THE BEGINNING

December 4th 1894 - The First Parish Meeting
“The first Parish Meeting was held in the Schoolroom (picture on right) on Tuesday Dec. 4th at 6.30 pm. Mr John Simpson, Overseer, explained the object of the meeting. The Rev.H.C.Floud, Vicar, was voted to the chair. Sixteen valid nominations were handed in.” A show of hands could not produce the required eight councillors and a Poll was demanded.
December 17th 1894 -The Election
“The Poll was held on Monday Dec. 17th in the Schoolroom from 12 noon till 8pm. W.W.Downes being Deputy Returning Officer. “
The resulting Parish Council consisted of Joseph Bainford, Frederick Boman, Walter Brownjohn, John Alfred Candy, Henry Kemp, John Simpson, Joseph Stockdale, and James Yalden. It seems that it was not necessary for the Chairman, the Rev.H.Castle Floud, who was Vicar of St.Mary’s, to stand for election.
August 31st 1896
“An application was made by the Clerk for some receptacle for the custody of the Parish Book and Documents. This application being considered by the Council to be necessary, it was agreed that a Japanned Deed Box be provided, to be obtained from Hadden Best & Co., size 24” long, 16" broad & 13"deep, price 24/-, which the Clerk was directed to get.” Whatever happened to that?
The Annual Parish Meeting on March 24th 1902 was only worth a short entry! “The meeting opened with six persons present and no business to discuss the Chairman declared the Meeting closed.”
The Minutes of a meeting held in February, 1909, serve as a reminder of how things have improved during the last 100 years. “Letter read from Major Bryan as to advisability of petitioning county council to close the schools owing to the continuation of Diphtheria among the children for a period of 3 or 4 weeks and to thoroughly disinfect the rooms.” .... while, in the same year, a letter to the Parish Council from the Postmaster only goes to show us what we have lost:-
“June 10th - Letter read from Postmaster, Alton, with regard to alteration in hours of business at Upper and Lower Froyle. Upper Froyle from 8-8 and Lower Froyle 8.15-6.30. Sunday business to be abolished altogether at Lower Froyle with the exception of delivery and collection.”
In 1917 the Parish Council were still meeting in the Schoolroom and the Precept for the coming year was set at £5. The Precept represents the amount of money the Parish Council felt they would need for parish business during the coming year. In 1af4 the Precept is set at £3,500.
As time went on, more and more rules and regulations were laid down regarding the smooth running of the Council:
August 23rd 1935
“All must stand when addressing the Chair and council and use a tone of voice that is audible to all present”.
April 17th 1941
“Also resolved that in future all meetings of Parish Council shall be announced several days previously and on printed notices displayed in prominent positions in the two parts of the village.”
Mr. Walter Brownjohn had been Clerk to the Parish Council since its conception. In 1946 he retired, after 51 years. The newly retired Froyle Headmaster, Mr.Tom Knight, took over, with a salary of £15 per year.
May 22nd 1946
“Sir Hugh Smiley read letter from War Dept. giving authority for the removal of barbed wire from various spots in the village.”
In 1949 the Parish Council decided to join the Hampshire Association of Parish Councils. Membership cost £1.10.0.
As the Council moved into the 1950’s, one issue causing concern was the quarry. March 16th 1953
“After some discussion about the Lime Dust at Lower Froyle from Froyle Quarries the Clerk was instructed to write to the Clerk RDC pointing out that something should be done on grounds of health.”
Generally, however, there seemed little public interest in parish affairs.
March 12th 1956
“One member of public at annual parish meeting.”
As the swinging 60’s dawned, Froyle residents were very worried about the state of the village pond!
May 24th 1960
“Concern over mosquitoes breeding on the pond. The Medical Officer had examined same and said it was unlikely.”
There were rumours of a new school, which came to nothing:-
February 18th 1963
“School Managers had accepted offer for Hampshire County Education Authority to build a new village school in Lower Froyle.”
March 16th 1964
“When asked about new school at Annual Parish Meeting, County Councillor Major Palmer replied it would be at Bentley, perhaps in 10 years time.”
He was certainly right about that, but it took a little longer than 10 years!
