PREPARATIONS [PHOTO page1]
29 May 1953
SLAUGHTER HOUSE: In April 624 animals were killed and in January 761.
29 May 1953
ROTARY PRESIDENT elected is Mr HR Hadingham, of Hungate House, for 25 years as an official of Suffolk County Council. He is also Civil Defence controller for Beccles District, Secretary Beccles Regatta and of the Apollo Lodge.
29 May 1953
TOWN COUNCIL: The Unity Houses [in St George’s Road] were started in January, but made slow progress because there was no scaffolding available, there was late delivery of tiles and an alteration of the stove positions. They are now getting on and it is hoped they will be finished by 11th of June.
The Banham Road Houses: Four concrete coal bunkers had been built, but the Ministry would not allow any more, nor would they allow concrete paths to the back.
29 May 1953
CROWFOOT SCHOOL pupils visit London. [PHOTO page 10]
29 May 1953
VISIT from Vancouver of Fred B Girling, born in 1883 in Ravensmere. His father worked at the Tannery in Northgate and moved with the family to Norwich in 1890 when the business closed down. He was the son of Mr & Mrs Alfred Girling. He went to the National School Ravensmere. After working for a few years in a boot and shoe factory in Norwich then sailed for Canada in 1905, where he worked as a timber cruiser, estimating the volume and grades of standing timber before felling is undertaken.
In the First World War he enlisted in the Canadian Army and was taken prisoner to Germany. He then married an English girl from Marlborough. They have two sons and a daughter. The National School he attended has now been closed and is now the HQ of the Beccles Fire Service.
5 Jun 1953
CORONATION: Under the direction of John W Bircham of the Rotary Club and the Football club under FW Knights, 34 tables were erected in The Walk. Each table was for 36 children. The new garage of Mr Mark Knights in Saltgate was the catering centre for the tea, with 80 women helpers A Choir of 50 from Sir John Leman School under Mr RH Frith sang “This England” (Thomas Wood), “Sound the Trumpet” (Purcell), and “Hymn for the Queen” (Dr Martin Shaw, who lives in retirement at Southwold)
The Crazy Gang under Sidney T Gore entertained the children from a stage outside the King’s Head, with an audience of hundreds.
The food for the children arrived by motor van fitted with racks and the plates of food was unloaded: beef patties, sausage rolls, potted meat sandwiches, fancy cakes and jellies and lemonade, which were brought from the butcher’s shop of Mr Frank Catling. Crackers were provided and also ice cream. Hundreds of parents watched on the raised path through the churchyard, an excellent viewpoint.
The Salvation Army played under Bandmaster EW Moye. The tables were afterwards moved by men to the vacant piece of land near the Salgate garage, to be taken away by the contractors. The church bells were rung by EJ Goate (conductor), Miss K Lewis, Miss D Constance and Messrs R Kemp, CR Boggis, B Pirslow, GA Jones, LA Freeman & Bickers.
Fancy Dress: 140 competitors, including 100 children, in the Corn Exchange (the weather changed the site from the Old Market). The competitors paraded through the streets to the Hospital for the patients and staff could share the enjoyment.
There were showers during the day and heavy rain in the evening.
At 10 pm the Scouts’ beacon maroon was fired from the Church Tower by Group Scoutmaster Richard A Ling of the Second Beccles Sea Scouts. Other flames from beacons could be seen at, Beacon Hill Ditchingham and Westhall, as used in Elizabethan days. Others were at Earsham, Bungay, Lowestoft and Yarmouth and Gillingham. There was a torchlight procession from the New Market to Waveney Meadow by the Scouts.
There was a Ball at the Public Hall arranged by the Round Table, with the Mayor and his wife in Elizabethan dress. [PHOTOS pages 1 & 3]
5 Jun 1953
VISIT of Mr & Mrs Richard C Plater jun, whose home is at Thibodaux Louisana guests of Lt- Col ME St John Barne at Sotterley. He is descended from a branch of the Playters family, which emigrated to America. The first of these became an Attorney-General in Maryland. The second and third were Governors of Louisana.
