Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1923

General Frederick Heath-Caldwell CB aged 64/65

Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell aged 54/55

Cuthbert Eden Heath OBE aged 63/64

Sarah Heath aged 63/64

Admiral Sir Herbert Heath KCB, MVO, etc aged 61/62

General Sir Gerard M. Heath KCMG, 59/60

Lt Cmdr Cuthert H. Heath-Caldwell DSO aged 33/34

   

Leopold C. Heath (Griggs) aged 28/29

Genesta Farquahar (ne Heath) – aged 23/24

Madeline Marion de Salis (ne Heath) aged 29/30

Rosamond Heath (Posy) aged 28/29

Patricia C.M.Heath-Caldwell 3/4

Diana Heath-Caldwell 1/2

Diary of  Genesie continues, on safari Kenya,  

Monday 1st January 1923 - Kenya

What a New Year's Day! Tom's leg is now suspended in the air from a stay, and fixed over a pulley made of a reel of cotton and a nail fixed to a heavy sandbag. This will pull the leg out, and lessen the chances of shortening. He is not in nearly such pain now, and has got a little more colour. But the plasteris glued to his foot and the weight often gives him hell, and has to be moved.

Staffordshire Sentinel

Thursday 4 January 1923

Congelton Wedding - Mr W.N.U. Dunlop and Miss Irene Shakerley

The wedding took place on Wednesday, in the private chapel at Somerford Park, Congleton, Cheshire, of Mr Walter Nigel Usher Dunlop I.C.S., eldest surviving son of the late Mr D.J. Dunlop and of Mrs Dunlop of Dudley House, Beckenham, Kent, and Miss Margeurite Irene Shakerley, second daughter of Sir Walter and Lady Shakerley of Somerford Park.

The Rev. E.N. Dodd (Vicar of Buglawton and Chaplain of Somerford Park), assisted by the Rev. W.C. Lucy (Rector of Astbury), officiated. The best man was Mr Arthur Bryand.- - - - (continues) - - - - 

Among those present at the church were:- Mrs D.J. Dunlop, the Rev. D.C. Dunlop, Mr and Mrs Oswald Napier, Mrs Geoffrey Shakerley, Mr and Mrs Shakerley-Ackers, Sir Philip and Lady Baker-Wilbraham, Major-General and Mrs Heath-Caldwell, Colonel and Mrs G. Christie-Miller,Mr and Mrs C.J. Antrobus, Mrs R.G. Peel, Miss Bretherton and MIsses Milligan and Miss Lees.There was a reception afterwards at Somerford Park. The honeymoon will be spent abroad.

Diary of Genesta continues...

Tuesday 2nd January 1923 - Kenya.

Dr Burkett arrived today, having been driven the two hundred odd miles in nineteen hours. He was very much impressed with the way the leg had been set, but says he must have Tom down at Nairobi. So now the idea is to keep him here for five more days, then take him to Isiolo for five day, then fetch him by ambulance to Nairobi.

Friday 5th January 1923 - Kenya.

Tom is a good deal better in every way, though he has very bad pain indeed from the glue on his foot. It was changed again this morning, and the foot was red and raw. He has not had a proper night's sleep since it happened a week ago today.

Blickie is trying his hardest to prevent Tom being taken into Isiolo. It seems such a useless, tiring and frightening journey for him.  Blixen saved him before from being taken to Meru, the day after the accident, and will work it again now, I hope.

(Baron Bror Fredrik von Blixen-Finecke (25 July 1886 – 4 March 1946) aged 36

Saturday 6th January 1923 - Kenya

In the middle of the night, amid much stage whispering and a loud chorus from the doc's dogs, some boys arrived from Meru. They brought a charming letter from the Districk Commissioner, Mr Weekes, who is sending fruit etc., and a wire from Burkett, saying they are coming to fetch Tom on Monday. The boys have been set to make a road from the main road to Tom's tent.

Sunday 7th January 1923 - Kenya

Blickie and Mello departed to the hills in search of elephant this morning; John arrived a good while later and went off in another direction for some shooting. We had paid off ninety-nine boys, and are going to do the safari mostly with donkeys. It will be cheaper; but I felt rather sad as they all started off for Nairobi. Two boxes of Tom's went with them and there was trouble about carrying them. No.1 boy, the porter who marches ahead of the rest and is supposed to set a good example, refused, and so did the other two who were left behind. Blick had gone by this time, so the doc and I solemnly made a list of the offender's names. I saw one of them havingt splinters cut out of his hadn with a knife, so I did the Good Samritan trick and got them out for him with tweezers.'Refuse now?' I said."No, memsahib.''Then go, fool!' (I must say I think Swahili looks very theatrical and ridiculous translated.) And off they went.

