Gleanings from Wadhurst Parish Magazines January 1901 - December 1909

November 1902
It has been assigned that the reason why so many young people in the present day leave the country for situations in the Towns is that life in country places, particularly in the evenings is insufferably dull. No doubt there is some truth in this, and the existence of some club or recreation room is a great advantage. But though the reading room is sadly inadequate, there is a certain amount of occupation available through the winter. The night school conducted by the kind efforts of Mr. Watson was opened on the 27th; there are now ambulance Lectures given by Dr. Fazan, both in Wadhurst and at Cousley Wood, and on Wednesdays a most useful cooking class is held, by kind permission of Mrs. Boyd, at Hill House. For those who are musical there are the orchestral Society and the Town band, and there are occasional meetings and lectures in the Schools and Market Hall. The parish Library appears to be insufficiently known, and much interest and instruction might be obtained by its means for the small subscription of 1s. a year. It contains over 600 volumes, and it is proposed to arrange with a London Library for a box of 30 or 40 books, which will be changed every six months.

April 1907  At the last meeting of the Church of England Men’s Society there was an interesting discussion on the much controverted question of conscription, the subject being opened by Mr. A. K. MacLean, who spoke from the point of view that some form of conscription would be found to be desirable and even necessary for this country. The opposite side of the question was maintained by Mr. Ashby, who dwelt especially on the inconvenience of apprentices and other young men being withdrawn from for service when they had just begun to learn their trades. The view of Mr MacLean was supported by Mr Phillips, and that of Mr Ashby by Mr. A. C. Corke; Mr Knight and other members taking part in the discussion. The matter being put to the vote, a considerable majority was unfavourable to the introduction of conscription.

June 1908
EMPIRE MOVEMENT. -- For the first time Empire Day ‘was celebrated in Wadhurst on Sunday, May 24th. St. George's flag was seen gaily waving from the graceful spire of the old Church, and at all the services the occasion was marked by special music. The vicar preached morning and evening to large congregations on the inner meaning of the “Empire Movement”, and also spoke to the children in the afternoon. On Tuesday, the 26th, the children of all the schools-----Wadhurst, Tidebrook, Cousley Wood and Woods Green-----were given a half holiday and took part in a loyal demonstration. At 3 o’clock the young folk {who, with their teachers, numbered six or seven hundred} assembled at the Wadhurst Schools where a most interesting selection of patriotic and national songs were sung. Mr Knight, organist, conducted, Mrs Stevenson and Mr. S. Wallis, Junr., accompanied on the harmonium and cornet.

There was a very large attendance of interested spectators including the Rev. M. C. Kirby [Vicar of Tidebrook], Rev. C. C. Allen, Rev. F. Potts, and the Rev. F. Jenkin [Wesleyan Minister ]. At 3.30 a procession started for the market hall [most kindly lent by Mr. Austen], where a splendid tea was provided. After tea at the cricket field, which Mr. O. T. Corke had generously placed at the disposal of the committee of management, the children engaged in games of various kinds. Mr. Ashby, by his kind and thoughtful action in erecting swings and see-saws greatly added to the enjoyment of all. A fresh interest arrived on the scene at 5 o’clock when the Wadhurst Town Band made its appearance. At 5.45 the children were gathered into the hall again to hear a stirring address on ’Patriotism and Duty’, given by the Rev. F. Knott [Headmaster of Skinners School, Tunbridge Wells]. Immediately before the address a large Union Jack was ceremoniously hoisted and saluted by the children as they sang the now well-known and popular “Flag of Britain”. Other songs followed and with a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker, proposed by the Vicar, and the singing of the National Anthem, the programme in the hall was brought to a close. A grand procession was once more formed, headed by the Wadhurst Town Band, and supported in the centre by the Salvation Army Band [who had generously given their services for the occasion], children and teachers marched in effective style through the Village, banners and flags bravely waving. A halt was called at Wadhurst Castle Gates where massed bands and voices joined in “God save the King”. Hearty cheers brought the proceedings of what all felt to be a thoroughly interesting and important demonstration to a close. Mr. F. W. Larcombe was most energetic and painstaking in his efforts to make the day a success, and is to be congratulated on the able manner in which he mustered and arranged his forces.

