Town topped tank account with £1.7m
HERE in this regular feature we take a look back at the Rochdale Observer from 100 years ago..
●●£1,726,485. TANK WEEK’S CREDITABLE CLOSE
When H. M. Tank Drake went “over the top” of the slope on Saturday night on its journey to Wigan, where it is stationed this week, the inhabitants of Rochdale and districts who so nobly responded had every reason for congratulation. Little short of a million and three quarters were raised, the area having accepted the challenge posted on the Tank - “come over the top with me,” - in giving the figures of Oldham, Preston, Bolton and Blackburn, Oldham’s was the largest contribution - £1,529,267 - among the Lancashire towns, and this was beaten on Friday. Rochdale then gained the lead in Lancashire with the natural exceptions of Manchester and Liverpool. With additional amounts, the total to date is £1,726,485.
●●TANK WEEK AT WHITWORTH
The people of Whitworth made a splendid response to the appeal to make the Rochdale Tank Week a success. Whitworth’s total investment amounted to £58,00. Mr Taylor Earnshaw was responsible for £2,288 of war savings certificates being put through the Reform Club War Saving Associations.
●●GROW FRUIT AS WELL AS VEGETABLES
To the editor of the Rochdale Observer.
Sir, Will you allow me space to urge allotment holders and cottage gardeners to grow fruit as well as vegetables. Never mind what people say about our climate and our soil being unsuitable. Fruit has been grown, is being grown, and can and will be grown if men will use their brains and muscles.
With prudence and careful attention, our district can be made to produce an abundance of fruit.
I have proved it in my own case. Years ago, I bought a bundle of raspberry canes in the Rochdale market for 1s and from that shilling’s worth of canes I am getting an average of 60 lbs of raspberry per year, besides selling canes to my neighbouring gardeners.
From the few currant and gooseberry bushes I bought, I have raised over a hundred bushes from cuttings and sold them to my friend sin addition to having a plentiful supply of fruit for our own use.
The production of fruit and vegetables helps me to keep the wolf from the door.
I have been greatly disappointed that this phase of horticulture has not (to my knowledge) been introduced to our allotment holders and gardeners by lectures and speakers.
It is now rather late for transplanting trees and bushes, but not too late to get a little knowledge on the subject and making pre operation for another year.
I would not have you make the mistake of sending for fruit trees and bushes and canes from southern countries, as I did; but get them from neighbouring nurserymen in your own country or from Cheshire.
Yours J. Windle. ●●THE MILNROW “EMPIRE”
There was a large attendance at the Milnrow Empire Picture Palace on Monday evening when Daddy, one of the most popular photo plays of the day, was screened. During the entertainment, Miss P. Parrin rendered the wellknown song, Daddy. The seventh episode of Patrin, and the popular Tropical Gazette with up-to-date war scenes, and the laughter creating comedy film, A bogus bride, were also shown. The pictures gave great delight to those present.
●●WAR CASUALTIES
Private Arthur Foden, of the Australian Imperial Forces, the son of Mr and Mrs J Foden, 32 Stonefield Street, Milnrow, died from illness in a hospital abroad on March 31st.
Signaller John Henry Condliffe, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, died of wounds received in action on April 1st. His house was at 35 Kenyon Street, Rochdale.