1949 A Retrospect Tilley's Almanack

Chronological extracts completed from the "Ledbury Free Press"

January 1 Sunday School scholars gave a presentation of a Nativity Play in the Parish church before a large congregation.

January 3 At the monthly meeting of Ledbury Urban Council, a tender of £1,183 10s 11d, by the Ankerdine (public Works) Ltd, was accepted for making an access road leading from Union Lane to Longacres housing estate.

January 3 A report of the Standing Joint Committee to the Herefordshire Quarter Sessions requested that approval be given to the erection of a new Section Police Station and Petty Sessional Court Room at Ledbury at an estimated cost of £30,000.

January 4 St Michael’s girls and senior boys New Year’s party at the Church Room.

January 5 Eight years old Garry William Harry MONK, of The Pound, Redmarley, died from injuries received when he fell from his pony while attending a meet of the Ledbury Hunt Pony Club.

January 6 Charter of the Loyal Order of Moose presented to the Ledbury Lodge at Royal Oak Hotel.

January 9 The death occurred of the Rector of Colwall, Rev. Arthur Cecil WHITE, in his 68th year.

January 13 The Church Room was packed at the annual concert given by members of the Parish Church Choir.

January 14 Ledbury Grammar School Old Pupil’s Association annual party held at the school.

January 18 The annual fancy dress masked ball was held at the Royal Oak Hotel when the sum of £10 14s 0d was raised for the Parkway Hall Fund.

January 18 Members of the Ledbury and district branch of Hereford Diocesan Guild of Bellringers held their annual meeting and during the afternoon rang touches of Grandsire, Bob-major and Bob-minor on the Parish Church bells.

January 20 Upwards of 200 local children were entertained, at the schools canteen, to the annual Christmas party organised by the local branch of the British Legion.

February 4 First annual dinner of the Ledbury branch of the R A F A was held at the Royal Oak Hotel.

February 10 About 300 patrons attended the Ledbury Police Ball, revived after an interval of several years. The event, which marked the re-opening of the Feathers Assembly Ballroom, was in aid of Herefordshire County Benevolent Institution and realised about £100.

February 11 A very satisfactory increase in membership was reported at the first annual meeting of Ledbury branch of the R A F A held at the Royal Oak Hotel.

February 15 Annual meeting of Ledbury Cricket Club held at the Feathers Hotel when a sound financial position of the club was reported.

February 16 At the annual installation ceremony at Eastnor Lodge of Freemasons, held at the Masonic Temple, Southend, Bro. E F BARNETT was installed Worshipful Master for the ensuing year.

February 19 ‘Saturday Soiree’, a variety show organised in aid of Parkway Village Hall fund, attracted crowded audiences at the Church Room.

February 22 Ledbury Group of Women’s Institutes held their annual bulb show, at the Market House, where an excellent display of exhibits was admired by a large crowd of enthusiasts.

March 8 Mr Albert Edward MANGHAM, the well-known nurseryman and florist of Church Street, died at the age of 63. At the funeral a large contingent of members of the Ledbury branch of the British Legion were present with their Standard, and formed a guard of honour, at the Parish Church in memory of one of their founder members.

March 11 About 150 guests attended the annual ball of the Ledbury Rugby FC which was held at the Feathers Hotel and realised a profit of £55.

March 19 At the annual meeting of the British Legion Club general satisfaction was expressed on the sound financial position of the club, the accounts showing a net profit for the year of £164, and a balance in hand of £1,858. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr H J CHAPMAN, the late chairman of the local branch of the Legion, was presented with an illuminated certificate from Legion headquarters certifying him a life member of the organisation.

March 21 Ledbury Hunt met at the Feathers Hotel, this being in place of the usual Boxing Day meet in the town which was cancelled owing to frost.

March 23 Upwards of 100 patrons attended the Ledbury Chamber of Commerce first annual dance which was held at the Feathers Hotel. Proceeds were in aid of St Mary’s Children’s Home, Eastnor, and realised £40.

