5th December 1908
Proceeds of Jumble Sale
The amount obtained by the jumble sale was £4 6s, which will go to the fund for the upkeep of the Braughing Hall.

19th December 1908
Funeral of Mrs Bedwell
As stated in our last issue, Mrs Bedwell, wife of Mr F Bedwell, of the Causeway, Braughing, passed away on the 8th inst. at the age of 73. The deceased took a great interest in the poor, especially the aged, who have lost a generous friend. She was also a valued member of the District Nursing Association. Her remains were removed on Saturday morning to Cheshunt and interred in the cemetery there. The Rev SM Stanley read the burial service, having previously conducted a memorial service at Braughing Church. The choir was present and sang “Brief life is here our portion” and “Rock of ages cleft for me”. The service ended with the “Nunc Dimittis” which was sung kneeling. Mrs Stanley who presided at the organ, played the “Dead March” in Saul. Among those present at the service were Mr H Shepherd Cross, Mr and Mrs Thomson, Mr H Le Blanc Smith, Major and Mrs Anderson, Rev JL Dutton, Mrs FJ Robinson, Mrs North, Mrs Woodward, Mrs Milton Mole, Miss Weir, Miss McSweeney, Mrs Archer, Mr W Edwards, Mr W Ring etc.

The Church Bells
It is a matter of great regret that the fifth bell of the splendid ring of eight was recently cracked, quite an unavoidable occurrence, while the ringers were at practice. The cracked bell was one of the oldest, as it bears the date 1615. The peal has more than local fame, so all will welcome its being recast at no distant date.

Church Heating Apparatus
Thanks to the liberality of Mr H Shepherd Cross, the heating apparatus of the church, which was very defective, has been thoroughly renovated. The church is now adequately warmed, which adds much to the comfort of the congregation.

Foreign Missions
In aid of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Rev F Brasier gave an interesting address on his missionary work in Rupert’s Land, on Monday evening, in the Church Room.

Loss of Right Eye
Charles Head, a labourer, aged 66, has recently had his right eye removed as the result of an accident he met with last August while oat stacking, part of a sheaf falling and injuring the pupil.

Concert at Braughing Hall
Mr E Waller and friends from Ware kindly gave a very enjoyable concert of Christmas music in the Braughing Hall on Wednesday evening in aid of the Hall funds.

26th December 1908
Widows a “Goodening”
As usual on Monday, St Thomas’ Day, the old custom of “goodening” was observed by the widows of this parish. Seven of the more sturdy dames made the round of the village to collect money to supply “good things” for the approaching Christmas festival. Nineteen widows, two of whom are 85 and 92 respectively, participated in the distribution, which was made in equal shares by the Vicar. In former times, for the alms bestowed during these peregrinations, it was customary for the recipients to present to their benefactors a sprig of holly or mistletoe. In “Merrie England” times it is on record that in some parts of the country tankards of spiced ale were kept in the kitchens at squires and farmers’ houses for the special reflection of the red cloaked old ladies who made these foraging excursions. This hospitality occasionally became rather overpowering, and cases occurred where the recipients found a great a difficulty in finding their habitations. At a village in Worcestershire, children commemorated “Gooding Day” by going round to the houses begging for apples, their wants being made known by singing the following quaint rhyme:
“Wassail, wassail through the town,
If you’ve got any apples throw them down,
Up with the stocking and down with the shoe,
If you’ve got no apples money will do,
The jug is white and the ale is brown,
This is the best house in the town.”