These news items are not complete, and will be added to when more are found.
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Daily Express, Wednesday 13 June 1923, page 7
POND MYSTERY.
YOUNG MAN’S BODY FOUND FLOATING.
The body of Sidney Quarrington, aged nineteen, a barman at “The Manor House,” Clapham, was found yesterday morning floating in the middle of Three Kings Pond, on Mitcham Common.
His relatives suspected foul play, although the police theory is accidental drowning or suicide. “There was no reason for my brother to kill himself,” said Mr. Thomas Quarrington to a “Daily Express” representative. “I am sure that when he left Florrie Gill, his sweetheart, he was lured away and done to death.”
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The Mitcham Advertiser, Thursday 5 March 1925, page 6
MEETING OF THE WATERS.
In Three Kings Pond, Mitcham.
When Mitcham folk walked abroad on Friday morning, that section of them, at least, that pass by the Three Kings Pond, were astonished to see the more or less ornamental sheet, which had been painfully pumped dry for repairs by the unemployed, shimmering in the fitful sunshine again as full of water as it would hold.
It was not an expensive joke, as some people at first thought. Neither was it a dirty trick on the part of anybody. But it was a dirty trick of Old Dame Nature’s. For forty days and forty nights, or thereabouts, it had been raining and raining, with the result that water accumulated on the Common and round about in extraordinary volume and at last, unable to control itself any longer, burst through its bonds and rushed into its natural reservoir.
Fortunately an alert workman engaged during the day in rebottoming the pond with reinforced concrete noticed the water pouring in about eight o’clock on Thursday morning and at once informed Mr. Rook, the foreman in charge. That gentleman immediately hurried to the pond and collecting several more workmen concentrated on saving six or seven tons of cement, which were in danger. This they accomplished, but several barrows and other pieces of plant were totally immersed.
The pond filled to the brim during the night and next morning Mr. Burnett Bullock, the Surveyor, was under the regrettable necessity of “standing off” nearly a score of the men until the pond was emptied again. The remainder of the men were put to the pump and buckets once more.
Every precaution had been taken against such a contingency, which happened once before, but long after the pond had refilled there was enough water left on the Three Kings Green near the railway to fill it again.
It rushed over the roadway opposite the Three Kings Inn and past all barricades. The pond has been cleaned out and the bottom is being prepared for a bed of concrete with retaining walls at the sides. These were well advanced when the deluge descended.
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Daily Mirror, Saturday 19 January 1929, page 17
£20,000 FOR HOMES.
Man Who Gave £60,000 Hospital Now Provides for Aged Poor.
Mr. Isaac Wilson, of Mitcham, who recently provided the town with its first hospital at a total cost of £60,000, has now set aside £20,000 for the provision of thirty-six cottage homes for the aged poor at Mitcham.
Plans were submitted to the urban council yesterday. The homes will be built on a corner site facing the most beautiful part of Mitcham Common.
A few months ago Mr. Wilson gave £20,000 for the aged poor of Milton, Cumberland (his native village) and neighbouring villages.
Mr. Wilson began his business career as a small draper and made a big fortune from building small house property.
Norwood News, Friday 26 April 1929, page 10
COUN. TURNER THE NEW CHAIRMAN.
VESTRY HALL SCHEME.
The annual meeting of the Mitcham Council was held on Tuesday night, when all the members attended, the newly-elected ones signing the declaration of acceptance of office.
Pending the appointment of a chairman, Coun. C. Higgs presided.
Coun. T. E. Earl proposed that Coun. J. P. Turner be raised from the vice-chair to the chairmanship of the Council. He remarked that Mr. Turner had thoroughly earned the honour by his general affability on the Council, and particularly his campaign in regard to the electricity charges. He (Mr. Earl) hoped that during his term of office he would see a successful issue to his campaign.
Coun. G. T. Heard seconded, and it was carried unanimously.
Assuming the chair, Coun. J. P. Turner thanked the members for their confidence. He was especially glad his election was absolutely unanimous, because it was helpful to know one had the support of his colleagues. He appreciated the honour most highly. It was no mean thing to be chairman of the Mitcham Council to-day, because it was progressing at such a rate that the chairmanship was becoming very important.
In following such an excellent chairman as Coun. Higgs, he realised that a difficult task beset him. However, he promised to do his best, and to try and uphold the prestige of the Council. He knew that in their clerk (Mr. Stephen Chart) he had an able lieutenant and a sure guide. He would like to see progress made with the Vestry Hall during his year of office, and the Council staff all housed in one building. (Cheers.)
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN.
Dr. Love proposed Coun. S. L. Gaston as vice-chairman, observing that he had served the district well, and his value could not possibly be exaggerated.
Coun. Higgs seconded, and it was carried unanimously.
Coun. Gaston returned thanks.
The Chairman then formally welcomed the new members—Capt. Smith, Messrs. Small, Harris, and Farraday.
The various committees were appointed, and the following representatives:—
Wandle Joint Hospital Board—Dr. Love, Couns. Cusden, Curtis, and Turner.
Wandle Valley Joint Sewerage Board—Couns. Beaumont, Owen, and Field.
Mitcham Common Conservators—Couns. Richards, Dalton, Gaston, and Carlton.
Old-Age Pensions Committee—Mrs. Hallowes.
The ordinary monthly business of the Council was then proceeded with.
The Advertiser, Thursday 17 October 1929, page 2
MITCHAM NOTES.
The construction of a modern open-air swimming bath on Mitcham Common was the bright thought that came to Mr. W. T. Willcocks, chairman of Mitcham Common Conservators, months ago. If anybody else thought of it before him, God help them! They will never get the credit for it. It was duly recorded in the “Advertiser,” but Mitcham was not excited. Years before Mr. Willcocks had his brain wave Mitcham Council explored the parish for a site for an open-air swimming bath and then abandoned it on account of the cost.
The Chairman of Mitcham Common Conservators proposes to construct the open-air bath on the Common at Mitcham ratepayers’ expense. At first his original proposal sounded like that. As he rightly says in his excellent report on the playing of golf on the Common, Mitcham Common does not belong to the people of Mitcham, which is an excellent reason, I take it, why Mitcham ratepayers should pay for the recreation of Tom, Dick and Harry. It is argued, I know, that some of the schemes now before us will in time pay for themselves. The rest will pay only in eternity.
