1940 A Retrospect Tilley's Almanack

Chronological extracts completed from the "Ledbury Free Press"

January 1 Organised by Ledbury Observer Corps in aid of the British Red Cross Society, a very successful dance took place at the Feathers Hotel under the patronage of Lord and Lady SOMERS. The sum of over £40 was forwarded to the Society as a result of the venture.

January 1 Major D. A. DAVISON, of Bronsil, Eastnor, took up an appointment as Assistant Commandant at Aldershot Military Prison.

January 2 Death of Mr. Tom WILLIAMS, a former Chief Officer of Ledbury Fire Brigade, which occurred at Church Street, at the age of 76. He had been a member of the Fire Brigade for 38 years.

January 10 The death occurred suddenly in Yorkshire of Mr. A. M. JAMES, B.A., of Knapp Lane, aged 37 years. The late Mr. JAMES had been English and games master at Ledbury Grammar School since 1925.

January 13 Mr. H. W. BRAY, of Baynhams, Ledbury, was elected chairman of the Herefordshire branch of the National Farmers’ Union in succession to Alderman E. W. Langford.

January 21 The severest weather for 45 years was experienced in the Ledbury district, when 43 degrees of frost were registered, and a large number of bursts occurred in the town as a result of the great “freeze-up.”

January 21 Mr. William BARRELL, of Church Road, Tarrington, died at the age of 83. He worked as a roadman for 38 years, and was in the employ of Herefordshire County Council until his retirement in 1932. He left a will under which Ledbury Cottage Hospital and the Herefordshire General Hospital benefited by legacies of approximately £1000 to each institution.

January 22 At the annual Parochial Church meeting held at the Church Room, a satisfactory report of the finances of Ledbury Parish Church was submitted.

February 1 A very satisfactory report was presented by Supt. G. BRIERLEY at the annual Ledbury Licensing Sessions.

February 8 Entertainment given by the Ledbury Follies at the Church Room in aid of Ledbury Cottage Hospital.

February 14 Annual meeting of Ledbury Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society held at the Methodist Church.

February 17 Death of Mr. William James JESSETT, of 157 The Homend, which occurred suddenly at the age of 82. He had been in the employ of a local firm of saddlers for 67½ years until he retired a few years ago.

February 19 Annual meeting and prize-giving of the 1st Ledbury Girl Guides (Lady SOMERS Own).

February 25 The first daylight full-scale A.R.P. exercise in Ledbury district was held, when all branches of local Civil Defence were in action, and revealed a high standard of efficiency among all the services.

March 1 At the annual meeting of donors and subscribers to Ledbury Cottage Hospital, held at the Church Room, it was reported that at the end of the financial year the Hospital was in debt to the extent of £623, the loss on the year’s working amounting to £398.

March 7 At Ledbury Boys’ School, Benjamin Norman CHAPMAN, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. CHAPMAN, of Homend Crescent, was presented with the silver medal of the County Education Committee for five years’ perfect attendance at school.

March 9 Annual meeting of Ledbury and district British Legion Club, Ltd.

March 10 The Bishop of Hereford conducted the annual confirmation service at Ledbury Parish Church, when 49 candidates were presented.

March 14 At the annual meeting of Ledbury Cricket and Sports Club, held at the Feathers Hotel, it was decided to close down the cricket club for the duration of the war.

March 18 The death occurred in his 68th year of Mr. James HOLLINGS, licensee of the Fox Inn.

April 4 Over 300 patrons were present at the annual dance organised by Ledbury Police in aid of the Herefordshire Constabulary Benevolent Association, held at the Feathers Hotel, and proceeds amounted to over £40.

April 4 Ledbury Amateur Cine and Dramatic Society annual dinner held at the Talbot Hotel.

April 19 At the annual meeting of Ledbury Urban Council, Mr. Guy H. SMITH was elected chairman for the ensuing year.

April 23 Street collections in Ledbury and district in aid of the Herefordshire Fund for the Blind realised the sum of £19 12s. 6d.

April 27 Pupils of Miss Grace DOVEY gave their annual dancing display at the Drill Hall and was greatly appreciated by large audiences. Proceeds were in aid of the Herefordshire Regiment Comforts Fund and realised £24 17s. 10d.

April 27 Ledbury Hunt annual puppy show, held at Drury Lane, Redmarley.

April 30 Annual "Pound Day” organised on behalf of Ledbury Cottage Hospital.

May 14 As a result of “Flag Day” collections in Ledbury and district the sum of £25 17s. 9d. was realised in aid of the British Sailors’ Society.

May 19 Damage estimated at nearly £300 was caused by a fire at Little Marcle Court to which the Ledbury Fire Brigade was summoned.

