Sarah
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The West Somerset Free Press, Williton, Minehead, and Watchet Journal Saturday 20 Sep 1902
Page 5 Column 5
<this article had lots of missing letters, as they were mostly obvious, I've added them in for easier reading and added question marks to all the words affected>
WATCHET.
Buy or hire Pianos at F.W. BAKER'S.
Buy or hire Organs at F. W. BAKER'S.
Buy or hire at the cheapest house, Fore-street, Taunton – (Advt.)
THE TOWN BAND. - On Wednesday evening last, the Town Band, which, during? the season, has given selections weekly upon the esplanade?, under Bandmaster WEDLAKE, gave their last performance. On each occasion they have rendered? a splendid programme of music, and have given great satisfaction.
LIFEBOAT LAUNCH – On Tuesday afternoon, at about four o'clock, the well-known? rocket? report summoned a crew to “man the lifeboat.” It was the second practice of the new reserve boat and evoked a good deal of interest. The coxswain (Mr. R. OWEN) was in charge, and Mr. A. W. HORNE (the hon. sec. and treasurer?) was also in the boat. Rowing and sailing exercise? were indulged in, the boat behaving well? in the fairly heavy? sea, and the trip giving great satisfaction to those on board. On the way to the launch a photograph of the boat and crew was taken by Mr. Bert HOLE.
“WATCHET FAIR.” - Tuesday? was Watchet “fair-day.” Anything approaching? a fair has long been relegated to the “limbo? of the past,” but the youngsters usually make a show of “hunting for the fair” with lanterns of various descriptions – home-made and otherwise – on the night? of the 16th, and this? was the? case on Tuesday, when the time-honoured custom provoked a good deal of amusement.
BAPTIST HARVEST THANKSGIVING. - On Sunday and Monday? last, thanksgiving? services? for? the harvest were held in the Baptist Chapel?, when the advertised? Preachers for the Sunday services were Mr. J. COLES (in the morning?) and the Rev. W. PRIESTNALL?, pastor (in the evening). On Monday evening, the Rev. W. PRIESTNALL? delivered a very powerful address on the subject, “God's Anticipations?,” which was much appreciated by those present. The chapel was very? prettily decorated with flowers, fruit?, and vegetables, and the pulpit looked very chaste, being adorned with bunches of grapes, white and red dahlias?, oats, and myrtle, whilst the windows, which were decorated with moss and dahlias, showed that much time and patience had been? given by many willing helpers. Miss M. PITTAWAY presided at the organ.
WESLEYAN C.E. GENERAL MEETING. - The annual general meeting of the members of this society was held? on Tuesday evening last?, when there was a very fair number present. Mr. W. WILLIAMS, having been voted to the chair? called upon Miss ORGAN for the financial statement, which was as? follows?:- Balance in hand at the end of last year, £3 6s. 6d.; income, £13 4s. 9d.; total, £15 11s. 3d.; expenditure, £13 7s. 9½d.; balance £2 3s. 5½d. The Sunshine Committee reported having started the year with £1 5s. 8d.; expenditure, 12s.; in hand, 13s. 8d. The election? of officers then too place as follows:- President, Rev. R. P. DAVEY; vice-presidents, Rev. F. J. GOULD, Miss POLE, and Messrs. W. STOATS??? and W. WILLIAMS; secretary, Miss K. COLLINS?; treasurer, Miss ORGAN; auditor, Mr. W. WILLIAMS; pianist, Miss GIBBS; District Union representatives, Messrs. E. REDD and T. GOULD; the? committee conveners were Miss HORNIBLOW?? (look-out), Miss? L. DAVIS (temperance?), Miss ORGAN (sunshine), Mrs. W. STOATE? (social?), Miss GIBBS (music), Mr. E. REDD (missionary), and Mr. E. BINDING (prayer meeting). Miss L. DATE was appointed? superintendent? of the Junior C.E., with a band of helpers at her disposal. The meeting terminated with a hymn and prayer.
