For many years the Bedfordshire Times would dedicate a large section of its pages to news and events happening in the villages around the country. Husborne Crawley featured regularly. Here are some of the entries from the year 1911.
A parish meeting to discuss Coronation festivities was held on Monday evening at the Reading Room. There will be a special open air service, general sports and a free meat tea, the funds to be raised by subscriptions.
The annual vestry meeting was held on April 20th, and for the first time in the history of the parish a lady warden was appointed – Miss Mossman, of Elm Cottage, a well-known and popular worker in the parish.
The annual meeting of Charity Estate Trustees was held on Tuesday evening, Mr W H Hogg presiding. The accounts showed that the income of this portion of the village charity amounted to £109 15s. 2d. Owing to the reletting of the farm more than £30 had been expended on repairs, but the new tenants, the Royal Agricultural Society, were paying £35 per annum more rent than the last tenant. In addition, R A S had themselves spent more than £100 on new buildings for the farm. Doles amounting to £34 had been paid out. Mr F Bowler applied for a premium for apprenticing his daughter, and Mr C A Barnwell , the bakery tenant, interviewed with the Trustees with a view of getting them to accept him as tenant for a lease instead of his continuing as yearly tenant.
The Wesleyan Choir from Aspley Guise gave a capital entertainment at the Methodist Chapel on Tuesday evening.
The Coronation Committee met on Monday evening at the Reading Room. It was reported that £16 3s. had already been subscribed. The vicar announced that he had received the promise of £10 from the Duke of Bedford. Mr. F. Barnwell stated that Mr. Saunders had kindly promised ‘The Moors’ for the festivities and that he had obtained the Aspley Benefit Societies marquee.
The road leading to Crow Lane and also the footpath have now been put into thorough order. The Parish Council spent £12 on the path.
The Coronation Celebration Committee held a meeting on Monday evening to make final arrangements for the festivities on June 22. The sports programme embraces 26 items, and closes with a greasy pole climb for a leg of pork. Tobacco will be distributed to men over 16 years of age, and the drink will include both ale and minerals. Promises of sweets for children and also photographs of the King and Queen, were made and accepted with thanks.
The festivities for so small a parish were on a large scale. The committee had £40 at its disposal, and so were able to spend £19 on a meat tea, and about £10 for sports, in addition to a plentiful supply of minerals, and all were provided, and also a packet of tobacco. The children received Coronation mugs, sweets, medals, and photos of the King and Queen. The proceedings opened with a brief but tight service in the Reading Room. The sports commenced at one o’clock, the adult section and the juniors occupying one side of the ‘Moors’. Each section included nearly 30 events and there was some keen competition splendid meat tea was provided in a large marquee.
H.M. Inspector, Mr. Fishwick, came to the Council Schools on Friday last. Not more than half the children were present, the others having gone acorning. Mr. Fishwick examined those present, and expresses himself as well satisfied with the work of the children.
A somewhat remarkable incident, which unhappily resulted in serious injury to a three-year-old girl, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Oliver Cooke, happened at the Mill Cottages on Thursday last. The little girl was with her grandfather, Mr E. Cooke, who had just loosened his dog to chase a rat. The child was timid and clutched her grandfather’s leg. The dog, one of the Airedale breed, resented this affection towards his master and jumped at the child, knocked her down then seized her face, and with its teeth tore open the flesh near her eye and across the forehead. The unfortunate little girl was taken to the surgery at Woburn and Dr. Smith sewed up the torn flesh with several stitches. So far the child has shown progress towards recovery, although her injuries were of a serious nature.