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Newquay Parish Page
Newquay in 1910
The Year’s happenings in brief
The story of 1910 as far as Newquay is concerned is
one of continued progress. There can be no doubt, looking back over the
past twelve months, that there has been an advance in the town’s affairs
generally. The local authority have effected many improvements, and have
undertaken an extensive scheme for the drainage of the eastern portion
of the town, and also contemplate the laying out of a further large sum
on street improvements. Educationally a red letter day was when the new
Secondary School was opened. In the religious life of the town, all
religious bodies have been very active. The Anglicans view with
pardonable pride the near completion of their fine new church, and the
Wesleyans have added to their property a commodious manse. Trade has
been brisk, and the fishing industry has grown to very large
proportions. Proposals for a new Post Office created much interest and
divided opinion, and schemes for a new pavilion and a recreation ground
have been before the town. Whilst the year has been singularly free from
fatal accidents, death has taken a heavy toll of old inhabitants. The
weather during the season was very damp, but September and part of
October gave a really delightful time. After this a succession of gales
and heavy rains lasted til the close of the year. In the realm of sport
football and cricket has struggled against adverse circumstances and
balance-sheets, but tennis and golf have flourished exceedingly. The
number of visitors has been well maintained, and August, in spite of the
weather, was as crowded a month as ever. The various clubs and
institutions of the town have been successfully carried on, and the
hotels have all declared good dividends. Much building has been in
progress, and noteworthy in progress and completed have been the new
church, the Wesley Manse, and the new Secondary School.
Taking the months seriatim, we find that in
JANUARY –
The Urban Council, with a view to settling the long-disputed affair of
the making up of Springfield Road, adopted the Private Street Works Act.
In this month the agitation re the site for a new Post Office was begun.
The sites suggested were at the top of Cheltenham Place, in Gover Lane,
and at the corner of Fore Street and Chapel Hill. The General Election
demanded much attention, and the meetings of the candidates, the Hon.
T.C. Agar-Robartes and Mr. F.T.H. Bernard, were crowded and animated.
The flying visit of Mr. Lloyd George was much appreciated by local
Liberals. An interesting wedding this month was that between Rev. Hugh
Muller, R.N. well known in Newquay, and Miss J.F. Whiting, which took
place in Weymouth. A notable Cornish gentleman passed away in the person
of Mr. R. Gully Bennet, of Tresilian House. One of the few fatal
accidents occurred this month, when a boy named May, aged 12, was killed
in a threshing machine at St. Columb Minor. The weather was of a
seasonable character, and there was a fall of snow.
FEBRUARY –
Saw the culmination of the G.P.O. agitation. After petitions and
counter-petitions has been signed a public meeting was called, which
unanimously carried a vote in favour of a new site where Marine Villa
now stands. The Urban Council also supported the same site. A scheme for
the erection of a pavilion on the beach promenade was discussed by the
Council, but deferred. Following the triumphant return of Mr. Agar-Robartes
as M.P. for the division of Newquay, Liberals decided to form a Liberal
Club, and took rooms for that purpose at York Buildings. It was decided
to adopt a drainage scheme for Crantock village towards the payment for
which nearly £150 in Consols belonging to the village was to be devoted.
In the religious life of the town, a remarkably successful Wesleyan
Mission made a deep impression. In the realm of sport the Football Club
experienced much hardship through certain clubs refusing to fulfil their
fixtures. There were many deaths amongst the old inhabitants this month,
and amongst those to be chronicled are Mr. W.F. Johns, Treringey,
Crantock; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hocking, within a short time of each
other; Mrs. Elizabeth Stephens and Capt. S. Billing. The weather was
very stormy.
MARCH-
Was a month of elections or nominations for elections. For the County
Council Mr. Wm. Hellyar, of Rialton Barton, was returned unopposed. For
the Board of Guardians Messrs. J. Vivian, J.P. Teague, G.A. Ockford, G.
Hartnoll, and E. Rickard were also retuned unopposed. For the Urban
District Council there was more competition, and no less than nine
candidates were nominated for four seats. During this month several
young men set out for the Colonies. Football affairs claimed much
attention. The Newquay Club, in spite of protests, were ordered to play
a semi-final in the County Cup Competition, although on matches played
they had a majority of points. They lost to Truro in this match, and
also to Looe in the “runners-up” match. Deaths this month included Capt.
H.P. Halt, and Capt. R.G. Chegwidden. The weather was fairly fine.
APRIL-
Saw the decision of the Urban Council election, when, of eight
candidates, the four elected were Messrs. W.T. Jacka, L.V. Bice, W.J.
Trythall, and A. Gerry. The election of Chairman resulted in a tie
between Messrs. Vivian and Bice, and Mr. Trythall, the retiring
chairman, gave his casting vote in favour of the former. A £12,300
drainage scheme for the eastern part of the town and for the extension
of the western outfall was adopted and sanctioned. Proposals for a
recreation ground were discussed. County football matters, which greatly
interested Newquay sportsmen, reached a climax with a scene in the match
between Truro and Torpoint at Liskeard, and a miniature riot in the
match between Truro and Torpoint at St. Austell, when the infuriated
Truro partisans chased Rounsevell, the Torpoint back, for an alleged
foul, and refused to let Mr. Goldman, the M.P. for Falmouth to speak in
presenting the Charity Cup to Torpoint. A notable event this month was
the ball masque organised by Miss E.B. Runnalls in aid of the R.S.P.C.A.