Monday 8th January 1923 - On safari, Kenya

Dr Burkett and Fisher and a spare driver arrived in a lorry converted into a fine ambulance; and as it has been raining more than the roads will stand (which is nothing) they started early. Tom was carried into the car, padded in every direction, and driven very carefully down our 'drive' to the main road. Blickie arrived five minutes before he left. He had come twenty-six miles in under four hours, which is good going. Tom was very glad to see him and say goodbye. Some other people who came to say goodbye were a herd of zebra and oryx, who crossed the plain four or five hundred yards away. Tom was thrilled, and more upset because he couldn't shoot them than at the idea of the journey.Tom wants me to stay with the safari and fill my licence, as we have paid so much. This is the end of this stony camp. And, although it has been such a disastrous place, I can't help loving it; partly because of the wonderful view, over a plain so unbroken that it looks like the sea, to hills ranged all round the horizon. One night I saw the snow on Mount Kenya alight in the moonlight, like a dream.

The doc goes to Meru tomorrow, and his last deed of kindness to me was to pull out a tooth which has been worrying me a lot. I only plucked up courage in the last two minutes of daylight, and sat in a chair (with an interested audience of boys!) while Blickie held my head. The doc seized the tooth and out it came, almost without a pang!

Tuesday 9th January 1923 - On safari, Kenya

Blickie started off at three this morning, back to Mello and the elephants. I packed off Tom's boy, Ahbdi, down to Nairobi to join him, and started for Isiolo. Had  quite a good stalk after a wretched zebra on the way, and got him. The porters love the meat I shoot for them.Just before dark Blickie and Mello appeared. Blick has now done eighty miles in thirty hours; and this time walked the last thirty miles, as his mule was tired!

Friday 12th January 1923 -  On safari, Kenya.

Blixen and I went off early to try for a lion which was roaring a few yards from camp. The Nandi trackers spotted him, but when we got to the place he had gone, and we saw nothing but his spoor. We are camped about half a mile away from the Guasso Njero river, as this is malarial country and we don't want our porters to go sick. It is extremely hot here. One drips and drips, and the glare from the earth, which is white, doesn't help.

This is a pretty came under big trees. I went for a stroll with my gun and the dog Mac has lent me, an adorable mongrel called Siolo, to look at the flaming sunset; adn when it darkened I started home. Then I saw Kongoni and Juma [Not the Juma who was sacked] looked for me, and when they reached me they said it was mbaya sana (very bad) for me to go out alone, that I might have trodden on a lion's tail at any moment - in fact, I got a good scolding. They escorted me home, one on either side. So that's the end of any lonely strolls!

Sunday 14th January 1923 - On safari, Kenya

Moved camp to another pretty place, seven miles down the river. Blick and I went out, and first met a rhino. We went quite close to him and took several photos, while he stood there, rather puzzled, and not knowing what to do. At last we walked backwards, as from the presence of royalty, and left him having a glorious roll in the dust, heaving over from side to side with his fat, stubby legs in the air.

Monday 29th January 1923 - On safari, Kenya

We have moved camp twice and are now in the heart of elephant country! We are on the north bank of the river, and should pick Blickie up soon, they left a couple of days ago. But I want to try for my elephant now, so decided to go on a flying camp of my own with David, Kongoni, Juma, three porters, and Fara with two mules. We started about 5.30pm, went back a short way, and up a little hill, where we ought to have been above the elephants' wind. But the elephants also decided that was the very hill they wante to feed on, and up they came, the wind straight from us to them. They were trumpeting angrily, their tummies rumbling like thunder. It was almost pitch black, about 7pm, with the moon just over the half and not properly up. They were under fifty yards away, so we discreetly retired to the next hill, where they presently followed us on their way to the river. They climbed our hill some way behind, but got near again, so Juma went out and shouted at them rudely in Swahili. 'We know we're strangers here and this is your ground, but we're going to sleep here and we've got three guns, so get out! The case can come on tomorrow, but you're not wanted here tonight, so go down and have a good drink and come back in the morning.'We heard a female trunpeting to her husband: 'Come along my dear, we'd much better not stay here,' and off they all went.

