Thorley Articles in the Herts and Essex Observer1916
1 January 1916 p8 col 5
Thorley. Christmas at the Church.
The Church was beautifully decorated for the Christmas Festival. The East End was treated by Miss Procter; the alter rails by Mrs Bull; the pulpit and lectern by Mrs Streeter; the reading desk by Mrs G Patten and Miss Lane[ the font by the Misses Frere, and the windows by Miss Newman, Mrs Bird, Mrs Watson, Mrs G Harris, Mrs Akers and Mrs J Clark. The congregations were good in spite of the inclement weather. The Rector (Rev JEI Procter) officiated at all the services, and in the morning he preached on St Luke ii.10. The offeratory, which was on behalf of the Coal and Clothing Clubs of the parish, amounted to £5.17s.8d. Mrs Frere and Mrs Streeter have supplied cut flowers for the church during the past year.
Christmas Treat
On Thursday a Christmas Treat was given to the children attending the Thorley Sunday and Day School by Mr and Mrs GS Streeter. After an excellent tea, the children played various games, which they greatly enjoyed. Then gifts of flannel, calico and comforters were given to the children who had attended regularly at the Sunday School. Next the Rector (the Rev JEI Procter) as chairman of the managers of the Thorley County Council School, presented the prizes given by the County Council to those who had attended most regularly at the day school. The Rector also thanked most heartily Mr and Mrs Streeter for the kindness in giving to the children such a delightful treat
8 January 1916 p8 col 6
Thorley. The Church
Services of Intercession were held in the parish church on Sunday in connection with the War. There were two celebrations of Holy Communion, namely at 8.00am and mid-day, when a good number of communicants were present. The other services were in the morning at 11 and in the afternoon at 3.15. The Rector (the Rev JEI Procter) officiated at all the services. He took as his text in the morning Joshua xxiv. 24 and in the afternoon he preached on Psalm 90.1. Miss Eccles played the organ. The collection, which was on behalf of the British Red Cross Society, amounted to £6.10s.
22 January 1916 p5 col 3
Thorley, The School.
A beautifully designed Roll of Honour in a handsome oak frame containing the names of the Old Boys of the Thorley CC School serving in His Majesty’s Naval and Military Forces has been presented to the school by Miss Neate, the headmistress, and now hangs in a prominent position in the large schoolroom. The wording on the Roll of Honour runs: “The following are the names of brave and loyal old scholars of Thorley CC School, who leaving their peaceful occupation took arms for Britain in the Great European War:James Henry Akers, George Cornelius Brewster, William Cardy, Olave Peter Chappell, John Chappell, Charles Clark, William Clark, Alfred James Clark, Joseph Walter Clark, Frederick William Clark, Francis Ellis, Albert Isaac Hammond, John Harris, John Harris, George Harris, William Charles Harris, Ernest John Perry, Edgar Frank Prior, William Percy Rist, Arthur Sampford, Charles Threadgold, Arthur Threadgold, Harold Turner, Horace Turner. December 1915.” The work was designed and executed by Mr FD Hawkes, DEI, a private in the RAMC.
5 February 1916 p5 col 2
Bishop’s Stortford. In Hospital
Trooper Harry Tucker of the Essex Yeomanry, son of Mr HJ Tucker of Thorley, who as briefly reported in our last issue has been invalided to England, suffering from pneumonia and debility and is now an in-mate of the VAD hospital, Kingswood School, Bath, has written to his father recounting some of his recent experiences. He says: “I lay in bed two days before Christmas and, thinking I had got a cold on my chest, got plenty of hot rum down me and felt all right again on Christmas Day, when I went out and had dinner with all my mates and then played football in the afternoon. I think I must have caught another chill, because two days later I was very bad in bed again. At 10.30 that night they pushed me off to hospital fourteen kilometres away, but I did not know I was so bad and thought I should be back again with the Regiment in a week. But for six days my temperature was from 102 to 104 and I never had a wink of sleep for about ten days or nights, and had two nurses up with me every night. I got on a little and was sent off to another hospital for a short time and then taken to Rouen. I had no idea of being sent to England but was only there for two days when the doctor marked my board for England. After being there for another nine days, the Colonel came and signed my board up and two days later I was taken on board the hospital ship St Dennis. We started at 3 o’clock on Thursday afternoon and got down to Le Havre about six that evening. We stopped there the night and at 3 o’clock on Friday afternoon started for the Channel. We arrived at Southampton and I was afterwards put on a train and taken to Bristol, at which I was greatly surprised, as a corporal on board told me that I was going to the London district.”
