Archived Extracts

A United Workers' Front Council meeting was held on the Huthwaite Market Place on Sunday morning. Mr. Fred Deakin was chairman, and the speakers were Mr. Alec Norris, of Mansfield, and Mr. Philip Hicken, of Tibshelf. A resolution was passed and will be sent to Mr. C. Brown, M.P.

  First v. Pinxton (home): A.P. Bacon (captain), A. Bird, J. Shaw, F. Dobb, S. Freestone, G. Dobb, J. Goodwin, E. Vardy, H. Sanderson, H. Smith, G. Park. Reserves, L. Oliver, L.B. Wheeler. Scorer, A. Barker.
  Second v. Pinxton (away): J. Watkinson (captain), N. Bradford, F. Adlington, W. Keeling, S. Worthington, W. Burton, E. Dunn, P. Bostock, G.E. Bates, N. Thompson, C. Spencer. Reserves, C. Hill and A. Thompson. Scorer, J. Weston.

Master Alfred Clewley, Mill Lane, Huthwaite, who was one of a party of Brunts scholars who spent Easter week on an ocean trip, contributes the following excellent account:-
  On the day of our departure all the Brunts scholars bound for the as Doric cruise to Madeira, Tangier and Gibraltar met at Mansfield L.M.S. station in a state of suppressed excitement. Despite the rather tiring four hour journey to Liverpool, we were not fatigued on our arrival. At the docks we were directed up the ship's gangway and to our respective cabins by smart uniformed officials. The first thing we did after watching the "Doric" leave the docks was to explore the ship. It was a marvellous sight, but one day aboard, and we had settled down to a pleasant routine.

  Life on a cruising liner cannot be excelled, for the varied recreation suit all tastes. In the programme of events were included cinema entertainments, whist drives, dancing, Judo (ju-jiten) exhibitions by Professor Hipkiss, the British champion, and his partner, treasure hunts, lectures on the ports of call, and last, but not least, concerts by the ship's orchestra. In addition to these set entertainments a scholars' concert was arranged, and a fancy dress carnival was held. Two bathing pools, a gymnasium and numerous deck and indoor games all added to our intense enjoyment.
  At six a.m. on Easter Monday the "Doric" berthed at Fanchal, the chief port of Madeira. Immediately an uproar arose as a swarm of small boats came alongside. These contained the diving boys of Madeira, who shouted for us to throw sixpences into the water for them. After watching these and the Portuguese traders who came alongside offering their wares (canaries in cages, beads, cane chairs, etc.), we were taken ashore in eleven separate groups. A native guide was allotted to each group, and he pointed out the places of interest.

  We saw the Associated Wine Lodges where the famous Madeira wine is made, the Cathedral, the public gardens and many picturesque carts drawn by bullocks. Then, travelling by funicular railway to Monte, we visited the tomb of the late Emperor Charles of Austria. On the way up to Lucta, children ran alongside the train and threw bunches of flowers into the open carriages meanwhile crying loudly for a penny or a sou.
  Alighting at Lucta we were interested by a number of men dressed in white-straw hats who, working in couples, propelled tourists swiftly down the mountain with queer shaped toboggans. Hammocks, carried on long poles by two Portuguese, were another form of transport. We returned aboard according to orders as dusk was approaching, although a bull fight that night was a great temptation.
  The next day, being allowed to follow our own inclination, we went in search of the bull ring. Eventually finding it, we saw the bulls and the structure of the arena, but what interested us still more was the discovery of a football pitch and a number of small boys playing footer in bare feet. Before the Doric shipped anchor we had a chance to bargain with fine traders who had come aboard. Absurdly high prices were asked, but we suggested equally low ones, until a happy medium was reached. At six p.m. we bade a reluctant "adieu" to Madeira, the island of beautiful tropical vegetation, and many hued flowers growing profusely on every hand.

  A day's sailing brought the "Doric" to Tangier, known as the nearest East, and, as is the Eastern fashion, the people write and read backwards. The most peculiar thing about Tangier is the fact that the women are held as more or less sacred. We were advised not to look at the Tangerian women, who go about heavily veiled, as the year previous a passenger had been chased by a man with a knife simply for looking at one of them.
  According to their religious beliefs, Tangerian females must be veiled between the ages of 7 and 65. A snake charmer proved an object of great fascination. The fez and caveloping cloaks worn by the men were another source of interest as was the footwear, a heelless leathern slipper. Part of the tour of Tangier was made on the backs of donkeys and this naturally added to our gaiety. The most interesting night on the tour was the Palazzo Lattoria (ex-Moulay Haffid's Palace) which has now been converted into a school.
  Then on to Gibraltar, reached at eight a.m. on Friday. We were taken by motor car to visit the galleries in the rock which contained the guns once used to defend the stronghold. Europa Point Lighthouse was next visited, and while here we heard the soldiers at firing practice. The curtained horse drawn carriages were one of the most picturesque modes of transport for visitors. Returning by tender to the "Doric" we left at four p.m. prompt, after six hours crammed with interest.
  The last Saturday night on board was carnival night, and an exciting evening was spent. Spirits sank as we steamed nearer home, and much as we love "Our England" the sight of her grey sky and a taste of her cooler, clammier climate, seemed almost distasteful after the sunshine and brightness of Madeira. Yet "East or West - Home is best", and so, with our cruise but a pleasant memory, we are settling down to life once more in "England's green and pleasant land."