I rolled up in my blankets and tried to forget the stones I was lying on. It was very lovely; with the moon hanging serenely in the indigo sky, and the stars blazing - like a queen and her court. In the distance we heard the elephants rumbling, crashing trees as they went, and sometimes a lion roared or leopard grunted. We had no fire, of course, and as the moon got brighter, we could see the elephant quite well, though not enough to pick out a big tusker. I went to sleep at last.

Tuesday 30th January 1923 - On safari, Kenya.

David woke me about 4am, and below us in the valley a herd of females and totos (calves) were moving slowly along, on their way back to the hills. As soon as it was light enough we started off in their tracks, and then came a real hard day. We went from 6.30 till 11, and stopped for lunch on top of a steep little hill which gave tremendous view all round. There I made out an elephant a long way away, who disappeared in the trees; and David evey saw someone on a mule, whom he thought might be John. They ought to join us today, as it is four days since they left. At 12.30 off we went again, in the murderous sun, and not a flicker of breeze, the air perfectly still and swimming with heat. Poor old Kongoni and Juma walked and walked, through thorn, scrub and bush, over dry, sandy river beds and stones with never a sign of elephant, except for alot of tracks. As David said, 'I have know so many gentlemen  after elephant, and they always say he is a hell of an animal to get! You will excuse my, memsahib, I hope!'

I shared cigarettes and the water with them, they were far too polite to ask. Suddenly we saw Blickie's safari on the main road - there is actually a motor road on this side of the river, a broad sandy track on which a car can, at least, move. Blixen's boys said Blixen had started out at four this morning, and they didn't know where he had gone, and that John was in front. This road goes to Kittermaster camp, and eventually to Merti. We left the road and returned to our camp, getting here at 5.30pm to find no sign of either Blickie or John!We sent out three boys and an askari and told them to go to Kittermaster and not to come back without the Bwanas' firing signal shots as they went. We were all pretty tired, having done nearly thirty miles today, and I had a delicious bath and got into pyjamas for dinner.

But before dinner the boys came back, having fired three shots and heard an answer of two, they refused to go any further, and the askari (policeman) came back with them. I told them what I thought of them and promised each one ten kiboko (whips) which is the least they deserve for being such cowards; then I jumped into my clothes and started off with David; Jumbe the askari; and my medical dresser-boy, Masodi, as gun bearer. He is a real little sportsman, and offered to come of his own accord. I went behind Mello's tent not wanting to be stopped; some boys saw me and said, 'Where are you going to at this hour, memsahib?' I said 'Ah, that's my affair.'It was only 7.30pm, but there was a good moon, and we went a fair pace. Jume the gun bearer joined us after a bit. A big bull buffalo galloped past a few yards away, and David sent a shot after him. After about an hour and a half Masodi spotted a light, and when we reached it, there was John, asleep on a bedstead with no blankets, beside a big fire, with ten or elevan boys. They said Blickie had gone on to a camp five hours away, but David wouldn't let me go, as we had no blankets or anything and he felt responsible. We sent on Jumbe and the Boran guide and an interpreter. I was very anxious. God knows where Blickie has got to, he doesn't know this country at all. He had no food and only one Boran and one gun bearer with him. Although he is the toughest, hardest man in East Africa, he isn't super-human and there he is, having started at four this moring, hunting eveywhere for our camp. He thinks we're in front, it's too dark for him to see tracks and he is getting further and further away from us.

There was nothing for it but to come back, so we did, bringing John and his camp. He told me that their camp was charged by elephant, eight of them, screaming with rage, trunks up and ears flapping; they were both nearly killed, but Blickie ran across them and got the right side of the wind just in time! A cow in front was bearing down on John, and Blickie shot her through the head and killed her.

Wednesday 31st January 1923 - On safari, Kenya

David came into my tent this morning glowing with pride. 'Here is the Baron, memsahib! He has walked those Borans and the men and the mule tired, and here he is, on foot, carrying his gun! Ah memsahib! I have known many gentlemen, yes, many; but there is not one like my boss anywhere!'

Blixon has done an amazing tred from the elephant camp to Kittermaster; his mule was sick, so he trotted on foot all the way. (It took John eleven hours to get there, so it must have been 33 miles.) There Blixen saw no tracks of ours, so he crossed the river and went right back, past his camp! to our last camp, about six or seven miles back. Slept on the ground and started this morning to chase us, trotting again, when he suddenly found us. He missed us yesterday because the trees hide everything. Everyone is delighted he is back; David said, 'I have been a sick man, memsahib, but now he is back I am well again!'

