Christmas in the Workhouse Written by Pam Preedy. ‘Please Sir, I want some more.’ Who amongst us doesn’t recognise these words when Oliver Twist, an orphan, drew the short straw to ask for more food? Although this story by Charles Dickens was not set at Christmas, it illustrates one of the horrors of the workhouse – hunger. Poverty had always been a problem. It was generally believed that poverty was the fault of the poor because they were lazy and feckless. With the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII,…
Tag: Christmas
Bromley’s Christmas Games – 1941
Holiday Football Home Guard Overwhelmed On Christmas Day Bromley met the local Home Guard in a friendly match at Hayes Lane, Bromley. The match resulted in an overwhelming victory for Bromley 15-1. McMillan scored no fewer than five times, and the match caused much entertainment to the spectators. Several Bromley players were claimed by the Home Guard, and Bromley selected four R.A.F. players for inclusion in their forward line. Bromley – Gunner, Stone, Allinson, Marshall, Holder, Tasker, Gardner, Osman, Fowler Champion, McMillan. Home Guard: Tanner, Reeves, Clark, Smedley Wade, Smith,…
Children’s Party at Cudham Hall
Children’s Party at Cudham Hall Plays and Dances The children’s Christmas party at the Royal Naval and Marine Orphanage, Cudham Hall, on Saturday, January 4, was a great success. The children looked very pretty in their party dresses and fancy costumes. The varied and entertaining programme was a great credit to the matron, Miss Edith Lingard. Nurse King and Nurse Maidment rendered the matron able assistance with the children during the evening. Among the many visitors were Commander P. Sydney Smith, R.N., and secretary, the Rev. W. Horace Boxall, R.N.…
Bromley’s Post Bag 35% below normal during Christmas 1940
We had a comfortable Christmas, everything worked smoothly and well” said Mr H.J. Sibley, head postmaster of Bromley to a Kentish Times representative. People had been asked to post earlier than in peace-time and earlier in the day. In their readiness to comply with this request, it was a tremendous help to all departments of the postal service. “We did not get the violent peaks as in former years, The Christmas rush was spread over a longer period” said Mr Sibley. The busiest day on the postage side (mail going…
Must-have Christmas Gifts for the Family c.1917
Life may have been tough in 1917, but Christmas would soon arrive and there were presents to buy. Below is a selection of advertisements for Christmas presents printed in the Bromley & District Times newspaper. Here are some Christmas ideas for the family from Herbert Collins Ltd, of Market Square, Bromley. Who advertised selling “a most varied and pleasing selection of up-to-date Novelties for Christmas Gifts.” Hundreds of suitable articles for Christmas Gifts are on show. FOR OUR TROOPS: Warm knitted scarfs, woollen gloves and other ‘comforts’ for present needs.…