June 10 It having been decided by the Military Authorities that the use of church bells be prohibited except to give warning of parachutists or other air-borne enemy troops, the bells of Parish Churches in Ledbury district are now silent.

June 17 A well-known figure in Ledbury for 40 years, Miss Alice Ussher ROBERTS, of Ankerdine, South Parade, died in Ledbury Hospital at the age of 82.

June 22 A sum exceeding £50 was realised at Alexandra Rose Day collections in Ledbury and district.

July 1 Alderman J. W. HEWITT, chairman of Ledbury magistrates, was appointed Chairman of Herefordshire Quarter Sessions, in place of the late Capt. T. P. P. POWELL.

July 7 A large congregation at Ledbury Parish Church heard an inspiring sermon preached by Dr. A. F. WINNINGTON-INGRAM, formerly Bishop of London.

July 9 Salvation Army street collections in Ledbury, to provide huts and mobile canteens for the use of H.M. Forces, realised £18 18s. 4d.

July 20 A jumble sale held at the Feathers Hotel resulted in the sum of £36 14s. 3d. being raised for the local Agricultural Red Cross Fund.

July 25 Annual entertainment given by pupils of the Abbey school.

July 31 Formerly a well-known Ledbury chemist. Mr. Harold Victor HIBBETT died at his home at Colwall Green, at the age of 53 years.

August 2 Mr. Edmund Lamb WALLIS, an honorary Freeman of Hereford, died at the age of 91. He had been Coroner for South Herefordshire (which includes Ledbury district) since 1917, and was the oldest Coroner in England.

August 3 “Daisy Day” collections in Ledbury for the National Children’s Home and Orphanage amounted to £20 18s. 0d.

August 5 A dance at the Lower Masonic Hall, organised by Ledbury Town F.C., realised £25 8s. 6d. for the Red Cross Fund.

August 8 Organised by Ledbury Ladies’ Working Parties, a. sale of work in aid of the Universities Mission to Central Africa was held at The Orchard, a net profit of £36 10s. 0d. being made.

August 11 Special service for young people held at the Parish Church, when the Rev. Canon JORDAN (of Hereford Cathedral) gave an address.

August 15 A service was held at Ledbury Baptist Church to welcome the new student Pastor, Mr. M. GRIFFITHS.

August 16 A dance organised in aid of the local Agricultural Red Cross Fund held at the Feathers Hotel, proved a highly successful event and realised a net profit of £40 10s. 0d.

August 19 At the annual meeting of Ledbury Town Football Club, it was decided to carry on during the forthcoming season.

August 20 Tennis tournament for juniors, held at Oatleys Club ground in aid of the Waifs and Strays Society.

August 24 Street collections in Ledbury and district amounted to £20 8s. 7d. in aid of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes.

August 30 Death of Brig. General William George HAMILTON, C.B., C.S.I., D.S.O., which occurred at The Cloisters, Ledbury, at the age of 80 years.

September 7 Organised on behalf of the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Families Association, local street collections realised £30 1s. 0d.

September 13 Mr. Fred BALLARD, J.P., of Maybole, Colwall, a former Chairman of Herefordshire County Council, and one of the best-known men in Herefordshire, died at the age of 79 years.

September 15 Ledbury Fire Brigade was summoned to an extensive fire at Court-y-Park Farm, where over 100 tons of produce was destroyed.

September 19 Under the auspices of the Ministry of Information, a lecture entitled “Spies and the Fifth Column” was given at the Feathers Hotel by Mr. Bernard NEWMAN, the well-known broadcaster, traveller and novelist.

September 28 Street collections in Ledbury and district, organised by the local Women’s Unionist Association in aid of the Herefordshire Bomber Fund, realised the sum of £112.

October 15 A monster gift auction sale in aid of Ledbury and district Agricultural Red Cross Fund was held in the Cattle Market and proved an outstanding success. The sale was formally opened by Lady SOMERS, who also auctioned the first lot which comprised the celebrated donkey cart and the great grand-child of the renowned donkey of the War years 1914-1918. Total proceeds of the auction sale exceeded £1,500, and together with the various donations and proceeds a grand total of £2,500 was realised for the fund.

October 31 Concert at the Church Room, given by the Ledbury Players in aid of London Diocesan Girls’ Friendly Society.

November 7 The death occurred at the Gables, Woodleigh Road, of Mr. Charles Henry BIXLEY at the age of 83. The late Mr. BIXLEY carried on a tailor’s business in the High Street for nearly 30 years and retired in 1914.

November 10 Today was observed in Ledbury as Remembrance Day, when the whole of the local Civil Defence Services attended morning service at the Parish Church.

November 11 Poppy Day collections for Earl Haig‘s Fund in Ledbury district proved to be the highest yet recorded, the sale of poppies realising the sum of £109 14s. 3d.

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