Battles to stand as election candidates, courses on 'healthful, moral and religious training' and the secret to gaining the perfect male physique could all be found in the pages of the then Stroud Journal from 100 years ago. Thomas Hymas, who was on work experience at the SNJ, brings readers the news and adverts from the Stroud Journal of Friday, December 2, 1910.
IT was an exciting week in local politics. Both the Liberal and Conservative campaigns came to an end, their candidates had been chosen ahead of the election the following year.
The paper reports: "Amid a scene of enthusiasm unprecedented in the annals of local Liberalism, Mr C P Allen was for the fifth time in succession selected Liberal candidate. In the gangways of Lansdown Hall on either side of the seating accommodation men were wedged together like herrings in a barrel."
As it was a tight two-horse race they could have popped into J T Davis at 21, High Street, Stroud for "Loin covers. Horse rugs. Nose bags. Halters. Stable brushes and Knee aprons." All were available and the phone number was easy to remember - it was simply 81.
Two digit numbers must have saved time, as did stoned raisins, described as "Economical, labour saving. The tedious and dirty process of stoning by hand avoided. No waste, no stems, no stones."
Across town, Stroud’s Gotham rugby team were "unfortunately represented…. and lost by a dropped goal and three tries to nil. The forwards worked hard, and were practically all right but the backs were weak, it being seemingly impossible for them to do anything right, Harry Smith played capitally at full-back." Stroud Athletic fared slightly better against Painswick..."the game ended in a pointless draw."
However, exercise seemed unnecessary if a Bovril advert were to be believed... "Bovirl. Its great body-building power incontrovertibly proved." There is no mention by whom.
LUX was advertised by Bo-Peep holding a placard with the words "Won't shrink woollens". The advertisers tried to make sure readers understood why Bo-Peep was advertising LUX by pointing out that "Little Bo-Peep, the popular character of childhood’s days, is intended to remind us of LUX, the washing preparation."
Among many adverts for educational services, Stratford Abbey College’s stuck out. It boasted that 'classes are conducted on the modern system'. Students could benefit from 'healthful, moral and religious training; high mental culture, with self-government and habits of industry'.
Meanwhile, 'Absolutely painless extractions' were promised by dentists Messrs Edwards & Baird.
But maybe extractions wouldn’t be needed if you ate Tuck’s Currant Bread.
'The scheme for creating a healthy race,' was the tagline used to advertise the bread.
The advert boasts that: 'There is milk in Tuck’s Currant Bread. There is malt in Tuck’s Currant Bread. There is butter in Tuck’s Currant Bread." We are led to believe that this is truly a superlative currant bread. "A diploma has been awarded for the excellence of Tuck's Currant Bread."
The advertisers do not specify which educational establishment awarded such an honour.
From leafing through these pages it appears that Stroud was a place full of passion and interest. It is fair to say that not a lot has changed.