Staffordshire Sentinel (and Staffordshire Sentinel 5 Feb 1923)

Saturday 3 February 1923

Sir Francis and Lady Joseph's Luncheon Party.

Sir Francis and Lady Joseph gave a private luncheon party at the North Stafford Hotel, Stoke, at one o'clock today, preceded by a reception.

The guests were Sir Philip and Lady Lloyd-Greame, the Earl of Dartmouth (Lord Lieutenant), Mr and Mrs Joel Settle and the Misses Settle, Mrs Harrison O.B.E., J.P. (President of the North Staffordshire Infirmary), Major-General Heath-Caldwell C.B., the Mayor and Mayoress of Stoke-on-Trent (Mr and Mrs F.T.H. Goodwin), the Mayor and Mayoress of Newcastle (Mr and Mrs Hassam), Mr W. F. Doty (American Consul), Mr H.E. Moody J.P., Sir Williiam Gradwell Goodwin J.P., . - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Diary of Genesta Heath continues

Sunday 4th February 1923 - On safari, Kenya.

Last night, when I was asleep, I was woken by the report of a gun and then heard trees crashing down. I jumped out of bed and hauled on mosquito boots, meaning to wake Blickie, as it didn't sound as if it could be anything else but elephants coming to raid the camp.

Masodi rushed into my tent:'Memsahib! Where's your gun? The elephants are coming!' But it was only an old rhino after all that, and John had fired a shot to frighten the camp, as a rag. He frightened the boys all right! All the porters had fled except Masodi, who had come straight to me. He said, 'I heard the elephants coming, and thought - they will go straight for the memsahib's tent. All the the porters have gone and she may be killed. Hai zuru! (never mind) I will die near her!' I was very touched and thought it wonderful of him, though he probably thought it wiser to be nearer a gun!

Today has been perfect, the best day for a long time. It gets sweltering hot in camp, so I came down to the river to bathe. Blickie, who thinks of everything, had his tent put up in the water. So while the others laughed at the idea, and sat sweating and cursing the heat up in camp, we were as cool as fish - Blickie in a chair and me in the water, which was as warm as bathwater.

It is just six o'clock and the sun is setting. The river laps past me, the doves are cooing in the palm trees, everything is peaceful and exquisitely calm. Africa looks so soothing and inviting - but there are crocodiles in the rivers, scorpions in the fallen palm branches, lion and elephant and buffalo in the bush. Masodi has just been out to see me, solded me for not having a gun, and has gone back to fetch it.

Wednesday 7th February 1923 - On Safari, Kenya.John and Joseph are back, so today we all went out together. Found tracks of a large herd of buffalo. They led us straight away from the river through the thickest thorn bush, stuff in which you can only see ten yards round you. It is all a monotonous grey colour and simply endless, oceans of it! Towards four o'clock we came to a small clearing in which was a swamp with runnig water - one of these curious little rivers which run underground and occasionally come to the surface. The whole place was pitted with buffalo tracks and several big lion tracks. We saw nothing to shoot, and I was tired enough to do a mild faint.We decided to stay the night, though we had no food except a few small potatoes, some tea, a tin of milk and a little sugar. Still, it was too late and too far to go back, so we looked for a camping place.

Then we suddenly saw a camel, curving its neck and looked at us in disgust down his supercillious nose! That meant men, and sure enough there they were, camped under a tree. A Boran family: a tall, splendid-looking man, his wife, two babies with very fat tummies and very thin legs, his two servants, two dogs, a puppy and a few sheep. Very dignified, he came forward and shook, and spoke Swahili.

As I suppose perhaps one Boran out of a hundred knows Swahili, this was wonderful luck. He said every single one of his cattle had died of rinderpest, and he was moving with what sheep he had left, about eight or ten, and his family, and there was no milk for his children. It was rather awful to think of this poor man losing almost everything he possessed at one blow.We asked him for a sheep, which he said he couldn't spare. Then Blickie said that if he would give us one sheep we would give him two from a manyiata (village) not far off. Kongoni rose to the situation like a diplomat - gurgling round him with his soft voice, bending and bowing and waving his arms. In the end the Boran said to Blickie: 'You are my father and I am your child. If you want my sheep then they are all yours - but if you say you will give me two sheep for one of mine, that is very nice of your!'

