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1950 news items

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Friday 6 January 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

TOO FOND OF LIFE TO COMMIT SUICIDE
Mitcham man’s fate at Beachy Head
Foul play involved? Asks coroner
Frank Grimwood, a Mitcham man, was found beneath Beachy Head. His wife said he was too fond of life to have taken it, a farthing was all that was found on him, and his injuries were consistent with a fall. The coroner could not say whether it was accident or suicide, and asked whether foul play was involved. Grimwood’s brother, who had seen him in Eastbourne, gave evidence.

HELPING THE YOUTH OF MITCHAM
Mitcham Council take first steps at The Canons
After a request from Mitcham Youth Council, the Town Clerk and the Borough Engineer were to meet the youth officer, Mr T. Baptie, about rooms for youth work. The Canons, already used by the Boy Scouts several nights a week, was the building being looked at.

TAKE IT FROM US
Playtime in planning
A letter from the Ministry of Town and Country Planning was read as a sign that the Government might no longer carry out the Greater London Plan. In Mitcham that plan depended on moving industry, including works at Willow Lane, off land wanted for housing.

COMMUNITY CENTRE PLAN
Pollards Hill details
There was still no news of a grant for the Pollards Hill community centre. The finished scheme was described as ambitious, with a swimming bath and a children’s playground, but the clubroom was the part wanted first.

NO DEMAND FOR ALL DAY OPENING
Pollards Hill Society debate licensing laws
Pollards Hill Society debated whether licensed houses should be allowed to open all day. Mr A. W. Pink spoke against all-day drinking, and the society’s next debate was set for eight o’clock at Sherwood House.

ALLOCATION OF HOUSES
Motion for common system rejected
A proposal that housing authorities should share one points system, so that applicants with no residential qualification were treated alike, was rejected.

BORN ON NEW YEAR’S DAY
A baby was born on New Year’s Eve at Woodlands, Mitcham’s maternity home, to Mrs Aviss, of Homewood Road.

HER BAG SNATCHED
A woman walking along Eastfields had her bag snatched by a young man who came up to her on a bicycle.

ONLY 10 C.D. RECRUITS
The chairman of the Civil Defence committee told the Council on Thursday that recruiting in Mitcham for the new Civil Defence Corps was very low.

COLLISION AT CROSS-ROADS
Mitcham driver fined
Thomas William Pernacott, of Locks Lane, Mitcham, a driver for 25 years, was fined £2 with £3 3s. costs at Mitcham on Monday for driving without due care. At a cross-roads in Thornton Road he sounded his horn twice; a lorry slowed, and his van still went on.

COUNCIL WANT EMPTY HOUSES TO BE REQUISITIONED
The Council was told of empty houses that could be taken over for families who had been evicted.

LABOUR PARTY WELCOME 1950
Tom Braddock, M.P., was there
Gorringe Park Labour Party held a New Year social. The sitting Member, Mr Tom Braddock, was among those there.

Friday 13 January 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

TAKE IT FROM US
The battle begins
With the General Election date settled, the paper said Mitcham’s three main parties would be given room to state their case. The fight would be between Mr Tom Braddock, the Labour M.P., and Mr Robert Carr, the Conservative. Mrs Doreen Page was standing for the Liberals. The Communists were not putting up a candidate and meant to support the Socialists rather than split the left vote.

CAUTIOUS MR. CARR
All sides are ready
The campaigns were already under way. Mr Carr was described as cautious about how he would fight the seat.

HOW BATHS WATER IS KEPT CLEAN
“Uncle Charlie” got into mischief
The baths superintendent set out how the water was kept clean, in a week when Singlegate Working Men’s Club had also given its annual children’s party.

Friday 20 January 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

BUT LIBERALS START
No mud slinging
The paper said the political storm would not break in Mitcham until 7 February, when Mr Tom Braddock and Mr Robert Carr would both be in the field. In 1945 Braddock had polled 26,910 and the Conservative 19,742, a Labour majority of 7,168. Mrs Doreen Page, the Liberal candidate, was asking local firms for the same help the other parties expected.

MR. CARR WARY ABOUT EXPENSE
Both the Socialists and the Conservatives were watching what they spent. The legal allowance was about £450, which the Labour agent, Mr Thomas, said should still leave a margin, and Mr Carr was not going to set foot in Mitcham for the campaign until his adoption meeting.

GIRL ASKED MAN IF THEY COULD GO AWAY
Dismissed
A widow, Mrs Pearce, summoned a man of the same address in Chapel Road for assault on New Year’s Day. The bench held there was not enough evidence to commit him for trial.

Friday 27 January 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

CHURCHES TO QUESTION ALL THREE CANDIDATES
Christianity and the nation
Mitcham’s churches invited the three prospective candidates to the Baths Hall on Thursday 2 February. Questions drawn up by the vicars and ministers were to be put through the chairman. There were to be no posters, so that the meeting could not be taken as part of any candidate’s campaign.