WEDDINGS. - Three weddings have taken? place during the past? Week. On Saturday last, at St. Decuman's Church?, by the vicar, the Rev. C. H. HEALE, John, second son of Mr. William BINDING, Clifton-villa?, Watchet, was married to? Ethel Mary, eldest daughter of the late Mr. Richard Henry BROWNING, also of Watchet. It was a very pretty wedding, and the bride looked very nice, dressed in grey, trimmed with white lace and silk, and a toque trimmed with white velvet ribbon and orange blossom?. The bridesmaids?, the Misses? BINDING and A. BROWNING, were? dressed in light blue. The best man was Mr. R. BINDING?, the bride being given away by her uncle, Mr. L. WEBBER. Mr. J. BINDING is the well-known Watchet and county footballer. He is also a member of the Town Band, and his colleagues turned out on Saturday evening?, and serenaded the newly wedded? Couple with a capital selection of music. On Wednesday morning, at St. Decuman's Church, the marriage took place? of Ernest, second son of Mr. William ESCOTT?, and Edith, elder daughter of Mr. William JONES, both of Watchet?. The bride, wearing a blue dress?, trimmed with white silk and a spray of orange blossoms?, looked charming. She was given away by her father, and the bridesmaids, who were dressed in cream?, were the Misses PITTAWAY and ESCOTT. Mr. A. JONES was the best? man. On the same day, at the Baptist Chapel, the wedding of Miss Mabel JONES (sister of the above-named) to Walter? George, eldest son of Mr. Benjamin COGGINS, took place, the Rev. W. PRIESTNALL??, assisted by Mr. W. WILLIAMS, performing the ceremony. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a cream dress, trimmed with chiffon, and looked exceedingly nice, and she was attended? by the bridesmaids mentioned above. Mr. W. COGGINS acted? as best man. The wedding breakfast was held at Alexandra-villas, the residence of Mr. JONES, and the wedding couples afterwards? left for Burnham, where the honeymoon will be spent. Both Baptist and Wesleyan C.E.'s gave very nice presents? to the wedded couples.
BOAT RACE. - Boating men gave free vent to their admiration for a splendid rowing competition which? took? place on Wednesday evening. For sometime? past a desire has been felt to prove by demonstration the best rowing boat in the harbour, and with a view to testing? this Messrs?. A. BALMER and M. HORNIBLOW?? set themselves to work to organise a race. The course was? marked out, and was from the harbour mouth to a mark opposite the Warren and back, and round a mark opposite Culver? Cliff?, just below? the pleasure-grounds, the race finishing at the starting-point, it being rowed on the flood tide. At the time there was a strong nor'westerly breeze blowing and a heavy sea running?. Only two boats entered for the race?-that belonging? to the coastguard station and the other the property of Mr. C. SULLY. The race was for three-oared boats?, with coxswains; two? prizes of 15s and 5s. being offered?, and the following crews (all local men) turned out:- No. 1 boat (coastguards') – Messrs. W. BINDING (bow), G. STRONG, and J. WILKINS (stroke), with Mr. A. W. HORNE (cox) No 2 boat – Messrs?. A. BINDING (bow), W. SULLY, and J. NORMAN (stroke), and C. SULLY (cox.) At a few minutes past six, the gun report announced that the race had commenced. The crew of No. 1 made a very fine start, and almost directly No. 2 crept round her stern from the winward?? to the leeward berth, but No. 1 held the slight lead gained almost until? the first mark was reached, both crews pulling very hard, and? a splendid race ensuing in the teeth of wind and? tide. When rounding the mark, No. 2, which had now drawn ahead, was half-a-length to the good. The boats came up channel at a splendid rate, but Mr. HORNE's crew slowly but surely? grained ground, and when they were parallel with the harbour she was about three lengths ahead. At the Elwell mark, the distance between the two had been materially lessened?, and when they again had to face? wind and tide, the result seemed to hang in the balance?, but No. 1 again steadily gained until the finish?, when she came in about 2 ½ lengths ahead. The time (unofficial) was about 19mins. 30Sec. for the first? boat, the second coming in about six seconds later. It was one of the finest races that has been seen in this part of the channel for some years past, and was witnessed? by many hundreds of people from the pleasure ground and other elevated positions. Mr. A. NICHOLAS acted as starter and judge.