A photograph taken at the recent wedding of Miss Betty M. Rumbelow, daughter of Mrs. Lewis F. Rumbelow, "Graham House, Boxford, to Corpl. Kenneth G. Hadley, U.S. Army, son of Mrs. E. Hadley, 21, Prospect Street, Concord, N.H. Formerly a hairdresser at Sudbury, the bride is now a land worker. The bridegroom served with the American Military Police at Sudbury.

Read more

Guess who dropped in the other day? None other than our “old” friend Tornado Smith. And he’s doing his tornado stuff again. Mr. G. W. Smith, born at Boxford, has had varied experiences during the war. He wanted to Join the R.A.F. but that was a closed door to him. He had a spell with the Merchant Navy and knew what it was to be in convoy sail with U-boats prowling. He was to be a Commando — Tornado always looks for excitement and adventure. Then he found himself in the N.F.S. but didn’t find a lot of excitement while he served with those who waited for calls. Now he’s "out” again and what must he do but put up his famous Wall of Death at the Kursaal, Southend, where he careers round and round on his motor-cycle, with trick riding thrown in while spectators gasp. In April, Tornado rode his “ordinary,” with the Penny-Farthing Club from Big Ben to Blackheath, and the Pathe Gazette made a film which perhaps we shall see. Now Tornado is developing the idea that came to him during the war for another public thriller. I gather that it will be a daring loop-the-loop by motor-cycle or car. Some of the oak which will be used for the structure was grown in this district. Happy landings!

Read more

"Tornado" Smith, the Boxford born rider of the “Wall of Death" at Southend and Sudbury in pre-war days, who has just married again, has scheme afoot for a new form of thrill. What it is to be this time I cannot say for certainty, but I shouldn’t be surprised if he is going to loop the loop or something like that. He purchased a number trees years ago and these are now to be hauled for him and cut into planks by Messrs. Wheeler, of Sudbury. At the moment the biggest tree lies where Mrs. Smith (then Nurse. Ware) felled it, at Leavenheath. The other trees were felled at Boxford. Well, good luck to “Tornado" in his new ventures.

Read more

News has been received by Mrs. E. Speller of Colchester, that her son, Driver Ronald J Tricker, of the R.A.S.C. Central Mediterranean Forces, has been killed in action in Greece. Driver Tricker, who was 23 years of age was grandson of the late Mr. Walter Tricker of Brook Hall, Boxford, and spent his boyhood in that village. Prior to enlistment at 19 he was in employment at Cant's Rose Gardens, Colchester.
Attached to an Armoured Brigade, he saw active service in the Middle East, served in Sicily and later in Italy. At the time of his death on December 13th last he was defending a Strong Point in the neighbourhood of Athens and in expressing their sympathy with the bereaved mother, both the Officer Commanding at the unit and his Company Commander referred in glowing terms to his courage and devotion to duty. Much sympathy will be extended to his mother and other near relatives from all his friends in Boxford.

Read more