LIBERALS MAY HIRE CARAVAN
Tories will be barred
Labour will have last big word
If the Liberals could not rent committee rooms near the middle of Mitcham they would hire a caravan, their agent, Mr Browne, said. The Conservatives hoped to bring down a speaker of Cabinet rank, and were planning a large meeting for 14 February. Labour had booked Harold Laski. Early voting was expected on 23 February, and the parties were not to have the use of schools or other public halls for meetings.

FLATS IN MITCHAM
Council scheme for Elm Nursery site
A housing-committee scheme for the Elm Nursery site provided for 102 two-bedroom maisonnettes, 20 two-bedroom flats and 70 three-room flats, with ceiling heights cut so that the rents could be kept within the Council’s limit. Surrey’s planning consultants had raised points the borough did not think it could meet.

BOYS CHASED BY DETECTIVE
Tools worth £5 were reported stolen from a garden on Sunday. A sergeant saw two boys wandering there; Detective-Sergeant Read followed them onto a bus, and one was later found crouching behind a garden gate. They said they had been looking for a club.

SUCCESS STORY OF AMY SHUARD
Amy Shuard, 25, had signed a contract with the Sadler’s Wells company. She sang on Tuesday. Her first lessons had been paid for while she was a girl at school in Morden, where Miss Norris was a teacher.

MEN IN KHAKI UP FROM ALDERSHOT
Men from the Aldershot area boxed at Mitcham Baths on Wednesday of the previous week in what the paper called Mitcham Boxing Club’s best bill of the season. Sixteen bouts were fought and the programme still ran until 11 p.m. The writer gave pride of place to a loser: 35-year-old Pte Dowdleish, of the Army Catering Corps, making his first appearance for five years, stayed the course against Ron Kenchington of Earlsfield.

CADET TO FLY TO BERLIN
Cadet Flight-Sergeant F. T. Field, of Lammas Avenue, Mitcham, was to fly to Berlin on 8 February as a guest of the R.A.F. He had been nominated by his comrades of No. 2157 (Mitcham) Squadron, A.T.C.

Friday 3 February 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

INDUSTRY AND HOMES MUST BALANCE
Criticisms of the move to Crawley
Provisional plans for the expanded towns were before Surrey County Council. Mitcham was told not to look to Crawley for a quick end to its housing list: people were not to apply until their own authority had said who should go, and new industry had to be balanced with the homes.

COUNCILLOR BAKER WALKS OUT
By-election for the Council
At the housing allocations, Councillor Baker walked out after a dispute about the principle on which tenancies were being given. Alderman Jack Fitch, the oldest member of Mitcham Council and Mayor when Mitcham became a borough, had sent in his resignation because of ill-health. The Mayor and others paid tribute to him.

SLOWNESS ALLEGED
Several members complained that the Council was slow in rehousing people. One case was quoted of a family who had been on the list for eight years.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS
The paper wished many happy returns to Robert, Wilfred and George, the two-year-old triplet sons of Mr and Mrs J. Mara, of Heaton Road, Mitcham.

YOUTH CLUB AND A PARTY
The Coastaliers youth club were refused the hall they wanted unless they could meet a cost of £20. They had been told the arrangements were cancelled when the bills were already printed.

Friday 17 February 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

ELM NURSERY PLANS CHANGED
The Council had substituted a fresh plan for the Elm Nursery site after Surrey County Council treated the Fair Green area as a shopping centre. Rents were still argued over: a wage of £7 was said to be too high a bar for applicants.

£1 NOTE FROM A HANDBAG
A girl, Warr, was remanded on bail for a week at the South-Western Magistrates’ Court, accused of stealing a £1 note from Mrs Emma Miller. The owner missed the note from her handbag and questioned the girl.

ABOUT THOMAS
Sitting M.P. in the wilderness
In the last week before polling day the paper ran a profile of Mr Tom Braddock, to help readers decide how to vote. He had grown up near the Oval, of a Lancashire family, left a job rather than drop his politics, sat on the St Helier division of Surrey County Council, and had been the only Socialist not to support the vote on the devaluation of the pound, because nothing was being done to protect the lower paid against the cost of living.

Friday 3 March 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

ROBERT CARR WINS
86 per cent voted
Conservative increase was 12,139
Thursday’s poll was the biggest Mitcham had seen: 62,800 electors voted, 86 per cent of the electorate and 16,148 more than in 1945. Most of the extra votes went to the Conservatives, who raised their 1945 poll by 12,139. Mr Tom Braddock, the sitting Member, topped his own 1945 vote by 145 and still lost. The Liberal vote was too small to decide the seat.

NEW APPOINTMENT FOR MR. CLAY
Establishment officer and treasurer
The Borough Treasurer, Mr E. C. Clay, was to be appointed Establishment Officer as well. The Council was told it was fortunate to have him to carry both jobs.

GLEBE ESTATE FLATS
On the Glebe Estate, where a hundred flats were under construction, the Council was told that progress was not what it should be. The contractor had not been getting on with the work, and nobody yet knew what the rents would be.