So the sheep was caught and killed and we had a splendid meal, sitting on the ground round the fire while all the stars came blazing out and we heard buffalo crashing around us.

On my return from safari I found a huge pile of letters, mail from home and letters from Tom. he had a trying journey to Nairobi, but arrived all right, though full of morphia. The leg is broken very badly in two places, they have plated it and it is going on well now. He's had his old malaria again, but is better, though very worried about money - so am I, unless again Father (Cuthbert Eden Heath) helps us, I can't imagine where it's coming from! The home letters are full of news of babies - doing splendidly - and fog, rain and hunting. The more I hear of England the more thankful I am to be out here.

If a boy behaves badly here, some people give him kiboko (whip). Blickie never does that, but just tells him to get back to Nairobi. Next day the boy is crawling about begging to be forgiven and allowed to stop with us.The day Blick was lost, with a gun bearer called Macau and a Boran, he walked the mule to pieces, changed Boras four times, and at last lay down, with the boys and made a little fire. Blixen thought he heard the gramophone, and listened hard. Then he found it was a goat. There were only him and Macau and the mule now, so he said to Macau: 'Come on, that must be a manyiata (a Masai village); we'll go there!' 'No,' said Macau, 'what's the use? We will only break our legs in the dark, on those stone.'

'All right,' said Blixen, 'you stay here, keep the gun and I'll go on alone.'

At that, Macau got up, they went together and found the manyiata, where they slept that night.

Next morning Macau said to Blickie: 'I love you now!

''Very nice of you, but why?'

'I love you because I know you are a man. The boys always said so, but now I know it!'

'Why now?' asked Blickie

'Because when we first stopped, and you heard a goat, you wanted to go on, but I didn't. So you said stay. But I did not want you to go on alone, so I came too, and we came to the manyiata, and now I have had some milk to drink! So now I love you.'

Daily Mirror

Friday  9 February 1923

Horse Artilleryman's Wedding - (Major General Gerard "Bill" Heath)

Mr G.W.E. Heath, M.C., R.H.A., only son of Major-General Sir Gerard Heath and his bride, Miss M.H. Hamilton-Houldsworth, leaving St. Martin's-in-the-Fields beneath an archway of swords after their wedding yesterday.

Diary of Genesta Heath continues...

Sunday 11th February 1923 - On Safari, Kenya

Mello decided to stay out another night, so Joseph went to join him. We three went on a flying camp after elephant or buffalo last night. It was very delicious; I love sleeping without a tent. But the elephants came and screamed and rumbled at us in the middle of the night, and we put on boots and got the rifles and waited. The wind was bad, straight from us to them, but after a while they wandered away, with a few farewell tummy rumbles. at daybreak we went out to look for game, but saw only tracks.The camp was flooded with Borans, who came to sell sheep and be doctored. They gave me  a sheep for having doctored them. I was after one of the old chief's ivory bracelets, but it was nothing doing.

Late in the evening Mello and Joseph turned up. Mello was very upset about the camp being moved, and at having to come on another six or seven miles. I'm afraid he was not predestined for safari, nor the mildest kind of roughing it.

The Borans were very funny with the gramophone. They crouched round, amazed, and they especially like Caruso's song from Pagliacci. They hid their faces and screamed with laughter at it.

Wednesday 14th February 1923 - On Safari, Kenya.

Blickie put it to us that we could either take a chance for buffalo, who had certainly been in the swamp this morning, and risk the safari not arriving, in which case we should have to sleep Buri, as the natives call it - which means without food or blankets or anything at all - or give up the buffalo and trek back to meet the safari. I didn't mind sleeping buri, and wanted to try for the buffalo. John, in a very legal manner, conveyed that he didn't think there was much chance for the buffalo, and he couldn't face the idea of sleeping buri. Mello thought the same, so we said farewell to them and went of to the swamp. It they won't face a little discomfort for the sake of the buffalo - that's their affair.

We left them sitting in a sad little heap round the tree, and reached the swamp in a short storm of rain. Stalked round the swamp and came to hoof marks. Then - there they were, perhaps a dozen of them, feeding under the trees. We saw a big bull, about 150 yards away, and I fired and got him in the right place - high on the shoulder. They all galloped away, and Blickie, Juma and I ran after them. The trees ended, they stood still in the open, not knowing which way to turn.