12 Jun 1953
CORONATION STREET PARTIES were held in Alexandra Road and Peddar’s Lane, Common Lane, etc [PHOTO page 1]
12 Jun 1953
WAINFORD RURAL DISTRICT Clerk, Mr Henry Owen Wood is moving to Andover Rural District Council. He has been here since August 1946.
12 Jun 1953
BIRTHDAY HONOURS: 1.) CBE for John Norman Harmer, Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Labour & National Service, son of the late HE Harmer, bookseller of New Market (now Goose & Sons Ltd). He was educated at the Fauconberge School at St Mary’s and at Woodbridge School.
2.) Flt-Sergt David W Sarbutt, RAF: BEM (Military Division), only son of Walter S Sarbutt, of 6 Mill Terrace, a member of the Post Office staff for the past 25 years. He was educated at the Leman School and gained a high place entry for RAF College Cranwell. Aged 37 he has served for 21 years including service in Singapore and the Gold Coast.
12 Jun 1953
DEATH of Maurice A Carter, aged 57, of 31 Frederick’s Road. He was educated at King Edward School Whitley. In the First World war he joined the Royal West Kents and served for four years in Mesopotamia. Afterwards he became School Welfare Officer for Halesworth District Council. In 1931 he moved to Beccles in the same job. He was Secretary of the Beccles branch of the British Legion in 1932 and retired 15 years ago, when the strength was 300.
In 1933 he married Miss Phyllis Miles of Holton St Peter. Their son, Neville Carter, they had taken back recently is in his last term at Framlingham College. Mrs Carter is Secretary to Mr GS Odam of Beccles Modern School.
12 Jun 1953
PROPERTY SALE by George Durrant & Sons.
LOT 1.) 133 Denmark Road for Mrs J Adams (who is leaving the district.): 2 living rooms, 3 bedrooms, a small garden, mains water, gas and drainage.
Purchased by Mrs Hurren for £550.
LOT 2.) 1 Northgate late Mrs A Wood: A large living-room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, mains water, gas and drainage.
Purchased by Mr Crisp for £300.
LOT 3.) 1 Shelton Place, St George’s Road, late Mr E Bastin: 2 living-rooms, 3 bedrooms, small garden, mains electricity, water and drainage. Let at a rent of £22-19s-4d.
Withdrawn, later sold privately.
LOT 4.) 33 Station Road for Major GA Bruce: Hall, 2 Reception rooms, 4 bedrooms, all mains services, vacant possession.
Withdrawn.
LOT 5.) 61 and 63 Frederick’s Road. Double Cottage (one dwelling): 2 Living Rooms, 4 bedrooms, kitchen, all Mains services, for Mr Danby.
Withdrawn.
12 Jun 1953
CO-OP: Mr Swindells said the Co-Op was a boon to Beccles and ought to be recognised . We employ the largest amount of labour in the area. For years housewives had been clamouring for the removal of restrictions and now had nearly got them.
12 Jun 1953
DEATH of Mr Fred William Watson of 99 Denmark Road, ged 73. For 25 years he was manager of the Co-Op Butchery until he retired at the age of 70. In 1916 during the First World War was with the Royal Artillery in Belgium and France and was slightly gassed.
Born in Bungay, he moved to Beccles and worked for Mr Chase in New Market, and then, when he had taken over, for Mr Frank Catling. He then moved to the Co-Op as the manager of Butchery. Married for every 45 years he has one daughter.
12 Jun 1953
65th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY of Mr & Mrs Jonathan C Read of the Pines, Worlingham Road. He was married at Ilketshall St Margaret’s. They are both 86. They had 12 children, the eldest son Percy died in Australia in 1933, and his third daughter Grace died died at Cardiff in 1946. There are 50 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. Until he retired in 1937 he farmed at Potter’s Farm, Ellough, now part of the disused Ellough airfield.
19 Jun 1953
CATHOLIC PRIEST leaving after six years, Rev Father J Rudesind Brookes, OSB is moving to the Middle East. While Mr JE Coney was Mayor he was his Chaplain. After leaving school he became a subaltern in a Territorial Regiment and later transferred to the Irish Guards. He served throughout the First World War. He left to become a Priest, and became a Housemaster at Downside.
During the Second World War he returned to his old Regiment as Chaplain. He served in North Africa under his old CO, Lord Alexander. He was in nine countries and all the old capitals of the Ancient World. He gained the MC.
