Beeston in Australian Newspapers

THE MAITLAND MERCURY (NSW), SATURDAY, 7 OCTOBER 1848 - TRAVELLERS WHO HAVE ASCENDED MONT BLANC - They are only 29 in number : the first being in 1786; the second that of Dr Sanssure was in 1787. Two females have successfully accomplished the same difficult feat; one was Maria Pardis, of Chamonix - locally called, from her accomplishment of the undertaking, Maria de Mont Blanc; the other a French lady. The Swiss heroine was carried in the men’s arms to the top, plus more que vivante. The last ascent, was that of August the 5th, 1846, when Mr John WOOLLEY, of Beeston, Nottinghamshire, and Mr J.T. HUNT, of Wirksworth, Derbyshire, aged 19, attained the summit.

THE ARGUS (Melbourne, Vic), WEDNESDAY, 31 AUGUST 1853 - DEATHS - At Prahran, on Monday, 29th August, aged 44, after a lingering illness, Charles HURT, a native of Beeston, Nottinghamshire, for several years a faithful servant in the employ of Messrs Little and Co., auctioneers, of this city.

AUSTRALIAN TOWN AND COUNTRY (NSW), SATURDAY, 28 DECEMBER 1889 - NEWS IN BRIEF - It is said that since the beginning of Mr BRADLAUGH’s illness he has come in for a legacy of £1,000, under the will of the late Mr PORTER, of Beeston, Notts.

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN (Perth, WA), MONDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 1901 - DEATHS - FLETCHER - At Hay-street West, on November 17, Alfred Besford FLETCHER, the eldest son of A.G. FLETCHER, Beeston, Nottingham, England. Nottingham papers please copy.

THE BRISBANE COURIER (Qld), WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 1912 - MARRIAGES - PRICE-IRWIN - On the 20th February 1912, at All-Saints, Wickham-Terrace, Brisbane, by Rev. F.M. Nightingale, Cecil Stanley, youngest son of Mr and Mrs W. PRICE, of Beeston, Notts, England, to Edith Mary, eldest daughter of the late Mrs IRWIN and William IRWIN, of Rockhampton, Qld.

THE BRISBANE COURIER (Qld), THURSDAY, 12 JUNE 1913 - Report of the state of the Benevolent Asylum, Dunwich, for the week ended 7 June - In the asylum at last report, 793 males and 135 females; since admitted, 8 males and 1 female; returned from leave, 3 males; discharged, 4 males; died, 2 males, 2 females; absent on leave, 7 males, 1 female; remaining 791 males, 133 females. Deaths during the week: Stephen GRIFFIN (aged 80), born in Ireland; Rosa Christian THINEE (65) born England; Rebecca Eleanor TWIDALE (80) born Beeston, England; Thomas CANNON (73) born Heidleburg, Victoria.

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (NSW) - WEDNESDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 1913 - A FREETRADER - "ENGLAND HAS THRIVED ON IT" - Mr O.W. BLACK, one of the younger men of the British Parliamentary party, represents North Bedfordshire in the House of Commons, where he has sat for eight years. He belongs to the Liberal party. Although Mr BLACK is a lace-manufacturer on a large scale in Beeston, Nottingham, he is a pronounced Freetrader. He stated that North Bedfordshire is an agricultural district. The wages of the agricultural labourer were low, and there was yet room for improvement in his conditions. Already there has been an improvement, and he thought this upward movement would be accelerated. "We want more men on the land," remarked the member for Nottingham, using a phrase with a most favourable ring to an Australian’s ears. "We want the farmer to appreciate the fact that it will pay him to give his men good wages. They cannot get the best work out of them unless the men are in a position to feed and keep themselves well." Speaking of agricultural eduction in England, Mr BLACK remarked that the farmers did not think very much of it. They would like the boys to leave school at 12, if they could get them. "I have heard it said that a boy is spoilt for farm work if he is kept at school after 12," he added. Speaking of the tariff reform movement, Mr BLACK said, "I believe that in Freetrade our well-being lies. We have thriven upon it in the past and are likely to thrive upon it in the future. I say that as a manufacturer as well as the representative of an agricultural district." Asked as to the lace-industry in Great Britain, Mr BLACK said that his manufacture was in the works recently occupied by the Humber Cycling Company. The lace trade, consisting in Valencienne, torchon, plain and spotted nets, was a growing one. The English machinery-made lace industry was not in competition with that of Ireland, where the lace was worked by hand.

