Historical Footnote
| Aug 2010 Historical Footnote by Roger Bingham “The trouble with the systematic grumbler about the weather is that he has grown so accustomed to wet years that when the rain ceases for a short time he becomes more concerned than the chairman of the municipal water committee” - so ran the leader in the Westmorland Gazette during the ’drought summer’ of 1929. In fact local water authorities were becoming seriously worried after three dry months when the rainfall had only been 13 inches compared to 32 inches over the same period in 1928 which, however, had “been abnormally wet.” Thirlmere, which served Burton, was at the lowest level since 1915, and two of Kendal’s reservoirs ran dry, as did Lupton reservoir which supplied Milnthorpe. “The utmost care on water use“ was urged and Fred Atkinson of Kendal was fined £1 for washing his car. There were, however, many silver linings. Burton Mothers’ Union “was favoured with beautiful weather“ on their day trip to Liverpool while “record crowds were attracted by glorious weather to Hutton Roof sports held in the heart of the country between Burton and Kirkby Lonsdale.“ Regrettably, amidst a long list of winners, Burton’s only athletic success was Miss Pemberton who came fourth in the Ladies’ Egg and Spoon Race. Thanks to the parched reservoirs around the Lancashire towns, Burton received an unusual incursion when 600 anglers from Bolton arrived by special train to Burton and Holme Station to take part in a “fishing match on the canal.” The winner was Mr Jones with a catch of 21lbs 8ozs. The expectation of excellent weather for the forthcoming summer holidays was reflected in the adverts for the Summer Sales. “Ladies fine ribbed vests, low necks, no sleeves -1/2; brimmed hats from 1/-; frocks from 4/-; Ever-Wear suitcases reduced from 11/6 to 9/6.” Inevitably, the weather broke on 27 July, just as Holme Mills closed down for a week to stretch over August Bank Holiday Monday. Though trains were packed the roads were abnormally quiet, perhaps, because cut price “excursion tickets” had to be booked in advance before the weather broke, while motorists could plan their journey round the weather. Inevitably, flooding followed a two inch rainfall in one day, which might have contributed to a car crash at Clawthorpe. Burton Parish Council subsequently decided to ask the county council to replace a wall at the junction of the lane with the main (A6070) road with railings to make the corner safer. The sun soon came out again to shine on the special celebrations to mark the recovery from illness of King George V. In London the event was marked by one of the first public appearances of Princess Elizabeth of York. At Burton there was a children’s tea party and church services where the National Anthem was sung and £7:11s:2d was collected for the “thanksgiving fund.“ Also, at a Unionist Association garden party, local conservatives were warned by Mrs Hornyold-Strickland of Sizergh Castle of the dangers of the recently elected “Socialist” Government’s resumption of diplomatic relations with the Communist Russian regime. The oldest member Mrs Robinson then presented an “electrified table lamp” to the Burton Conservative Chairman Mrs Shorland-Ball who was leaving the district. For “the Burton, Milnthorpe and Carnforth Show the weather was threatening and unsettled in the forenoon, but it got out gloriously sunny in the afternoon.” Despite the grumbling about dried out pastures, entries in all the stock classes were well up except for “heavy horses” which, at 99 exhibits, dropped to below 100 for the first time. But the champion horse belonged to Messrs Bibby Brothers of Court Green, Burton. Above all the crop sections were “the best ever.” |