19 Jun 1953
TOWN COUNCIL: Construction of roads, sewers, etc in the Banham Road Estate would cost £16,000 making a total for the Estate of £43,000.
26 Jun 1953
CLOWES CELEBRATION of 150 years with lunch in a marquee on College Meadow for more than 600 of the employees and pensioners. Mr Hugh Clowes presided.
Present customers of the firm include several whose connection dates back to early times: Longmans, Green & Co, for whom Clowes printed his first book in 1803, the British & Foreign Bible Society, the Religious Tract Society and the Royal Academy of Arts.
A buffet tea was served for 1,400 – the entertainment lasted 12 hours.
Mr Hugh Clowes said he was one of the two living great-grandsons of the founder, the other being Mr Maurice Clowes. His father, Mr WCK Clowes and his cousin went into partnership with William Moore in Beccles. Their London Works were destroyed in an air raid in April 1941.
Mr FC Turrell, an employee of 46 years spoke of the great enlargement of the firm and the growth of social and welfare activities.
26 Jun 1953
TOWN COUNCIL:
1.) Boat Letting Yard on the Norfolk side of the river opposite the swimming pool strongly opposed by the Council.
2.) DESIGN OF HOUSES in Banham Road: There are three types: a) semi-detached pairs of three bedroomed houses. b.) Terraces of four houses each with three bedrooms with centre passageway giving access to the rear. c.) Terraces of six houses, four having two bedrooms and two having three bedrooms and a passageway between the houses giving rear access. The Surveyor (Mr CL Hamby to prepare a layout for the remainder of the site.
3.) Housing Position: Cadmore & Peacock have completed a contract for 18 houses at Banham Road and these were occupied. Six out of another 26 being built on the estate have been finished and are tenanted. A further 30 houses at Banham Road and two at Common Lane are being built. The labour force on the contracts consists of 57 men and a foreman. 66 new houses were expected to be available for letting within six months.
42 Duplex flats have been converted into 21 houses, leaving 46 still occupied as such.
26 Jun 1953
CLOWES PRINTING WORKS EXTENSION of the Lithographic Department was approved by the Council.
26 Jun 1953
STREET SCAVENGING: A street orderly barrow is to be purchased for £20.
26 Jun 1953
GALES GARAGE, Newgate: The structural alterations were approved.
26 Jun 1953
WEATHER: This is the dreariest summer for some time.
26 Jun 1953
RINGSFIELD CHURCH: Re-thatching has started for the first time since the church was restored 70 years ago. The work is being done by Mr MT Davies of Mutford. The reeds come from the firm’s reed beds at Covehithe.
26 Jun 1953
BECCLERS CHORISTERS are attending a service at Bury St Edmunds Cathedral. A party of 35 are going with Mr John Hammond, the organist.
There is an exhibition of the plans for the enlargement of the Cathedral by SE Dykes Bower on show.
1953 Beccles & Bung Jun PRESIDENT OF ROTARY, Mr Hector R Hadingham, of Hungate House, Hungate Lane, a founder member was installed at the King’s Head. He was born at Bungay, the son of the late CW Hadingham. His father and grandfather were millers and merchants from 1850 at the Tower Mill, London Road. He went to the Bungay Grammar School and began as a reporter at Uxbridge. He joined the army in the Artists’ Rifles, then the 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards. He was Officer No 1 Company of Cadets, became a Major and Adjutant of the Company. [PHOTO]
3 Jul 1953
SOME of NEWSPAPER MISSING
10 Jul 1953
BEATING THE BOUNDS: Alderman Hindes revived the ceremony after the War.
Gillingham Bounds were beaten in 1869. In Marsh Lane they walked through a cottage built on the boundary of Geldeston? [Described in the East Anglian Magazine] It has not been done since.
17 Jul 1953
ESTATE of Mrs Mary Ann Moore of Rhosfair, Upper Grange Road, left £2,434 gross.
17 Jul 1953
Dr ALFRED CROWFOOT, the retired Dean of Quebec, is visiting his sister Mrs AV Wood-Hill.