March 25 The production at the Camp Theatre of Terence RATTIGAN’s well-known play 'Flare Path' by Ledbury Amateur Cine and Dramatic Society proved outstanding, ‘house full’ being achieved on succeeding nights.

March 28 A very satisfactory review of the year’s activities was presented at the annual meeting of the Parish Church. The reports included reference to sound finances, an increase of 62 on the electoral roll, flourishing Sunday schools, etc.

April 1 The death occurred suddenly of Mr Richard LAWRENCE, of 2 Mayfield Villas, Woodleigh Road, at the age of 84. The late Mr LAWRENCE resigned from the staff of the GWR in 1928 after 50 years’ service on the railway.

April 2 Organised in aid of Dr Barnardo’s Homes, a children’s party was held at the Church Room, and resulted in a total profit of £44 which included proceeds of collection boxes.

April 3 Confirmation service at the Parish Church when 95 candidates were presented.

April 7 The County Council election at Ledbury for a local representative resulted :- W J BRAY 466, F SHINN 140.

April 8 A new Ledbury branch of the North Hereford Conservative Association was formed at a meeting of local Conservatives at Ledbury Park.

April 9 Under the auspices of Ledbury Conservative Association Entertainment Committee a remarkable display of hypnotism was given at the Church Room. Mr Edward DEXTER, a hypnotist from the North, entertained a crowded audience with a two-hour demonstration of the mystic art.

April 9 Brilliant weather favoured the Ledbury Hunt point-to-point race held at Bushley Park, near Tewkesbury, and a very large crowd attended this popular annual event.

April 13 The death occurred at ‘Redsul’, Upperfields, of Mrs Sarah Northcote TILLEY, a well-known and esteemed personality. She was the widow of Mr J J TILLEY, who was a son of the late Mr Luke TILLEY, founder of the firm of L TILLEY & Son, printers and stationers, of High Street. 1943 April 22 Annual dance recital given at the Camp Theatre by pupils of Miss Grace DOVEY. Proceeds were in aid of National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, and amounted to £102 6s 9d.

April 30 Local enthusiasts making the annual trip to Wembley were among the 100,000 spectators at the FA cup final. The contesting teams were Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City, the Wolves proved the much better team and deservedly won by 3 – 1.

May 2 Mr C H YEOWARD, Master of the Ledbury Hunt for the past three years, took over the Mastership of the North Hereford Hunt. Mr V W YORKE succeeds Mr YEOWARD as Master of the Ledbury Hunt.

May 3 Nominations equalling the number of vacancies of Ledbury Urban Council, an election of councillors was not necessary this year.

May 10 The annual ‘Pound day’ at the Ledbury Hospital proved a great success, the number of gifts exceeding all expectations.

May 11 At a meeting at the Royal Oak Hotel fears were expressed that the rescue work of the Church of England Children’s Society would have to be curtailed unless a larger income was forthcoming. A new scheme was outlines which the Society had adopted, and an appeal was made for assistance to make the campaign a success.

May 13 About 200 players and supporters were present at the Cribbage League annual dance held at the Royal Oak Hotel. During the evening the League cup and medals were presented to the winners and runners-up.

May 21 A fine programme was presented at a variety show at the Camp Theatre. Entitled ‘On the Bawl’ the show was organised in aid of Ledbury Town FC.

May 23 At the annual meeting of Ledbury Urban Council, Mr A R C TURNER was elected chairman for the ensuing year.

June 2 Ledbury Park was visited by several hundred people from the town and district on the occasion of a fete promoted by local branches of North Hereford Conservative and Unionist Association. The fete was opened by Mrs BALDWIN, wife of Mr A E BALDWIN, MP for North Herefordshire.

June 11 An interesting cricket match was played on the Ledbury ground between teams representing Ledbury Ploughing Society and the Trumpet Agricultural Society. A large crowd of spectators enjoyed a grand afternoon’s cricket, and the match resulted : Ledbury 177 Trumpet 97.

June 13 A flag day in Ledbury realised £18 15s 0d in aid of King George’s Fund for Sailors.

