6 FEBRUARY MMXVIII · PRINTED IN LENDERT · ONE PENNY Ladies' Housewifery Tournament marred in controversy THE Ladies' Housewifery Tournament finals on Monday, held in Chepingstow, were marred by accusations of cheating and bribery levelled at competitors and judges. It is alleged by Mrs Philip Henson and Miss Mary Ruban that Mrs Susan Wells bribed the judges for the bakery competition, Mrs Elsabet Millwright and Mrs Lucy Anbuck, with money. The century-old tournament run by the Royal Ladies' League is usually a rather genteel affair, with ladies of house work competing in the disciplines and arts of cookery, bakery, sewing, washing, ironing, decorating and gardening.
The final results of the tournament have yet to be announced owing to the row, which escalated yester-day when Miss Ruban corroborated Mrs Henson's accusation. It is claimed by Mrs Henson that she saw Mrs Wells approach Mmes Millwright and Anbuck before the judging of her Garsey cake which she entered for the cake round in the bakery competition. According to her account, which she submitted to the Ladies' League, Mrs Wells surreptitiously sidled up to the two judges, out of the four judging the bakery competition, and whispered covert messages into their ears and flashed several sovereigns into their hands.
The two judges, of the four that make up the judging panel for the bakery competition, then proceeded to give Mrs Wells a mark of 12 out of 12, and praised her Garsey cake, though the other two judges gave only an nine and a ten. Thereafter, it is alleged that Mrs Wells secretly passed the two judges several coins, of which at least two were allegedly sovereigns, which the judges then tucked into their coat-pockets. Mrs Wells went on the win the bakery competition by only two marks, receiving a total of 43 out of 48, Mrs Henson having received 41. Mrs Henson has won the national bakery competition three times previously, whereas Mrs Wells has only won her local council's competitions once.
Miss Ruban, a spinster and another contestant in the baking competition, claims she saw Mrs Wells whisper something into the judges' ears; however, she did not pay much attention to after the results were announced and did not see any transfer of money. She did, however, recall that Mrs Millwright had only once prior given full marks for a cake over twenty years prior, and that Mrs Anbuck had never given full marks previously. She told the Regal Post that: “It is exceeding rare and uncommon for any cake to garner full marks in the bakery competition. Only the very best cakes get elevens or hens (tens), and Mrs Anbuck I believe, to the best of my knowledge, has never given a shilling (twelve) for any cake before to-day”.
An investigation has been launched by the Ladies' League and potential witnesses are being called to write as soon as possible to their offices at Ladies' Hall, 2 Fishgate Hill, Lendert. If proved, it would be the first time a person has tried to bribe judges in the Tournament at the national level, and all three involved are likely to be expelled from the League if found guilty. Both Mrs Millwright and Mrs Anbuck have refused a request for comment by the Regal Post, and the Ladies' League has failed to respond to our enquiries. The Regal Post does not wish to insinuate that Mmes Millwright, Anbuck or Wells are guilty.