I tried to get another shot, but they moved. Blickie fired, we heard the bullet strike, and ran forward into the open. They turned our way, saw us, and charged. Juma yelled, 'They're coming! They're coming!' and rushed for the only tree. When we reached it, I thought I would stand behind it and blaze at them. Blickie said,'Get up the tree! Get up! Get up!' So up I went - I think it was a record climb! Juma had my gun and it wasn't a moment to be asking questions, so I stood there on a branch, half-way up the tree, helpless and furious, but hoping Jume would fire. The herd came straight at us, looking splendid, and Blickie shot as they came. he shot so fast, every bullet striking, that they turned aside - but they passed within ten or fifteen yards of us. With the last bullet he shot the leading bull in the neck. He fell at once, but Blickie was already running after the others with an empty gun in his hand, while I slithered down the tree. When we reached him we found my bullet in his shoulder - it must have gone straight into his heart, and yet he galloped three or four hundred yards!

Tuesday 20th February 1923

The safari came to an end eventually. We reached Nairobi red with dust, tired and triumphant. Tom was almost well again, so we started making preparations to go home. Saying goodbye to the porters, gun bearers and the good dog Siolo (who went to a good home) was very hard, for we had all become such friends.

Note by Lady Genesta Hamilton much later - [Re-reading this in the 1980s I am shocked at the amount of killing I did. Of course, it was the fashion in those days. The person who influenced people's attitudes for the better was King Edward VIII - then Prince of Wales. He hated hunting and killing, and managed to make photographing wild animals fashionable]




Staffordshire Sentinel

Thursday 8 March 1923

Late Mr. W. Kerr of Talke - Representative Gathering at the Funeral

The funeral of Mr W. Kerr, who was a representative of the Talke Ward on the Audley Urban District Council, took place at Talke Parish Church on Wednesday afternoon, and the large attendance testified to the respect and esteem in which the deceased was held.. - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Among others present was Major-General Heath-Caldwell, Messrs W. Smith (Chartley-by-Stone), R. Stanier and F. Sidebotham . - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Crewe Chronicle

Saturday 21 April 1923

Births - Heath-Caldwell - On the 12 April, at Linley Wood, Talke, Staffordshire, the wife of Lieut-Commander C.H.Heath-Caldwell, R.N. - of a daughter

Staffordshire Sentinel

Thursday 14 June 1923

Audley District Schoolboys' Football League - Presentation of Medals and Trophies.

Under the auspices of the Audley and District Schoolboys' Football League, the second annual presentation of medals and trophies took place recently at a social gathering held at St.Saviour's School, Talke. The Schoolgirls' Netball League Committee co-operated, and the beautiful netball sheild, given by Dr. Megaw, was presented to the winners.

The Rector of Talke presided, and supporting him were General Heath-Caldwell, Dr. W. Megaw (Audley), the head and assistant teachers of the respective schools, Miss J. Downing (hon. secretary of the Netball League), and Mr T.W.Lunt (hon. secretary of the Football League).. - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Staffordshire Sentinel

Monday 2 July 1923

Talk-o'-th'-hill and West Staffs Shepherds - Anniversary Celebrations

The members of the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds Friendly Society A.U., Talk-o'-th'-Hill and West Staffordshire District, Shepherds on the Hill (Talke), No.928 and Pride of Talke, No.2392 Lodges, celebrated their anniversary on Saturday. It was the 63red anniversary of the male lodge and the 28th anniversary of the female lodge.

The male lodge has  a membership of 341 adults and 131 juveniles and the membership of the female lodge is 50 adults and 115 juveniles. The lodges are in a very flourishing condition financially, the accumulated funds exceeding over £4,948.

The work accomplished since the formation of the lodges, the increase in the number of the members, and the admirable manner in which the finances have been managed reflects great credit on the officers concerned.- - - (continues) - - - -

The procession was through Talke to Talke Pitts, and afterwards to the Rectory of Talke, the Rector, the Rev. J.H.L. Edwards being an honary member of the Society.

After leaving Talke the procession went on to Linley Hall, the residence of Major-General Heath-Caldwell C.B., who is also an honorary member of the Society. Upon arrival at Linley Hall the members were accorded a hearty reception and Major-General Heath-Caldwell thoughtfully provided the visitors with refreshments.

The visitors were also privileged to make an inspection of the beautiful adjoining gardens and woods, and the short stay at the Hall was very pleasant and enjoyable. Before leaving Major-General Heath-Caldwell was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his hospitality on the motion of Bro.George Warrilow, seconded by Bro. W. Callear.

