Newsletter 17 .pub - The Binns Family

The Brett Binns Family con’t
He remained in the Far East for the rest of the war, returning
to duty with the Royal Air Force as a flight lieutenant
working for central photographic intelligence, helping
drop agents behind Japanese lines but when the war
ended in 1945, he returned home to Grimsthorpe to join
his wife and their two daughters, Diana, who had been
born in Burma, and Cynthia in India.
He went into partnership with Lord Ancaster and formed
the Grimsthorpe Nurseries, running them successfully
until he retired in 1963 and the following year, he and his
wife moved to No 23 North Road, Bourne. He also served
for a spell on the Income Tax Commission which sat at
Corby Glen, as a member of Edenham Parish Council
and as a manager of the village primary school. During
his earlier years, he was also an enthusiastic
sportsman, playing tennis
and cricket with great ability and golf,
at which his handicap was six.
Mr Binns died at his home in North Road on Sunday
16th February 1975 after several months of failing
health, aged 77. The funeral was held at Edenham
parish church the following Wednesday, conducted by
the vicar, the Rev Geoffrey Roberts. He was survived
by his wife and daughters. Floral tributes were from
family members only but other mourners and sympathisers
were asked to send a donation to the Royal
British Legion of which Mr Binns was a founder member.
He is buried in the churchyard at Edenham.
Another Chemist
As regular readers will know, in a former life I was a chemist and always interested to
discover earlier Binns members of the profession
CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
Monday, July 7th, 1856.
Mary Dougherty was tried for feloniously cutting and
wounding Edward Dougherty, her husband, with intent
to do him some grievous bodily harm.
WILLIAM BIDDLE (policeman, B 155). Last Saturday
night fortnight I was called to a chemist's shop, Mr.
Binns's, in York-street, Westminster, and found
Dougherty there, bleeding profusely from the nose—I
took him in a cab, in a fainting state, to Westminster
Hospital; he was not able to walk—as I came out of
the hospital I saw the prisoner standing outside, and
Dougherty said, "That is the party who cut my nose,"
and gave her in charge—that was after his nose was
dressed—on the way to the station, she said that she
could not think who it was that had done it; it must
have been someone in the passage—she appeared
perfectly sober—I went to the house, and found this
razor (produced) on a shelf, by the side of the fireplace,
and have had it ever since; there is a slight
mark of blood on the handle, and likewise on the
blade—this is the apron (produced), here are spots of
blood on it—I should say, from her appearance, that she
was perfectly sober—I told the Magistrate that she was a
little excited—I do not remember saying that she was the
worse for liquor—this is my signature to my deposition; I
believe it was read over to me before I signed it—I have
no recollections of telling the Magistrate that she was the
worse for liquor; she appeared a little excited, but I
thought that was from what had occurred—she might
have been drinking a little, but she was what I should call
sober; she was evidently in possession of her faculties.
JOHN FREDERICK LANGFIELD . I am manager to Mr.
Binns, a chemist. The prosecutor was brought there,
bleeding very copiously from a wound on the nose—he
lost very nearly a quart of blood—I bound it up, and sent
him to the hospital.
Prisoner's Defence. I do not recollect doing anything; the
blood on my apron was from a blow he struck me on my
nose when we were on the floor; I have not the least recollection
of anything afterwards; I have a recollection of
seeing the razor; I have not a friend in the world.
GUILTY of illegally wounding. Aged 45.— Confined
Twelve Month.
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