CHANGE YOUR ORANGE CARDS
Reminder for insured persons
About 5,000 insured people in the Clapham and Balham areas were reminded to exchange orange National Insurance cards between 6 and 11 March. Grey, blue and straw cards were not yet due. Anyone who had moved in the last year was told to write the new address on page three, or the next contribution card might not arrive.

Friday 24 March 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

TENDER FOR THE BURIAL GROUND
Mitcham Corporation invited tenders for an extension of the London Road burial ground, including deep sub-soil porous sewers and footways. Forms were to be had from the Borough Engineer at the Town Hall, and tenders endorsed “Tender for Extension of London Road Burial Ground” had to be in by noon on 3 April 1950. The Corporation did not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender.

Friday 7 April 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

NEXT MAYOR OF MITCHAM
Ald. Thomas Arthur East chosen
Alderman Thomas Arthur East, leader of the Independent group, was chosen as the next Mayor. He was 53, first elected for the old East ward, and his family had been connected with Mitcham for about a hundred years. He was a member of Mitcham Chess Club and had long been involved at the Stadium.

POLLARD’S HILL SCHOOL
The argument over a school for Pollards Hill went on. The County Council had been invited to state its needs and had not replied for two years, while the borough laid the estate out. A proposal to put the school behind Recreation Close, in Wide Way, about half a mile off, was opposed locally; Alderman Norris said most of the objections came from people who were already housed, and that Mitcham families would lose out if the scheme were held up.

LICENSING OF PRIVATE BUILDING
The Housing Committee resolved that licensing of private building works had outlived its use, and copies were sent to Mr Robert Carr, M.P., and to the Association of Municipal Corporations. Councillors Gifford and Fido had the resolution taken out, arguing there was still a shortage of timber and little unemployment in the trade. Councillor Bradley called that “a lot of jolly nonsense” and said there was more timber in the country than in 1939.

Friday 14 April 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

MITCHAM WILL HAVE TWO MAY QUEENS AGAIN
Deidre Atkins was candidate-elect of the May Festival Society, chosen by ballot at the society’s annual meeting, and Betty of Merrie England was to be crowned on the Cricket Green. The sixteen-year-old London May Queen would crown Betty, and about fifty Mitcham children were to take part, with the band of the 4th East Surrey (Mitcham Methodist) Company of the Boys’ Brigade. On 6 May the Mayor of Mitcham was to crown Deidre on the same Green, while Betty went on to represent Mitcham among the London May Queens at Hayes. Helen Murphy, 15, of Hatfield Gardens, and Lorna Tilley were also named.

WHERE TO GET YOUR NEW RATION BOOK
Readers were told to take the old ration book, and the identity card if it did not already carry the right details, to the food office. An identity card due for renewal before 21 May could be dealt with at the same time, and new tea coupons would come with the new book.

Friday 21 April 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

PETROL INCREASE
Mr Robert Carr called the new petrol tax “a thoroughly bad tax” because it would put up industrial costs. A Mitcham paint firm told the Mercury it would mean about 4d. a gallon on paint and would touch them by five to ten per cent.

RAIN AT THE FAIR GREEN
The May Queen’s afternoon on the Fair Green was hit by a downpour just before the crowning. Mrs Ericson cut the cake. The new queen wore her dress despite the weather.

ALBERT BRIGGS AND HIS LANCASTER
Albert Briggs was pictured with his scale model of a Lancaster bomber, in a report of a model-aircraft meeting at which a model crashed and the cause was looked for.

Friday 28 April 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

THE HALL IS NOT A GOOD FINANCIAL PROPOSITION
A hall used by a local association needed a new store hut and a new drugget for the floor. It was said not to be a good financial proposition, but the courts filled a real need and the case for keeping them had been thoroughly gone into.

Friday 5 May 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

MAYOR-ELECT AT THE COUNCIL
The Mayor-elect was before the Council on Thursday. On the works hooter, the paper said people who could afford an extra five minutes might put the alarm clock away, but the hooter would still sound.

Friday 12 May 1950

“SHE DID NOT CHEAT AT PARISH WHIST”
Mrs Hart, the misère queen, wins £300
Mrs Rosemary Hart was awarded £300 after being accused of cheating at a parish whist drive two years earlier. The slander was spoken in the hall while she was present. She said whist had been her life, that she played for love of the game rather than prizes, and that she would not play on the night of the verdict. She had kept a sweet shop, and had been ready to sell up.

Friday 19 May 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

ALBERT PRICE
Death from the war
A verdict of death from the war was recorded at Sutton on Albert Price, 54, a dock labourer of Sunshine Way, Mitcham. His widow, Florence May Price, said he had been gassed in the first war and discharged in 1917, and had had chronic bronchitis and asthma ever since. A pension of 16s. was later cut to 8s., and for 27 years he had no pension until Mr Tom Braddock took the case up. He had been out of work for four years. On the Wednesday his wife gave him a sleeping tablet; he was still asleep next day, their daughter fetched the doctor, and he was dead when the ambulance reached the hospital. The doctor said he died from fibrosis of the heart, consistent with exposure to a toxic gas.