P5 col 6
Thorley Memorial Service
On Wednesday afternoon a memorial service was held in Thorley Church for Corporal Albert Isaac Hammond, 2nd Batt. Bedfordshire Regt, who was killed in action in France on 25th September last, but the official news of whose death only reached his home last week. The service was conducted by the Rector (the Rev JEI Procter). After the opening sentences from the Burial Service the 23rd Psalm was sung and the lesson (1 Cor xv 20) was read. Then followed the hymn “Jesu, lover of my soul” after which the Collects from the Burial Service were read and the service concluded with the “Nunc Dimittus” sung kneeling, and the playing of the Dead March in Saul. A number of the relatives, fellow workmen and friends of the deceased were present.
26 February 1916 p7 col 2
Bishop’s Stortford Urban District Council - South Mill Lock
The clerk said he had received the following letter in reference to South Mill Lock: “from the Lee Conservancy Board, Engineer & Managers’ Offices, Feb 18 1916. Dear Sir, I am much obliged to you for your letter of the 15th inst.. My board appointed on Friday last, the 11th inst., William Webb to reside in the Lock Cottage and attend to the working of the lock and sluices. He took up duty on Monday last. The cottage is in need of repair and as soon as this is effected he will reside there.”
11 March 1916 p2 col 6
Air Raid Casualty Stations.
In view of the possible contingency of an Air Raid, the members of the Womens Reserve, in conjunction with the VAD, have arranged Casualty Stations for Bishop’s Stortford and Thorley, where any injured can be brought for First Aid surgical attention. The following have kindly allowed rooms in their houses to be used for this purpose: Bishop’s Stortford ,,,,,,,,,,,,, Mrs Blyth, Thorley Bourne. Thorley, Mrs Streeter, Thorley Place. A stretcher and box of dressings is kept at each of the stations, and a doctor and trained nurses and VAD nurses have promised to attend.
18 March 1916 p2 col 7
Petty Sessions – Another charge of theft.
George Hutchin, labourer of Thorley, was charged with stealing 84 lbs of barley, value 11s., the property of the Great Eastern Railway Company, and William Chappell, licensed victualler of Thorley, and John Bradford, labourer of Castle Street, Bishop’s Stortford, were charged with receiving the barley knowing it to have been stolen. PC Briden stated that on Tuesday March 14 on the instructions of Supt Foster he kept observations in the London Road, Bishop’s Stortford. At 5.45pm he saw the defendant Chappell come from the direction of Hockerill with a horse and trolley and enter the railway goods yard from the south Mill entrance. Chappell took the trolley a short distance along the yard and turned it wound and the two other defendants assisted him to put a zinc tank on the trolley. The three men then came out of the yard with the trolley and went across to the Tanners Arms beerhouse. Witness walked towards the trolley and Chappell who was standing in the doorway of the beerhouse came towards him. Witness asked him what he had on the trolley and Chappell replied “Only a few odd lots>” Witness looked into the zinc tank and saw in it a bag containing foreign barley. He asked Chappell how he accounted for the corn on the trolley and he replied “I bought it where I always buy my other corn in town.” Witness asked him who he had bought it from and Chappell answered “Up the Street.” He told Chappell he was not satisfied and should take charge of the barley and tank, and asked him to go with him to the Police Station and he replied “All right, I will drive you up there” and did so. Witness afterwards went after the other two men and took them also to the Police Station. He there cautioned and charged all three of them with stealing the barley. Bradford replied “I knew nothing about it until you showed it to me.” Chappell said “I received it from Hutchin.” Hutchin said “I asked Chappell f he could do with it>” The defendant Hutchin was at that time in the employ of the Great Eastern Railway and Bradford was employed that day be Chappell. He produced a sample of the barley taken from the tank and also a sample taken from a truck standing in the railway siding near the Tanners Arms. Chappell said Hutchin told him the corn was sweepings. He pleaded guilty to receiving