Wonderful Days
I moved to a small new house in Saxon Close in Clifton in 1962 - and have regretted moving away (for work) in 1974 ever since! To me, with Clifton set in the heart of some of the most beautiful countryside in Britain, it then, and for that matter still, epitomises all that is truly English that seems to be long gone elsewhere. With a population of 364 back then, village life revolved mainly around the church and the Red Lion pub (wonderful nights, where the village policeman would tell the clientel which way to drive home when the pub closed), and on a lot of occasions such as weddings, both would work together. It was far enough away from Worcester to still be very much a self-help and neighbourly community, and as such had an incredible and remarkably active and enjoyable social life. Of course, everyone knew everyone else, and their business, with some residents' families having lived there for centuries being more "local" than others!
I returned there in 2007 - there have been some changes, but the main street is still recognisable from the photo, and the village is as pretty as ever, and still unspoiled. Thirty years on and there are still a number of people living there whom I knew - wisely, they stayed put! I sometimes wonder if the raft race between teams drawn from the local pubs still race in the summer. The Clifton Hunt, Shelsley Hill climb, the Boxing Day shoot were just a few more local activities among many - no time for the TV! The butcher's shop was excellent - the meat amongst the best, while the village store and the post-office completed the local shopping line-up.
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RE: RE: Wonderful Days
Clifton. When I was an 'ag' student at Shelsley Beauchamp, occasionally we used to drive up the hill to the Red Lion, after a hard day's work either in the hopyards or the orchards of the Birche farm. This was in the mid 1960s when I was still a teenager and it opened my eyes to the downside of excess alcohol, I can tell you. Still, a good time was had by all here and I can recall a lady village character, simply known to me as Rose (?) 'would hold court' at the bar throughout the evening's proceedings. On occasion John Moore would be in attendance and I assuming the pub was the local for the Kirby brothers of Shelsley Walsh, since they sometimes were to be espied at this establishment also. The other pub I recall was the New Inn outside Clifton, just down the hill so to speak, smaller but cosy, and I ended up frequenting it more than the Lion towards the latter part of my stay in the Teme Valley. I can remember my last visit there, (I think in 1970), when a violent thunderstorm broke, just after entering the premises. It appeared to be 'following the course' of the river Teme below us and lasted quite a while, the pub being lashed by squalls of rain and a violent wind that howled its way down the Valley. Wonderful days indeed. P.S. When I had a car prang at Whitbourne (thanks, Janet Langford!), I was rescued by 'young' David, a member of John Moore's farm staff who immediately drove me back to the Lion for a 'restorative' drink. It seemed to do the trick!
Comment from GILES DAUBNEY on Sunday, 22nd May 2011.
RE: RE: Wonderful Days
I lived in Clifton during the period under discussion, and used to visit the Lion (it was the 'Lion Hotel' and not the 'Red Lion', if I recall correctly) and the New Inn in those days. I don't recall the 'Rose' lady - although there were one or two who would fit the bill. There was a lady called Josie Taylor who was licensee (with her husband, whose name escapes me) of the New Inn at one time. She frequented both pubs and was quite a heavy drinker. Josie was a bit of a character, and never shy about giving her opinion! There was also another lady, who only visited the Lion, who would also fit the bill. Can't remember her name, but she lived on her own at a small farm near the top of Clifton hill - up a track off the sharp bend we called 'Greengates Corner'. There was a picture of her in the lounge of the pub with Gerald Nabarro - the area's MP at the time.
The owners of the New Inn at that time were the Morleys. They were well known in the area, having previously owned the Admiral Rodney at Berrow Green, Martley. Cyril and Jessie were their names - later their son Lawson ran it with his wife Janet. Sometime in the late sixties, poor old Cyril was found dead down by Ham Bridge, having collapsed while out walking. I can't remember the name of the owners of the Lion at that time - although I knew them well. The husband was Phil, and I think his wife Joan. Later on they moved on to the Fox at Tenbury Broadheath. Ted Parry mentioned the butcher's shop at Clifton. I don't recall Clifton having a butcher's shop - are you sure about that, Ted?
Comment from Philip Norman on Thursday, 6th October 2011.
RE: RE: Wonderful Days
Hello Philip,
I do not recall a butcher's shop in Clifton either, although my sketchy knowledge of the village at the time may have played tricks with my memory.... remember, of course, that my infrequent visits were purely for alcoholic purposes (!), a habit soon I grew out of at College later.... when suddenly I realised I didn't have the cash to splash out on 'the extravagent life', unlike some of the richer students there.