Friday 26 May 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

BENNINGA’S COACH TO BRIGHTON
Benninga’s staff lined up outside their coach on Saturday for the firm’s outing to Brighton.

Friday 2 June 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

ALD. T. A. EAST READS THE DECLARATION
Alderman T. A. East read the declaration undertaking to carry out his duties as Mayor to the best of his capacity. He paid tribute to the retiring Mayor for her dignity and impartiality, and said that if he could match her efficiency the prestige of the borough would not suffer.

Friday 30 June 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

METHODISTS PROPOSE A DESIGN FOR MODERN TIMES
Do you like this church?
A new Methodist church was proposed for the Fair Green, to replace the building destroyed in the blitz. The design, in brick and concrete, was by Mr Mills, who had also designed the Colliers Wood Methodist Mission, and it was among those accepted by the Royal Academy for its architectural exhibition. Work still depended on town planning consent and on the Methodist Church, from which the local church hoped for a grant.

YOUNG CONSERVATIVES
Mitcham Young Conservatives, with Mr E. Trotman, the divisional chairman, in the chair, decided to meet every Thursday at 7.45 p.m. at the Elmhurst Cafe in Streatham Road.

Wednesday 5 July 1950

The Evening News

LONDON TRAMS ARE TO GO
London trams-buses switch will take two years, to cost £9 million, says Lord Latham
South London’s trams were to start coming off the streets at the end of September, when the first stage of replacement by buses would be finished. Lord Latham, chairman of London Transport, said the whole change would take two years and cost more than £9 million. About 1,000 buses were to replace 830 trams over more than 100 miles of route, in a nine-stage plan that included Greenwich, Deptford and Southwark.

THE FISHING INDUSTRY
The Government had outlined the help it meant to give the white-fish industry. The Evening News said the proposals were still not clear, despite a statement by Mr Attlee in the Commons the day before, and that North Shields, as one of the chief fishing ports, was directly concerned.

CANADA LIVING COST AT PEAK
Canada’s official cost-of-living index rose another 1.4 points in May, to a record 165.4, the Dominion Bureau of Statistics reported. Higher meat prices were blamed.

A WALK-OUT AT WALLSEND
All the welders at a Wallsend yard walked out about 2 p.m. after a claim was refused, and met in a cafe. Most went home after a meeting of more than three hours. Shop stewards would not comment afterwards, for fear of aggravating matters.

WALLSEND TORIES PICK CANDIDATE
Preparing for a snap election, Wallsend Divisional Conservative executive recommended Mr Gerard Cuthbert Crangle as prospective candidate. He was a Sunderland man, then a staff speaker-driver at the Conservative area office in Newcastle, and had helped in elections since he was a boy.

Friday 7 July 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

MR. TOM FRANCIS’ GIFT
Lantern slide story of Mitcham
Mr Tom Francis, of London Road, Mitcham, gave his collection of lantern slides of Mitcham to the borough, to be kept in the Public Library. Councillor E. Gulliver, chairman of the Library Committee, called it unique, and Councillor T. Ruff, a former chairman, said it was probably the finest pictorial history of Mitcham that could be produced.

Friday 11 August 1950

Daily Herald

ACID STREAM KILLS MAN
Henry Harris, 47, of Cavendish Grove, Lambeth, died of burns and shock in Wilson Hospital, Mitcham, after the bung blew out of a drum of phenol-carbolic acid at the factory of James Ferguson and Sons, Prince George’s Road, Mitcham, and a stream of acid struck him and two others in the face. Charles Knight was kept in for observation. A third man went home after treatment. The pressure of gas had forced the bung out.

Mitcham News & Mercury

MITCHAM FAIR OPENS TOMORROW
Mitcham Fair was to open the next day, with the Mayor performing the opening ceremony.

CRICKET WEEK
Saw W. G. on the Green
Lindley and Ide, Mitcham’s opening batsmen, were pictured leaving the pavilion at the start of Cricket Week. Another feature recalled W. G. Grace on the Green, and old Mr Drewett coming to watch.

THOUSANDS OF VISITORS ON BANK HOLIDAY
But where were the decorations?
Bank Holiday brought thousands of visitors, but London Road was in its ordinary dress. The paper asked why there were no decorations, noted that nurseries had stopped selling vegetable and tomato plants, and suggested geraniums and other summer flowers for window boxes, and a competition for the gayest house, for the sake of people coming to the cricket and of motorists passing through.

HIT BUS DRIVER ON THE NOSE
Pleaded guilty
A man pleaded guilty to hitting a bus driver on the nose.

Friday 18 August 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

MR G. SHEPPARD DIED IN HIS FAVOURITE CHAIR
Remembered when Mitcham Fair had only one roundabout
Mr George Sheppard, a gas-works pensioner, died in his favourite chair at home on Tuesday. He had started farm work at nine, liked to talk about the old Mitcham lavender, and remembered the Fair when it had a single roundabout.

