Archived Extracts

  The alleged rough play of youths on the new Recreation Ground at Huthwaite, and the use of bad language on the ground, came in for a good deal of discussion at the monthly meeting of the Huthwaite Urban District Council, held in the Council Offices on Tuesday evening. Councillor J. Davies presided, and the other members present were Councillors T. Goodall, E.H. Lowe, J. Potter, J. Iball, D.D. Bonser, A. Wilson, M. Betts, F.C. Sowter, J. Peters, W. Clarke, J.G. Wright, H.A. Simpson and W.E. Hancock.

  Referring to the playing field on the old brickyard site, the Chairman said it was already partly equipped with apparatus for enjoyment, but the Council felt very strongly - and he was sure he was expressing the wish of the Council assembly - that no one should take advantage of the amusements on Sundays, and that something ought to be done with regard to the bad language used on the ground. The Council requested the public generally to refrain from the use of bad language and not to make use of the apparatus for amusements on Sundays.
  "A lot of young men have been playing roughly on the ground," added the Chairman, "and we want it to be known that we don't countenance this sort of thing. We like to see them enjoying themselves so long as they behave properly, but the roughness and vulgarism on the Recreation Ground is becoming alarming to the Council. I hope this publicity will put a stop to it.
  Mr. Simpson: Big youths are monopolising the roundabouts to the exclusion of the children. The park is primarily for the children of this parish, the grants coming from the various organisations on that understanding. We want it to be known that a code of rules is being drawn up, and that we shall exclude these youths from the amusements during the time the children are there. The youths seem to have taken possession of these, which are not for them but for the children and they ought to be given chance to play on them. Already there has been a serious accident due to a lot of this foolery that has been going on, and we do know that the parents wish us to put our foot down and get these young men off. We ought to fix a time for closing the amusements, as the Attendance Officer tells me there are complaints of children being there after half past nine.

  Mr. Sowter: I think we should be befitting ourselves and the Council if it goes from here that these young people have licence to use these amusements which have been provided for the children. Some damage has already been done which is going to cost something to repair, and it is due to nothing but hooliganism. In my mind we should be doing a wrong to extend to these people over a certain age the right to use these amusements. We got these for the use of the children, and to put these to the use of young people would not be carrying out obligations. Provision has been made for these young men in the way of cricket and football - games more in touch with their ability and keeping - and I move that they have one portion of the ground and the children the other. If we do this we shall be carrying out our obligations.
  The Chairman: As far as I personally am concerned, I made my remarks as a warning until we have got the rules fixed, which may take some weeks. What the Council desire is a sense of citizenship from the public and the young men. After all, the ground belongs to them, but we wish to keep it in order and have it properly conducted.
  Mr. Clarke: Will these rules we are drawing up prevent the children from having a paddle on Sundays?
The Chairman: That will be considered by the Committee. The rules say that no games shall be played on Sundays.
  Mr. Betts supported the Chairman's remarks.
  The Chairman said he noticed in the minutes that the new playing field was to be called the Recreation Ground for the time being. He would like to call it the Urban Recreation Ground.

  Mr. Lowe: I think we ought to defer that matter.
  Mr. Simpson: I think we ought to call it the Falls. There was a time when probably there was a waterfall there, because we had Old Fall Street and now we have New Fall Street. The children still say they are going on the Falls. I should like us to keep up some of these old names which remind us of the time when Huthwaite was a beautiful old place.
  The Clerk suggested that the ground be called New Fall Park, but it was eventually agreed that the matter be deferred from one month.
  The presentation of the Free Library Committee minutes caused Mr. Simpson to ask if it had not been proposed that the road to the bowling green be made more accessible.
  The Clerk: That is dealt with in the minutes.
  Mr. Simpson: People are likely to go down to the Free Library and not be aware that there is a beautiful ground at the back. I think there ought to be a road straight through to it.
  Mr. Sowter moved that an improvement be made to the entrance to the bowling green from the Library end and this was agreed to.
  Mr. Sowter asked the Clerk if he had looked up the minute referring to the charge for the Lecture Hall for the unemployed and the Clerk said he had not yet had time to refer to the minute but was bearing it in mind.
  Mr. Clarke said there was a dispute as to whether the charge was 6s. or 1s. 6d.
  Mr. Hancock: It was left for the Committee to charge a nominal fee similar to that charged by Sutton Council for the use of the room at the Baths.
  The matter was left for the Clerk to refer to the minute in question.

  Sunday at Huthwaite Parish Church was a day of personal thanksgiving, and the musical programme, both vocal and instrumental was one of the most attractive ever presented, and was rendered with outstanding ability and skill. The chief feature was the singing of Mr. Herbert Parker, a bass baritone from Lichfield Cathedral, whose solos exhibited striking dramatic and emotional fervour.
  Selections were also given by an instrumental quartette comprising the following; Messrs. E. Clay, violin; E. Godfrey, viola; C. W. Lowe, 'cello; and E. Lowe, organ. They revealed artistry of a very high order, and the items in all cases were, it will be noted, but the best composers. There were large congregations at both afternoon and evening services, the Rev. W.L. Boulton officiating. ...