24 Jul 1953
ARCHIVE GIFT TO COUNCIL: Mr Colin Baker, 23 year old ex-Sir John Leman School boy presented a copy of his thesis on Beccles since 1800. He has a BA from Birmingham University. His thesis is of 12,000 words and contains 70 maps. He is the elder son of Mr & Mrs AW Baker of 18 Pleasant Place. His father is a Deputy Overseer at the Caxton Press.
Colin Baker started at Peddar’s Lane School and in 1948 [?] was awarded a County Major Scholarship to Birmingham. After National Service in the Air Force he went to Birmingham from 1950-53. He is joining the Colonial Service.
24 Jul 1953
TOWN COUNCIL:
Housing in Banham Road. The erection of 42 traditional houses is to be put up for tender. Mr Copeman criticised the appearance of the Unity Houses from the outside. He hoped that no more would be built.
24 Jul 1953
INGATE HOUSE: The Misses Allen have blooms on their Yucca planted eight years ago. It has flowered for the last four years.
31 Jul 1953
BAPTIST CHURCH Pastor, Rev Christian Evans, has resigned and expects to move with his family to Chippenhall Green, Suffolk in September. He came to Beccles in May 1952. He started as a Missionary in Portuguese West Africa in 1930, but returned to England on a breakdown of health. He was at Broadstairs 1936-47. He succeeded Rev RB Hewitt, who moved to Stowmarket.
31 Jul 1953
BARSHAM CHURCH: An account of its history.
7 Aug 1953
BENEDICTINE Father John Roberts of Downside spoke at Rotary. (He is the brother-in-law of Mr EG Gilbert)
Flixton Hall came into the hands of the Tasburgh family. By 1657 there was a Benedictine monk living there. When the Adair family owned the Estate provision was made for the support o a Catholic Priest and a house was set aside for him to live in at Bungay. He began in 1821 and during 1823 a Chapel was built. A house and school were established and the present church completed in 1891. Catholicism spread and St Benet’s Church was consecrated in 1908.
14 Aug 1953
BECCLES REGATTA
21 Aug 1953
THE BATHING PLACE at Beccles. [PHOTO]
21 Aug 1953
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL: State Scholarships were gained by Keith Johnson and John Firth of Beccles. Two others were gained from elsewhere.
21 Aug 1953
DEATH of Mr William Chilvers of Gillingham, a builder aged 71. He was born in Beccles. At the peak of his business he employed 40-50 men. He had an office inn Gresham Road and built both Council and private houses in the town. He retired before the end of the war. He has one son.
21 Aug 1953
FLIXTON HALL: Demolition in progress. [PHOTO]
21 Aug 1953
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL’ Mr Geoffrey Standing appointed Head. At present he is Headmaster of Colyton School, Devon. About 80 applications were received. He is 38, is married and has three young children. He was educated at Emanuel School, London 1926-34. He went to King’s College, London, took BA in 1937 and a teaching diploma in 1938. He was on the staff of Adam’s Grammar School, Shropshire (300 boys) for six years. Then to Bristol Grammar School (1,000 boys). In 1949 he became Headmaster at Colyton (180 boys and girls).
21 Aug 1953
DEATH of Albert Butcher, painter and decorator, aged 74, of 3 Douglas Place, who fell off a ladder at 24 Alexandra Road where he was working.
28 Aug 1953
DEATH of Mr Maurice Watson, of 32 Ingate, a retired tailor, aged 67. He was a native of the town. For a time he was employed by Campling’s in Blyburgate. He then worked on his own and retired two years ago. He lost a leg as a young man. He leaves a widow and a son, Mr HMG Watson of Beccles Post Office.
28 Aug 1953
PROPERTY SALE:
Site at Fair Close 90 ft x 70 ft for executors of Mr AW King. Purchased by Mr PL Hipperson for £400.
Inbrac, Grove Road, a detached modern residence with garden for the executors of the late Miss M Waller. Purchased by Mr J Thompson of Ringsfield for £2,000.
28 Aug 1953
TREHERNE, Frederick’s Road, Leonard Battell, son of Mr and Mrs LC Battell is among a party of boys from Culford School spending a few days educational holiday in Germany.