Sincere thanks are due to all the teachers also for their ready help, and to the many willing hands who worked hard to make everything go off well, while last but not least the small committee of ladies, who at very short notice undertook to collect the necessary funds, deserve our highest praise and gratitude. Want of space prevents us from giving the long list of kind subscribers. The catering was admirably carried out by Mr. and Mrs A. Carpenter.

July 1908    GREAT STORM. -- June 4th will long be remembered in Wadhurst as the date on which a great storm of hail, thunder, and lightning swept over the district--one of those terrific gales in which the higher and the unknown forces of creation seem to lift their voices over the works and ways of man. The hail stones were phenomenally large and caused much destruction amongst windows, greenhouses, and gardens. Much sympathy is felt with those whose property was thus damaged and more especially with the hop growers, in whose gardens the storm wrought great and, we fear, irremediable havoc.

October 1908
OLD AGE PENSION ACT  As this act will be put in force on January 1st 1909, it may perhaps be useful briefly to state:
1.- Who may get pensions.
2.- Who may not get pensions.
3.- The amount of pensions obtainable.
4.- How the claim is to be made

.1. - TO GET A PENSION you must
a] Be 70 years old or more.
b] Have been a British Subject for the last 20 years.
c] Have resided for the last 20 years in the United Kingdom [unless in the service of the Crown as Sailor or Soldier, or employed on a British ship, or having a home in the United Kingdom {but in this case you can be abroad only 8 years of the 20}]. Absence of only 3 months at a time is allowed.
d] Must not in the course of a year receive more than £31 10s. 0d. from all sources. You must state on the Pension Claim how much you have coming in each week; and not only reckon actual money, but allow for any other receipts, e.g., yearly value of money saved, rent if you live in your own cottage, &c. In the case of a married couple, the means of either shall not be less than half their total income.

2. - YOU MAY NOT GET A PENSION
a] If you are in receipt of Poor Relief, or have had any Poor Relief since January 1st 1908
.[except : 1. Medical Relief;
2. And some kinds of Exceptional Relief mentioned in the Act.]b] If you have habitually fail to work according to your ability, opportunity, and need, for the maintenance of yourself and those you have to by law maintain.[unless you can show that from the age of 50 to 60 you have made proper provisions {by payments to friendly, provident, or like societies} against old age, sickness, infirmity, or want or loss of Employment -- such provisions when made by the husband to be treated as made by the wife as well]
.c] If you are a lunatic.d] If you are imprisoned without the option of a fine--and for 10 years after release.

3.- AMOUNT OF PENSION  .If your average weekly income is

4. - Claims must be made on a Post Office form, obtainable at any Post Office. When filled up they must be given in at the Post Office where you would like your pension to be paid weekly, or to the Pension Officer when appointed. Claims can be made in no other way. The applicant should be able to show {1} a Certificate of Birth, or {2} a Certificate of Baptism, or {3} a Certificate of Marriage if the age is shown on it.If any person to obtain an Old Age Pension makes any false statement, he shall be liable, on Conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, with hard labour.
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This most useful account of the Old Age Pension Act has been most kindly written for us by a Parishioner.

September 1909
VISITS OF LONDON CHILDRENAs in former years Wadhurst has been for the last month the country playground of many London children sent here with the help of the “Children’s Country Holiday Fund”. For the benefit of those who do not know anything about this organisation it may be said that the parents of the children contribute according to their means to the cost of the holiday, the money being collected at the school during the spring months, and then all the arrangements are made for them by the town and country workers. Our first batch of 27 children arrived in Wadhurst on July 22nd., and were distributed among nine cottage homes, and after a fortnight their places were taken by 27 others who, by the time this goes to press, will be also all back in London streets, stronger and healthier we hope for Wadhurst air, and with happy memories of country friends and flowers. Several girls, most of them factory workers and belonging to the “Girls’ club” in Bethnal Green, have also been made welcome this summer for visits varying from a weekend to a fortnight, and all have carried back with a grateful remembrance of the kindness shown.     Rosemary Peeling