Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, March 30th, 1916.

News was released that Princess Victoria, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, had consented to visit Luton on Monday, April 10th, to open the YMCA hut which was rapidly nearing completion at Biscot Camp.

The hut was situated in the heart of the Artillery School at Biscot Road in what had become to be regarded as a permanent training camp. It was to have an extensive annexe containing four billiard tables.

Hat manufacturer and dyer Mr Stewart Hubbard had assumed responsibility for the whole cost of the hut - about £700. He had previously pledged £500 towards YMCA huts at Folkestone, but as their cost was assured following a flag day he had decided to take responsibility for the Biscot hut.

• The most severe blizzard for 35 years struck Luton on Tuesday, virtually cutting off the town. Train travel was severely disrupted, hundreds of trees and many telegraph poles were felled, and the roof blown off the grandstand at the Luton Town ground, off Hazelbury Crescent (illustrated above).

• Among cases dealt with by the Luton Rural District Tribunal was that of a 19-year-old Leagrave lad employed at the Hewlett and Blondeau aircraft works since November 1914 who appealed on the ground of conscience. After refusing to take an oath, he said he declined to use carnal weapons because he believed human life was sacred. Asked how he reconciled making instruments of warfare with his conscience, he replied: "Because in the first place the Lord says, 'Where I shall take thee up thou shalt remain,' and he took me up when I was at Hewlett and Blondeau's and I am going to remain there until I am taken out." The applicant was held to serve.

• Driver R. Coom, Army Service Corps, writes from France: "Since I came out here is have seen a good few dozen Vauxhall cars, and have spoken to a good few of their drivers. So far I have not found one who has anything to grumble about. I have never seen one that has broken down, although I have seen a good few of other makes, and this speaks well for Vauxhall reliability."

• Capt H. Carey Morgan, the Office Commanding the 3/1st London Brigade Royal Field Artillery at Biscot, is pictured with his depot staff and mascot, Diana, described as a great pet that had been presented to the Brigade.

• A deputation from the recently formed Luton Association of Attested Married men visited MP Mr Cecil Harmsworth at his London residence on Tuesday morning. They spent a couple of hours with him and were given an attentive hearing to their views.

• Extensive damage was done on Monday night by a fire at 10 Old Bedford Road, Luton, part of the premises of R. Burley Ltd, straw hat manufacturers. It was found that the fire was caused through the fusing of an electrical wire touching a joist which was nearly burned right through. The fire was confined to the part of the building in which it started, and a large quantity of bleach plait stock was affected with damage estimated at well over £1,000. Other rooms adjoining were untouched.

• Luton is to have another flag day on Saturday, April 15th, with the aim of raising £750 required by the Bute Hospital Committee for the purchase of adjoining houses at 2 and 4 Grove Road to provide further accommodation for staff in the near future. Originally the flag day was to be in aid of Wardown V.A.D. Hospital but the general public were responding so generously to its needs that there was no need at present for further support.

• A bad chimney fire occurred at the house of Miss Lawrence, 57 Cromwell Road, this morning. The fire brigade was called in the belief that the roof was on fire, but the blaze was not as severe as first thought and a hand pump dealt with the outbreak. Some smoke damage was caused.

• On Thursday afternoon a powerful horse attached to a Royal Field Artillery trolley dashed down Upper George Street at full gallop. The driver pluckily stuck to his reins and steered the horse safely past all traffic, eventually bringing the animal to a standstill near the Corn Exchange. It transpired that the horse had bolted in Dunstable Road.

• Under the headline of Women An Agriculture, two pictured were published of a husband and wife at work on thatching a building. The pictures (below) were taken by Mr M. W. Judge, of Dunstable Road, at Houghton Regis in February.