At Fenny Compton, the Boy Scout troop, under Miss Hayter, the Scoutmistress, have been guarding bridges on the Great Western Railway and attending a class in first aid under Dr Elkington’s direction. A sewing party meets on Tuesdays and Fridays in the Reading Room, to make clothes etc. for those at the front. Mrs Dickens takes charge of the party. Dr Elkington is lecturing on nursing and First Aid in the district (Red Cross), and Mrs Elkington is the representative for the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Association. A bell is tolled daily at noon to remind people of the need of their intercessions, and, in common with the rest of the country, a special service of intercession was held on Friday. The call on the horses has not been sufficient to hamper agricultural or other work.

Banbury Guardian, August 1914

On Friday, August 21^st, national supplication day, there was a special intercession service at Northend Church at 11 and 7 pm, both being well attended. Our people have most generously responded to an appeal made for the cost of materials for making garments for the wounded, and very many of our women and children have promised to work in cutting out and sewing. On Sunday August 23^rd a collection was made in our churches morning and evening for the Prince of Wales National Relief Fund.

Banbury Guardian, August 1914

The National Patriotic Association of which the King is the patron, have issued the following watchwords to influence public opinion in the direction of doing business as usual:

Trust in God.

Serve your country.

Be patriotic. Don’t be excited.

Be enthusiastic. Don’t be in a hurry.

Pass on. Do something. Don’t swell an idle crowd.

Shoulder your own share. Don’t put your responsibilities onto others.

In victory and defeat alike practice self-control. Don’t despair or “maffick.”

Learn to encourage and to be helpful. Don’t poor cold water or be content with criticism.

Be economical and insist on economy. Don’t waste anything or permit waste in your household or your business.

When spending money think how much good you can do to others. Don’t buy foreign goods if you can get British.

Do all you can to keep down the prices of commodities by buying less quantity than usual. Don’t allow any individuals or syndicates to corner, collect, or control necessaries for the poor, or things required by the forces.

Do all you can to provide employment for men and women. Don’t do anything which will increase the number of unemployed or make people objects of charity.

When it really becomes necessary to reduce expenses, put people on partial work and partial pay. Don’t discharge them and swell the ranks of the unemployed.

Take your servants and workpeople into your confidence and explain the position to them. Don’t be content with bald notices or drastic action.

Influence every single able-bodied young man in the country to volunteer immediately. Don’t allow any of them to be playing games if you can prevent them.

Keep their situations open for those who are serving their King and country, and don’t forget to see their dependants are provided for whilst they are away.

Banbury Guardian, August 1914

On August 25th 1914 Walter George Cooper, a groom aged 20, enlists with The Royal Warwickshire Regiment at Scarborough.

Walter is the son of George, a carter, and Emma his wife. In the 1911 Census he appears in the household of Grazier, Thomas Acland Madge of Chapel Street, Southam as a groom and gardener.

Warwickshire Hunt

Kineton Show Abandoned

The committee of the above show was called together at the Red Lion Hotel, Kineton, on Wednesday-week, to consider the propriety of abandoning the show under the present circumstances. Lord Willoughby de Broke presided. After discussion it was decided not to hold the show this year owing to the war.

Banbury Guardian, August 1914

Mr W. J. Weld (of Avon Dassett) presided at the meeting on Thursday and there were also present – Messrs. Ridley Brown, A. Spencer, W. H. Jarvis, H. Barfield (acting clerk), G. Elkington (surveyor) and J. Smith (inspector).

Financial

Mr Barfield said that the balance in hand amounted to £233 13s

The Radway Drainage Question

Mr Barfield read a number of letters with reference to the drainage situation in this village.

The Census of Traffic

The Clerk read a letter from the Warwickshire authorities to the effect that the proposed census of traffic on the roads had been postponed.

Miscellaneous

The Surveyor said that with regards to the drainage at Farnborough he did not know what Mr Beanford was going to do with the upper part, but he (the Surveyor) had seen Mr Duuckett with regard to what the Council had ordered at the lower part. The drain would require to be trapped.

The Inspector said that he had sent a notice to Mr Gwyer with regard to the ditch at Radway.

The Inspector reported that a case of tuberculosis in a cow had been reported on Mr Fox’s farm at Radway.

Abstract of Accounts of the Receipts and Payments for the above Rural District Council for the half-year ending 31^st March 1914

PAYMENTS

Dated 10 August 1914

Arthur Fairfax, Clerk to the said Council

Banbury Guardian, August 1914

In view of the present position of affairs the Oxford County Council have issued to parish councils a circular drawing the attention of small-holders, allotment holders and others to the desirability of sowing and planning every available piece of land without delay, with such crops as there may still be time to sow before the autumn. It is essential, it states, that the food reserves of this country should be as large as possible to meet any emergency which may arise in the near future, and it sets out the following crops which may be grown at once:

Cabbages – for early spring and summer use. Varieties such as Flower of Spring, April and Imperial.

Turnips – early six weeks and other quick growing varieties, such as Orange Jelly or Early Snowball; good keeping varieties such as Red Globe and Green Globe.

Beetroot – Turnip-rooted, Red Globe and Egyptian.

Carrots – Early Horn or Stump-rooted varieties.

Onions – both early and late varieties.

Potatoes – carefully selected seed of the earliest varieties, provided the weather is fairly open, may be expected to give about half an average crop.

Other useful Crops which may be sown are Cauliflowers (requiring winter protection), Dwarf Beans (in a cold frame or on a south border), Brussels Sprouts, Spinach, Lettuce and garden varieties of Swedes.

Surplus plants of any varieties of cauliflowers, broccoli, savoys, kale, cabbages, leeks and late celery should be planted.