it. Hutchin in reply to the charge pleaded guilty to stealing it. Bradford said he was not guilty to receiving it. He was working for Chappell that day loading up a truck with old iron and knew nothing about the barley. The defendant Chappell was further charged with stealing a galvanized iron cistern value 10s the property of Messrs Benskins Brewing Co Ltd on March 14. PC Briden said he took possession of the galvanized tank from Chappell’s trolley and made enquiries respecting it at the brewery, and from information received he charged Chappell with stealing it. In answer to the charge Chappell said “I bought it.” Mr PC Mears, brewer to Messrs Benskins said that about five weeks ago he sold to Chappell some old cast iron, old shoes, and hoop iron, lieing in three different locations in the brewery yard. The galvanized tank was near the heap of hoop iron but was not included in the sale. He assumed that when the tank was placed on the defendant’s trolley it was weighed up with the hoop iron to be paid for by the defendant. Questioned by Supt Foster, Mr Mears said Chappell had been in the brewery to see him about it and had asked him not to prosecute. Chappell pleaded not guilty to stealing it. He said he had been employed in the old iron trade for 16 years and had never had a charge made against him before. He bought the tank with the hoop iron and as it was useless to send it away with the old iron he was going to use it in his garden.
The bench having retired, the Chairman said with regard to the theft of barley, they were willing to give Bradford the benefit of the doubt and dismiss the charge against him. They looked upon Chappell as being by far the worst of the three, and he would have to pay a fine of £5. There was no doubt Hutchin tool the barley, and he would be fined £1. In the case of the galvanized tank they thought there was some doubt about it as far as Chappell was concerned and they dismissed the charge. Mr Baily, solicitor, who was present for Messrs Benskin, said the conviction of a licensee for felony amounted to disqualification in his holding a license; and he therefore applied for a protection order to enable the business at Chappell’s House to be carried on until the next transfer day – the bench granted the application in favour of Mr Mears.
25th March 1916 p2 col 6
Special Constables
Members of the Bishop’s Stortford Section of Special Constables, to the number of over 60, assembled at the Drill Hall on Tuesday evening to bid farewell to Mr Laurie Frere, on his relinquishing the position of Section Leader for the town, a post he had held for over 12 months ……. The men were addressed at the outset by Mr Laurie Frere, who remarked that since he had taken up other government work he found it impossible to find time to continue as their Section Leader. Mr FM Kingdom had however very kindly stepped into the breach ……..
29 April 1916 p2 col 5
Bishop’s Storford – Six lectures on First Aid.
Will be given at Twyford House in June and July on Wednesdays from 6-7pm if a sufficient number of members join. Tickets for the course will be not less than 2/6d. Names of those intending to join should reach Mrs Frere not later than May 4th.
P3 col 4
Thorley – The Easter Vestry
Was held on Tuesday, when Rev JEI Procter, Rector, nominated Mr Laurie Frere as rector’s churchwarden, and Mr Newman was unanimously re-elected parishioners’ churchwarden. Messrs GS Streeter, J Lawrence, G Patten, W Evans, D Patten and R Newman were reappointed sidesmen. The churchwardens’ acoounts were passed and other matters usually transacted at the Easter Vestry were dealt with. The Rector thanked the churchwardens, sidesmen, organist, choir and bellringers for their services during the past year.
Easter at the Church.
The church looked exceedingly pretty on Easter Day. The communion rails were decorated by Miss Procter and Mrs Bull; the lectern and pulpit by Mrs and Miss Streeter; the prayer desk by Mrs G Patten and Miss Lane, and the font by the Misses Frere. Many members of the congregation sent flowers. The congregations were good, especially at the morning service, and there was a large number of communicants. The Rev JEI Procter (Rector) officiated at all services. The offeratory, which was on behalf of the ST Albans Diocesan Board of Finance, amounted to £5.19s.6d.
