Memories of
Hullavington – Personal
by
Mary Greenman
(Taken from an article
written by Mary Greenman for the Feb/Mar 1999 edition of The Hullavington
News)
In the mid-70's, Dave and Penny Norgate were managing Court Farm, and
about 1976-77, we helped them uncover a superb inglenook there, in the old
parlour. This was a true 'gentry's' inglenook with two seats, one either side of
the fire - no worker's version like the one we uncovered in 1974, with a seat
and a bread oven!
It was during 1980, that a relative of Vin's, Harold Greenman, had a very
serious farming accident, falling from the top of a Dutch barn. How easily he
could have been killed or maimed for life. What anxious days they must have been
for Irene and her family, but we do praise God that on the 25th September, they
celebrate their Golden Wedding. What a great thing this is for them, and surely
so much of Harold's progress and recovery has been due to the constant care,
attention and perseverance of Irene. In these days of little or no commitment to
anyone other than self, Renee truly exhibited the "for worse" aspect of the
marriage service. We wish you all the best and may you be blessed with a very
happy celebration as you count your many blessings with your family.
We are very pleased to possess a copy of a large section of the Greenman family
tree, dating back to Gabriel Greenman who died in 1771. We think he must have
been the parish scribe or similar, for we have seen many records that have been
beautifully written out in his impressively regular copperplate writing. It is
possible to play many a "Who's Who?" game with it, to try and sort out
relatives.
Has anything changed?! Howard, along with many of his contemporaries, has wanted
to return to the village. He has now managed it, leaving the village as one,
following his marriage in February, 1982, and returning with his family of five
last summer. Also
bringing with them Wispa, the barn owl (maybe there will be more owl activity
now John! - Bird Notes, Spring '98 - June & July Newsletter).
So we now have 7 of our 11 grandchildren living in the village. My parents
bought a house in Parklands when they returned from the States in 1976. My
mother, now 91, has 11 of her 31 great-grandchildren living in the village - the
Who's Who? continues!!
Once the mind becomes slotted into memory-mode, they flow at an amazing rate!
What not-to record, rather then what-do-I-put down?, becomes the problem.
Finally, last year we both celebrated our 60th birthdays, and this fact brings
along its own special brand of looking back and 'taking stock'.
Mount Zion Church members combined with the family to send us to the States for
two weeks to celebrate our birthdays - many people to see and friendships
renewed, along with sight-seeing. As we crossed O'Hare Airport, Chicago, on the
monorail to board the British Airways flight home, what a joy it was to know
that we were not only coming back to England, but home to HULLAVINGTON, that
little North Wilts village that we love so much
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