Dean is imprisoned for opposition to apartheid
Priest subjected to frightening ordeal in Johannesburg, January 28, 1971 OLD MEMORIES REVIVED Extracts taken from past columns of the
150 years ago
February 9 1871
Stop spread of smallpox
THE paragraph which announced in last week’s issue that the Guardians of the Newbury Union have determined to enforce the provisions of the Vaccination Act has not, we trust, led to any alarm being felt as to the existence of smallpox in Newbury.
Happily we may congratulate ourselves that in this neighbourhood we are free from the fatal epidemic which at the present time is carrying off its victims in the metropolis at the rate of over 150 a week.
As far as we are aware there are no cases present in Newbury. In view, however, of the prevalence of the disease in other parts, more especially in London, no one can doubt that it is incumbent on our local officials to take what preventative methods they may deem necessary to obviate so terrible a visitation.
The practice of vaccination, although not met with universal approval – being indeed strongly objected to by some parties – is, by the great majority of the public opinion, deemed a preventative, and in fact the only preventative to be relied upon. Mr Simon, the Medical Officer of the Privy Council, has said, “By vaccination in infancy, if thoroughly and well performed, most people are completely insured, for their whole lifetime, against an attack of the smallpox, and in the proportionately few cases in which the protection is less complete, small-pox, if it be caught, is generally so mild a disease as not to threaten death or disfigurement.”
Compulsory vaccination is a precaution which commends itself as a measure required by the public welfare.
This is a case in which it is needful that the liberty of the subject should be sacrificed for the good of the community, and we have no doubt there will be a cheery compliance. 125 years ago February 6 1896
Ambulance to the rescue
SIR – The Town Council have wisely decided to purchase an ambulance for the Borough, and I think the two serious accidents which have recently occurred, abundantly prove the necessity for such an article.
At the same time, useful as the ambulance will be for the transport of persons injured or suddenly seized with illness in our streets, yet it ought not to be employed for the removal of intoxicated or violent prisoners to the police station, or it will soon be damaged.
The present stretcher in use will meet the requirements of such cases.
I am, sir, yours very truly,
Jon Watson, MD, FRCSE
100 years ago
February 3 1921
Tree fire extinguished
THE Volunteer Fire Brigade were called out on Wednesday night to a singular outbreak of fire at Hungerford Park, the residence of Lady Emily Van de Weyer. It appears that a quantity of carbide had been placed in the trunk of a large tree to destroy rats, and it is thought that by spontaneous combustion a fire was caused.
The flames went right up the trunk of the tree and set fire to the branches, and owing to the proximity of the house and surrounding shrubbery there was danger of the outbreak spreading. The brigade, therefore, turned out with their motor fire engine, and plenty of water being available, were soon able to get the fire under control.
75 years ago January 31 1946
Visions of atomic tractors
FOR the most stout-hearted team grouped round the questionmaster, brains trusts provide a test of knowledge and expression of quick-thinking.
The audience may regard them in the light of being educative, but generally they look upon them as a modern novel form of entertainment.
Judged from all angles, the second brains trust evening arranged by the Newbury Branch of the National Farmers’ Union at
the Chequers Hotel was a high achievement.
The “Brains” rose to the occasion nobly, shepherded by that ace of question-masters, Mr Donald McCullough.
Practically every question could be classed as intelligent, producing instructive replies, while there was no lack of fun. Mr McCullough, with his inimitable dry humour and store of wise-cracks had everybody laughing.
Farmers are visionaries, and the first question was “What kind of tractor are we going to have in the future,” to which the question-master added “and where is it coming from?” Pioneering local farmer Mr Dudley said it was difficult to look into the future, but possibly in years to come we might be able to produce the fuel required in our own country.
He pictured the time when petrol and petroleum residues in the earth could become exhausted, when a tractor might be run on pure alcohol or on producer gas. There was no better fuel for the latter than charcoal which came from hazel, a prolific weed. But that was looking a long way ahead.
50 years ago January 28 1971
Dean jailed in South Africa
THE woman who brought up the Dean of Johannesburg – now imprisoned for “subversive activities” in South Africa – spoke this week of the letter he wrote to her shortly before his arrest. It told of bullets being fired at a colleague’s office, the Dean’s own car being burnt out in the middle of the night, and his decision to move into less “vulnerable” accommodation.
The letter was addressed to “Auntie,” Miss Esylt Newbery, of Donnington Village, Newbury.
Miss Newbery, an 89-year-old authoress, raised the Dean after his parents separated in 1919, and probably knows him better than any other person.
He only returned to Johannesburg last October after a seven-month stay in England. The Dean, the Very Rev Gorrville Aubie ffrenchBeytagh, spent much of that time at Donnington. On Thursday, he was arrested under the Terrorism Police, taken by security police to Pretoria Central Prison, and put in solitary confinement. He celebrated his 59th birthday in prison on Tuesday.
Following strong pressure from Britain and adverse international publicity about the affair, the South African authorities have said that the Dean will be charged possibly today, with “alleged subversive activities.” Recently the Dean criticised the South African government for withdrawing passports from priests who speak out strongly against apartheid.
25 years ago
January 25 1996
Vintage trip for Swiss
A PARTY of vintage car enthusiasts from Switzerland visited Hollington House Hotel at Woolton Hill last week.
It was their first trip outside continental Europe, and many were driving British-built cars. The hotel’s managing director Mr John Guy said “They stayed overnight and visited Highclere Castle, and went shopping for antiques in Hungerford.
“They formed a very favourable impression of England, and their opinion of the food was that it was delicious.
“One of the cars, an Alvis, broke down with a faulty ignition coil. We located an Alvis enthusiast in Wales, who drove down with a replacement. The Swiss were very impressed.”
10 years ago
February 3 2011 Fantastic fundraisers
WORK on the UK’s first carbon neutral church starts today after the congregation made a last-minute push to raise £42,000 in 12 hours to keep the project alive.
St George’s Church in Andover Road, Newbury’s £250,000 plan to become the first carbon neutral church in the UK was under threat of being shelved when quotes from contractors came in much higher than expected, but the congregation dug deep and raised the extra money within 12 hours. On Sunday, the Rev Paul Cowen regretfully told the congregation that the money for the project just wasn’t there. He said: “We thought it was all going to be shelved, because the quotations came in much higher than predicted.
“We were still £50,000 short of the amount we needed and unless we had the solar panels up by the end of February, we stood to lose a Government grant, which would have set us back even further.
“I told them on Sunday morning that we’d need to think again, but I think you could say that they told me to think again. “Within 12 hours, we had a further £42,000 in donations from the congregation.
“It was an amazing response. I didn’t even ask for the money.” The church then managed to secure a further £7,000 in discounts from the contractors which left them within touching distance of their target.