Items of Interest during the Year 1956­57 (taken from Barber's Almanack 1958). Gathered from the Local Newspapers, etc. during the past year. Every care is taken to make the following list correct but no item or date is guarenteed by the publisher. December, 1956. 1­­A car driven by David Goodge, of Ely Road, Littleport, crashed into a tree in Cambridge Road, Ely. He was taken to hospital with injuries which included a fractured jaw. Boys' Brigade Christmas sale. The proceeds amounted to £40. St. Matthew's Church sale realised over £90. 4­­Roger Law and Elwyn Turner, pupils of Littieport Secondary School, were awarded art scholarships tenable for one year at the Cambridge Technical College and School of Art. 7­­Dart players of the Black Horse Inn, Black Horse Drove, raised £8 for the Isle of Ely Society for the Blind. 8­­Parish Church Christmas Fair in aid of Church Restoration and Parish Hall funds. Proceeds were £107. 9­­Toy service held at St. John's Methodist Church. The speaker was the Rev. Fred Peacock from the Dalston Mission, London, where the gifts would be distributed. 11­­Annual meeting of Littleport Women's Institute. The President (Mrs. W. J. Gill) read a letter of good wishes from the Institute's "link" in Australia and spoke of the recent passing of Mrs. Elizabeth Luff, one of their members, and formerly of Littleport, Mrs. Luff had been responsible for the bond which now existed between the two branches. 12­­Death of the Rev. Walter Waddelow Martin, fifth son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Martin. of Highfield, Littleport. He was 87. !!! Littleport Parish Council decided to press their request to the Ministry of Transport that traffic lights should be installed at Crown Corner. Members of the Littleport Women's Fellowship made presentations to Mrs. M. Roaks and Mrs. J. W. Harwood, both of whom were resigning from the Fellowship. 13­­Scholars of the County Primary School presented their annual play. It was entitled "Children of the Bible." Local first prize winners at pig and cattle shows and sales held at Ely were Messrs. A. Stebbings, B. W. Bishop and F, G. Starling (3 firsts and championship steer). 18­­The Isle of Ely Education Committee issued a licence permitting Carolyn Sloan, of Littleport Secondary School, to appear in the pantomime "Dick Whittington" at the Theatre Royal, King's Lynn. Carolyn was aged 12. 21­­Engagement announced between Mr. Alan Cross, of Ely, and Miss Miriam Scarff, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Scarff, of Little Ouse. 24­­Midnight Mass celebrated at the Parish Church. 90 made their communion. 28­­Death, at Clacton, of Mr. William Fordham, a former Littleport resident, aged 79. He was for many years in business, as a baker and confectioner at Victoria Street. 31­­Mr. J. Sparrow, of Littleport, succeeded in winning the President's salver for billiards at the Ely Police and Fire Services Social and Sports Club's competition finals. January, 1957. 2­­Thomas Joseph Daley, an Irishman who had lived in Littleport under the assumed name of Jim Best, pleaded guilty at the Isle of Ely Quarter Sessions to breaking and entering the shop of Mr. Keith Fletcher. fish and chip merchant, Main Street Littleport, and stealing £6/10/0 in money and a wristwatch valued at £5. The offence took place in the early hours of December 7th, 1956. 76 "Over Seventies" were entertained to a grand party at the Grange. The hostesses were members of the Women's Section of the British Legion. 4­­Engagement announced between Mr. Jack Veal of Plymouth, and Grace, only child of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Strafford, of 17, High Street, Littleport. Fifth annual dinner of the Black Horse Drove branch of the National Union of Agricultural Workers. 6­­Motor cycling­­les Ayres Trophy Trial­­John Sparrow won the Lancaster Cup for the best performance by a Littleport club member. 7­­First meeting in connection with the National Week of Prayer held at St. John's Methodist Church. The speaker was S/Captain Balcombe of the Salvation Army. 11­­The Littleport Company of the Boys' Brigade gave a display of physical training and drill at Outwell. Mr. and Mrs. N. Taylor of Saffron Close, announced the engagement of their only daughter, Ann, to Mr. Geoffrey Cuthbert, of Southery. Music Successes­­At recent examinations at Cambridge in connection with the Royal Schools of Music the following candidates were successful in pianoforte: Ann Clift grade III (transitional) passed with merit and also passed grade III (theory) : Jacqueline Chapman, passed, grade II. At the examinations held at Peterborough in connection with Trinity College of Music Gillian Langley passed with merit in the initial grade. All were pupils of Mrs. Charles Haines. 