100 Years of Minutes
When, at the beginning of 1999, I took on the job as Parish Clerk,
I inherited ‘a hundred-odd years of the minutes
of the Parish Council Meetings. Rather then use these
as a basis for a history of the Parish Council - others in the village
are much more able than I to do so - I decided to share with you just
some of the items that caught my eye as I browsed through the minutes.
Items that still seemed relevant today or which simply appealed to
my sense of humour.
First though a little bit of history just to set the scene. In the
1800’s Local Government became notorious for being inefficient,
corrupt and complicated (unlike our present National Government of
course). To overcome this, the Local Government Act of 1894 was passed.
Among other things, the act provided for the establishment of Parish
Meetings and Parish Councils. The first Parish Meeting in
Wickhambrook was held on the 4th December 1894 and was attended
by 77 parishioners. From this meeting seven Parish Councillors were
elected and the first Parish Council meeting was held nine days later.
Early minutes of the Parish and Parish Council Meetings were mainly
reports of village charities, of which there were several, and of
interment in the Cemetery.
In 1895 the burial fees tariff was recorded including
the charge for ‘tolling the chapel bell for one hour’.
Imagine the complaints today if a bell was tolled for an hour for
each funeral. Even then there may have been objections as a year later
it was minuted that the Chapel had ‘moved out of position’.
I cannot help but wonder whether it was trying to get away from the
noise of the bell.
While on the subject of the Cemetery, in July 1907 the Parish Clerk
was instructed to ‘sell two old posts laying in the Cemetery
for 5/- or more if obtainable’. At a meeting the Clerk reported
that he could not get 5/- so was instructed to get the best price
he could. No further information appears. The moral? When you next
visit the Cemetery watch where you walk there may be a couple of old
posts to trip over.
In January 1918 the Parish Council requested to arrange
for the collection of waste paper, scrap iron, steel, lead copper,
brass, glass, wooden and cloth articles. The date is the clue, the
waste was obviously needed for the war effort. In July of the same
year the collection of fruit stones was requested. Perhaps the January
collection had not produced enough metal for the army’s bullets.
In April 1920, eight, war trophy, German rifles were
received. Two were offered to each of the village
churches and the school.
The only recorded acceptance was from the Congregational Church but
what it intended to do with its rifles it not recorded.
December 1926 – resolved that applications
be made for ‘the erection of three or four pairs of houses of
the non-parlour type suitable for working classes’. None of
your political correctness in 1926.
The Clerk reported in October 1928 that a new wheelbarrow
had been purchased for use in the Cemetery. Ever Thrifty, the Councillors
agreed the sale of the wheel of the old barrow.
Have you ever tried to squeeze past a bus on the road through The
Duddery? Well, this road ‘is on a bus route and at places so
narrow as to be very dangerous, not only to vehicles passing but to
pedestrians’ – from Parish Council minutes, May 1927.
In May 1964 it was reported that ‘lack of poles’
was delaying the introduction of electricity to the village. Presumably
the pole supply situation took some time to resolve as in 1952 electricity
was still awaited. However electricity did come and in 1956 the Parish
Council requested electric lighting for the telephone kiosk at Thorns
Corner. Typical, no sooner did they get electricity than they wanted
to use it.
Some things just do not happen. May 1957 –
after considering details of costs and grants the Parish Council resolved
to defer indefinitely the provision of bus shelters. October 1999
– after receiving details of costs and grants the Parish Council
resolved not to pursue the provision of a bus shelter. But other things
do happen – eventually. December 1969
– the Parish Council ‘expressed concern at the speed of
traffic on main roads through the village and considered a speed limit
of 40 m.p.h. desirable on Bury Road'. October 1999 – order received
from the County Council extending the 40 m.p.h. speed limit on Bury
Road.
In May 1960 the New Cemetery was consecrated. The
following year, it was recorded that instructions had been given to
‘remove old ramblers’ from the Cemetery. It is not recorded
whether this resulted in a complaint from the Ramblers Association.
Clean up after your dog! You think dogs are a problem. In February
1992 the Parish Council resolved to complain to the District Council
about the inadequate toilet facilities provided by the builder at
the Nunnery Green site ‘which was causing a nuisance on a public
footpath’.
One especially for the Scene
editor. At its January 1969 meeting the Parish Council was advised
that the scene was ‘anxious for news’. Some things don’t
change Jim.
Something else that does not change is attendance at meetings. It
is often said that the low attendance at Parish Meetings indicates
apathy, a ‘modern disease’. From the minutes of 1899 –
‘Parish Meeting duly convened. Present – Chairman of the
Parish Council and the Clerk. No meeting’.
When I started on this selection I decided not to mention any individuals
by name. I must make one exception. In May 1976,
Peter Bayman, a new Councillor, was elected Chairman of the Parish
Council. I mention this for two reasons. Firstly because 25 years
later Peter was still the Chairman and secondly to scotch the rumour
that he had always been the Chairman.
|
|
And finally, into the new Millennium with
extracts from the minutes of the Parish Council Meetings.
1983 - ‘Could we have a village sign?’
1994 - ‘….presented a design for
the village sign’
2002 -‘The
sign had been received’
The sign was finally erected on Carnival Day 2002 and dedicated to
'Alf and Ivy Hicks
in recognition of their contribution to village life' |
Other pages of
interest relating to Wickhambrook Parish Council |
|
|