June 25 A special non-stop train conveyed a party of 462, composed of local Sunday School children with their parents and adults, for a day’s outing to Barry Island.

June 29 Two one-act plays ‘Land of Hearts Desire’ and ‘The Poetasters of Ispahan’ were given at the Camp Theatre by junior pupils of Ledbury Grammar School.

July 3 Two thousand seats were provided in Hereford Cathedral on the occasion of the enthronement of the new Bishop, the Right Rev. Tom LONGWORTH, DD. The ceremony was conducted by the Archdeacon of Canterbury.

July 5 ‘Daffodil’ flag day in Ledbury realised £25 14s 8d on behalf of the Servers of the Blind League.

July 7 Ledbury Parish Church annual sale and garden party, held in the Rectory garden, was a record success, the proceeds exceeding £244.

July 9 Organised by the local branch of the Union of Post Office Workers, a social evening was held in the Church Room, when several interesting presentations were made to members of the Ledbury Post Office staff.

July 10 The new Bishop of Hereford (Dr. T. LONGWORTH) paid his first official visit to Ledbury Parish Church, and preached a large congregation at Matins.

July 15 In the grounds of Ledbury Park an audience of nearly 3,000 participated in an impressive service on the occasion of the County Rally of Herefordshire branches of the British Legion.

July 15 The sudden death occurred at Sunnyside, Newbury Park, of the Rev. R. F. HASLOCK, Superintendent Minister of Ledbury Methodist Church and Circuit. The late Mr. HASLOCK, who was 58 years old, had been minister at Ledbury since 1945 and had just previously accepted an appointment as Superintendent Minister at Week St Mary, North Cornwall.

July 16 A jumble sale held in the Cattle Market in aid of Ledbury Cricket Club realised £25.

July 18 As a result of an interesting cricket match between Ledbury Pre-War and Post-War a sum of £10 was donated to St Mary’s Home for Children.

July 18 While batting for Hereford Cricket Club at a match at Halesowen, Mr. Hugh Howell JENKINS collapsed at the wicket and died within a few minutes. The late Mr. JENKINS, who was 50 years old, had been headmaster at Wellington school for about seven years and was previously Schoolmaster at Eastnor for over 14 years.

July 28 The first post-war ‘Speech day’ at the Grammar School was held at Ledbury Cinema when Mr J. W. P. GARRETT, M.A., headmaster at Bristol Grammar School distributed prizes and gave an inspiring address.

July 29 Ledbury Grammar School Old Pupils’ Association annual dinner at the Royal Oak Hotel.

July 30 Organised in aid of St Mary’s Home for Children, Eastnor, a fete held in the Grammar School, grounds proved a brilliant success. There was a large attendance and the event realised a net profit of £166.

August 4 Bosbury Agricultural and Horticultural Show attracted record entries and a crowd of upwards of 4,000.

August 6 Produce of a very high standard was exhibited at the annual show of Ledbury Garden Produce Club held in the Pound Meadow.

August 23 The well-known fishmongers and fruiterer's business at 26 High Street realised £5,050 when it was offered for sale by public auction at the Town Hall. The business had been owned for 43 years by Mr. L. W. CROSSLEY who is now retiring.

August 27 Much Marcle and Yatton Horticultural Show attracted a crowd of between 4,000 and 5,000.

August 28 Drybrook Prize Band gave a concert in the grounds of Ledbury Park in aid of St Mary’s Home for Children, Eastnor.

September 2 The death occurred at Normanhurst, Bank crescent, of Mr H W ORME, at the age of 75. He was a senior partner in the legal firm of Messrs. RUSSELL, ORME and DYKES. The late Mr ORME had held the office of Clerk to Ledbury Urban and District Councils for upwards of 30 years, and was also Superintendent Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths.

September 4 The Rev. T MARTIN, the newly-appointed Superintendent for the Ledbury Methodist Circuit, commenced his ministry by taking the morning service at the Methodist Church.

September 10 Ledbury and Hereford Fire Brigade were occupied for nearly two days at a destructive farm fire at Leighton Court, Stretton Grandison.

