Happy Summers In Polstead.

A Memory of Polstead Heath.

My mother was born in Hadleigh, (the Suffolk one) and was part of a quite large family headed by George Brewster. Many members of the extended family, frankly I never really knew. However, mum was always close to several of her sisters including one called Mena.

Aunt Mena was originally married to a local Hadleigh boy who was or became a policeman in the Metropolitan Police. Sadly, he was killed in a motoring accident, just after the war, and Mena subsequently re-married a local (Polstead) farmer called George Alfred Riddleston. George was always known as "Pip" or "Pippen".

Uncle Pip as I knew him, worked a quite extensive farm complex, with pigs and arable land, growing wheat and barley, which included one he rented, known as "Spencer's Farm" in Polstead and his own farm known as "The Potash" nearby.

The significance of all this is that we as a family, living in Woodford Bridge, on the edge of London, always had our summer holidays there. Initially staying at Spencer's Farm, until Pip and Mena took on the "Shoulder of Mutton" Public House in Polstead Heath and then moved there themselves to live. Pip carried on running the farms and Mena ran the pub. I remember she was always a woman unafraid of hard work as was my mum! My family were able to spend our Summer hols there, from then. I know my parents looked forward to it as much as my brother, John and I did. We all loved it! So happy days!

The "Shoulder of Mutton" at that time had a large orchard of cherry trees, which has subsequently been built on, I believe. My dad loved picking the cherries and these were often sold to passers-by. Dad made a large sign out of wood and beer bottle tops, saying "CHERRIES FOR SALE" which was displayed on the corner outside the pub, and was used for several seasons.

Does anyone else recall any of this? I'd love to hear from you.

Ted Marston, Par, Cornwall

---

---