Nostalgia: Scene of the ‘crime’

Site of the Newnham Elm

Back in 1975, Newnham’s oldest resident was pushed over, chopped up and finally set alight.

But this wasn’t some gruesome crime, the resident was an elm tree which for generations had stood on the village green. And pictured here at the scene are some of the village’s youngsters who no doubt played around and in the old tree.

The tree was found to be in bad health – rot had set in and there had been too many bonfires in and around it over the years. The green had been planted with elms and sycamore 150 years previously, and Newnham was known for its elms, but this was the only tree that survived. The old tree’s death warrant was signed as a result of Newnham winning the tidy village award. Part of the prize was new trees and shrubs for the parish council to plant and they had been looking for a public area in need of improvement.

Past headlines

February 24, 2005

An appeal was launched by Holy Cross Church in Byfield to repair damage caused by a beetle infestation. The church was found to have been damaged by common furniture beetles, and the deathwatch beetle, which had caused a severe deterioration in the building’s wooden fixtures. Churchwarden Richard Birdsall said they had a responsibility to worshippers, the village and parish, and the country as a whole, to repair the church as it was Grade I listed due to its ‘exceptional interest’. Only around 2.5 per cent of all listed buildings are deemed important enough to get Grade I status.

March 1, 1990

A donation of £1,000 was made by Ford in Daventry to the Woodland Trust specifically to aid in the protection of Everdon Stubbs woods, which is a remnant patch of ancient woodland. The charity said it estimated £52,585 was needed to keep the 70 acre woodland, and its wildlife, safe and to provide urgent management works to maintain the site. They were appealing for local people and companies to help out in the fundraising drive. Fords said their company had an interest in preserving the environment and that Everdon Stubbs was a good, local, green cause for them to back.

February 28, 1975

Staverton and District branch of the Royal British Legion swept the board for trophies. The group won for the ‘efficiency trophy’ for the East Midlands region jointly with Ashby-de-la-Zouch. It also took the Jellicoe Shield national award for the branch with the most consistent increase in membership over five years. They were presented with the county efficiency cup for the fourth year in a row, and they got the county war memorial cup for having the best maintained memorial in Northamptonshire. Members put their success down to good management by the committee members, and their organised events.