Friday 8 June 1917
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Although born in Bradford, Mr Willie Sutcliffe came to Shipley when he was only one year old so that he can with justice almost be claimed as a native. In his youth he was a pupil of Mr Newboult, late of Bradford and now of South Africa. His career as an organist opened at the Windhill Wesleyan Chapel in 1887 and was there continued until 1893. He then went to the Lancaster Wesleyan Church where he was organist for ten years. After this he accepted the position as organist and choir master at the Manningham Wesleyan Church. Mr Sutcliffe’s brother, at this time organist at the Saltaire Wesleyan Chapel, accepted a position at Salem Congregational Church Manningham and Mr Sutcliffe was invited to be organist at Saltaire, a position he still holds. Orchestral work When at Lancaster, Mr Sutcliffe was music master to the Lancaster College, Morecambe. He also had considerable experience in orchestral work and was conductor of the Rosse Street Brotherhood Orchestra, Shipley, up to last year. He was founder of the orchestra in Rosse Street which, with Westcliffe Road Orchestra, formed the nucleus of the Shipley Orchestral Society of which he is now the conductor and which recently took part in the patriotic concert given at the Pavilion de Luxe. Although for the present the society is held up owing to so many of its members having been called to military service, there is every hope that with the return to normal times, the efficiency of the orchestra will be renewed.
At the heart of Shipley’s music scene
A gift of an altar cloth bordered with beautiful lace work has been presented to Windhill Parish Church by Miss Nellie Batley. Miss Trevethan has worked a very handsome embroidered altar cloth which is to be given to Likoma Cathedral in Central Africa.
Altar cloth gifts
Wood Ranger has some success against foxes  in Dawson Wood
For a long time foxes have been doing considerable damage in Thackley and district and quite a number of poultry houses have been raided with the result that owners have suffered severe losses. These, however, are at last being coped with and five – young and old – have been either shot or trapped by Mr Eke, the Corporation’s wood ranger. Fine vixen Last Thursday morning he shot a very fine vixen in a disused quarry in Dawson Wood at Hill Top. She measured 48 inches from the tip of the nost to the tip of the tail, stood 19 inches high and turned the scale at 16 lbs. Quite a sensation was caused when it was known and a large number of people ccalled to see it. There has also been good sport on Idle Moor where several others have been caught.
When the representation of the People’s Bill now before Parliament becomes law, the Shipley Parliamentary Division as we have known it, will cease to exist. Idle, Eccleshill, which includes Greengates, Low Moor and North Bierley will be taken into the City of Bradford. This will leave Shipley, which gives its name to the Division, without any connecting link with the remaining part of the constituency. Negotiations It would, therefore, be necessary for Shipley to combine with other districts for parliamentary electoral purposes. Naturally the Shipley Council desire that the Division should retain its present name so is entering into negotiations with townships whose association Shipley would be mutually advantageous. The clause in the Bill which seeks to effect the redistribution of seats throughout the country provides that
the standard unit of population for a Member of Parliamennt shall be 70,000 and obviously the most suitable townships to join Shipley would be Bingley, Baildon, Esholt, Hawksworth, Menston, Rawdon and Calverley. These districts would form a fairly compact Parliamentary Division in the watershed of the Aire Valley. All the townships named have similar interests with the manufacture of textiles as a their principal trade and this is a matter of essential importance in the representation which is to be obtained in Parliament. Industrial The Division suggested would be chiefly industrial but also to some extent residential. The instruction issued to the Boundary Commissioners is to the
effect that consideration should be given as far as possible to to the segregation of industrial and rural areas and the agricultural districts in the Wharfe Valley should seek other associations. We understand there is likely to be no objection to such a scheme on the part of Bingley and it is clearly in the interests of Baildon to join Shipley in the scheme. Geographical What view may be taken by Menston, Rawdon and the other places named we cannot say but a glance at the map of the West Riding would convince anybody that apart from the other cosiderations to which we have referred, the scheme is well worthy of consideration even from a geographical point of view. We agree with Cllr C E Learoyd that the matter is an urgent one and ought to be dealt with at once. As he urges, there is the danger at a time like this that very important things may be rushed through without proper consideration being given to them.
