A History of Preston in Hertfordshire
A year in the news - 1935
Newpapers’ stories of the time provide an insight into village life.
Recently, it was the turn of some Hertfordshire Express years to be added to the archives which
is why this article has been uploaded now. These help with dates that events occurred in Preston
and where people lived - there is a hole about this in the 1930s as the relevant directories can
only be read at the British Library.
On this page, the extraordinary story of the occupants of Sootfield Green is told and episodes in
the history of Preston cricket are documented.
Birthday: Winifred Palmer of 4 (new) Council Cottages on 7 January.
In January, Hitchin’s Rural District Council met to discuss the building of new properties in villages
after the passing of the Housing Act 1930 - Slum Clearance Scheme. It’s Chairman was Preston’s
R J W Dawson. Two bungalows (with water) at Preston were proposed for a total cost of £564. A
tender from B & G Mott had been accepted. Later, the plan to build not bungalows but two, two-
bedroomed houses was adopted.
16 February:
16 February:
23 February:
2 March:
16 March:
11 May: ‘Best Day Ever’
25 May:
Birthdays: Esther Brown (20 April) and James Brown (also 20 April) of Pond Farm.
25 May:
15 June:
29 June:
22 June
Hertfordshire Show:
6 July:
27 July:
Birthdays: Doris Sharp of Hitchwood Cottages on 10 July. and Kathleen Palmer of 4 Council Cottages
on 13 July.
20 July:
15 July:
20 July:
3 August:
24 August:
24 August:
31 August: ‘Strange Pets at Preston’
7 September:
14 September:
14 September:
21 September:
Birthday: Patricia Currell of Holly Cottages, Back Lane on 20 September.
19 October:
19 November:
November: In Memorium
Birthday: Jocelyn Brown of Pond Farm on 22 November.
23 November
Hitchin Chrysanthemum Show:
19 November:
7 December:
Birthdays: Margaret Harper of Wain Wood on 13 December
Denis Robinson on 20 December
Clarice Bryan of 5 Council Cottages, Back, Chequers Lane on 24 December.
9 May: Death of Isabella Peters (84)
Royal Agricultural Show
Birthday: Rosemary Brown of Pond Farm on 28 March.
Finally, a special mention for Clarice Bryan (shown right), the last person mentioned in
this article.
Clarice was born on 24 December 1921 and brought up in the household of Alfred and
Caroline Longley at 5 Council Houses, Chequers Lane, Preston.
She was an assistant in a confectionery shop in 1939.
In 1935, the Hertfordshire Express (a weekly newspaper, published on Saturdays) had a regular
column titled Under the Oak Tree which was a ‘Children’s Corner’. It featured stories and
competitions for youngsters.
During 1935, Clarice (then thirteen years old) was mentioned in ‘Children’s Corner’ nineteen times.
She wrote essays such as Autumn, How I Like to Spend a Day of the Week Best and What Would
You Like to be When I Grow Up. She entered competitions like My Popular Film Stars, Where Would
You LIke to Live in the British Empire and Name Katie’s Four Kittens and sent in 270 stamps on one
occasion as well as ninety-nine Jubilee together with 244 ordinary stamps another time.
She received four vouchers which could be redeemed at Hitchin shops: Geo. Spurrs (3/-), Timothy
Whites, Spurrs and Curnows (2/-). The Express cost 2d (pence), so her vouchers would have paid for
fifty-four newspapers - a year’s worth. She was also commended fifteen times by Gipsy Jack.
A neighbour in the Council Houses, Samuel Hall, delivered newspapers and one can easily imagine
him leaving a paper at No 5 on Saturdays with an excited Clarice. No prizes are offered for guessing
how she spent much of her weekend. This was a different world.
(continued left)
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