Friday 6 October 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

MY RIDE ON THE LAST TRAM
The last tram on route 34 made its final run on Saturday night, in pouring rain. Only a handful of people were waiting at the start. At the first stop someone asked “This the last tram, mate?”, a few more got on, and two police cars followed the car all the way.

Tuesday 10 October 1950

Daily Express

WE ARE SURPRISED, SAY THE LIBERALS
Frank Byers, chairman of the Liberal Party Executive, said the decision not to oppose Clement Davies at Montgomery had come as a complete surprise. The Tory vote there had fallen by more than 3,000 at the last election, and he treated the phrase “for the time being” as an empty threat.

VISHINSKY AND THE UNO ARMY PLAN
Andrei Vishinsky waved an olive branch at the United Nations, but British and American diplomats were suspicious and thought he had been caught in the middle of a Soviet peace offensive. The Western plan, introduced by Mr John Foster Dulles, was to give the United Nations armed forces so that it could prevent another Korea.

DEAKIN TO SEEK A RISE FOR DOCKERS
Mr Arthur Deakin, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, said an official claim was to be made for higher dockers’ wages. Unofficial leaders had been agitating for weeks for a “Dockers’ Charter”, including a rise from 19s. a day.

OLD GLORY
Charles Ralls, commander of an ex-servicemen’s group in New York, accused Washington of a plot to replace the Stars and Stripes with the United Nations flag, after sewing kits were sent to farmers’ wives so that they could make the flags at home.

Friday 24 November 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

WANDLE FLOODS INVADE PHIPPS BRIDGE
Water enters four shops
“Came in just like a wave”
Residents call for action
The Wandle flooded the Phipps Bridge area of Colliers Wood and Mitcham. Water welled into the roadway, traffic was slowed, and extra police were sent in. Four shops were flooded. A boot repairer went downstairs at a quarter past four and found himself paddling before he realised the noise was water against the door; he spent two hours bailing out his kitchen. One woman said that when she opened the door it came in just like a wave. The paper said the river was no longer pretty, that its water was often discoloured and sometimes smelt, and that people who had put up with the floods for years wanted something done.

4,500 ON THE HOUSING LIST
Councillor A. E. Mingay said 4,500 names on Mitcham’s housing list were being considered this year, and that anyone above that number would have to wait until another year. One household of eight, five of them grown-ups, was cited. A complaint of insolence by a council housing employee was left over until full details were given.

Thursday 30 November 1950

The Advertiser

NEW SCHOOL ON SITE OF ANCIENT HOUSE
£100,000 building planned for historic Hall Place
Legends of a famous landmark
Plans were being prepared for a new Mitcham County School for Boys, estimated at £100,000, on the site of Hall Place in Church Road. An official of Surrey’s education department told the Advertiser there were more urgent projects, and little prospect of an early start. Hall Place, home of Sir Cato and Lady Worsfold, had been demolished. Before it came down, thieves had already taken lead and other fittings, and they came back even after the site was fenced. Secret chambers and passages were part of the local legend of the house.

Saturday 2 December 1950

150 YEARS OF PAINT MAKING
Firm of world repute
Thomas Parsons and Sons Ltd., of Church Road, Mitcham, were about to complete 150 years, for most of that time with their main factory in Mitcham. The firm, known for paints, varnishes and colours, also had factories in Dublin and Glasgow, and 55 men on the books had between them more than 1,760 years’ service. A man who had just finished 50 years at the Church Road factory spoke at the firm’s first dance and cabaret, held at the Baths Hall on Friday before the Mayor and Mayoress, the directors and about 300 employees. Mrs George Parsons, a director, and the only daughter of Sir Alfred and Lady Newton, presided.

Friday 29 December 1950

Mitcham News & Mercury

MITCHAM BABIES MEET THE MAYOR
Mitcham babies and their mothers met the Mayor and Mayoress, Alderman T. A. East, at a party arranged with the Food Office. With them were Mrs Dalton, Mr W. Dalton, chairman of the Mitcham Food Control Committee, and the Medical Officer of Health.

REV. GEORGE LUBBOCK
Wind and snow did not deter old folk
Wind and snow did not keep the old people away from an outing with the Rev. George Lubbock.

STANDARD UPHOLSTERY STAFF DANCE
Standard Upholstery Co. Ltd. held its Christmas staff dance at Kennards on Saturday. Mr Ben Hensher was among those pictured with the party.

Beech Grove and Almond Way

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Two roads that were built after 1932 on the Pollards Hill Golf Course.

Contents
Maps
WW2 Connections
Newspaper Articles

Maps

Out of copyright Ordnance Survey maps are reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland, reuse CC-BY.

Rotated 1932 OS map showing Manor Road, Commonside East to Galpins Road

1940 OS map Beech Grove and Almond Way

World War 2 Connections

No. 75 Beech Grove, H.E. EASTER joined Home Guard on 12th July 1940
No. 1 Almond Way, Sgt. C. ?. JORDAN joined the Home Guard on 10th September 1940
No. 12 Almond Way, P.G. JAMES joined the Home Guard 3rd October 1940

Newspaper Articles

Mitcham Advertiser, 18th July 1935

BOROUGH OF MITCHAM.

