Childhood In Withyham

A Memory of Withyham.

We moved to 2 Bower Cotts Balls Green about 1950. My dad was employed by the owner of Duckings, the farm situated opposite the entrance to station road. Nos. 1 and2 Bower Cotts were up on the bank almost opposite the school which was run by Mrs Gabb ( I think). I remember the Queens Coronation celebrations at Kings Hall where I received my coronation mug and the owner of Duckings had the old elsan toilet converted to a flush toilet (which was still outside) which scared the life out of me.
Our garden at 2 Bower cotts was enormous and included an orchard that was also home to a pig that mysteriously disappeared each year to be replaced by a piglet which my Dad always claimed he won at the annual fete.
The shop cum post office / garage was owned by a Mr. Welfare that sold absolutely every thing from hardware and ironmongery to foodstuffs and basic supplies including shotgun cartridges.
On Saturdays a one armed man used to arrive on a motorbike and sidecar selling fresh fish.
The field in front of Bower cotts was a treasure trove for us boys as during the war a German bomber was shot down and crashed there and every time the field was ploughed bits of aircraft or ammunition turned up. The German crew were buried in the churchyard of St. Micheals.
Charlie Morris his wife and daughter Kathy lived at no.1. Charlie was quite badly injured when he was crushed by a short horn bull.
My Dad played in goal for Withyham f.c.

Peter Buss

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