Gillingham, Wyke Street c1965

Stour Row

My family were friends of the Vowles who lived in Green Lane. We stayed with them in 1935, I have a photo of them and me as a baby. My memory is of staying with them in the war years and going to school in the village, I seem to remember carrying a plate  to school each day for my dinner.

In Loving Memory Of Ernest Cyril Langford

MEMORY PAGE TWO OF THREE

Continued from previous memory about Ernest Cyril Langford and Semley in Wiltshire:-

After returning from overseas, and while posted at Aldershot, Ernie met and dated Vicky Pearson, who was at that time serving in the A.T.S.  Ernie and Vicky married on 6th July 1946, and the newly-weds moved into Myrtle Cottage, Semley, where they lived for two and a half years. On 24th May 1947, Vicky gave birth to their first child at Salisbury Hospital, they named Mary Eva.

While living at Mytle Cottage, Ernie purchased a plot of land opposite Semley School [appox 1/3 of an acre], and employed a local builder [Hallets from East Knoyle] to build a bungalow which was named "West View". Adjoining the bungalow, Ernie set about erecting a building from galvanized sheets and Ernie trasferred the Supply Store from the Bennett Arms to its present site, adding to it a post office. Mere and District Council granted Ernie a temporary licence on the building, on the condition that he would eventually erect a permanent building in the same site.

Ernie's parents, Sydney and Eva, moved from the Bennett Arms in 1948, having purchased "Berrymore Farm" at Donhead St. Mary.

In 1952, Ernie learned that he was to become a father for a second time.  He and Vicky bought all the necessary gear for their expected child, including the purchase and delivery of a brand new pram from "Style & Garrish" in Salisbury nNow Debenhams]. But to Ernie's amazement and with the colour draining from his face, he learned that Vicky had given birth to twins. Jean and Clive were born on 15th March 1953 [Jean being the elder]. The pram had to be returned to "Style & Garrish" and a twin version was bought in its place.  Ernie blamed his virility on the Stilton Cheese of which he was very partial.  Ernie vowed never to try for more children when they started arriving in pairs.

In 1963, Ernie began building the new shop around the existing galvanised building, removing the old sections as the new walls were built, enabling the Post Office Stores to remain open throughout without a days loss of business.
In total it took 5 years to complete, with the work being done weekends and evenings, after the shop had closed for business, with Ernie's close friends, [Les Garrett, Claude Dibben and Ernie Parrum]. I would like to thank them for helping my father build the new shop].

The orchard and fowl run Ernie sold with planning permission for two bungalows.

Each evening, after the shop closed, Ernie drove around Semley and the surrounding villages, selling wares from his mobile shop, taking customers orders for the following weeks delivery. The large "walk in" mobile shop was well stocked with groceries, fruit and veg, hardware items etc. There was even a tank filled with paraffin underneath the vehicle for those customers wanting fuel for their lamps and heaters - would this be allowed these days with Health & Safety?

Late on a particular Thursday evening, having taken his mobile shop around Newtown, Ernie was driving past Pythouse Gardens heading towards the railway arch, when he noticed a wheel travelling at ever increasing speed down the hill. Realising it was his wheel overtaking him from his offside rear, Ernie jumped out and sprinted at top speed to recapture his wheel. Having averted crisis he regained his composure and for some days after could be heard singing "Three Wheels on my Wagon."

The mobile van came into its own during the summer, when it was parked on Semley common along the A350 [near the bottom of Semley Hollow], and was used as a tea wagon to raise money for the Semley Scouts or the Willoughby Hedge motor trails or Semley village hall.  Ernie has purchased a smaller van for the evening grocery delivery, making way for the large mobile van to be used as a tea wagon.

This versatile van not only a mobile shop and tea wagon also acted as a holiday home when Ernie took his family for a week away to Devon.  All evidence of a mobile shop  was removed, replaced with sleeping bags, beach balls etc. Sleeping facilities were organised with Mary in the compartment  above the driver's cab, Jean and Clive [the twins] on the counter with Ernie and Vicky making themselves comfortable in a double sleeping bag on the floor.One particular year, the family settled down for the night in their designated areas, with the mobile parked on top of a hill. Unfortunately, Ernie forgot to secure the brakes, and the mobile ran downwards across open common, while its occupants were sleeping; adding to which the vehicle was heavily leaning over to one side. Under Ernie's supervision, the family carefully climbed out one at a time to avoid further tilting.  With all occupants safely evacuated, still in his nightclothes, Ernie sought assistance of a local farmer and tractor. Eventually, with the mobile back on its four wheels and back on the road, the family holiday continued.

This next paragraph is written in the hope it will not offend the more refined reader.  One of the many [usually elderly] vehicles Ernie owned was an old London taxi, which had floorboards that could be easily lifted out. Having three youngsters, all wanting to relieve themselves at various intervals, could become tiresome while driving; not to mention time comsuming.  However, Ernie soon came up with the ideal solution; if the kids needed to "go" they would lift up the floorboards while still mobile, hence giving relief to the kids, and to Ernies patience.  Mind that spinning propshaft and the spashback!