A ladies’ section of the Red Cross Society was formed, and the new
Liberal Club was opened. A well-known and respected Newquayan passed
away in the person of Capt. Jabez Hocking. The weather was generally
fine.
MAY-
Was notable as the comet month and Halley’s Comet, though disappointing,
was seen very distinctly at Newquay. The great over-shadowing event was
the lamented death of King Edward VII, who by his wise statesmanship and
kindly character, had so endeared himself to his people. Loyal and
sympathetic messages were despatched by the Urban District Council to
the widowed Queen and the new King George V, who so recently had visited
Newquay. Memorial services in the churches on the day of the Royal
funeral were crowded. The stone laying at the Wesley Manse this month
realised £150. A notable local event was the retirement of Mrs. Harris,
the oldest town postwoman in England. Death claimed amongst others, Mr.
E. Snell, who had only just retired from business. The annual meeting of
the Cricket Club revealed the fact that there was a debit balance of
over £20. The weather was, on the whole, fine and sunny.
JUNE-
Was notable for its unsettled weather, and the deaths of old inhabitants
in the persons of Miss Mary Hawke, Mrs. Pascoe, and Capt. Penrose.
Visitors began to arrive in goodly numbers, but the day trippers were
rather below average.
JULY-
Saw a continuation of the unsettled weather, but in fairness it must be
said that there were many bright sunny days. A testimonial for Mrs.
Harris, late postwoman, amounted to £45. An interesting local wedding
was that between Mr. E. Mcl. Dowson and Miss Hilda Pascoe, which was
solemnized at St. Mawgan. Urban Council matters found revived interest
in the request of the Clerk for an increase in salary, which, now being
recommended, caused him to threaten resignation. The rate collector,
Capt. F.W. Kernick, resigned from his post.
AUGUST-
Proved, as usual, the great month of the year for Newquay. The town was
so crowded with visitors that it is on record that people were turned
away, and this in spite of the weather, which was still very unsettled,
and Bank Holiday was notably fearfully wet and wretched, so much so that
the programme of the Horse Show had to be abandoned half way through.
However, the other August fixtures-the Regatta and Harbour sports, the
Lifeboat demonstration and entertainments, the wrestling and hurling
were all successful. The Atlantic Golf Cup was won by Mr. H. Pulbrook.
Another anonymous gift of £1,000 to the new church fund proved most
welcome, and excited much speculation as to the identity of the generous
donor. The Clerk to the Urban Council, Mr. Evan Julian, resigned his
office. Mr. J. Trebilcock was appointed rate collector. A sad fatality
at Porth, in which a young girl, Harriett Giles was drowned in
attempting a rescue, cast quite a gloom over the neighbourhood. The
death occurred of Capt. N. House. The fine premises of the Newquay
County School in Edgcumbe Avenue were finished, and Governors and
masters and mistresses appointed.
SEPTEMBER-
Proved to be the most delightful month of the year as far as weather was
concerned. The Urban Council appointed Mr. G. Fraser Nicholls as clerk
from thirty applicants. Thanks were voted the retiring clerk and rate
collector. A round of private festivities this month were carried out in
lavish style. The number of visitors was well maintained. The Gannel
Regatta and Summercourt Fair were successful local functions. In the
golf world, the Lang Cup was won by Mr. R.G.T. Tangye. A big event was
the opening of the County School by Mr. R.G. Rows, at which there was a
distinguished gathering and many inspiring speeches made. Suffragette
meetings were held, at one of which Miss Annie Kenney gave an address.
The deaths occurred of Mr. Reuben Coumbe and Capt. Crocker. A sad motor
fatality occurred at Quintrell Downs, resulting in the death of a little
girl named Ida Maud Tippett. It was decided to continue the Football
Club, but not to enter any competitions. This latter decision was
subsequently reversed.
OCTOBER-
Brought much stormy weather, and in one gale boats in the harbour were
damaged. The Council decided to employ an assistant surveyor, and
received over 300 applications for the post. It was decided to borrow
£2,000 for works of street improvement. The old Baptist Chapel, for some
time disused, was purchased for the Particular Baptist Society, and
services resumed. A men’s branch of the Red Cross Society was formed.
The death of Mr. Edmund Thomas, for many years secretary to the Regatta
Committee occurred this month.
NOVEMBER-
Proved very wet and windy. There were several landslides near the
harbour and the Town Beach. The herring fishery attracted about forty
western boats, and was carried on with much success. Some huge catches
were landed, and as many as from fifty to eight tons of fish were
despatched by rail in a day. The Regatta balance sheet showed a credit
balance of £20 11s. 7d. W. Bte. F. Medway was installed W.M. of the
local Lodge of Freemasons.
DECEMBER-
Continued stormy and unsettled, and a great gale caused much damage in
Newquay Harbour and at Porth. Floods were frequent on low lying parts of
the neighbourhood, and on the 19th was the highest tide within living
memory. The Parliamentary election did not greatly affect Newquay, as
there was no contest in the division. The Newquay stationmaster, Mr.
Thos. Fitzgerald, retired after eight years in the town. The herring
fishery came to a close after a most successful season. No less than 320
tons were sent away by rail in the last week on November, and 110 tons
were dispatched in one day. The Urban Council appointed Mr. A. T.
Braggins, of Bedford, as assistant surveyor. The deaths occurred of Miss
Louie Hicks, Mr. W.W. Dinnis, and Mr. Richard Pascoe. Christmas was very
quiet. The weather was remarkably mild, and primroses and roses were
picked in the open.
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