Berwick St John, the Village c1955

Big Babies

Mum (May Scott) and Dad (Harry) from Eastleigh had a friend who was born in Tisbury and we would all accompany him to his home town for a local 'Carnival' in I think the late autumn, he was Artie Thick (R T Thick) and he and his brothers dressed up in nappies and oversized safety pins and they took it in turns to sit in the pram. Fireworks and bonfires followed until the crowd decided it was time for bed. I believe he passed on at the turn of the century, he owned and drove a succession of Wolseleys, changing models every two years or so, his hobby was building and riding grass track/trials motorbikes sometimes selling his latest creation before he had a chance to enter it in a race. As an engine driver for the railways he never married.

Auntie Vi in 1952

My mother, Evelyn (Evie) Smith and my sister Susan(14) and I ( Polly aged 9) visited for about a month with my Auntie Vi in Sutton Mandeville on our way back to the USA after living in Egypt for a year. Auntie Vi had a thatched cottage quite near the road with a lovely hill in back of the house, a vegetable garden and a cow. We were still on food rations but a number of neighbours were very generous in sharing what food they had. One such person named  his calf after me which just delighted me. His cow barn was pristine as he had trained the cows to do their business out of the barn. The whole visit was magical and remains sharp in my memories.

Holidays

First holidays I remember 1939 and 1940. We stayed on a farm in Fovant, owned by the Brashers. The farmhouse was very old, had a thatched roof and a huge kitchen chimney with hams hung in it. My great uncle Fred Allen and Aunt Hannah  used to live in a very small cottage up the lane from the farm - it was one of a row of cottages converted from an old chapel. We caught the bus from Salisbury station to Fovant. I think it only went on Saturdays and Wednesdays. It was one of the old type Charabancs. I just remember how rickety it seemed. The small river flowed past the farmhouse and there were steps down to it. The road ran in front of the farm house and crossed a bridge very closeby. I never went again, but my brother did a few years later and stayed with  boy called Dennis, who lived in or near the mill. Anybody recognise/remember the farmhouse and the people?

A good place to live

My mum & dad along with my brother & me came to live in Fovant in 1952. Mum & dad owned the butchers shop in the village. My brother Brian & me went to the school, we both made lots of friends. It was a good school, the teachers were nice. Every Sunday my dad played the organ at Fovant church. There was lots of things to do in Fovant. We played football in the street, went for bike rides around the other villages. I had lots of pets. I had a lamb called Larry, I used to take him for a walk on a lead. One day the Bishop of Salisbury came to see my dad & because dad was busy in the shop the Bishop had to wait . I was going for a walk with my lamb so the Bishop asked me if I minded if he came with me. I said that was ok, so we went down the village, it was great fun. Sadly mum& dad & my brother have passed away & the butchers shop is on longer there, but I shall never forget living in Fovant, it was a good & safe place to grow up in.

Years Ago.

My grandparents lived in the old rectory which was a few hundred yards from the Beckford Arms. I spent many happy holidays there with my cousins. We had wonderful Christmases, lots of snow and in the better weather long bike rides. Idyllic days. Shopping in Tisbury, and going to Wardour Castle, also my grandfather liked to go to Scats.