1938 A Retrospect Tilley's Almanack

Chronological extracts completed from the "Ledbury Free Press"

January 3 At the monthly meeting of the Ledbury Urban Council, Mr S W MILLS made his last official appearance as Rating Officer to the Council. Mr MILLS first commenced rate collecting in the parish of Dymock 50 years ago.

January 3 New Year’s party held at the Church room in connection with St Michael’s Recreational Club.

January 4 At a meeting of the supporters of Ledbury Hunt held at the Feathers Hotel, a scheme was approved for the building of new kennels at Egg Tump, Redmarley, in place of the existing kennels at Ledbury at a cost of approx. £10,000.

January 5 Partner bridge drive in aid of Ledbury Cottage Hospital, held at Eastnor Club Room, realised a profit of £18.

January 6 Mens Unionist Assoc. social evening at the Talbot Hotel.

January 6 Ledbury Parish Church Sunday School annual treat and prize distribution at the Church Room.

January 8 Presentations were made to Mrs M E SMITH at a tea held in the Feathers Assembly Room, in recognition of the services rendered during the tens years she was Hon. Secretary of the Ledbury Women’s Unionists Association.

January 11 Ledbury Grammar School Old Pupils annual dance at the Feathers Hotel.

January 12 Annual meeting of Ledbury Auxiliary of the British and Foreign bible Society, held at the Methodist Schoolroom.

January 18 Girls Friendly Society social and dance held at the Church Room.

January 20 Organised in aid of the Ledbury Cottage Hospital, a ball held at the Feathers Assembly Room, proved a great success, attracting a company of over 200. The venture resulted in a net profit of £38.

January 25 Ledbury Rural-Decanal Conference was held in the Baptistry of Ledbury Parish Church.

January 25 Ledburians had a splendid view of the phenomenon known at the Aurora Borealis or ‘Northern Lights’, a sight that is seen at very rare intervals.

January 26 The annual dance in connection with Bosbury Agricultural society, was held at the Feathers Hotel, when a company of about 160 was present.

January 27 A number of old people of Ledbury were entertained to tea at the Feathers Hotel, by members of the local branch of the C.E.M.S.

January 31 In connection with Ledbury Parish Church, the annual meeting of Church-people was held in the Church Room.

February 7 The first tournament of the season promoted by the Ledbury Amateur Boxing Club packed the Drill Hall with an enthusiastic audience.

February 16 Eastnor Lodge of Freemasons annual installation ceremony at the Masonic Hall, Bro. W C SMITH being installed Worshipful Master for the ensuing year.

February 16 At a meeting of Ledbury Parochial Church Council, it was decided to make provision for a vestry for the clergy in the north-east aisle of the Church behind the organ.

February 17 A sale of work in aid of Circuit funds in connection with Ledbury Methodist Church was held in the Schoolroom, and resulted in a profit of £32 11s 6d.

February 18 Ledbury Ladies Linen League annual meeting held at the Cottage Hospital.

February 22 Organised by Women’s Institutes in the district, the annual bulb show was held in Ledbury Town Hall. Eastnor W I won a silver cup presented by Mrs AGAR-ELLIS.

February 23 At the annual meeting of subscribers and donors of Ledbury Cottage Hospital, it was stated that the record number of 342 cases had been admitted to the Institution during the year, an increase of 42 on the previous year.

February 24 Members of Ledbury Musical Society achieved another great success at their annual concert held at the Feathers Assembly Room, when the work presented was George Bizet’s ‘Carmen’.

February 25 he Feathers Assembly Room presented a brilliant appearance on the occasion of the Ledbury Batchelors ball, promoted in aid of the Cottage Hospital. A company of 220 patrons was present, and gifts from Queen Mary were sold by auction during the proceedings. The ball realised the substantial sum of £109 towards the funds of the hospital.

March 1 Mr K J SMITH, the Ledbury Postmaster, retired after having spent 47 years in the Post Office service, and had been Postmaster at Ledbury since 1919. The occasion was marked by the presentation to Mr SMITH of a handsome oak clock. Mr SMITH is succeeded by Mr W F WILLIAMS who had been Postmaster at Bromyard for the past 17 years.

March 2 Air Raid Precautions was the subject at a meeting held at the Town Hall, when Lord SOMERS presided over a large company.

March 3 Annual dinner of Ledbury Fire Brigade held at the Feathers Hotel.

March 5 Ledbury British Legion annual meeting held at the Club’s headquarters.