13 May 1916 p3 col 3
Petty Sessions – Asleep
William Drage 37 drayman of Windhill, Bishop’s Stortford was summoned for riding asleep in Thorley Street at 5.25am on May 27th and was fined 5/-.
17 June 1916 p2 col 6
First Aid lectures
Mrs Frere very much regrets she is unable to arrange for any First Aid lectures to be held at Twyford House this summer. Notices to this effect have been sent to all those who sent in their names as wishing to join if the classes were formed, but this public notice is inserted in case any names have been accidently overlooked. Mrs Frere wishes to apologise for waiting so long before letting people know, but she has been hoping till quite lately that she would be able to have the classes.
P3 col 2
Thorley – The Parish Church.
In his sermon last Sunday morning the Rev JEI Procter referred to the death of Lord Kitchener and paid a tribute to his memory. At the conclusion of the service the “Dead March” was played. After the evening service the “Te Deum” was sung as a thanksgiving to God for the naval victory in the North Sea on May 31st. A memorial service for Lord Kitchener was held in the parish church at Thorley at noon on Tuesday, when in spite of the pouring rain quite a number of persons were present.
Thorley Officer awarded the Military Cross.
Second Lieut. Charles Clark RHA, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Clark of Thorley, has been awarded the Military Cross for services rendered in the Gallipoli campaign. This is an extract from a letter to his wife this week: “I don’t think I ever told you how I managed to win the MC. It was the last day but one on the Peninsula before we were evacuated, the Turks gave us a terrible bombardment and I was forward in the trenches. The whole of my show, which I had only just left, was blown to pieces and all the telephone wires were broken. After bombarding most of the day they attacked us, but were driven back with a good many casualties. With the help of my telephonist Bdr Taylor (one of my boys of ‘Y’ Battery) who has been awarded the DCM, I managed to fix one wire and get a report back to the Battery and Headquarters. This was the first they had received, by some hours, and of course was the reason why they took so much notice of it. Altogether, it was a hot show, and not a job which I should care about often. Of course, I am proud of my honour, not only the decoration itself, but to know that I have been able to satisfy my seniors with my work. The man who was with me the whole time (Bdr Taylor) well deserves his decoration, as he worked hard with me then, and also on several previous occasions. He was one of the first to land on W beach with the Lancashire Fusiliers.” Mr and Mrs J Clark have three more sons in the army.
29 July 1916 p5 col 5
Bishop’s Stortford casualties in the war.
Lance Corporal Harold Turner formerly of Thorley now of Hertford Heath.
12 August 1916 p5 col 5
Bishop’s Stortford – Stack Fire
About 1.15 Sunday morning the Fire Brigade received a call to a stack fire at Rudricks Farm, Thorley in the occupation of Mr Harry Cox. Arriving on the scene with the steamer and motor tractor the Brigade, under Chief Officer HO Lee and second officer Markwell, found that a wheat stack containing about seventy quarters of last year’s crop was well alight. A small pond in the vicinity was soon pumped out before any appreciable impression could be made on the flames and nothing remained but to let the fire burn out. The property was insured.
26 August 1916 p2 col 7
Bishop’s Stortford – Funeral of Mrs Tweed.
The funeral took place at Thorley Churchyard on Saturday afternoon, conducted by the Rector the Rev JEI Procter of the late Mrs Mary Tweed of Bishop’s Stortford, widow of George Tweed, who for many years was head gamekeeper to the late Mr Alfred Taylor and also to Mr FA Taylor. The immediate mourners were: Messrs James Tweed (Bishop’s Stortford), F Tweed (Walthamstow) and S Tweed (Southend) sons: Mrs C Boyten (Stebbing) and Mrs R Clarke, daughters; Mrs J Tweed, Mrs F Tweed and Mrs S Tweed, daughters in law; Private Spinks (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) and Messrs G Schleuter and B Taylor, grandsons; Miss Tweed, granddaughter; Mr and Mrs W Smith and Mrs Harris.
