A look at the stories making the Free Press headlines on March 2, 1936

By-Pass road at Monmouth

Monmouth is almost certain to have a great by-pass road in the near future. The road will lead from the small footbridge near Troy Station, across Chippenham Mead and into the Old Dixton road area, to join up with the New Dixton road and connect with the main road to Whitchurch. The Southern Works Committee of Wye Catchment Board have held several private meetings at Monmouth’s Museum and visited various parts of the River Wye and Monnow. Their Flood Prevention Scheme at Monmouth has been prepared and provisionally approved. The scheme has to be submitted to various interested authorities, and then to the Ministry.

Good Business at Chepstow

Reporting to the annual meeting of Chepstow Chamber of Trade, Mr W R Holmes, publicity manager said that last year was one of the best as regards to the number of visitors to the town. The Chairman (Captain H R Clarke) said the Shopping Festival had been a great success.

Towns That May Get Orders

The Minister of Labour, Mr Ernest Brown, announced in the House of Commons, a list of new towns in Wales which will be considered as ‘special areas’ when arms contracts are given out. The list includes Abergavenny, Brecon, Chepstow and Monmouth.

Chepstow Sale of Work

Mrs Shiers, wife of the Commandant at Beachley Army Technical School, opened the annual sale of work at Chepstow in aid of the National Children’s Homes. Mr C H Clarke, JP presided at this opening ceremony, and Miss Moxey, General Secretary of the Homes, stated that Chepstow had already contributed over £1,000 to the funds of the Institution. There were numerous stalls, and the event was well attended.

Death at Age of 90

One of the oldest and best known personalities in Usk and district, Mrs Hester Lewis, widow of Mr Philip Lewis, a woodcutter, has died at the age of 90.

Mrs Lewis had been an inmate of the Almshouses, Coedcwnnwer, Usk for some years. She was an exceedingly industrious woman, and she retained her faculties to the last. She last visited Usk on the day of the last General Election. The funeral took place at Llangeview.

High Sheriff

The new High Sheriff of Monmouthshire, Mr Edward Osborne Bennett, of Llanvihangel Court, near Abergavenny, is a native of Yorkshire, and the second son of the Rev J Bennett, of Whitby. Mr Bennett is a partner of the firm of Messrs, William Richards and Sons, marine average adjusters, London, and he bought Llanvihangel Court about eleven years ago.

Car Allowance Arguments at Abergavenny

Abergavenny Town Council were divided on a recommendation of the Gas Committee that the Manager should receive £1 a week car allowance. Opposing the minute at a meeting of the council, Mr P Telford said that to do such a thing would be to set up a precedent. The whole thing was absolutely ridiculous. He had been on the council for 24 years, and he did not think they were making much more gas now than years ago. Mr T W Beveridge did not think that the time had come to provide the Manager with a car allowance.

Mr W Horsington: If the Gas Committee can afford to give the Manager a car allowance, why not reduce the price of gas? He pointed out that they had 40 applicants for the Managers post when it was advertised.

Mr G Goodwin maintained that it was essential that the Manager should be provided with the means of transport. It was nothing new in towns of the size of Abergavenny to give an official a car allowance. Of 13 towns making the same quantity of gas as Abergavenny, 11 provided maintenance of a car, while two provided the car. In addition, some towns employed distributing superintendents and assistant engineers, and that they did not do at Abergavenny.

Mr H P Cadle said he agreed in principle with the suggestion, but thought the amount too high. He suggested that it should be 5s a week. Reference back was moved and carried.

Fire Nipped in the Bud

Chepstow Fire Brigade were called late on Sunday night to a fire at Brynawel, Earlswood, the residence of Miss Reynolds, which was quickly subdued. Under Captain Norman James, the firemen cut away the floor near the fireplace in a sitting room when the joists were found to be alight. The flames were put out with chemical extinguishers.

Monmouth Jockey Injured

Captain R Harding, the amateur rider, has broken his right collar-bone and cracked other parts. His mount, Future Queen, fell at Shirley Races yesterday. He is at home at Monmouth. He will be incapacitated for at least a fortnight, and will have to relinquish his mount on Buckthorn in the Grand National.