March 8 The first annual joint meeting of the Ledbury Division of St John Ambulance Brigade and the British Red Cross V A Detachment was held at the Town Hall.

March 9 Ledbury bowls Club annual dinner and prize distribution at the Talbot Hotel.

March 17 The Ledbury Chamber of Commerce held their first annual dinner at the Feathers Hotel, and proved a most successful event.

March 18 At the meeting of Ledbury Hounds at Corse Lawn, a presentation of an octagonal silver salver was made on behalf of the farmers of the Hunt to Mr V W YORKE on his retirement from the Mastership, which he has held for the past 10 years.

March 28 Ledbury Women’s Unionist Association annual meeting at the Feathers Hotel.

April 2 Annual re-union dinner of Ledbury Grammar School Old Pupils’ Association held at the Lower Masonic Hall.

April 2 The pupils of Miss Grace DOVEY gave their annual dancing display at the Drill Hall, and the proceeds which this year were in aid of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children amounted to £15 15s 6d.

April 3 Annual Confirmation service held at Ledbury Parish Church by the Bishop of Hereford, when 88 candidates were presented.

April 7 A partner bridge drive held at the Feathers Hotel, in aid of the Ledbury St John Ambulance appeal fund in connection with the purchase of their new headquarters, resulted in a net profit of about £30.

April 8 Ledbury Cribbage League annual dinner at the Feathers Assembly Room.

April 11 The 12th annual meeting of the Crescent Bowling Club was held at the Feathers Hotel.

April 15 Local Postmen and Railwaymen played their annual football match at the Biddulph Arms ground. The event witnessed by a good holiday crowd and resulted in a win for the Railwaymen by 7 – 3. Proceeds amounting to 36 9s 0d were in aid of the Cottage Hospital.

April 16 The abnormal drought and hard condition of the ground resulted in the cancellation of Ledbury Hunt Point-to-Point races.

April 19 A whist drive and dance held at Eastnor Clubroom in aid of Ledbury Cottage Hospital realised a profit of £12 12s 0d.

April 22 At Ledbury Urban Council annual meeting, Mr W A MADDOX was elected chairman for the ensuing year.

April 25 Ledbury Lodge R A O B annual supper at the Plough Hotel.

April 27 Annual dinner of the earth-stoppers of Ledbury Hunt, held at the Feathers Hotel.

May 3 A remarkable personality was lost to Ledbury district by the death of Mrs Harriet BELLAMY, of the Venning, Much Marcle, which occurred at her residence at the age of 104.

May 3 Ledbury Cottage Hospital annual ‘Pound Day’.

Mar 5 A group of plays were presented at the Church Room, by the Ledbury Players, in aid of the organ fund of the Parish Church, when a sum of £15 was realised.

May 22 Special services were held at Ledbury Methodist Church to commemorate the bi-centenary of the conversion, of the great evangelist, John WESLEY.

May 28 An open-air meeting held at the Market Square was addressed by Mr A P MARSHALL, prospective Liberal candidate for Hereford Division.

May 31 Organised by Ledbury district of the Herefordshire Federation of Women’s Institutes, an exhibition of handicrafts, the first of the kind in Ledbury, was held at the Lower Masonic Hall.

June 7 Opening day of the Three Counties Agricultural show held at Gloucester. An enthusiastic reception was accorded the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester who visited the show on the second day. The 1939 show will be held at Worcester.

June 8 A very satisfactory year of progress was reported at the annual meeting of Ledbury Nursing Association, held at The Park.

June 12 A notable event took place at Ledbury Parish Church, when an Ordination Service was held in the presence of a large congregation. The service commenced with a sermon by Preb. J F CLAYTON (Reader of the Temple Church, London), the followed the presentation of the two ordinands, Rev. R E HILL, curate of Ledbury, and Rev. S J V WARNER, curate of St James’s, Hereford, and the Ordination of the priests by the Bishop of Hereford.

June 16 The annual garden fete and sale organised by Ledbury Ladies’ Working Party in aid of the Parish Church funds, was held at the Residence House, St Katherine’s Hospital. The event proved to be an outstanding success, the financial result amounting to £93 3s 0d.

June 19 Harry BROMAGE, a 21 year old Ledbury shop assistant, lost his life while bathing in the River Wye at Breinton, near Hereford. At the inquest a verdict of ‘Accidental Drowning’ was returned.

June 27 Three hundred members of the Mothers’ Union attended the annual festival of Ledbury Deanery at the Parish Church.

June 30 Sunday School scholars numbering 350, from the various churches in Ledbury, had their annual summer outing, when an enjoyable day was spent at Porthcawl.

