Brendan Ball Newcombe Mayor 1920/21 and 1921/22 GRANDSON of Emmanuel Newcombe and eldest son of Simon Peter Brendon Newcombe, he had younger brothers in Simon (Simmy) and John Jehu. All three brothers contributed a great deal to all aspects of life in Okehampton. Brendon continued the family business of a seed, manure and busy wholesale family wine and spirit merchant, trading as E Newcombe and Sons at West Street. Along with Simmy, they were the sole proprietors of the celebrated 'Glenyestor' blend of Scotch whisky and the Dartmoor Hunt Liqueur. It was in July 1922 that he chaired a contentious council meeting where the question of allowing Sunday games on public grounds was once again raised. London County Council had sanctioned Sunday games, and it was pointed out that the churches had never created public opinion but followed it! In a long and heated debate, with Mayor Newcombe observing strict neutrality, the motion was lost and the bowling green, tennis courts and all else in the park remained closed on a Sunday for many years to come. Mr Newcombe was interested in all forms of sport, including soccer, rugby and cricket. He was heavily involved in the formation of the Simmons Bowling Club and was elected president at the general meeting in June 1922. It was decided to name the club 'Okehampton Simmons Bowling club'. The formation of the golf club was also high on his agenda and BB enlisted the help of his brother JJ, the town clerk and solicitor. They were very active and eventually they were able to persuade the owners to grant a lease to certain gentlemen in the town for this purpose. The two brothers can take much credit for bringing this to fruition and BB Newcombe became one of the first directors of the Okehampton Golf Club Ltd. In 1926 the daily match fee was just 2s 6d (now 12 and a half pence). Brendon was interested in agricultural matters and field sports and it was in 1922 that the Prince of Wales was asked by Okehampton Agricultural Association to be president, but HRH regretfully could not accept. Brendon was also elected a director of the Okehampton Gas Company Ltd in 1914. He was one of the first subscribers to the telephone network with Number 14. He did everything he could to serve Okehampton and the country, and he was a major in the Volunteers. He worshipped at the parish church, was a strong Tory and supported every charity in the area. He was also a member of the thriving Primrose League in Okehampton, like most of the Newcombe family, and some of their principles such as 'loyalty, law and order and good citizenship' and 'freedom in religious instruction for the education of our children' still apply today. While JJ stayed in the famiy home at Fairview, Simmy moved to Okeford, Kempley Road, and Brendon Ball to Beechcroft, Station Road. Okehampton benefited from the life of Brendon Ball Newcombe, and his proudest moment was when he welcomed the Prince of Wales on an official visit to Okehampton on May 25, 1921. Hilary and Mike Wreford