PRIVATE STREET WORKS ACT, 1892.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Borough Council of Mitcham, being the Sanitary Authority for the above-named district, did, on the 25th day of June, 1935, in accordance with the provisions of the above-mentioned Act, pass the following resolution:

“That the specification of the works proposed to be done with respect to the making up of Almond Way, within the sanitary district of the Council, and the plans, sections, estimate and provisional apportionment relating to such works, now submitted by the Borough Engineer, be and the same are hereby approved.”

And Notice is Further Given that for a period of one month from the 11th day of JULY, 1935, the specification, plans, sections, estimate and provisional apportionment, referred to in the above resolution, will be kept deposited at the Town Hall, Mitcham, and will be open to inspection at all reasonable times.

Dated the Eleventh day of July, 1935.
By Order of the Council,
STEPHEN CHART,
Town Clerk.

Town Hall,
Mitcham.

Mitcham Advertiser, 24th October 1935

ROAD CHARGES DISPUTE.

TENANTS’ OBJECTION.

ALLEGED THAT EXPENSES ARE EXCESSIVE.

Beech Grove and Almond Way.

Residents in Beech-grove and Almond-way, on the Pollards Hill estate, disputed at Croydon County Police Court on Tuesday the provisional apportionment of their liability in respect of the making up of the two streets by Mitcham Borough Council, on the ground that the expense of executing the work was excessive.

The two streets, said Mr. J. Hodson (who represented the Council), were newly developed and adjoining, and on both sides of the streets were houses which were let or sold. Neither of the streets was a highway repairable by the inhabitants at large (out of the rates), not having been taken over by the Council, so the frontagers were liable under the Act for street works.

The developers of the estate had done a certain amount of work in connection with the carriageways, but this was not wholly satisfactory from the Council’s point of view, and there were no footways.

It was resolved by the Council to complete the carriageways and construct footways, constructing kerbs, laying paving and surfacing.

The objections were all in regard to the alleged excessive expenditure estimated. There were a good number of objectors.

A typical objection cited by Mr. Hodson was that of Mr. Exton, of 2, Beech-grove, who had written in reply to the notice of apportionment: “I consider the amount excessive. It is double the estimate given us by the builders.”

“I am not aware,” commented Mr. Hodson, “what the builders told him.”

Mr. Exton, he added, objected on the further ground that the work should not be done by direct labour without inviting tenders from outside contractors.

“Direct labour as such,” observed Mr. Hodson, “is not an objection that can be taken under the Act (Private Street Works Act, 1892). The only objection that the owner can take is that the cost as estimated is excessive. Direct labour is a matter of policy only.”

ESTIMATES OF COST.

The Council’s surveyor originally estimated, in June last, in the case of Beech-grove, that the cost would be £1,395 13s. 7d., and in the case of Almond-way £1,038 18s. 2d. In those estimates the surveyor had to allow for possible fluctuations in prices—upwards; any reasonably cautious surveyor would make an allowance for this. However, since he prepared those estimates the surveyor had completed and had ascertained the actual cost of other roads in Mitcham, so he was in a position now better to estimate the cost of completing Beech-grove and Almond-way. He had found that they worked out lower than he originally estimated, and he was now prepared to reduce the original estimates by 12½ per cent. of the total sums. The revised estimates were: Beech-grove, £1,323 1s. 11d.; Almond-way, £907 6s. 3d.

Giving evidence, Mr. Riley Schofield, the Borough Engineer and Surveyor, said that in Beech-grove, which was 959 feet long, it was proposed to construct a carriageway 18-ft. wide, using the existing carriageway as foundation, and provide two 9-ft. wide footpaths. The apportionment, according to his original estimate, was 13s. 6d. a foot frontage.

The same applied in regard to Almond-way, the carriageway being 16-ft. wide, 828-ft. long and with a 7-ft. wide footpath on either side; the cost a foot frontage was proportionate.

Since June this year, he had made up streets to the value of £4,000 by direct labour, and, with the greater experience acquired in the process, he was now able to reduce the estimates by 12½ per cent.

Originally, he recalled, the estate developer was invited to make up the streets to the Council’s specification, and under the supervision of the Council, when it would have been extremely likely that the Council would then take over the streets. But the builder declined to enter into a contract with the Council. In their present state, the carriageways were not satisfactory, continued Mr. Schofield, and he did not feel justified in recommending the Council to take over the streets.

DIRECT LABOUR NOT EXPENSIVE.

Mr. F. M. Parris (who appeared for all the objectors)—It is a recognised thing that when a Council does a thing by direct labour the cost is higher than by private contract?

Mr. Schofield—Decidedly not.

Mr. Parris then invited Mr. Schofield’s opinion on a contract prepared by a Streatham firm of contractors who undertook to make up the streets to the Council’s specification for £1,045 (10s. 6d. a foot frontage) and £737 (8s. 10d. a foot frontage) respectively.

