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When Frank Wright became a member of the Brigade as a Messenger in 1921 he
started a personal record book, from which the content of this page is
derived. |
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Sawbridgeworth Fire Brigade - Social Events |
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Page last updated:
28 May 2007 |
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Annual Fete August 26th 1922 |
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 By
1922, running
an Annual Fete was obviously a well established event in the
Brigade's calendar. This one taking place at Springhall, Vantorts Road. The
Owner at the time was a Mr. John Bussey, a name that does not seem to crop
up elsewhere in connection with the Fire Brigade (See footnote 1). Springhall remains but the
grounds have diminished to some extent with, I believe, two houses having
been built on the upper part of the main gardens close to Vantorts Road and
presumably part of "Greenstead" forms part of what was once the rear gardens. As
a small boy I remember it with quite extensive grounds, particularly to the
rear of the house running out towards the rear gardens of houses in
Springhall Road! One of the houses in Springhall Road, backing towards the
Main House, was owned by Springhall and housed their full time gardener.
There was a reasonable size lake to the West of the house
which presumably remains. I believe it was fed by a spring, the lake
overflow running into a ditch in the field on the East side of Vantorts
Road. Hence the ability to have events at the fete over water.
A repeat fete was held on the same date in 1923, again at
Springhall with the events very much reflecting those of a year earlier.
This time it appears Bishop's Stortford brigade were present because one of
the competitions was for the Cox Cup which Sawbridgeworth lost, because of
penalties applied for a Suction being cross threaded on inspection.
(See Footnote 2) |
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Footnote 1: Springhall later became the home of R. Marvin Everett
- see Chief Officers.
Footnote 2: These were the days
when most Hydrants and Suction connections (and I believe leather hose couplings) had
what was known as a 'V' thread. Later, all threads were 'Round' which almost
eliminated cross threading! Sawbridgeworth continued to have a few 'V'
threaded hydrants until the late 1940's which necessitated two types of
Standpipe being carried on appliances or, conversion extensions. There was
also a third type of Standpipe in some of the outlying districts, being the
bayonet type, which had two lugs and which was secured on the hydrant
by a 90o or half turn. |
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Prize Distribution by A. E. Cutforth Esq.
- Wednesday October 18th 1922
The cutting to the left is a newspaper article,
the column of which measures almost 18" (450mm). Among the entertainers is a
Miss Mabel Constanduros, who I believe was a fairly well known actress and
radio entertainer - the Internet shows that her involvement in films
included an appearance in Stars On Parade(1936),
an Old Mother Riley film. She also wrote a couple of
monologues for Stanley Holloway "Sam's Medal" and "Old Sam's Party". |
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Frank's Prize money for drilling results amounted to 11/- (55p),
probably well worth having in 1921.
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Concert and Prize Distribution October
23rd 1923 |
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There is no Press record of the
event but on this occasion Frank Wright's prize money had grown to 15/6p
(c.77p) |
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Easter Monday 1922 - Dance - Tickets 2/6d
each (c.12p) |
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Held at the Joinery Works Institute (Walter
Lawrence and Son Limited). Dancing was from 8pm to 2am and about 90 people
attended. |
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By 1924 it seems that there were
two events each year, January and October...
Inspection and Supper - January 1924 |
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Other than that the event was held on a Thursday
there is no mention of the actual date. The Venue was the Church House - the
corner of Church Street and Vantorts Road - which was, it seems, ornately
decorated for the occasion. From the newspaper report of comments by Second
Officer F. Markwell of Bishop's Stortford brigade, it seems that
Sawbridgeworth had won a major competition for smartness at Southall in West
London during 1923! |
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Prize Distribution and Concert - 8th
October 1924 |
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This time the venue had changed to
the Assembly Hall in Station Road which was on the North side of the road,
opposite the King George IV Public House. One of the entertainers was Mr.
Charles Edwards, the owner of Edwards Flour Mill at Bishop's Stortford. He
was very well known and respected for his singing ability in the area. Although Frank
Wright (and others) had again won several prizes, by this time the excitement of the
value of these had worn off as this was no longer recorded in his notes. |
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 ◄
This picture was taken at the Memorial Hall in the Forebury, late 1950's
or early 1960's. These events were still being run on an annual basis for
which any profits were for the National Fire Brigades Benevolent Fund. The
Dance Band was usually J. Dimmock and His Band in which Frank Wright's
Brother-in-law was a saxophonist. They were a very popular dance band of
the day based on the Hoddesdon area. |
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Another annual event that commenced about 1952 was a Hertfordshire Fire
Brigade Dinner and Dance, for which a contingent were invited from each
Station in the County. Most of them took place in the West of the County
to secure a venue of sufficient size. This is possibly Welwyn Garden
City but Hatfield and Stevenage were others. |
| A small Window poster drawing
attention to the annual Entertainment and Prizes for 1928. |
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Firemen Pictured
L-R: Geoff Burrell; ?; Len Read; Frank Wright; Jack Puncher; Jack Searle. |
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Fireman Pictured
Left : Bill White (nearest); Len Read; Jack Searle. Right: : Frank Wright
(nearest); Jack Riches. |
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