Major-General Heath-Caldwell, in responding, said he was delighted to meet the visitors that day and to assist the effort. The ritual of the Shepherds Society was excellent, and he was pleased to see so many juveniles present. He wished them every prosperity and success. After the band played a selection, the procession went on to Butt Lane, and after parading the principal streets of the village, returned to the Lodge room at Talke.

Staffordshire Sentinel

Monday 6 August 1923

Talke & Butt Lane Hospital Effort -

Annual Flower Day.

Under the auspices of the Talke and Butt Lane Hospital Committee, the annual Flower Day took place on Saturday and was very successful. In previous years the sale of flowers has taken place on the same day  as the annual parade, but this year a separate day was fixed upon and the workers were thus able to devote additional time to the effort. It is one of the numerous supplementary efforts held during the year on behalf of hospital funds and has always proved a profitable source of revenue.

The Talke and Butt Lane Hospital effort has now been held for fifteen years in succession. The bulk of the income, after defraying expenses, is devoted to the North Staffordshire Infirmary, and grants are also made annually to convalescent homes. - - - - (continues) - - - - 

In addition to Saturday's effort, a series of efforts to supplement the hospital funds have been arranged inlcuding the annual garden party, to be held at Linley Hall on Thursday next, by kind permission of Major-General Heath-Caldwell C.B., and the annual musical festival in which the combined choirs of the village take part, to be held this month.

The amount realised from last year's muscial festival was £17 8s. 8d.

The officials for the present year are: President of the General Committee, Mr Harold Johnson; vice-president, Major General Heath-Caldwell C.B., Dr W.A. Macdonald, Dr Duncan, Mr George Wise, Mr H. Boughey and Mr C. Hancock; general honorary secretary Mr John Stubbs of Butt Lane; - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Gifts of flowers were numerous, due largely to the efforts of Major-General Heath-Caldwell , who not only supplied some very choice blooms from his own hothouses and gardens, but also secured gifts of flowers from numerous friends. - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer

Saturday 20 October 1923

Wanted, Upper Parlourmaid of two; well up in all duties; tall; age over 30; country house - Address, Mrs Heath-Caldwell, Linley Wood, Talke, Staffordshire

Staffordshire Sentinel

Thursday 1 November 1923

Sir Maurice de Bunsen - Visit to Alsager Next Tuesday - Former British Ambassador in Vienna.

A meeting in  connection with the League of Nations Union has been organised by Sir Francis Joseph C.B.E., J.P., for Tuesday next, November 6th, to be held in St. Mary's Schoolroom, Alsager, at 7.30pm.

The principal speaker will be the Right Hon. Sir Maurice de Bunsen, Bart. G.C.M.G., who was the British Ambassador at Vienna on the outbreak of war, 1914. Sir Maurice is addressing a meeting on behalf of the League at Crewe on the 5th November, and he will be the guest of Sir Francis and Lady Joseph during the visit.

Mr. E.G. Hemmerde, K.C., M.P., the member for the Crewe Division, will also speak, and it is interesting to note that the recently adopted Unionist candidate, Sir Thomas Strangman will take part in the meeting.

The Chairman and principal speakers will be supported by Major-General Heath-Caldwell C.B., Mr  Ernest Craig J.P., and Mr A.H. Maddock, Chairman of the Alsager U.D.C., and others.- - - - (continues) - - - -

Staffordshire Sentinel

Thursday 1 November 1923

Alsager Fur& Feather Society - Successful Second Annual Show

The Alsager Fur and Feather Society's second show, in St.Mary's Schools on Wednesday, eclipsed even last year's remarkable success. Entries poured in from all parts and from places as widely separated as Carlisle and Southampton, Ireland and Wales were also represented, and local farmers were well to the fore.- - - - (continues) - - - -

Awards - Poultry - Poultry - Bantams - Utility Poultry - Fancy Pigeons - Flying Homers - Rabbits - Cage Birds - - - - - (continues) - - - -

The officials were as under: - Mr Arthur H.  Maddock, President; Miss M.B. Wrench, Mrs R.G.Peel, Sir Francis Joseph C.B.E., Messrs W. Huntley Goss, J.F. Maddock, Arthur J. Leadbeater, E. Craig, Roland Mellor, H. Howlett, Major-General Heath-Caldwell C.B., and Colonel H. Johnson D.S.O. - - - - (continues) - - - -

Crew Chronicle

Saturday 10 November 1923

Visit of Sir M. De Bunsen - Ex-Ambassador and League of Nations

Alsager was honoured on Tuesday by a visit from Sir Maurice de Bunsen G.C.M.G., who has had such a varied and distinguished career in the British diplomatic service, and who, with other speakers, pleaded the cause of the League of Nations.