THE SUNDAY TIMES (Perth, WA), SUNDAY, 23 JULY 1916 - MISSING FRIENDS - BAILEY (Thomas), Native of Beeston, Notts. Last heard of at Sandhurst, Adelaide

THE REGISTER (Adelaide), THURSDAY, 25 OCTOBER 1928 - DEATHS - MICHELL - On the 20th October, at Beeston, England, Thomas, beloved husband of Jinnie MICHELL, of 93 Rose Terrace, Wayville, by cabin. Aged 66.

THE QUEENSLANDER (Brisbane, Qld), THURSDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 1929 - The lowest temperature ever recorded in England at Christmas was in 1860. when, at Beeston, Nottinghamshire, the thermometer registered 40 degrees of frost.

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (NSW), TUESDAY, 6 MAY 1930 - OIL BURNING BUS - What is believed to be the first light motor bus fitted with a heavy oil-burning power unit of entirely British design and manufacture, has been placed in commission in Beeston, Nottinghamshire. It has a 4L.2 type Gardner high-speed oil engine fitted to a Lancia bus chassis on which is a single-deck 20-seater body, the engine being governed to give a maximum speed of about 35 miles an hour. This bus has a fuel consumption at about the rate of 20 miles to the gallon. A system of compression relief for each cylinder is provided, making starting by hand from cold remarkably easy without the use of electric heating plugs or other auxillary equipment.

THE MERCURY (Hobart, Tas), MONDAY, 29 FEBRUARY 1932 - Eleven acres of glass are used in the walls and roofs of one wing of a factory nearly completed at Beeston, Nottinghamshire. When finished, this factory will be the largest in the world.

THE BRISBANE COURIER (Qld), MONDAY, 1 AUGUST 1932 - MR F. BROOKS - Mr Frank BROOKS, one of the old residents of Thompson Estate, died at his residence, Junction Terrace, on July 29. Mr BROOKS was a foreman bricklayer, who worked until late in life in Brisbane, Ipswich and Goodna. He was born at Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England, in 1846, and lived in Brisbane for over 30 years. The late Mr BROOKS was one of those who saw the havoc of the 1893 flood, and helped in the reconstruction work. (Photo)

THE MAIL (Adelaide, SA), SATURDAY, 21 DECEMBER 1935 - ENGLISHMAN’S GAOL ORDEAL - For more than two years a young Englishman has been in gaol at Barcelona awaiting trial on a charge of murder. Only now has the date of his trial been fixed. He is Mr Robert LAMB, aged 25, a native of Beeston, Notts. It was on August 13, 1933, that he was arrested after a bandit raid on a Barcelona restaurant in which the cashier was fatally wounded. The young Englishman was accused of firing the shot which killed the cashier. Mr LAMB was alleged to have made the raid with four Spaniards. He was rescued from an angry mob after the shooting. At the time a British diplomatic protest was made, and it was pointed out that LAMB was not a bandit, but was actually trying to capture the fleeing robbers when he was set upon by the excited mob and then arrested. The Barcelona authorities deny this, alleging that LAMB and the four Spaniards, Angel Mascarboure, Pedro Campo, Adolpho Vallano, and a fourth nicknamed "El Gallego", who fled from Spain, entered the restaurant together. They further allege that when the cashier refused to hand over the contents of the till LAMB shot him on the orders of "El Gallego". The Public Prosecutor has made it known that he will demand a sentence of 17 years and a day upon Lamb and the Spaniards.

THE ADVERTISER (Adelaide, SA), SATURDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 1939 - SHORT WAVE AMATEURS - (Abridged) - A station which has worked all continents with a little two-stage transmitter is G2OC, operated by Les R. SCOTT, of 118 High-road, Beeston, Nottingham, England. A 39 type valve is used as a crystal occillator-frequency doubler and the other stage which is the power amplifier has only a 45 type valve in it. Telephony experiments are also conducted occasionally and are obtained by medium of a 2A3 valve in grid bias system of modulation. Receiver is an ordinary detector and one audio, and the operator is an active member of the Radio Society of Great Britain. He is often heard during the Society’s annual British Empire Radio Union contests.