July 2 It was reported at a meeting of Herefordshire Education Committee that a loan of £1,025 had been sanctioned for the purchase of 10 acres of land at Mabels Furlong, the site of a new senior school for Ledbury.

July 4 A party of 19 members of St Michael’s Club journeyed to Porthcawl to spend a weeks’ holiday under canvas.

July 5 In connection with Navy Week, a 18ft scale model of the battle cruiser ‘Repulse’, which was on a month’s tour of the Midlands, visited Ledbury and attracted large crowds.

July 11 Members of Ledbury Women’s Unionist Association spent an enjoyable day’s outing to Bournemouth.

July 15 The new kennel establishment for the Ledbury Hunt at Egg Tump, Redmarley, replacing the old kennels at Ledbury, was formally opened by Mr G S ALBRIGHT, chairman of the Hunt Committee. A company of about 850 was present at the opening ceremony, and were entertained to tea in a huge marquee erected in the grounds.

July 16 Annual summer outing of the choir boys of Ledbury Parish Church, when a visit was made to Clifton Zoo, Bristol.

July 20 Court House School annual sports and prize-giving held at Ledbury Sports Club ground.

July 21 Pupils of the Abbey School gave their annual entertainment, in aid of the East End Children’s Holiday Fund.

July 21 The annual Country Dance Party, organised in aid of Herefordshire Fund for the Blind, was held on the lawns of Ledbury Grammar School, and resulted in the record sum of £16 10s 8d being handed over to the fund.

July 23 The death took place at Northleigh, Ledbury, of Mr George COTTON, at the age of 93. Until his retirement in 1919, the late Mr COTTON was a farmer and hop-grower at Paunceford Court.

July 24 Members of Ledbury Territorials, numbering 80, left the town for their annual training camp at Porthkerry, between Cardiff and Barry.

July 28 Annual show at Colwall Garden Club, held at the Winnings Meadow.

July 30 Daisy Day collections in Ledbury, in aid of the National Children’s Home and Orphanage, realised £11 7s 6d.

August 8 Bosbury Agricultural and Horticultural Show again broke all previous records, when the total entries were easily the highest in the history of the show.

August 9 An event which aroused great local interest was the marriage at Ledbury Parish Church of the Rev. Preb. Arthur John WILLINGTON-INGRAM, M A, Rector and Rural Dean of Ledbury, to Miss Joan Mary LYNE, only daughter of the Rev. R A LYNE, M A, and Mrs LYNE, of Pye’s Nest. There was a large and distinguished congregation which filled the Church. The Bishop of London performed the ceremony and the Bishop of Hereford took the second part of the service and gave the final blessing, while the Dean of Hereford preached the sermon. Guests numbered 400 and the reception was held in a large marquee at Pye’s Nest.

August 16 At the annual meeting of Ledbury Musical Society, held at the Church Room, the secular oration ‘Semale’, by Handel, was the work chosen for the forthcoming session of the Society.

August 18 The Rev. Arthur LOCKWOOD, Superintendent Minister at the Methodist Church for the past three years, left Ledbury to take up a new post at Becelea, Suffolk. He is succeeded by the Rev J WALTON ACRES, from Ramsay, Isle of Man.

August 23 Annual meeting of Ledbury Ploughing Society, held at the Feathers Hotel. The years working showed that the credit balance had been increased from £59 0s 6d to £71 7s 1d.

August 27 The annual show and sports organised by Much Marcle and Yatton Horticultural Society attracted a large crowd, and a splendid programme of sports events was provided.

August 24 A smoking concert organised by ‘C’ Company (Ledbury) of the Herefordshire Regiment was held at the Drill Hall, when a presentation of a silver salver bearing the regimental crest was mad to Major H C PARR on relinquishing command of the Company.

October 3 At the monthly meeting of Ledbury Urban Council, the resignation of Mr W F BICKFORD, Surveyor to the Council, was announced, the resignation to take effect at the end of the year.

October 5 The annual general meeting of Ledbury Chamber of Commerce was held at the Feathers Hotel, and very satisfactory year’s working was reported.

October 11 Ledbury Michaelmas Fair was again held in the streets of the town and attracted large crowds from the country districts.

October 11 The death occurred in Australia of Mr H VERNON SMITH, a former Ledbury solicitor, who practised for many years at St Cuthberts, The Homend.

October 13 The annual competitions of Ledbury Ploughing Society was held at The Elms, Bromsberrow. The annual dinner of the society was held at the Feathers Hotel in the evening.

