Memories of
Hullavington – People
by
Mary Greenman
(Taken from an article
written by Mary Greenman for the Oct/Nov 1998 edition of The Hullavington
News)
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Perhaps it is
due to the accelerated pace of life, but memories seem to grow increasingly
precious. Taking a cross-section of recent village newsletters; chats on the
pavement whilst watching village weddings; a Gibbs Lane street party; the
changing face of our village - it becomes apparent that we are all hungry for
memories.
I am well aware that there are many natives of the village and those that have
been here longer, that would have much more stored away in their grey cells, but
I hope these thoughts might bring pleasure to others as well as ourselves.
I am not Hullavington born and bred, but it certainly feels like it! Vin began
life at Greens Farm, leaving there when he was four years old, moving to the
further wing of Court Farm (the present Court House). Some of my earliest
memories of this village that was to become my home include:
-
Mr Lavington 'LAVVY', the
village baker, who lived at what is now The Barken, Gibbs Lane.
-
The strange little figure of
Vernon 'VERN', with cap over his eyes, long grey smock and welly-boots
large enough for a man twice his size. He would walk with his
feet almost at "quarter to three", pushing his cart through the
street, filling it with grass from the banks for his goats (or
was it calves? - and where did he live - the Post Office, or the
Gables?)
-
Little Mrs. Neale (where Alvin,
Angie Ayers and family live?) who regularly wore broderie
anglaise petticoats over her black skirts, and her hat
back-to-front. Her diminutive figure, clothed in a smock, seemed
overpowered by the clothes wringer in the washhouse there. If
you were thirsty, you would be offered a drink of Lucozade in a
'Seniors' sardine and tomato paste-pot. Newspapers were
carefully preserved for tablecloths, the dear old soul
forgetting that each day would bring forth another paper. We
have part of an 1851 Manchester Guardian that originated in that
cottage. Before marriage, when a young man, her husband Mr Bill
Neale worked as a gardener at Buckingham Palace.
-
PC Smith, who was a typical
village 'bobby' - a burly figure, who kept a watchful eye on
village events. He had a number of places where he would wait
for the unsuspecting cyclist - perhaps to be suddenly startled
by a loud voice "Your lights". One of his "hide-aways" was in
the laurel hedge on Court Farm (Court House) drive.
-
The Friday evening grass-cutting
in the churchyard, involving others as well, but I can remember
Mr Bob Clarke, Mr Jack Giles, Mr Alfie Nash. I can remember,
too, Alfie's very little wife, walking up to clean the church.
-
Rev. Baker, who was regularly
taken for a walk by his dog - he was a dear man.
-
'Large' Mr Reg Bartlett, at the
Forge - the village blacksmith.
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