Mr. Schofield—I should strongly exhort my Council to accept their offer because I cannot do it at that figure.

Mr. Schofield added that the work could not be carried out economically at these rates.

An engineer with a considerable experience of private street works by direct labour declared that the costs compared favourably with contractors’ rates.

A representative of the Streatham firm which prepared the rival estimates agreed, under cross-examination, that the figures were only lump sum estimates.

Mr. Hodson contended they were “hazy estimates” and all the details were in the witness’s head.

In the circumstances, Mr. Hodson went on to tell the magistrates, if the firm was satisfied to enter into a contract with the Council to do the work at the prices named, to the Council’s specification and under supervision, then, of course, the surveyor would advise the Council to accept it, obviously. In those circumstances, the proper course was for the case to be adjourned for them to enter into negotiations.

It was not for him to argue if a firm was willing to undertake to do work at less than economic rates, he observed.

The magistrates (who were presided over by Mr. W. G. Storer) adjourned the case until November 20th.

Mitcham Advertiser, 2nd April 1936

TO LET, Modern Flat; 3 large rooms, 1 as kitchenette; own gas cooker and meter; electric light, use of bathroom; 17/- including light.—50, Almond Way, Commonside East, Mitcham.

Mitcham Advertiser, 12th November 1942

BUS AND LORRY

Two women were injured when an omnibus and a lorry collided on Commonside East, Mitcham, just before eleven o’clock on Monday morning.

They were Mrs. Eileen Ruth Lancaster, the conductor, of 23, Lavender Grove, Mitcham, and Mrs. Helena Hibberd, of 6, Almond Way, Mitcham, a passenger. After treatment at Wilson Hospital they were able to go home.

The lorry driver was Mr. G. L. Franks, of 3, Eland Road, Thornton Heath. Apparently in passing a stationary vehicle near Pentlands Close in the fog the lorry, swerving, came into collision with the bus. Little damage was done.

Mitcham Advertiser, 16th March 1944

NAVAL OFFICER LOST

Sinking of H.M.S. Penelope

Sub-Lieut. Edward Draper, aged 20, whose home until recently was 53, Beech Grove, Mitcham Common, was one of the naval officers reported missing after the loss of H.M.S. Penelope.

He was an old boy of Pollards Hill School, where he won prizes and cups for sports, and also of Mitcham County School. His parents now live at Wimbledon Chase. He was promoted from the lower deck to be a midshipman, and it is but a short time since he was made a sub-lieutenant.

It was regarded locally as a strange coincidence when he was posted to the Penelope, for on that ship had served Leading Stoker J. G. Hollebon, who in private life is the caretaker of Pollards Hill School. Miss Phyllis Hollebon, the eldest daughter of Leading Stoker and Mrs. Hollebon, received a cheery Christmas and New Year message from him on the back of a new photograph showing him in his officer’s uniform.

Leading Stoker Hollebon was himself posted missing after the fall of Singapore. He was then on H.M.S. Durban. Two months later his wife and family heard the good news that he was safe, and later he came home. After an operation he returned to active service.

“He would have been on the Pehelope but for the operation” Mrs. Hollebon told “The Advertiser.” “He was on that vessel when he overstrained himself and was prevented from rejoining the ship.”

Mitcham Advertiser, 18th February 1954

NEW SCOUTMASTER

Mr. Ron Allfree takes up his duties as new Scoutmaster of the 23rd Mitcham (The Ascension) Scout Group this week. He is at present on demobilisation leave from the R.A.F. His home is in Beech Grove, Pollards Hill.

Mitcham Advertiser, 4th November 1954

Surrey award trophy to Mitcham boy

ROY HOOPER, a 17 year old apprentice bricklayer from Almond Way, Mitcham, has been awarded the Brookes Trophy for the best performance at the Surrey youth championships at Motspur Park in June.

Hooper’s javelin throw of 159-ft. 5-in. was an improvement on the old record by 8-ft. 7-in. He is a member of Mitcham Athletic Club.

Mitcham Advertiser, 17th April 1958

Bus route: Reader’s plan

A new idea for the re-routing of buses to serve the Pollards Hill Estate and Mitcham has been put forward this week by Mr. C. F. Anderson, of Almond Way, Mitcham.

In a letter to “The Advertiser” Mr. Anderson comments upon the routes which have been suggested in the controversy over the Pollards Hill service.

Mr. Anderson suggests that the No. 44 buses, or at least some of them, should be diverted by the Three Kings Pond, Commonside East and Sherwood Park Road or Wide Way to South Lodge Avenue where there are two bays.

“There are plenty of other buses between The Cricketers and Fair Green which would obviate any objection that cutting this service would be unreasonable,” he adds.

Mitcham Advertiser, 8th May 1958

Fight over 100 yards of land?

A BATTLE may arise during the next few weeks between three of Mitcham’s strongest organisations — Pollards Hill Tenants’ Association, Long Thornton and Tamworth Residents’ Association and Mitcham Common Preservation Society.