October 14 A large gathering of Ledbury Womens Unionist Association assembled in their new clubroom, which was inaugurated with a speech by Mr J P L THOMAS, MP.

October 17 Ledbury Bowling Club annual meeting held at the Talbot Hotel.

October 19 Several Ledbury successes were achieved at the annual exhibition of Herefordshire Arts and Crafts Society held at the Town Hall, Hereford.

October 25 There was a large audience at the annual bazaar in aid of Ledbury Catholic Church, held at the Royal Hall ballroom, the opening ceremony being performed by Mrs Edward HOPTON, of Hampton Manor, Hereford. A well-attended dance was held in the evening.

October 27 A very successful partner bridge drive in aid of the funds of Ledbury V A D was held at the Feathers Hotel, and realised a net profit of £26 4s 6d.

November 1 In connection with Ledbury Grammar School, the annual ‘Speech Day’ was held at the Feathers Assembly Room before a crowded audience. The year’s record of the school was reviewed by the headmaster, Mr W G GREAVES, and the prizes were distributed by Mrs WINNINGTON-IMGRAM.

November 2 The 1st Ledbury Girl Guides celebrated their coming of age when the 21st annual meeting was held at the Church Room.

November 2 Ledbury Golf Club annual ball held at the Feathers Assembly Room.

November 3 The annual ‘Gift Day’ organised by the local branch of the C E M S on behalf of Parish Church funds realised upwards of £38 0s 0d.

November 5 At the annual meeting of members of Ledbury British Legion a most interesting address was given by Lieut-Col Lord SOMERS.

November 11 Ledbury observed the 20th anniversary of the Armistice with the customary united open-air service around the town’s War Memorial. Poppy Day collection for Earl Haig’s Fund realised £69 10s 7d in Ledbury district.

November 11 Mr John MASEFIELD received an enthusiastic welcome in his native town of Ledbury, when he performed the opening ceremony in connection with the new Ledbury branch of the County Library at the Barrett-Browning Institute. This was Mr MASEFIELD’s first public appearance in the town since his appointment as Poet-Laureate.

November 12 The death took place at Church House, Ledbury, of the Rev. H W STEWARD, B A, in his 84th year.

November 13 The annual Armistice-tide meeting of Ledbury Branch of the League of Nations Union was held at the Congregational Schoolroom, the chief speaker being Professor Arthur DAVIES, M A, from the L N U headquarters.

November 15 Annual general meeting of Ledbury Hunt held at the Feathers Hotel.

November 16 A very successful years work was reported at the annual meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, held at the Methodist Schoolroom.

November 21 Ledbury ‘TOC H’ held a most successful programme of events during the week. A whist drive at the Church Room opened ‘the week’ on Monday; a variety concert by the ‘Superierrots’ on Wednesday packed the Church Room to the doors; on Thursday a partner bridge drive; and a ball at the Feathers Hotel on Friday, a comic football match on Saturday concluded the week’s programme. The various events were organised to raise funds to give a Christmas treat to the children of Ledbury, and the balance of the proceeds was given to the Cottage Hospital. Net profit of the week’s events amounted to the substantial sum of £55 19s 6d.

November 26 A public meeting was held at Ledbury Grammar School, when Mr W GRIFFITH, of the Executive of the National Union of Teachers, gave an instructive address on ‘The extra year at school’.

December 1 Crescent Bowling Club annual dinner and prize-giving at the Feathers Hotel.

December 1 Annual social organised in connection with Ledbury Girls’ and Infants’ School, held at the Church Room.

December 3 At Ledbury Police Station, a chiming clock and five guineas were presented on behalf of Herefordshire Constabulary to PC Fred SHAKESHEFF, of Ledbury and formerly stationed in Cradley, who retired recently after nearly 20 years police service.

December 3 A sale of Christmas gifts held at Westhill realised £20 16s 9d. The sale was organised by Ledbury Church Working Party in aid of A C S and Parish Church funds.

December 9 Under the auspices of the National Fitness Committee, a meeting and film show was held at the Church Room.

November 9 A whist drive was held at the Court House School in aid of St John Ambulance appeal fund and realised £8 7s 0d.

December 13 There was an excellent entry for the Ledbury Christmas fat stock show and sale. Mr H E LANE, of Old Court, Bosbury, achieved remarkable success at this show, securing eight cattle and two sheep awards, winning three challenge cups and other prizes. The Champion beast and Reserve Champion both penned by Mr LANE, were black poll steers scaling 17 cwt and 13 ¾ cwt respectively.

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