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Waipawa Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue 86, 13 April 1927, Page 1

An inquest on a man who for years had been known as “The Sparrows’ Friend,” and whose body was recovered from the foreshore of the Thames was held at Mortlake. The man was Algernon Aylmer Valentine, aged 63, an electrical engineer, who was said by his sister to have been very fond of birds. He was accustomed to go to Hyde Park to feed the sparrows. Many people had written to him asking how they could acquire the art of attracting birds in the way he did. Medical evidence showed that death was due to drowning, and a verdict of found drowned was returned.

During excavations at the West India and Millwall Docks for extensions and improvements by the Port of London Authority, a subterranean system of wood piping of unknown age has been discovered, though it lias not yet been possible to ascertain whether it was used for drainage or water supply. Each section of the piping is a complete tree trunk, wonderfully fashioned for spigot and socket fitting. The piping system was uncovered beneath the old foreshore level of the Thames, at least 20ft. below the present quay walls.