British pub thrives in the heart of the Ruhr

Former jockey from Lambourn helping to run the Dragon’s Head, August 9 1945

150 years ago August 11 1870

Burglars in triple raid

IMPUDENT robberies have been recently committed in Winchester, and the police have utterly failed to trace the depredators.

Last Sunday morning, during the hours of divine service, 17 silver forks and spoons were stolen from the house of Mrs Guillemard, in St James’s-crescent, although the premises were not left unguarded. On Wednesday, while the household of Miss Garrett (in the same locality) were engaged in morning prayers, a purse containing eight sovereigns was abstracted from a drawer, the lock of which was forced.

A quantity of lead was also stripped from an out-building in a garden adjoining these houses.

125 years ago August 9 1895

Fighting for Free Trade

SIR – A prominent agriculturalist said lately at a local Conservative meeting, that he should like to whisper in Lord Salisbury’s ear the word “Protection”.

Happily he would find Lord Salisbury quite deaf.

When Free Trade was inaugurated I fought it tooth and nail; now I would fight Protection with equal vigour. Why can’t farmers look at facts?

Take the revenue: Did we ever see it so buoyant, and no better evidence can be had of general prosperity.

It is true farmers are suffering, but it is not all brought about by Free Trade, and I am sure Protection would not cure it; the advance in prices would be more than balanced by increased payments – in rent or other things. The fact is the economical revolution of the last forty years cannot be altered by a stroke of the pen or a Bill of Parliament.

It will work itself out, and those who are not strong enough to stand must fall; but those who keep pegging away, with Cousin Abraham Lincoln, will sail out into the smooth water presently and reap their reward.

In the meantime there are some things could be done to relieve the strain, but the discussion of them would take up too much space. I am, sir, yours faithfully,

An old Tory farmer

100 years ago August 5 1920

Right site for statue?

EVERYBODY is in sympathy with the decision of the Town Council to erect a Town Memorial to the Newbury men who fell in the war.

But there is much divided opinion about the accompanying proposal to remove the Victorian statue from the Market Place.

Not because of any love for its artistic beauty or architectural dignity.

There is the sentiment objection of interference with a gift from that old townsman, George Sanger.

Undoubtedly it would have been better to have erected it in the first instance in the park, the scene of Victorian celebrations, and the spot where Lord George so often pitched his circus.

It will be a pity if there should there be any controversy over a matter on which complete unanimity should prevail.

It is certain that the Market Place is the best spot for a town memorial, but it cannot be placed there without removal of the statue.

The fear is that if it is taken down it will never be re-erected, and many would be sorry because of the ungraciousness of discarding a gift which was accepted with much civic ceremonial.

75 years ago August 9 1945

A taste of home

IN a former German officers’ barracks, which now comprise headquarters of the 53rd Welsh Division at Hilden, near Dusseldorf, stands the swinging sign “Dragon’s Head.”

Pass it in the cool of the evening and you will hear the sound of music and revelry; go inside and there will be Dai Tommy enjoying the amenities of a British country pub in the heart of the Ruhr.

It is a little bit of Britain transplanted here to make the place seem homelike.

The beer is Belgian – and not even the gravity of Britain’s war-time brew. The orchestra is German. The half-dozen who are responsible for the running of this country pub are fellows who have seen as much of the war as anyone, and one of the half-dozen is Gunner J Knight, Walker’slane, Lambourn, formerly a jockey with O Bell’s stable.

50 years ago August 6 1970

Fourth fire at church

THE fourth attempt in two months has been made to burn down Methodist Church property in Northbrook Street, Newbury. The church itself was the target for the fire-raiser’s latest attempt on Thursday.

On the three previous occasions he has chosen the neighbouring church hall.

Thursday’s fire was discovered by a working party visiting the premises to clear up damage from two fires three weeks ago.

One of the party, Mr Brian Smith, of 7 York Road, Newbury, who is the church secretary, said “When we arrived we found rubbish heaped in a wheelbarrow at the rear of the church had been reduced to smouldering ashes and thought no damage had been done.

“On entering the church, however, we spotted smoke coming from the organ loft which was directly above the wall where the wheelbarrow was standing.”

Mr. Smith, who helped douse two of the previous fires, continued “One member of the party telephoned the police, another the fire brigade while the third tackled the blaze with a fire extinguisher.”

Firemen found the heat had travelled up the wall from the wheelbarrow and was eating into the organ loft.

They had to cut away some of the floorboards and also had to sever the organ’s blower to get at the fire.

One of them said later “It was lucky that the working party arrived when they did.”

25 years ago August 3 1995

Heseltine on the attack

AS Michael Heseltine made his first visit to Newbury as Deputy Prime Minister, one of his main roles was already becoming clear: chief Blair-basher.

On Friday, having opened the Tories’ newly-refurbished offices and thanked benefactor, Mr John Madejski, he wasted no time.

“You have New Greenham Park to replace Greenham Common and New Labour to replace Old

Labour.

“It is interesting how people use the word ‘new’ to change their image.

“In Greenham’s case, you have a genuine transformation from the days of the peace women, but remember Tony Blair was a member of the CND and was a member of a party that wanted unilateral disarmament and gave the peace women a great deal of support.”

The number of businesses at Greenham Common, Mr Heseltine said, was proof of the peace dividend and the product of Conservative economic management which had helped businesses to flourish. Meanwhile at the forum launch, some 100 guests from local businesses heard chairman Mr Richard Benyon explain its potential in helping West Berkshire businesses raise local concerns with government. Mr Heseltine’s speech extolled the achievements of the “enterprise culture” and pointed to Conservative reforms in education and taxation, while criticising the minimum wage.

10 years ago August 5 2010

Inquiry into AWE blaze

AN INQUIRY is under way into how a fire started in an explosives manufacturing area at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), in Aldermaston.

Nearby residents were evacuated from their homes and a cordon flung round nearby roads, as 63 firefighters battled the blaze for four hours on Tuesday night.

One staff member needed medical treatment for burns to their arms and face but did not need to be hospitalised.

The drama happened at 9pm when a 600-metre cordon was thrown around the site and residents were immediately removed from their homes in the Red Lane area of the village by emergency services.

The incident was described by Nuclear Information Service spokesman Peter Burt as coming “within a hair’s breadth of everyone’s nightmare scenario”. He added: “There is no room for complacency and the accident is a reminder that AWE poses considerable risks to local communities.”

A statement issued by the pressure group said: “The fire is thought to have occurred in the explosives area of the site, where there is a risk that a ‘domino effect’ of explosives igniting each other can lead to a rapid spread of fire.

“It raises questions about regulatory standards at AWE, where a number of operations are not regulated by the Health and Safety Executive, but are instead controlled by the Ministry of Defence itself through a secretive process of internal regulation.” The fire, which started in the explosives manufacturing area at 9pm at the east end of the Aldermaston site, was extinguished by 1.10am yesterday, but nearby road closures remained in force until lunchtime.