September 10 A flag day in connection with Ledbury branch Toc. H realised £17 19s 0d.

September 12 Local commemorations of Battle of Britain Week organised by the Ledbury branch of R A F A included a concert at the Church Room, dance at the Feathers Hotel, a cricket match and a Church parade with service at the Parish Church.

October 2 The annual County harvest festival of Herefordshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs was held in Ledbury Parish Church and attracted a large congregation.

October 3 The 39th annual meeting of the Ledbury Ploughing Society was held at Millend, Castle Frome, and entries for the various competitions were well sustained.

October 5 At the annual meeting of Ledbury Chamber of Commerce, the report showed a membership of 73 with a balance in hand of £48 4s 7d on the general account, and of £243 3s 7d on the plate glass account.

October 9 The annual Chamber of Commerce dance, held at the Feathers Hotel, realised between £30 and £40 on behalf of funds for St Mary’s Children’s Home, Eastnor.

October 9 National Savings Week opened at Ledbury with a ceremony in the Town Hall. Local response to the campaign was reported as magnificent.

October 13 Organised as part of the National Day of Magic, for the benefit of the Infantile Paralysis Fellowship, two shows were produced at the Camp Theatre, Ledbury, and proved an outstanding success.

October 13 A bridge drive held at Wall Hills in aid of St Mary’s Home, Eastnor, realised £20 11s 6d and a competition for a bicycle resulted in a net profit of £63 10s 6d for the same cause.

October 23 Under the auspices of the Mother’s Union, a home and family exhibition at the Church Room attracted a large audience.

November 3 At a sale of work held in the Methodist Schoolroom, in aid of women’s work overseas, the sum of £32 was raised.

November 8 ‘Poppy Day’ collections in Ledbury district for Earl Haig’s Fund amounted to £157 13s 0d.

November 8 Remembrance day was observed in Ledbury with a service at the War Memorial and in the Parish Church.

November 15 A sale of work at the Church Room, in aid of Parkway W I funds, realised over £60.

November 17 The annual ‘Gift Day’ in connection with Ledbury Parish Church realised nearly £150.

November 18 To reduce traffic dangers at the Upper Cross, Ledbury, the Herefordshire County Council approved an order to introduce ‘Halt’ signs in the Worcester Road and New Street and the prohibition of waiting cars within stipulated distances of the Upper Cross.

November 23 At a meeting of Herefordshire County Council it was decided to acquire, at a cost of £5,000, The Holt, at Ross Road, Ledbury, for a children’s home to accommodate children now in Ivy House, Hereford.

November 23 The Government-owned factory at Bosbury Road, Ledbury, was re-allocated to British Canners Ltd, of Hereford, for bottling and canning fruit and vegetables.

November 28 At Ledbury Post Office, Mr. James DAVIES, a retired Ledbury postman, was presented with Imperial Service Medal, awarded to him in recognition of meritorious service rendered, having served for nearly 42 years.

December 3 At the Centenary celebrations of Ledbury Methodist Church, the chief speaker was the Rev. Harold B. RATTENBURY, President of the Methodist Conference, and a well-known as a preacher and missionary in China and Burma.

December 3 Two first-rate performances of ‘Thark’, Ben TRAVERS’ well-known farce, presented by Ledbury Amateur Cine and Dramatic Society, attracted full houses at the Camp Theatre.

December 5 At the monthly meeting of Ledbury Urban Council it was decided to proceed with an electric street lighting scheme providing for the installation of 161 lamps at an estimated cost of £4,447.

December 7 The death occurred at his residence, The Park, Ledbury, of Lord BIDDULPH. He was 80 years of age and was a director of Martins Bank Ltd. The Right Hon. John Michael Gorgon BIDDULPH was the second holder of the title to which he succeeded in 1923, being the eldest son of the first Baron BIDDULPH. The late Lord BIDDULPH is succeeded by his eldest son, the Hon. Michael BIDDULPH, of Underdown, Ledbury, who served in the Coldstream Guards during the first world war.

‹ ‹ Retrospect Index

---