FURTHER HULLAVINGTON MEMORIES 60's & 70's

by

Mary Greenman

Other very notable changes from the '60's, as far as family life is concerned, is in the realm of transport,  including that for babies! The baby 'clinic' was held frequently at the "hut", on the site of the present Village Hall. Here we would discover the truth about those valuable ounces and pounds of progress that these little ones were hopefully making. It was also at this time that we began to feel the pressure, albeit only slightly at first, of changing attitudes;  attitudes that made us question at times whether our children were really ours, or did they belong to the medical authorities? Things that caused our mothers to say "In our day, things were very different!" ...and so the cycle continues!

It was a regular thing, after 'clinic' to take a walk down the lane which would now be filled with a veritable army of prams. How different they were! High, well-sprung, large wheels, and the toddler could happily sit at the handle-end while the baby had plenty of room for a comfortable sleep or sit-up. Passing by the school now at "home" time is a constant reminder of the changes: cars, cars and more cars. A very different scene. The biggest problem we encountered was how to move in and out,  and find space for all of the prams. And they were so much larger, too.

Much more walking was done. For the most part there wasn't a car available, the only family car, hubby had for his work. So sunshine and showers, wind and rain, snow and ice, thunder and lightning, all became a part of the battle. What were buggies? Safety-belts? Car seats? All unknown, but many of the changes have been absolutely necessary in the name of progress, due to more traffic, faster cars and faster roads.

On the hottest day of the year in 1970, Hugh arrived. There had been thunderstorms around all day. Nurse Barnes at Malmesbury was alerted - she had no electricity and could not find her torch - she arrived just in time! I still wonder whether Jesse's (Cowan) dance brought the birth on. On one of Jesse's faithful visits to see her Mother (Kitty Broome, who has recently died), she saw me outside at the bottom of the lane - a ship in full sail! and danced around on the opposite pavement for my benefit. Unknown to her, Mrs Brain, the vicar's wife, watched the performance
 from the vicarage porch. Her face was a picture, and so was Jesse's when she realized!! Think about you lots, Jesse.

In 1974, 1 remember giving a hand to prepare for the sale at Court Farm. Mrs Watts and I were sorting out in the large wash-house at the back of the farm. Amongst a growing pile of rubbish which we had brushed into the corner, we were instructed by the auctioneers that an old "bit of polished wood" and a brass face with sundry springs and chains had to go in the sale. On the day of the sale, there were many dealers' vans in the farmyard; one from Pimlico and another from Petticoat Lane, both assuring me that by the next weekend their wares of stuffed animals would all have been sold. The "bit of polished wood" was a mahogany butler's tray that fetched £55, then I waited for the clocks and watches section. The brass face with all of its uncoordinated 'bits' was held up. "What am I bid for this attractively etched brass face?" Bidding began at £20, and finished at £285! Who knows? By now it might well be mounted in a very smart cabinet in some luxury apartment.... If only these things could speak....By the way, for the information of those living, or soon to live in the converted barn - it was there that I last saw a family of rats!

For those of us who notice the countryside around, 1974 was a sad year - a time when the Dutch Elm disease really took hold. I remember standing in Court Field and counting over 100 dead or dying elms. How sad that was to witness the demise of those proud trees bordering Hill Hayes Lane between the village and the cottages, and the row of five behind Court Farm and the Vicarage - such a favourite with the cuckoo in the spring. There was further tree devastation, we think it was in the autumn of 1975, when a hurricane swept through the village bringing down many more trees in the locality including eleven between the village and the main road, six on one road, five on the other. The chain-saws were busy for days. Our neighbour, Les Ayers, working on night-shift on the camp used to walk back into the village early morning and he had great difficulty doing so.

What a great increase in traffic, and need for parking we have seen over the years, too! One early memory that our family has is that of Bill Giles (Jean's husband) who on Saturday afternoons would regularly drive down to Bradfield Manor Farm, where Jean's parents lived. At the time, Bill was driving a grey A40 Farina he used to "take-off down the lane. This particular Saturday, he had to pull up very sharply - a jelly flan, probably carefully prepared by Jean, left its anchorage on the front seat and landed upside down on the floor!! Bill tried so hard to remodel it, but with difficulty, as the jelly proved to be as sticky as glue. I don't know whether Bill appreciated our mirth, and Alec and Ethel Fry returned to their cottage (no. 47) with many a stifled giggle!