12­­Death at Haddiscoe, Norfolk, of Mr. Charles Brooks, a member of an old Isle of Ely farming family and a native of Littleport. He was 82. Mr. C. W. Smith, of City Road, was taken to Ely R.A.F. Hospital after his car was involved in a head­on collision with another car on Ely Road, Prickwillow. 19­­Littleport Wheelers Cycling Club annual sausage supper. A presentation was made to Mr. L. Hicks, the retiring racing­secretary. Mr. D. Speed was installed as the new president of the Isle of Ely Association of the National Union of Teachers. He is a member of the staff at Littleport Secondary Modern School. !!! Valerie Rutterford, 12­year­old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Rutterford, of Friars Way, was a successful competitor in the Radio Luxemburg programme "Jamboree." She correctly identified the singer of a certain popular song and was awarded a three­speed record player. 20­­A memorial service to the late Mrs. A. M. Daniels and Mr. Alfred Mackender was held in St. John's Methodist Church. 25­­It was revealed that the Parish Council's appeal in aid of the Lord Mayor of London's Hungarian Relief Fund reached the total of £196/8/3. Choir boys of the Parish Church were entertained by the Vicar and Mrs. Payne. Tea at the Vicarage was followed by a visit to the cinema. 26­­Cambridgeshire County standard bearer, Mr. G. W. Pettitt, of Littleport, was placed eighth in the Eastern Area of the British Legion standard bearers' competition held at Cambridge. A film, "The Ascent of Everest," was shown to members of the Methodist Youth Fellowship by the Rev. C. G. Wade. 30­­Mrs. Ron Bidwell left Littleport for Gibraltar to join her husband serving there with H.M. Forces. Mrs. Bidwell is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Youngs, of 99, Wisbech Road. At a supper party organised by the Mothers' Union, a presentation was made to Mrs. Payne as a mark of appreciation of her work on behalf of the members. 31­­Death, at King's Lynn, of Mrs. Florence Purchase, a former resident of Station Road, Littleport. February. 1957 1­­Annual meeting of the British Legion Club. It was announced that not one single subscriber had given to the War Memorial appeal launched last year. Meeting of the Over Sixties Club. A performance by the club band, led by Mrs. Grindling, was greatly enjoyed. 3­­Brigadier Horsley, of Soham, conducted Salvation Army meetings at Littleport, 5­­In the Isle of Ely Education Committee's safety first essay competition the following pupils of Littleport Secondary School gained prizes in their respective age groups:­Angela Pettitt (first), Carolyn Sloan (second), Daphne Taylor(third). Rosemary Todd's essay was highly commended. 7­­Members of the Trefoil Guild made a presentation to Mrs. R. Gipp, a member who was shortly leaving for Australia. 9­­Littleport Women's Institute party for members' children. Mrs. W. Gill and Mrs. T. Misson gave a performance of "Rock 'n' Roll" (their own version). 12­­Monthly meeting of the Women's Institute. Four new members, Mrs. Thrower. Mrs. Watson, Mrs. S. Simpson and Mrs. Horsley were welcomed. 13­­A precept of £2,750 for the new financial year as against £3,050 in the year just ending, was agreed to at a meeting of the Parish Council. 15­­Annual meeting of the Parent Teacher Association Referring to the new house sports trophy, Miss Davy said this had been purchased with money given by Mrs. King in thanks for the tuition her child had received while at the school. Littleport Motor Cycle and Light Car Club's annual dinner. Awards were presented as follows:­­Les Ayres Trophy, D. W. Webb; Lancaster Cup, John Sparrow; Points Scheme Cup and cash award, W. E. Power. Death, in London, of Father A. E. T. Raven. He became well known locally during the war, when children from his parish­ St. Matthias, Bethnal Green, were evacuated to Littleport 16­Mr. E, W. J. Howe, of New River Bank, was severely injured when his car overturned on the icy Gilgal corner. In a painting competition organised by Mr. H. Stimpson in connection with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the following were awarded prizes in the class for children of the local Hereward Lodge: Richard Fletcher, Valerie Levett, Stewart Rogers, David Bailey, Christine Lemmon, Jill Fletcher, Eric Pearson, Robert Wicks. In addition Richard Fletcher, Valerie Levett and Stewart Rogers, together with Anne Franke and John Geraty, gained prizes in the open classes. 17­­Dedication of the infant son of Salvationists Mr. and Mrs. R. Stoten at the Salvation Army Hall. Mr. J. Badcock, for many years superintendent of St. John's Methodist Sunday school, was presented with a parting gift from the school in appreciation of his good work.