The Parish Council was equally concerned about its elderly residents:-
June 1st 1964
“Welfare sub-committee formed to look after the interests of old-age pensioners. (Consisting of) Mrs.Emery, Mrs.Bush, Mr.Robertson and Mr.Eve.”
Life was made a little easier for the Clerk, Mr.Walter Start, in November 1965. ”Secondhand typewriter acquired for Clerk at a cost of £10.” Five years later they bought him a new one for £20.
March 21st 1972
“Notice boards erected Lower Froyle Stores, Village Hall and Upper Froyle Stores.” Remember the days when we were blessed with two village shops!
In 1972 the Local Government Act put an end to the old Alton Rural District Council and brought about the creation of East Hants District Council.
January 1st 1973
“A letter was read from Alton RDC asking if the Parish Council required the new authority to take over some of the duties of the Parish Council. It was agreed not to accept the offer!”
In November 1974 the village pond was on the Agenda again and it was agreed to spend £12 to stock it with fish.
January 1st 1974 - “35 to 40 tench were placed in the pond. Anyone fishing would be expected to return all catches.”
The newly appointed authority were keen to make their mark:-
January 1st 1975
“ Letter received from Chief Planning Officer EHDC that Upper & Lower Froyle be designated as a Conservation Area. More information was to be sought.”
There was a move afoot in 1975 to start a Parish Magazine, a “Broad Sheet embracing the whole of the Parish and not only dealing with Church matters. To be discussed.” The Reverend Daubney took up the challenge.
August 1975
“A Vote of Thanks from the floor thanking Lt.Colonel Willcocks for the efficient, understanding way in which he has conducted the meeting. (The electrical supply had failed halfway through the meeting)”
At the beginning of 1976 it was decided that Lower Froyle should probably not be made a Conservation Area, but that certain carefully presented areas would be declared of Special Interest. And were you aware that the Post Office had declared Froyle a “Rural Area” and that “the public could officially hand letters to the Village Postmen as they were on their rounds.”
Those fish in the village pond made the Minutes again!
July 1976
“Tench removed from the Pond to avoid their dying due to continuing drought. The fish were dying as the water dried up. Mr. Blake from the local Fishing Club agreed to remove them. The fish to be returned when the drought ends.” In September that year the drought had obviously ended, as the Minutes state that the pond is filling up again and “The school children were cleaning round the edge of the pond.” But there’s no mention of those fish being returned! 1982 was the year of the grand pond clean-up. At the Annual Parish Meeting on 21st April, the Chairman, Mrs.Pat Morris, “congratulated Mr.Figgins and The Hampshire Volunteers for cleaning out the pond. Ducks had now been placed on it.”
May 1983
“Mrs. Booth reported on the set out of the Newsletter, now entirely supported through Parish funds. It was agreed that the Newsletter should be regarded as a secular publication. A space to be provided for the new Vicar to give details of church services etc.”
Feb 1985
“Mrs.Morris summarised meeting at which it had been made clear that Froyle School would close in July 1986. Council were adamant that “free” school transport should be available for the children travelling to their new school in Bentley.”
In February 1988 the idea of setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in Froyle was discussed, while the Poll Tax gets a brief mention in November of that year: “Council considered whether to hold Poll Tax lecture but decided not to as Ladies Group were already having one.”
There was plenty to talk about at the Annual Parish Meeting in April 1990. Brian Davies, Principal Engineer for Southern Electricity, spoke to the assembly about the storms of 1990. S.E had received 75,000 telephone calls during the power failures. The Chairman, Mrs.Jean Benson, spoke of the loss of both village shops.
September 1992
Waste recycling bins agreed. The Local Government Review would involve the councillors in a lot of discussion over the next two years.
March 1994
“Mrs.Booth advised she was compiling a booklet on the history of Froyle” (in commemoration of 100 years of Froyle Parish Council). Councillors present were: Mrs.J.Benson(Chairman), Mr.I.Black, Mrs.A.Booth, Mr.R.Cranford, Mrs.M.Fry, Mr.R.Norkett, Mr.A.Pritchard (Vice-Chairman), and Mr.M.Wells.