Harold Francis Newey 1897-1962

Postal Workers

Postcard from Harold to his mother

After The War

St Nicholas Church, second home to the Newey’s

World War Two

Aftermath of the landmine – ARP Wardens can be seen digging through the rubble.
photo courtesy of the Warwickshire County Records Office PH (N) 600/279/9 img 9376
Grandson Barry Rose hands over Harold’s ARP Helmet to Hon. Museum Curator, Margaret Kane.
The St Nicholas Bellringers 1950’s (Harold is far right, his father is in the centre)

Abbey Fields Lake – Rescued Carp – 2022

Triumph Over Adversity

Calmness seemingly on the surface but a crisis lies beneath

In August 2022, after several weeks of very little rain and record high temperaures, the water level in the Abbey Fields Lake was critical, and the carp were dying due to lack of oxygen. Disappointingly, the Environment Agency, Severn Trent and Warwick District Council weren’t helpful following a site visit on the Thursday 11th, saying “Nothing Could Be Done“.

So it looked like the fish would perish, but the Kenilworth Community had other ideas. A group of volunteers, lead by Callum Thorpe, Darren Rees, Mark Copsey and Cliff Owens, later known as the ‘Lake Lads’, got together and hatched a plan to rescue the fish. They set up camp (around the clock) for several days on the footpath just along from the swimming pool. Donations of water pumps, fountains, generators, fuel, food and drink came flooding in.

The carp were dying and action was needed – fast
Two of the ‘Lake Lads’ Darren Rees and Mark Copsey
This fountain (donated by David and Sue Keene) gave the carp much needed oxygen
Generators were helpful in oxygenating the water
Statement from Warwick District Council – CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Kenilworth Pet & Garden Supplies, Abbey End

A fund was immediately set up by Kenilworth Pet & Garden Supplies, with a donation from them of £500. A total of around £2000 was raised initially to purchase a tanker of fresh water. A supplier was found and a tanker of 19,000 litres arrived on 14th August, and the fish responded immediately. However, it became apparent that purchasing further tankers would be too costly.

The lake volunteers set up camp on the banks of the lake

BBC Midlands Today became aware of the story (as did BBC CWR Radio) and sent a camera crew down to the lake to record the events that were unfolding. Their report appeared on the evening of Monday 15th, which gave the story much needed publicity, and would have widened the cause of the ‘Lake Lads’. Several interviews took place, including one with WDC councillor Richard Hales, who became pivotal in the support of the eventual removal of the carp. Up to this point, approximately 300 had already died.

District Councillor Richard Hales being interviewed by reporter Peter Wilson
The BBC were in attendance for several hours

To save the carp from certain death the only option available was for them to be removed. Lavender Hall Fishery were granted a licence to remove the fish by the Environment Agency, and netting started on the evening of the 15th, and continued the following day. They eventually removed approximately 650 fish, and these were transferred into one of their own lakes’s at Berkswell. The carp were of a good size, ranging from 3-5lbs. It is believed that less than 5% of the original stock, now remain. So, in the end, it was a ‘Triumph Over Adversity’.

Big thanks must go to all the lads at CJT Fencing & Landscaping lead by Callum Thorpe for all their help during the rescue.
A large percentage of the stock were common carp, the others being mirror carp which have larger but fewer scales
Lavender Hall Fishery – new home of the Kenilworth carp

It is rumoured that the carp were illegally introduced into the lake in the early 2000’s as small fish, and have since thrived due to the natural food available to them (daphnia etc) plus the supplement of bread and other treats from the general public. In recent years, due to their growth and over population, in conjuction with Leamington Angling Association, the lake has been regulary netted by Jon Wall Fisheries of Newark. Many of the carp have now been stocked into LAA’s own fishing lakes. In the spring of 2023 the lake was netted again, and a small number of fish were removed.

‘Found Drowned’ – Knowle Hill Farm – 1909

Mother and Baby Tragedy

‘Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland’ (1903) Licence CC-BY (NLS) https://maps.nls.uk/index.html
Crackley Cottages – present day

The Inquest

Former Council House in Upper Rosemary Hill (now apartments)

Witness Charles Hobbins

Witness Mrs Neale

Witness Arthur Hunt

Probable site of drownings. (Now houses) ‘Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland’ (1903) Licence CC-BY (NLS) https://maps.nls.uk/index.html

Police Evidence

Medical Evidence

The Verdict

Grave of Charles Hobbins and second wife Annie, in Kenilworth Cemetery

Shooting in Leyes Lane – George Brewer – 1891

Double Tragedy of Kenilworth Men

‘Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland’ (1886) Licence CC-BY (NLS) https://maps.nls.uk/index.html
Site of shooting – present day

Inquest of John Reuben Rainbow

The Bull Inn (now a private resistence)

Evidence of Joseph Rainbow

Evidence of William Rainbow

‘Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland’ (1886) Licence CC-NY (NLS) https://maps.nls.uk/index.html

Evidence of Police

The Verdict

With the overwelming evidence of the case, the jury could only come to one conclusion. They returned a verdict that Rainbow committed suicide while ‘temporarily insane’.

Inquest of George Alfred Brewer

Abbey Hotel (photo courtesy of Graham Gould, Kenilworth In Camera)

Evidence of John Brewer

Evidence of Sophia Walker

Medical Evidence of Dr Clarke

Evidence of Police

Depositions of George Brewer

The Verdict

From The Pulpit

Funeral Of George Brewer

John Rainbow