“All the townships named have similar interests with the manufacture of textiles as their principal trade”
Shipley needs to act on new parliamentary boundaries
Mr Charles Messenger of 4 Mafeking Terrace, Bolton Woods, reported that four chickens had been taken from his hen house Detective Brown made inquiries which led him to a house in 12 North Brook Street, Bolton Road, Bradford where he found a fowl in the cupboard plucked ready for cooking. In the ash it he also found a quantity of feathers which Mr Messenger recognised as similar to those of the fowls which he had lost. Detective Brown then charged George William Berry, a teamer who formerly lived in Spurr Road, near the Market Place, Shipley.
The prisoner replied: “Yes I took three in a sack and put them in the backyard of the Venture Hotel and when I came out someone had taken them. Back for another “I then went back for another and that’s the one you’ve got.” Berry was bought up at Bradford West Riding Police Court where Supt Fairbairn said he had previously been before the court on three occasions. Prisoner was sent to gaol for three months with hard labour.
Three months’ gaol with hard labour for fowl deed
Among the topics discussed by Baildon Education Committee was non- attendance at school. The average attendance in their schools was 83 percent but it dropped to 46 percent in the case of the National Mixed Infants. The chairman, Cllr William Holmes, pointed out that one cause of non- attendance might be that some of the children were at work in factories He thought it would be a good idea of the Press would give publicity to the importance of children school regularly. Summer Time The Clerk, Mr Edward Steel, said the attendance was better this year than last Because of Summer Time, the parents had to go to bed earlier in order to get to work. Still the attendance was much below what it should be. Chairman: “We cannot issue an order compelling people to go to bed at a certain time. It would, however, be wise to use our influence to impress upon teachers and children the necessity of earlier hours.
Early to bed, early to rise…
The previous week the paper had carried a story that a discharged soldier had been appointed as caretaker at Crowgill Park. But this week the council notes included the statement: “Unfortunately the discharged soldier had not turned out successful “He had not been seen near the park for a week and had not sent any word. He had simply stayed away.”
Discharged soldier job not a success
Fear wounded soldiers’ seats might be used by Weary Willies
Shipley Council showed some concern over the plan to switch six garden seats from Crowgill Park to Alexandra Square in Saltaire and to put nine other seats around the town for the use of wounded soldiers. In supporting Cllr Hirst’s statement that he hoped ‘the necessity for seats would only be temporary,’ Cllr Midgley expressed fears that ‘the seats might be taken advantage of by people who would be better employed working than sitting about. Free bowls “We do not want to have a lot of seats knocking about the town for ‘Weary Willies’ and ‘Tired Tims’. “I hope the Council will see that the seats are reserved for wounded soldiers.” Cllr Hirst said there would be notices fixed to the seats that they should be saved for wounded soldiers. He also announced that the wounded would be allowed to use the bowling greens free of charge.
Since the last meeting of the Council’s Highways Committee, two of their horses had been taken by the military authorities. In consequence, the Council were in great difficulty in carrying out their work, especially in road works, in the Ashpit cleansing department and the carting of coal and coke. The Northern Command at York had been requested that instructions should be given to the Remount Department that no more horses should be taken from the Council to meet the military requirements.
Military horse demands hampering Council
Seagulls coming inland in search of food
The Shipley and district branch of the Workers’ Educational Association held their second ramble of this year under the leadership of Mr W H Parkin. They studied the habits and songs of birds and, to some minor extent, of insects and animal life in Shipley Glen. Mr Parkin called attention to visits which are paid in increasing numbers by seagulls to inland sewage farms. Rarely seen Forty or fifty years ago, when such farms were not known as they are today, the seagull was rarely seen as far inland as the Shipley and Bradford district. Now, however, a small colony of gulls may be found in the vicinity of many of our inland sewage arms, the birds being scavengers an havig found the farms in their search for food.
Before removing a new gas mantle from its box, pass a thread through the loop on the top and soak it for five minutes in a tumbler of white vinegar. Hang till quite dry. Treated in this  way, the mantle will last much longer and give a far more brilliant light and the bracket can be safely shaken without any harm to the mantle.
Gas mantle economy
IN MEMORIAM RAISBECK - in loving memory of Pte Maurice Raisbeck (24) only son of Mr and Mrs Lewis Raisbeck, 29 Baildon Bridge. KIA May 3rd
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