4 Sep 1953
CATHOLIC PRIEST: Rev Benet Innes, OSB has been appointed to Beccles in succession to Rev Rudesind Brookes, OSB, who is leaving after six years and going to the Mediterranean area. Rev Innes has been in California for two years. Formerly he was a housemaster at Downside where he taught physics and biology. He is in his early forties.
The Roman Catholic Church at Gillingham is under repair.
4 Sep 1953
St BENET’S SCHOOL: Two new Classrooms are to be built at a cost of £2,000. The school opened in 1897. It is an aided school.
11 Sep 1953
INVENTOR Mr ME Elliott, a grandson of William Elliott of Elliott and Garrood has produced a night driving aid.
11 Sep 1953
FAMILIES MOVED from accommodation on the Ellough Airfield site.
11 Sep 1953
SCHOLARSHIP from the English Speaking Union: Timothy Green, aged 17, of Corner House, Upper Grange Road will sail on the Queen Mary to the USA with 22 other schoolboys to spend a year at Hotchkiss School, Lakeville Conneticut. [PHOTO]. He has been at the Leys School Cambridge. On return he will go to Christ’s College Cambridge to read history.
11 Sep 1953
LODDON NEW SECONDARY SCHOOL: “The very last word”. It cost £113,158.
18 Sep 1953
HOUSING: The Ministry approves the building of 50 traditional houses on the Banham Estate, but only 30 are to be started immediately. 25 to 30 would be completed by 31 March. The builder will be Cadmore & Peacock. The cost will be £63,354.
25 Sep 1953
TOWN COUNCIL discussed at length the advantages of Unity Houses and Traditional Houses. They decided to go ahead with traditional houses.
25 Sep 1953
DEATH of Mr George Wells of Highfield, Upper Grange Road, aged 71, formerly of Letchworth and Sheffield. He left £18,789.
2 Oct 1953
DEATH of Mr William Sheldrake, aged 86, of the Hollies, Frederick’s Road. He came to Beccles in 1938 from Brentwood. He was an accountant with the Mercantile Bank of India. He was a Freeman of the City of London. He was a sidesman at St Michael’s Church. He was a Mason and belonged to two London Lodges and Beccles. He is survived by his widow and three sons and two daughters by his first marriage.
2 Oct 1953
TOWN COUNCIL has bought Crisp’s Dyke for £1,000 some time ago and was letting it to Beccles Sailing Club on a repairing lease for three years.
9 Oct 1953
CHAMBER OF TRADE: the 3rd Exhibition to be held in the Public Hall. There are 17 stands. The President is Mr AG Stockdale. [PHOTO of Mrs Battell etc]
16 Oct 1953
CLAIM against Suffolk County Council over an explosion on 2 March 1949 when two people were killed and six injured at the Children’s Cooked Meal Centre at Beccles.
30 Oct 1953
CHAMBER of TRADE wishes to stop travelling carpet and linoleum salesmen visiting the town and talking trade from the shopkeepers who pay rates to the town.
30 Oct 1953
SUGAR BEET goes by wherry from Beccles Corporation Quay direct to Cantley. It is taken by tractor from Church Farm Shipmeadow to the Quay [PHOTO page 1 –but no wherry!]
30 Oct 1953
DEATH of Mrs EJ (Flora) Mobbs, wife of Edward J Mobbs, who has been in business in business as a fruiterer and florist at 8 The Walk for 25 years. She was 60 and lived at 6 The Walk. Born at Wickham Market, married in 1913 and before he enlisted in the First World War was in business in Coventry. On his demobilisation they returned to his home town. He was of an old Beccles family. There is one son, Mr Barry Mobbs, a civil engineer living at Winchester.
30 Oct 1953
Mrs WH MARTIN of Waveney Lodge Northgate making good progress in the Norwich nursing home owing to a fractured femur. She fell while walking from the road to the pavements near her home.
30 Oct 1953
FIRST FORD POPULAR reaches Beccles, fetched by Mr Laurence Gale from Norwich. It costs £390-14s-2d including purchase tax. It has a 10 horse power engine.
