Meeting of the Bellringers Association
The Wellingborough District of the Central Northamptonshire Association of Church Bellringers held their quarterly meeting at Higham Ferrers on Saturday. By permission of the Vicar the ringing of the bells was indulged in by various companies, and subsequently tea, served in the Church Room by the Higham ringers and their wives, was enjoyed, about 50 members being present from Northampton, Wellingboro’, Earls Barton, Rushden, Irchester, Doddington, Harrold, Irthlingboro’, Kettering, Isham, Sharnbrook, and Higham Ferrers.

A short business meeting followed, the Vicar (Rev G M Davidson) presiding.

It was resolved that the next quarterly meeting be held at Doddington in August, and that a special meeting be held at Wilby in May.

The secretary (Mr F Wilford) reported that the holding of a special meeting at Raunds in July to commemorate the 25th year of the Society’s existence was considered.

A vote of thanks was accorded the Vicar for his presence at the meeting, and for the use of the bells, and to the ladies for providing tea.

The Vicar, in the course of his remarks, said how pleased he was to welcome the ringers to Higham Ferrers, being fully convinced what a great amount of good the Association was doing in knitting the ringers together in one common brotherhood.

Ringing in various methods was indulged in until seven o’clock.

EMIGRANT—Mr. Percy Gadsby, who for several years was in the Higham Ferrers office of Messrs. Simpson and Mason, solicitors, left yesterday for Western Australia, where he has a brother residing, Mr. P. Gadsby is the son of Mr. W. H. Gadsby, of Higham Ferrers.

Higham Ferrers
A Naval aeroplane passed over Higham on Tuesday morning going southwards. On Monday night the machine alighted at Tichmarsh through mechanical trouble.

Sharnbrook Police - Mayor of Higham’s Chaffeur Fined
Friday—Before Mr. L. G. Stileman-Gibbard (in the chair), Mr. Max Townley, and Mr. Hartop.

Alfred Neal, of Rushden, chauffeur, was summoned for a breach of the Lighting regulations at melchbourne.—Defendant pleaded not guilty.

Special Constable F. V. Dalton said on Nov. 16th he was close to the “Saint John Arm” Melchbourne, about 8.40p.m. in a cart. He called the attention of another “Special” to the bright lights of a car, and they stopped it. He should say the lamps were about 7½ inches to 8 inches in diameter. There was a ring of opaque paint round the edge of the lamp, but the centre was unobscured with tissue paper. Witness asked the driver for his licence, and he got out of the car to get it. Then the man in the back of the car said, “The lights are all right. I have driven through Northamptonshire, and I am the Mayor of Higham Ferrers. That is good enough, is it not?” Witness said, “No, it is not; but if you are really Mayor of Higham Ferrers I won’t bother about the licence being produced, but I shall have to report the case.”

As there were ladies in the car, he did not insist on having the lights extinguished.

Defendant: I consider your lights as good as mine.

Witness: Possibly you may think so, but mine were legal and yours were not.

Second Constable S. C. Horsford said the lamps were six inches across and only three inches were unshaded.

Defendant said he was chauffeur to the Mayor of Higham Ferrers. They had had the Police Inspector of Rushden up to see the lamps, and he said they should pass them.

Inspector Bliss said he should ask for a severe penalty, as the man had pleaded not guilty, and had put them to a deal of trouble to prove the case. Also the Mayor of Higham Ferrers was in the car, and as a magistrate should know the law.

The Chairman said he should never increase a fine because a man did not plead guilty. They liked to hear the evidence in cases. They regretted to have to fine the chairman of a neighbouring Bench, but an offence had been committed.—Fiend £2 and 6s. costs.

The Women’s Adult School had an outing to Kettering on Wednesday, and had an enjoyable time, in spite of adverse conditions, at Mr. Wicksteed’s park.

The Employees of Messrs. Thos. Sanders, Ltd., curriers, Higham Ferrers, had an outing on Saturday to St. Neots. Seven members of the Wesleyan Silver Band accompanied the party and played some lively music at Swineshead and Great Staughton, and also at Kimbolton on the return journey, when a collection was taken for the wounded soldiers at Kimbolton, which realised 6s. 4d. The whole of the arrangements were made by Mr. J. W. Baker, secretary of the Company, and the firm gave a donation towards the expenses. A very enjoyable time was spent on the river and in other amusements, and a luncheon was provided by Mrs. Bond, at the New Inn. The party numbered about 43.

Allotment Awards—Mr. C. F. Lawrance, Northants County Council expert, has, with the Allotments Committee inspected the plots, and the prizes have been awarded as follow:—War allotments, 1 T. H. A. Beetenson, 2 G. Afford, 3 D. Green: Association allotments, 1 F. Cowley, 2 H. Daff, 3 G. Passilow and A. E. White; Co-operative allotments, 1 G. Cowley, 2 F. J. Brown, 3 W. Wheatley; Church Close allotments, 1 G. Cooper, 2 Chas. Smith, 3 H. Parrott; pastures, 1 Wooding, 2 W. Wright, 3 C. Baker; Stone Pit, 1 Mrs. Brown, 2 Lambert. The Mayor kindly gave £10 for the prizes, which were presented to the successful competitors on Wednesday by the Mayoress.

Prisoners of War Fund—A meeting with the Mayoress( Mrs. T. Patenall, M.B.E.) in the chair, and attended by a number of relatives of the local prisoners of war, and others, was held in the Grammar School, on Tuesday, to form a ladies’ committee for the borough, to undertake the distribution of any funds that are raised, and to receive gifts of money for the prisonersof War belonging to the town. The committee will also be glad to supply information to the relatives. The members of the Committee are: President, the Mayoress; vice-president, Mrs. Own Parker; and Mrs. Brazier, Mrs. Chamberlain, Mrs. R. Patenall, Mrs. Quincey, Mrs. Sudborough, and Mrs. S. Upton. Mr. A. Weld, of the Union Bank (and the Square, Higham Ferrers), has kindly consented to act as hon. Treasurer of the fund, and Mrs. H. K. Fry, the Vicarage, was appointed hon. Secretary. Mrs. S. Upton kindly undertook to form an entertainment committee with the object of raising funds. By kind permission of the Mayor, a public meeting will be held shortly in the Town hall.