THE COURIER MAIL (Brisbane, Qld), TUESDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 1939 - MARRIAGES - SMITH-SQUIRES - On the 15th September 1939, at Albert Street Methodist Church, by the Rev. H.M. Wheller, Kenneth Andrew, elder son of Mrs F.M. SMITH and the late Mr Peter SMITH of Beeston, Nottingham, England, to Cecily Mary Helen, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs S.J. SQUIRES, of Galloway Hill, Brisbane.

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (NSW), SATURDAY, 5 AUGUST 1944 - DEATHS - 24 July 1944, result of aircraft accident at Beeston near Nottingham, England, 423264 Flying Officer (Observer) Ronald Frederick STEVENS, dearly loved husband of Esma. DEATHS - 24 July 1944, result of aircraft accident, Beeston, Nottingham, England, Flying Officer Ronald Frederick STEVENS, loved only son of Mr and Mrs H.W. STEVENS, of Arncliffe.

THE ARGUS (Melbourne, Vic), TUESDAY, 24 JULY 1945 - IN MEMORIAM - ROLL OF HONOUR - ON ACTIVE SERVICE - MONTGOMERY - In proud and loving memory of our dear son, Flying Officer Alan MONTGOMERY, killed on active service in England July 24, 1944 - If all the world were mine to give, I’d give, yes, and more, Just to see your dear, sweet face, come smiling through the door. (Inserted by his loving father and mother, Mr and Mrs W.J. MONTGOMERY, Tatura). MONTGOMERY - A proud tribute to the memory of Alan’s (Monty’s) crew, who died with him on active service in England, July 24, 1944 : FO Ron Stevens (RAAF), WO Allan Cook (RAAF), Flt-Sgt Norm Hartrick (RCAF), - Pals always, they live in our memory. (Inserted by Mr and Mrs W.J. Montgomery). MONTGOMERY - In loving memory of our nephew and our cousin, Flying Officer Alan Martin MONTGOMERY, killed in air accident, Beeston, England, July 24, 1944 - Always remembered. (Uncle Mart, Aunty May, and cousins) (Note: The Australian National Archives show them at Chilwell, Beeston, Nottingham)

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN (Perth, WA), SATURDAY, 5 JANUARY 1946 - BIRTHS - WOODROW-SMITH - On December 29, at Beeston, Nottingham, England, to Olga and Gerald, a son (John Michael).

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (NSW), SATURDAY, 24 DECEMBER 1949 - ENGAGEMENTS - HOWETT-IRWIN - The engagement is announced of Kathleen, daughter of the late George IRWIN (Irish Guards), and Mrs G. IRWIN, of Endsleigh Gardens, Beeston, Nottingham, England, to Ernest HOWLETT, of Abadan, Iran, only son of Mr and Mrs T. HOWLETT, of 5 New York Street, Granville.

THE MAIL (Adelaide, SA), SATURDAY, 11 AUGUST 1951 - GODIVA UNRUFFLED BY TAUNTS AND TEXTS - In spite of all efforts of the civic fathers of Coventry, the fair name of Lady Godiva was besmirched once again this week. There were plenty of protests as it was. Angry demonstrations by the Evangelical Free Church followed a carnival procession at Beeston (Nottinghamshire). In the procession, Lady Godiva was portrayed by 24-year-old mannequin Eileen ROBERTS, dressed in a long blonde wig and flesh coloured nylon costume. The church labelled Lady Godiva herself as "obscene", and every male among the thousands of onlookers as potential "peeping Toms". Said Pastor Walter BRENTNALL, of Immanuel Hall, Nottingham: "It is not so much what men actually see but what they are imagining." Church men and women nearly broke up the procession. They toured the route ahead of the procession in loud-speaker cars, denouncing it. Protest posters were displayed bearing the test "Put on righteousness, it clothes thee." A line of demure young girls stood along the route displaying the texts. As Lady Godiva passed, church members ostentatiously turned their heads away. After the procession, the Mayor (Mr Harry WESTON) told a crowd of 5,000: "I want to assure the young lady who played the part that she has nothing to be ashamed of, representing, as she does, a great symbol of self-sacrifice and service. I am proud you have shown our little lady in the proper perspective." Said Miss ROBERTS: "What is all the fuss about? It wasn’t as if I was nude. I was decently dressed. I merely helped out the organisers, who last year couldn’t get a female Godiva and had to make do with a man."

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Extracts kindly compiled by Trish Symonds of New South Wales, Australia - Format is Copyright David H Hallam © 2011
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