Come to think of it, I do remember John Moore detailing me to drive over to Checketts the butchers at Ombersley, out Droitwich way, on more than one occasion, to pick up a tasty joint or chops, etc. Ah, the life of a gentleman farmer, eh. (The shop is still trading prosperously I'm pleased to report.)
Incidentally, there is a butcher at Moreton-in-Marsh with exactly the same name. When I enquired at their premises recently they told me there was no connection between the two businesses. I find that information rather hard to swallow, if you get my drift. Best wishes, as usual.
Comment from GILES DAUBNEY on Sunday, 6th November 2011.
RE: RE: Wonderful Days
Hello Giles
No, I don't think there was a butcher's shop in Clifton. There was one at Knightwick, though, just a few miles away through the lanes via Whitbourne, which was well known - and also still there. I know Checketts at Ombersley, and I know they're also still there - and thriving apparently. I remember them being featured in some business programme on TV a while back. Being shown as an example of how to run a successful retail butcher's business.
From memory - which, like yours, cannot be totally relied on these days! - Clifton had only two shops, as well a tea shop and a little post office. The main shop was 'Hall's', which was also the bakery. They might have sold meat there as well, which could be the reason for the confusion.
Thanks again for your response.
All the best
Philip
Comment from Philip Norman on Sunday, 13th November 2011.
RE: RE: Wonderful Days
Hi Phil, I remember Knightwick well, down by the Teme and with its splendid hotel, the Talbot, just across from the river. The Walker Brothers had a thriving farming establishment hereabouts, but I cannot recall whether they grew hops. (?) Certainly, they bred a small herd of Pedigree Herefords, mainly of the polled variety I think. Travelling there via Martley, one descends Ankerdine Hill, from where a magnificent 'side' vista of The Malverns can be enjoyed. I remember being most envious of the owners of a bungalow which had been built on the slope... What a view! You of course will be well aware of this, but some others may not yet have had the pleasure... seek it out, folks, if the chance avails itself. Talking of views, my family once owned a property set on the Old Hills Common between Worcester and Upton. I spent much of my teenage period here... except in the summer, when I would haunt New Road, watching such great cicket luminaries as Tom Graveney and Basil D'Oliveira, the latter,sadly, having passed away just recently. Anyway, back to my original point. From the front garden, a wide and uninterrupted panorama over the Severn/Avon Valley to Bredon Hill was on offer for free... on a permanent basis, so to speak. To the West the outline of the Malverns was available, Great Malvern being our main shopping town as opposed to Worcester... The cathedral tower of which could be made out, about five miles to the north! Somehow, I don't think I should ever complain again about a lack of views, do you? Happy early Season's greetings to you, Philip, and to anyone else who happens to have 'chanced this way'.
Comment from GILES DAUBNEY on Friday, 25th November 2011.
RE: RE: Wonderful Days
Hello Giles
Hope you are well, and season's greetings to you and yours. Yes, the Talbot is an excellent pub - better than ever these days, apparently, I gather brew their own beer. The Walker Brothers certainly did grow hops - their farm was up the river from the Talbot, the area being called 'Horsham'. There was a point-to-point course there in the sixties, don't know whether you remember it?
Yes the Ankerdine does have magnificent views. I don't know whether you knew it, but half-way down on the right was a TB sanatorium - although I think it closed down in the early sixties, so maybe before your time around there. As you will probably be aware, the only cure for TB in the distant past was lots of fresh air, that's why sanatoriums were usually sighted in such healthy spots as Ankerdine Hill. The patients were made to sit outside even on the coldest days, and I can remember seeing them sitting wrapped against the elements (from the bottom of the hill). Later the site became a sort of holiday camp - called Sunningdale - and later still it was turned into flats. Coincidentally, my youngest son rented a flat there for a while 2 or 3 years back when he had a spell working in Worcester.
When I lived at Martley in the fifties, we used to ride flat out on our bikes down the Ankerdine (lunatics!), and then the test would be to see if we could get back up without dismounting (no gears on our bikes then). Happy days, although I sometimes wonder how we survived some of the crazy things we did!
All the very best to you.
Philip
I also know the Old Hills, just up from Powick at Clevelode. A lovely spot on the lower slopes of Malvern Hills.
Comment from Philip Norman on Wednesday, 30th November 2011.