Chiefly through the instrumentality of Sir Francis Joseph C.B.E., a largely attended meeting was held at St. Mary's Schools, and resolutions were passed approving the aims of the Leauge of Nations and deciding to form in Alsager a branch of the League of Nations Union. Sir Francis Joseph presided, supported by Sir Maurice de Bunsen, Lady Joseph, Major-General Heath-Caldwell C.B., and Mrs Heath-Caldwell, Sir Thomas Strangman, Mr Ernest Craig J.P., and Mrs Craig - - - - (continues) - - - -

Staffordshire Sentinel

Friday 16 November 1923

Organised in the interests of the Kidsgrove Branch of the Young Men's Christian Assocation, the first concert of the season was held on Wednesday evening in the old Wesleyan Schoolroom, Kidsgrove, which is the headquarters of the local branch.

Consequent upon the difficulty which arose recently in connection with the carrying on of the work of the local branch, there has been a re-organisation and election of officers. Sir Francis Joseph, who is President of the Midland Division of the Y.M.C.A., has kindly consented to become the President of the Kidsgrove Branch. - - - - (continues) - - - -

The officials of the Y.M.C.A. North Staffordshire Coalfield Area are as follows - - - - (continues) - - - - (Riley, Megaw, Rowley), Chairman of Finance, Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B.. general secretary, Mr E. Pryor.- - - - (continues) - - - - 

Staffordshire Sentinel

Tuesday 4 December 1923

Alsageer Golf Club Dinner - Interesting Speeches and Presentation.

The second annual dinner and smoking concert under the auspices of the Alsager Golf Club took place on Thursday evening at the Alsager Arms Hotel.

Major General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B., occupied the chair, and was supported by Messrs A.P. Tiley (captain), H.V. Lynam (hon. secretary), Dr. H.P. Harpur, Messrs W.H. Wood, C.H. Beardmore, A.H. Maddock. D.R. Ellis, O. Spencer, E. Hollinshead, J.J. Nelson, J. Bell - - - - (continues) - - - -My Lynam also gave information relating to alterations and improvements which had been effected on the courses and in the Club-house, and spoke of the Club's indebtedness to Major-General Heath-Caldwell for his manifold kindnesses and generosity. - - - - (continues) - - - -

Mr Platt gave a delightfully humorous song entitled "Thoughts," and afterwards Mr A.P. Tiley proposed the toast of "The President" and in the course of his speech, said it gave him and the whole of the members great pleasure to see Major-General Heath-Caldwell with them that evening. The Club thoroughly appreciated all that their President (and incidentally Landlord) had done for them. No club could have a more considerate landlord or a better President.- - - - (continues) - - - -

The President, who had an ovation upon rising, suitably replied, and afterwards presented the prizes as follows:- - - - - (continues) - - - -

Staffordshire Sentinel

Tuesday 11 December 1923

Talke and Butt Lane Hospital Effort.

The members of the Talke and Butt Lane Hospital Committee, who have been working untiringly throughout the summer and autumn in organising and carrying out schemes on behalf of the North Staffordshire Infirmary, are pursuing their efforts during the winter months with decided success.

Another of the series of supplementary efforts on behalf of the funds of the committee took place on Saturday, when a whist drive was held in the Church Institute, Lawton.The President of the General Committee is Mr Harry Hamnett of Talke; the Vice-Presidents are Major-General Heath-Caldwell C.B., of Linley Hall, Dr W.A. MacDonald, Dr A.G.B. Duncan, Mr George Wise, Mr H. Boughey and Mr C Handcock; the honorary Secretary is Mr John Stubbs, of Butt Lane and the hon. treasurer is Mr George Thomas.

There is a representative Ladies' Committee with Mrs W.A. MacDonald as President, Mrs A.G.B. Duncan, Mrs Sumner, Mrs Morse and Mrs S.Rigby, Vice-Presidents and Mrs C. Hancock the hon. secretary.In addtion to sending £100 to the North Staffordshire Infirmary this year, the Committee have made grants to convalescent homes as follows - - - (continues) - - - -