Fined at the Mock Court in 1940. J. E. Cummings for endeavouring to set a record for honeymoons. £2.
Jack Cummings took over 'The Value House' from his sister Mildred Cummings when she married in 1920 and owned it until his death in 1964.
On his return from service in WW1 he became an extremely active participant in local society. Involved in the setting up of the R.S.A. after WW1, the Rugby Club where he was secretary, president and patron. He was involved in the Chamber of Commerce, played golf, went clay bird shooting and with Dan Hay the dentist, and Guy Philpott, (a jeweller who later married Annie Cummings, another sister), he regularly went big game fishing. He was one of the first vice presidents of the swimming club, and presented two park benches to go in the garden area of the ladies rest rooms. Leading up to the depression he was on the committee of the Unemployment Board. It was he who donated the cherry trees along Firth Street in 1943.
In 1931 a contract was let for the alterations and additions in reinforced concrete to the Arawa Street premises of the Value House as well as the erection of a new shop.
The store in 1960, 50 years after it's establishment.
After his wedding in 1937 he embarked upon a two year honeymoon to the United Kingdom and Europe, where he met the Duke of Windsor while playing Golf at Cannes. (The Duke of Windsor shared his soap!)
Believed to be the marriage of John Edward Cummings and Beatrice Ethel Willis (née Schwieters). If anyone knows differently please contact us.
John Edward Cummings died in 1964 and is buried at the Matamata Cemetery.
All this and more can be read in the long-read at the link below.