The committee of the tenants association have written to the Mitcham Common Conservators asking them to relinquish a 100 yd. stretch of land between Beech Grove and Galpin’s Road, so that a bridle path can be extended and made into a road.

They feel that this would allow simpler and quicker access to the Pollards Hill Estate for the residents and for fire engines or ambulances in an emergency.

The matter was brought up at last week’s meeting of the Conservators, when the clerk put forward the views of the tenants’ association.

A member of the Conservators pointed out that the land in question was no use to anybody in its present state and was just a “patch of hard dirt.”

Close attention

The Conservators decided to leave the problem to their Improvements Committee to investigate and report back.

Mr. A. S. Hutchin, a vice-chairman of Long Thornton and Tamworth Residents’ Association and a member of the Mitcham Preservation Society, told an “Advertiser” reporter this week that both his organisations would study the matter

“It will need a lot of close attention and thought,” he said, “but I should say at first glance that we shall object very strongly if the Conservators agree to the plan. We don’t want to see any of the common land lost.”

Mitcham Advertiser, 5th June 1958

ROAD ACROSS COMMON ‘NOT WANTED’

“Strong protests” against suggestions for a road being built from Commonside East to Galpins Road, Mitcham have been made by Mitcham Common Preservation Society and Long Thornton and Tamworth Residents’ Association.

Pollards Hill Estate Tenants’ Association asked Mitcham Common Conservators whether a track leading from Beech Grove to Galpins Road could be built into a road for easier access to the estate.

Last week the preservation society and the Long Thornton association decided that the existing roads to the estate were adequate for the traffic, and fears were expressed that a new road might become “a race track for motor cyclists”

Both associations have written to the conservators expressing these views, and emphasising that common land would be taken in the development, and could not be replaced.

Mitcham Advertiser, 17th July 1958

Footpath: ‘It’s all a mistake’

The refusal of Mitcham Common Conservators to extend a footpath from Beech Grove to the Pollards Hill Estate may have arisen from a mistake over the distance and cost, claims Mr R. Pattison, secretary of the Pollards Hill Estate Tenants’ Association, who are pressing for the path to be turned into a through road.

He said this week that it was mentioned at the Conservators’ meeting that a roadway from Galpin’s Road to Beech Grove was wanted, and that a figure of £3,000 was also mentioned for the work.

“We only want a quarter of that distance—a matter of 100 yards or so I am sure that the cost would not be so high as that,” Mr. Pattison told ” The Advertiser.”

“Our request was turned down because of the cost, and I think that it should be reconsidered.”

Access to the estate was very bad, and in connection with the matter he was asking the borough engineer to erect “no through road” notices at the end of Chestnut Grove, to stop drivers who thought they could get through to the common.

Mitcham Advertiser, 24th July 1958

‘TRYING TO CLIMB DOWN’

The Pollards Hill Estate Tenants’ Association “are trying to climb down” after “a hard knock” from the Mitcham Common Preservation Society, it was stated at the society’s meeting on Monday.

Mr. A. S. Hutchins said that the estate tenants’ association had asked for a road from Commonside East to Galpins Road, but, after protests from the society, permission had been refused by the Common Conservators.

“Now it is reported that the tenants’ association are saying they did not want this road, but only a short road from the common to Beech Grove,” Mr. Hutchins said. “Whatever they want, it will mean taking some of the common away to build the road, and they must not be allowed to do this.”

Mitcham Advertiser, 2nd October 1958

Track to be improved

Mitcham Common Conservators have agreed an estimate amounting to £1,930 for making good a track from houses east of Beech Grove, Mitcham.

The estimate, put forward by Croydon Corporation, involves filling in a ditch and laying grass, laying a drain along a length of the ditch, and laying grass between the track and some playing fields.

Mitcham Advertiser, 18th June 1959

The Mitcham and Carshalton women’s swimming team posed for a picture just before they took part in a match against Hengelo at the Weusthag Pool in Holland last week. Their chaperon, Mrs. M. Gorvin, of Almond Way, Mitcham, on the left, is herself a former Scottish Olympic swimming trialist.

Mitcham Advertiser, 10th September 1959

THE wedding of 68 year old Mrs. Eleanor Hibberd and 78 year old Mr. Ernest Butler took place amid a crowd of friends at Morden Registry Office on Saturday.

The bride and groom are members of Pollards Hill Good Neighbours’ Club, where they first met. After their honeymoon they will return to Mrs. Hibberd’s home in Almond Way, Mitcham.

In the general excitement one of the wedding guests accidentally closed the registry office door, which was self-locking—and for a while the next couple about to be married could not get in.

Mitcham Advertiser, 24th March 1960

Proceeds for the society

Anyone in Mitcham who enjoys fresh marmalade and would like to help the Church Missionary Society as well, should call at 18, Almond Way, Pollards Hill.

Mrs. Janet Spayne, a parishioner of the Church of the Ascension, sells home-made marmalade. This novel idea of hers succeeded in raising £10. for the Church Missionary Society, last year.