The Mid Sussex Times of 100 years ago

The large broadsheet front page was the premium one for lucrative advertising and Clarke gave over the whole of it.

About half the page was a collection of advertisements for Brighton firms. It was dominated by Plummers, billed immodestly as Brighton’s greatest store, at 95-98 Western Road, Brighton. A hint of the nation’s financial struggle came with the note: “Trade depression throughout the country inevitably affects manufacturers of every commodity. “In other words, they were caught with too much stock.

For its Great November Week Plummers offered “32 windows of full of interest.” Meanwhile Staffords boasted a “huge range of fireworks” and Palmeira Stores were peddling Christmas puddings. Local stores featured included two long-lasting firms, Hoadleys of Burgess Hill and Hiltons of Haywards Heath.

Page 2 carried two columns of copy about Mr H Woolcock, headmaster of Lindfield Council school, leaving after 13 years to become head of London Road Council School in Burgess Hill. He left with an armchair and a motor safety lamp. Meanwhile, Mr F.C. Baylis headed to retirement in Hertfordshire after 19 years at London Road. He got a gold watch, cheque and cigarette case. Mr Baylis made an emotional reference to the old boys who had been killed fighting in World War One.

The Haywards Heath Hospital Extension Fund reached £8,129 18 shillings and 11 pence and the name of every one of the latest donors was printed. The considerable sum of £10 was given by Mr and Mrs William Stevens and by Miss Chandler.

When John Whiting married Dorothy Coleman at St Andrews Church, Burgess Hill, it filled a whole long column, including every wedding gift and donor being listed, from a vinegar bottle to blankets.

Tragic passion featured on page 5 when broken-hearted Fred Minter, 21, of Haywards Heath took his life on the rail line at High Bridge, Wivelsfield. He had been infatuated with a married woman and illegally married her, but she had walked out and returned to her husband and children.

Poor Cuckfield FC took a 9-0 hammering at Crawley in the Mid Sussex League’s Montgomery Cup, its premier cup competition. They later became a highly successful side.

A blunt entry for Burgess Hill stated: “Owing to lack of support and to apathy on the part of the majority of members it has been decided to discontinue the Church of England’s Men’s Society in connection with St John’s Church.” It had been formed in 1907.

The Monday Burgess Hill Pleasant Monday Evening session featured a lantern lecture on English cathedrals by the Rev. G. Tindal-Atkinson, who served St Andrews Church for many years. The domestic coal ration was increased from 1cwt to 2cwt. Most homes were heated by coal, and miners had been on strike.

This article was originally written for the Yews Talking News service for people with sight impairment.