30 Oct 1953
BISHOP of St Edmundsbury retires, Dr Richard Brook – Bishop since 1940. Moves to Grasmere in the Lake District
30 Oct 1953
LETTER: Banham Road housing: No rear access, our dustbins stay in our front gardens and coal is delivered through the front door – no picnic on a wet day! It is almost impossible to manoeuvre a pram in and out without damaging the walls – the same applies to bicycles, which are housed in a totally inadequate shed between the hall and the kitchen. They were built in 1953!
13 Nov 1953
MAYOR’S BANQUET REVIVED in Coronation Year. In pre-war days the function in honour of the retiring Mayor took place on the evening of 9th of November – this has been continued even though the Mayor making is now in May. Mr Coney revived the event in 1948, the next was in 1951 to commemorate the Festival of Britain. [PHOTO]
13 Nov 1953
VISIT from the USA of Mr & Mrs Cyril J Payne, who emigrated in 1946, who are staying with his brother at 1 Napier Terrace Grove Road. He was formerly an outfitter in Bungay. Before that he was senior assistant at Campling’s in Exchange Square, subsequently Foster’s. He was educated at the National School under Mr JS Palmer. They followed one of their daughters, a GI Bride, to Lima south of Rochester, 320 miles from New York, where they run a restaurant.
13 Nov 1953
DEATH of Mrs Edna M Daines, wife of Mr James Daines of 4 Denmark Road. She was 57, a native of Reedham, but she had lived in Beccles since 1924. Mr Daines is on the clerical staff at the Lowestoft Goods Office of British Railways and from 1921 to 1949 at Beccles. The only child, Miss Stella Daines is in the Parish Church Choir.
13 Nov 1953
CROWFOOT PRIMARY SCHOOL Head Teacher is Miss A Wrigley.
13 Nov 1953
Mr MATTHEW PITKIN of 34 Northgate won a Diploma in the National Ice Cream competitions in London Dairy Show.
13 Nov 1953
PARISH CHURCH HALL roof in Ballygate is being renewed.
13 Nov 1953
REMEMBRANCE FESTIVAL was held the Regal Cinema by the British Legion organised by Mr George Gregson, which was nearly full.
20 Nov 1953
RENTS of Council houses built since the war to be increased by 4s 6d.
20 Nov 1953
THE QUEEN’S PILOT of the BOAC Starcruiser, which will take the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to Bermuda was billeted with Mr & Mrs CD Gillett of Hulvergate House, Frederick’s Road from November 1939 for 6 months as a Corporal with the 5th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. He transferred to the RAF in 1941 and was demobbed in 1945. He then joined BOAC and is now 34 and married.
20 Nov 1953
ROYAL PORTRAITS of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are to be purchased to hang in the Council Chamber, each will cost 17s 6d and will be mounted to fit existing frames. The Queen will be in her Coronation robes with Westminster Abbey in the background, the Duke in Naval uniform.
20 Nov 1953
A SCHOOL in NORFOLK of 50 pupils aged 5 to 14, all of whom, but for two, are unrelated to any other.
20 Nov 1953
THE MARSHES MILL pumping station operated for 92 hors last month discharging 34 ½ million gallons of water from the level. The dyke system is to be kept in as dry a state as possible.
20 Nov 1953
THE CHORAL SOCIETY presented a concert version of Carmen in the fine new Assembly Hall of Sir John Leman School with piano accompaniment by Mr RH Firth and Mr O Lloyd Smith. Mr RH Firth also conducted.
20 Nov 1953
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL Report given by Mr RA Bowman, Headmaster, who is moving and has been Head since September 1949.
There were 4 State Scholarships and 10 County Major Awards. There are now 432 pupils. Mr Bowman had come when the school was scattered in temporary buildings, many of them not school buildings.
27 Nov 1953
BRITISH LEGION is considering having its own Headquarters and club under the Chairmanship of Mr WC Trevitt.
27 Nov 1953
SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL is to pay damages of £21,081 over the explosion on 2nd of March 1949 when two people were killed and six injured at the Children’s Cooked Meal Centre.
Mrs Gertrude Lunn, aged 73, of Gosford Road was awarded £1,488 for the death of her husband Edmund Lunn a 61 year old assistant cook.
Among those injured Miss Joan Bean of Northgate received £509, Mrs Mabel M Wright of Puddingmoor £820, Mrs Belinda L Forder of New Road £1,708, Mrs Gertrude A Pluck of Denmark Road £4,858, Mr Richard A Hammond of Northgate £7,684.