16 September 1916 p5 col 1
Bishop’s Stortford Athletic success
Following up on his recent athletic successes in military sports in Hampshire, Sapper GV Hollidge of the Royal Engineers, whose home is in Twyford Road, has recently carried off premier honours in a 5 mile cross country scratch race, and in an obstacle race, both events open to a garrison of 100,000 troops.
P5 col 6
Thorley – The Parish Church
The collections in the Church on Sunday were on behalf of the “Lord Kitchener National Fund” and amounted to £14.14s. An additional 4s. was collected in Thorley Mission Room, which brought up the total collection to £14.18s.
7 October 1916 p5
Thorley Harvest festival.
Harvest Thanksgiving services were held in Thorley Church on Sunday. The church was beautifully decorated. The East end and alter rails were decorated by Miss Procter and Miss Newman, the pulpit by Mrs Streeter, the lectern by Mrs Bull, the prayer desk by Mrs G Patten and Liss Lane, the font by the Misses Frere, the porch by Mrs Watson and Mrs F Bird, and the windows by Mrs G Harris, Mrs J Watts, Mrs Akers, Miss Bird, Miss Seabon and Mrs F Chappell. Many members of the congregation sent contributions of corn, fruit, vegetables, bread and flowers for the decoration of the church. The Rev JEI Procter (Rector) officiated at all the services and there were good congregations at each. The offeratory, which amounted to £14.10s. was divided between the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, the Hertfordshire Convalescent Home and the Bishop’s Stortford Hospital. A large quantity of vegetables, which were given for the decoration of the church, have been sent to the Fleet, and the grapes which formed a special feature of the decorations, have been sent to the Military Hospital at Edmonton.
21 October 1916 p8 col 7
Thorley
“Our Day” house to house collections and the sale of flags in Thorley on Thursday on behalf of the Red Cross Society, organized by Miss Procter, realized £10.10s.6d.
25 November 1916 p5 col 2
Thorley – Lieut Frere killed in action
News has been received that Lieutenant BLS Frere, Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on November 14th.
16 December 1916 p5 col 1
Bishop’s Stortford – Mrs GS Streeter
Is holding a sale of work on behalf of St Dunstan’s Home for Blind Soldiers and Sailors at Thorley Place on Wednesday afternoon next.
23 December 1916 p2 col 5
French C-in-C’s Ancestry – connected with Thorley
Article showing General Nivelle’s connection to Margaret Carter who married Rev Thomas Pennington – her son Thomas became rector of Thorley.
P3 col 7
Thorley Confirmation
Twelve candidates from Thorley were confirmed in St Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Stortford by the Bishop of St Albans on Wednesday last week.
P5 col 7
Thorley – for blind soldiers and sailors.
A sale of work arranged by Mrs GS Streeter and held at Thorley Place on Wednesday, in aid of the St Dunstan’s Home for Blind Soldiers and Sailors, resulted in a sum of about £38 being raised.
30 December 1916 p5 col 3
Christmas Gifts to the Children. On Thursday, being Holy Innocents Day, a short service for the children was held in the church at 11.00am. After the service the children assembled in the School where gifts of flannel, comforters and calico were given by the rector to the children attending Sunday School.
Christmas at the Church The church was very suitably decorated for the Christmas Festival. The east end and altar rails were decorated by Miss Procter; the pulpit by Mrs and Miss Streeter; reading desk Mrs G Patten and Miss Lane; font the Misses Frere; lectern Mr Horace Newman; and the windows by Mrs Bull, Miss Bird, Mrs Watson, Mrs G Harris, Mrs Akers and Miss Ethel Hadaway. The Rector (Rev JEI Procter) officiated at all the services and in the morning preached on the text St Luke 2.10. The offertory, which was on behalf of the Coal and Clothing Clubs of the parish, amounted to £4/10/3d. Mrs Frere and Mrs Streeter have supplied cut flowers for the church during the past year.