|
 | |  | |
Prior to the introduction of town gas from the Leicester Corporation in the early thirties everyone had to rely on candles and paraffin lamps. Jack Hill, who was a mere youngster at the time, recalls those far off days as if it was only yesterday.
I think almost every household opted for a connection since this immediately transformed the ways of heating and lighting, raising the standard of living considerably. At the Gables Farm where we lived, the meter access was taken into a space under the stairs, from which lead pipes were taken on the walls to various rooms in the house.
Two of the gas fitters who took up temporary lodgings at the Gables were called Harry Austick and Charlie Moore, and they were still paying visits in 1939 when war broke out. Charlie and Harry were enthusiastic golfers and always brought their clubs for a knockabout in the Home field.
I had my first lessons there and one delight was to drive the ball towards the herd of cows and see which one reacted to the slight sting of a golf ball. Sometimes the game involved one person being at either end of the field and swapping balls. This could be quite hairy if shouted instructions were misunderstood.
Harry married a Chinese English girl called Beryl, who was a nurse and had the most intriguing round eyes. When they came to visit, Beryl would spend most the time sleeping in a chair as she was working long hours.
After the war, they would visit Mum & Dad at St Albans but I'm not sure what happened to Charlie. He was a big chap and always wore plus four trousers when he visited Desford.
On the subject of other visitors, I have not yet solved the reason why we had visits from a chap in a wheelchair, but he appeared when I was quite small and came once a year for a short holiday from Leicester. His name was Harry Wheatley but apart from visualising him in the wheelchair I am stumped.
We used to get a small invasion from a group of chaps linked with the Caravan Mission to Village Children. They would arrive in a horse-drawn square caravan with the door at the front like a real gypsy caravan, and set up a large tent in the paddock behind the barn just next door to the public house. They had a harmonium and would have much singing at the services although I can't remember attending.
When war came they left several boxes of camping equipment including a full sized bell tent and this was all stored in the barn. Later on I was allowed to take out some of the equipment and with the help of my cousins, the Petchers aged about 5 and 7, we managed to get this tent erected in a clearing in the Dell. After that the tent remained there for ages until a cow pushed her horn through the fabric and made a long tear.
This was a good spot to have a smoke with fags borrowed from cousin Eric's packet left open on the fireplace at Dofy's house. If two cigarettes were produced I would have one and the Petchers would have half each. I remember seeing Ivan looking very green on one occasion. Of course it was important to try and eliminate the smell of smoke so that's why it was carried out in the open. [Well before going home time.]
Gala fetes and fancy dress parades were very popular and sometimes Dad would lend the Home field. I remember two occasions when the Dagenham Girl Pipers came to lead the procession and do a display of marching. There would have been lots of floats and walkers, and the whole thing always started at the church.
I remember the boredom of waiting for this to start and for the problems with fractious horses. I never participated as I was too shy for such a display but I recall Madge and Connie getting dressed up, one of them as the Selo girl Con I think.
I remember the embarrassment of seeing older children snogging in the bushes with the Piper girls and not being sure how to react. I recall us lending a cart for decorating as a float, but the main units were Jack Harris's and Frank Smith's lorries.
About my cousins: for several years running Peter Roberts used to visit us for the summer and spend time on the farm learning the trade. I was never clearly aware of the financial arrangements, if any, but Peter was a firm believer in tucking in at the table much to Dad's amazement and frequent caustic remarks. Can't remember Peter doing such things as milking but I may be mistaken. He was a great fan of John Richardson and followed him everywhere. He seldom worked with Dad.
Sometimes his Sister Alison would visit for a short while and I can remember us all sharing the end bedroom. With a strong Yorkshire accent Alison used to enchant me with her sayings.
| |  | |  |
To add a comment you must first login or join for free, up in the top left corner.
|
|