To the right side of the original galvanized shop, was a fowl fun, [where two bungalows now stand].  In order to keep the shop well stocked with freshly laid eggs, up to 300 hens were kept with ducks and geese.  The geese consited of a gander named Gizzy and his two female partners. However, Gizzy was king of all he surveyed, and anyone who trespassed on his territory did so at their peril. Those brave enough to walk in his orchard were certain to come out running, most screaming and inevitably fighting off a beak locked firmly on their leg. Occasionally, the geese found an opening, which led to them onto the common; many a customer in ran in fear, if they did not make it safely to the shop, they would head for the telephone kiosk, only to be attacked as they made there escape.

Continued on to memory page 3

In Loving Memory Of Ernest Cyril Langford

MEMORY PAGE ONE OF THREE

In Loving Memory of Ernest Cyril Langford
MEMORY PAGE ONE OF THREE

As I have said in my other memories, this is the story of the life of my late father, Ernest Cyril Langford, of Semley in Wiltshire.  
                               
In loving Memory of ERNEST CYRIL LANGFORD,  24th November 1917-20th April 2000.

Ernie was born at Huntley’s Farm, Awliscombe, near Honiton, Devon in 1917, the second of four boys, born to Sydney and Eva Langford. The family moved to Kerton Farm, Semley in Wiltshire during the 1920s, and while living at Kerton Farm, Ernie attended the local village school. He was also a member of St. Leonard's Church Choir. On 29th July 1929, Ernie joined the Semley Troop of Scouts.  Ernie often spoke with fond memories of his two teachers, Miss Violet Dogrell, and Mrs Williamson.

During 1930, Ernie's parents moved from Kerton Farm to the Bennett Arms Public House, Semley, where they were the landlords until 1948. During the years at the Bennett, Ernie's parents realised the need for a "Supply Store" at Semley. So, they adapted part of the pub, which sold everything from rubber boots, paraffin, groceries and general hardware.

During their years at the Bennett, the cellar caught fire, due to some exploding bottles. If it had not been for Arthur Sulley's dog, [the blacksmith living in the cottages opposite the pub], who alerted its owner that something was amiss, the Bennett might not have survived. The fire brigade from Shaftesbury was summoned, though by the time they arrived, the fire had been dealt with, so with nothing further to do, and seeing the kegs of ale stacked on the Common, which had been saved after being carried up from the burning cellar prior to the firemen arriving, they helped themselves to the ale, becoming drunk and spent the rest of the night sleeping on the Common, after becoming somewhat intoxicated.

During the war years and with no signposts to guide travellers, Sydney [Ernie's father], was asked by an Army Officer who was passing through, where the road went. To the officer's dismay, Sydney replied "I've lived here for 20 years, and the road hasn't gone anywhere yet." The officer left muttering something about "country village idiots"

On the 26th October 1939, Ernie joined the Army.  For information of his war years, the following, was composed by Ernie himself, and written shortly before he died.

                                
ERNIE LANGFORDS WAR YEARS -                                                                 Mr. E.C.  Langford, December 1939

"I joined the army at Salisbury on the 26th October 1939. I had one week at Aldershot, and one week at home then another week at Aldershot. I was kitted out with a tropical kit, then on November 1939, I went to Southampton and on a paddle steamer to Cherbourg. From there two nights and a day there was six to a carriage with all our kit, and by train to Marseilles and then to the troop ship Devonshire to Malta, Alexandria and Haifa, disembarking personnel at every port.

We were a mixed crowd, sent to make peacetime units up to strength.

I disembarked at Haifa and joined 14 Co RASA at Sarafand.  We got our basic training with the units we joined.  On March 14th 1940 our records arrived, I was now T.116262. I had proof that I was not married, so I could now draw full pay of 14 shillings [75p today].

In June 1940, Italy joined the war and a crowd of us were posted to Egypt.
Whilst we were waiting for ambulances to arrive, to take up the blece. We had a few weeks' training, locals enlisted to drive.

In mid July, six of us were issued with ambulances to take up to Sidi Barrani and from the 2/3 light field ambulance, we withdrew to Mersa Matrush. In early December, we went forward as medical cover for the battle of Sidi Barrani and then on to Sollum, Bandia and Tobruck.  Just before Derna, we cut inland through country marked "unfit for motor traffic" to come out on the coast beyond Benghazi. Then came our return to Cairo for a much needed rest and refit.  On our way down we had to divert as medical cover for the capture of the oasis of Bug Bug.

All the time from Sidi Barrani on, we tabbed mainly on tired and dehydrated food and biscuits.  It was good to have bread again back in Cairo.  H.Q. were calling for bakers, as I had been a baker I remustered, joining the 21st Fld bakery in Cairo. Then moved to the 12th. We had no machinery; everything was done by hand, about 33,000lbs of bread a day.  I remained with them for the remainder of my overseas  service in Egypt, Labia, Tripoli and Aleppo in Syria, then over to Italy, finishing at Anzio and Rome.

I returned to the U.K. in September 1944, after almost five years.  Going on leave, arriving at my local station, the local porter turned to me and said "What ... you home again?".

Happy Days
     
'Bardy Bill'.

P.S.  
I found the Aldershot bakery in November 1944 and was posted to Tidworth bakery on V.E. Day 1946, demobbed at Tidworth in January 1946.  It was nice to work in machine bakery for a change."




Continued onto memory page 2