27 Nov 1953
NEW BRIDGE at Beccles Cut: A new footbridge over the Gas House Dyke costing £750 for a structure 6ft wide or 3ft wide for £610. The present bridge was built in 1929 and impossible to repair, and the steel used was secondhand.
4 Dec 1953
METHODISTS: Beccles Minister Rev EB Wright, in the circuit of Beccles, Loddon and Bungay there was a membership of 433. Mr Wright announced he was leaving in September 1954, when he will have completed three years as Superintendent.
4 Dec 1953
HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Efforts are being made to revive this society which lapsed several years ago. The Mayor, Mr Pye has convened a meeting.
4 Dec 1953
CHAMBER of TRADE SECRETARY: Mr Jack Muttit of Station Road is taking over from Mr EH Baker. Mr Muttit retired in September 1952 after being assistant inspector at Beccles Head Post Office since April 1944, after serving for 42 years.
The Committee heard reports by Mr AG Stockdale, the President and Mr LC Battell on the Eastern Area meeting of the National Chamber of Trade at Colchester on 20 October 1953.
4 Dec 1953
NATIONAL SERVICE: 15 young Beccles neighbourhood men to register on 5 December.
4 Dec 1953
PROPERTY SALE by Messrs G Durrant for the executors of Mrs AE Dunn:
1.) Alborough, London Road: Bungalow with large garden
Purchased by Mr WA Downing £1,650
2.) Nightingale, London Road: Bungalow with large garden.
Purchased Mrs M Spalding (tenant) £1,000
3.) 3 Homefield Avenue: Semi-detached house
Purchased by Mr LR Page (tenant) £450.
4.) 7 Homefield Avenue
purchased by Mr RC Butcher (tenant) £425
5.) 19 Frederick’s Road: Semi-detached house
purchased Mr J Hawes (tenant) £625
6.) 21 Fredrick’s Road; Semi-detached
purchased by Mr CW Betts £625
7.) 14 Pleasant Place, St George’s Road: Semi-detached house
purchased by Mr HE Semper (tenant) £325
8.) 16 Pleasant Place, St George’s Road
purchased Mr GE Keeble (tenant) £310
9.) 18 Pleasant Place
purchased by Mr AW Baker (tenant) £320
4 Dec 1953
DEATH of Mr Calton Pitt Brook, aged 79, who lived at Red Tiles, Northgate until he moved to the home of a nephew at Eye eight years ago.
He was born in Surrey and worked for several years as a tea planter in North Borneo and as a rubber planter in Malaya. He returned to England in 1924 and lived in Norwich before coming to Beccles. A bachelor, he was a keen stamp collector and angler.
4 Dec 1953
HOUSING LIMIT increased: Sir David Eccles, Minister of Works raised the free limit for industrial and agricultural work from £2,000 to £25,000, and all other work, including housing from £500 to £1,000, giving greater freedom to private house builders.
Licences will be automatic for houses up to 1,500 square feet and not more than 50 houses at a time. Discretionary powers were given for houses up to 2,500 square feet.
4 Dec 1953
BAPTISTS: A Manse Fund helped by a bazaar, which raised £47-12s. The debt was between £200 and £300. The Manse is in Station Road. They are still without a Pastor since Rev Christian V Evans left in the summer.
11 Dec 1953
WOMAN saved from Dyke: Mrs R Gaul, a widow of 44 Ingate fell into a Dyke when dazzled by car headlights on Gillingham Dam as she was going to an evening service at Gillingham Parish Church. She was pulled from the water by Mr Edward Clark of Stockton and picked up by car by Mr and Mrs Keely of Smallgate.
11 Dec 1953
HISTORICAL SOCIETY was formed in April 1927 and lapsed in Summer 1944. Mr S Slade of Kilbrack is to be the Secretary. The Society is to be revived.
11 Dec 1953
Mr LESLIE BATTELL gave a talk to the Rotary Club at the King’s Head. He has made regular visits to the Potteries to buy requirements for his business. He described the Potteries. He said there used to be a pottery at Beccles.
11 Dec 1953
DEATH of Mrs EJ Mickleburgh, aged 76, widow of Mr Albert Jarmy Mickleburgh, formerly of 18 Northgate. She lived at Lowestoft.
11 Dec 1953
TV STATION planned at Bunwell Street, near Tacolneston, nine miles south of Norwich. It will not be ready before 1956 at the earliest.
11 Dec 1953
POST in JAPAN: Mrs Irene Cathcart, elder daughter of Mr RC Buckenham, of Devonshire Dairy, Hungate lefy via London Airport for a post with the British Red Cross at Kire, Japan. She will be Senior Red cross Welfare Officer in the whole of Japan and Korea.
She served with the British Red Cross throughout the Second World War. She was stationed at Kuala Lumpur in Malaya until two years ago, when she came home on account of the illness and death of her mother.
11 Dec 1953
EMIGRATED to Freemantle, Western Australia in September: Mr Harold Briggs, his wife Ins and their two cjildren, Jennifer 7 and Robin 4. Mrs Briggs is the only daughter of Mr & Mrs J Weaver of Nethersgate, Upper Grange Road. In a letter to her mother she said they left on the 28,000 ton liner RMS Oronsay. They arrived after three weeks, taken to a Government hostel and found they were the only occupants of a building equipped for 500.
Mr Briggs was fixed up with employment the next day to start a week later as a plumber in the Public Works Department of the State Housin Commission. They were given the keys to thei “flat” – a bungalow – rather like the prefab they had in Orchard Green – except there are no fittings nor cupboards and no hot water system.
11 Dec 1953
CONFIRMATION of 30 at Beccles Parish Church including 20 from Beccles, four being adults. The Churchwardens, Mr BS George and Mr HE King and one of the lay readers took part in the procession.
18 Dec 1953
WEDDING of Miss Anne Glew, only child of Mr & Mrs Robert Glew of Bacton, London Road and Mr David O Wood of Strensall, York. The bride was educated at Sir John Leman School and then to St James’s Secretarial School London. She became a secretary at the Royal Free Hospital, London and later a private secretary at the United States Educational Commission in London for two years. Mr Wood was educated at Rugby and Clare College Cambridge and was an Engineer Officer in the Royal Navy. [PHOTO page 1]
18 Dec 1953
HEADMASTER of Sir John Leman School, Mr Ronald A Bowman, since September 1949 leaves for St Bees in Cumberland, where he is becoming Headmaster of the Mixed County Grammar School. There are 850 pupils. There were 80 applicants for the post.
Sir John Leman School now has 432 boys and girls. He is being succeeded by Sidney Geoffrey Standing, who has been Head of the Mixed Grammar School at Colyton, Devonshire since September 1949. He is to live in Ringsfield Road.
Mr Bowman said: “The atmosphere of the school and of the boys and girls is quite exceptional. They are the finest children I have ever met and I shall have to go a long way to find a group of youngsters so reasonable and so amenable.”
18 Dec 1953
POLICE: Pc AE Farman has left for Framlingham after 3½ years. He is succeeded by Pc James from Ipswich Training School.
18 Dec 1953
DEATH of Mr Francis WP Marriott, educated at the Fauconberge School. He was senior partner of solicitors Foster, Calvert & Marriott of Norwich. He was the son and brother of two previous Rectors of Wilby and had been patron of the living since 1948.
18 Dec 1953
PORTRAITS of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh which will hang in the Council Chamber will cost 25s/- each.
18 Dec 1953
BOROUGH TREASURER, Mr JA Screttrino said the rent collector, Mr CC Dix must be listed as an officer of the Council for certain duties.
18 Dec 1953
SLAUGHTERHOUSE: 1009 animals were slaughtered in November.
18 Dec 1953
CONVEYANCE of the Caxton Recreation Ground to William Clowes & Sons Ltd for £600.
18 Dec 1953
HISTORICAL SOCIETY: The Secretary to be Mr Sydney C Slade of Kilbrack Road.
24 Dec 1953
DEATH of Mr Hubert EW Allen, aged 70, of 35 Ballygate. He was employed by Messrs William Robinson, Hungate Garage for 34 years and in 1939 took a job at the Ingate Ironworks as storekeeper.