S OUTH WILLINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL AND PARISH HALL

February 2012

Volume 10 Issue 1

South Willingham News

Parish Council News Paul Cutts

At the last couple of behind in the village, Inside this issue: Parish Council meet- there were also worries Alice’s 90th Birthday 2 ings a number of issues about mess being left have been raised by on the verges outside of Louise’s Story 3 residents that can go the village boundary. Ancestors’ footsteps 5 under the heading of When walking on the ‘nuisances’. One issue paths and roads outside Bomber County 6 was vermin. A resident of the village it is some- Snippets 8 expressed a concern times necessary to step that the rats that are al- onto the verges out of Rogues Gallery 9 the way of traffic. The ways present in a vil- Revd Chris Harrington’s farewell service last thing people want to Mill House Garden Teas 10 lage such as ours were be- at Barkwith Parish coming more confident. It do is step onto something would be appreciated if lem. Advice about rodent unpleasant! Therefore, residents can follow com- control can be found on could dog owners please mon sense rules when it many websites, such as bag and bin any dog mess. comes to keeping animal Rentokil (http:// Suitably bagged, the mess feed in containers and not www.rentokil.co.uk/ can be placed into the overfeeding garden birds. residential-customers/ waste bin near the bus East Lindsey no longer home-pest-control/rats/ shelter. provides a Pest Control index.html ). Concern was also ex- service and advise using Another issue was the per- pressed about a variety of the Yellow Pages to find a ennial concern about dog highways matters. The Special points of interest: suitable professional if fouling. As well as people Parish Council are always you have a vermin prob- leaving their dog’s mess • Rats to garden birds’ food (Continued on page 4) • New lawn-mower needed • Alice’s 90th birthday St Martin’s Churchyard Kay Donocik • Louise’ journey Many thanks to everyone lent job over the past few people in the village if • Coming ‘home’ to South who contributes, each years, and we all appreci- they can help as we need a Willingham year, towards the mainte- ate the hours of hard work new mower. Both of the nance of the churchyard. that he has put in to main- grass cutters that Terry • The destruction that nearly We all like to see this tain this special place, uses, the push mower was—a war story green place, in the centre planting many bulbs, as (bought by donations) and • Bishop coming to South of our village, looking well as mowing the very the ride-on (very gener- Willingham tidy. uneven ground. ously donated) have bro- (Continued on page 7) • Summer cream teas Terry has done an excel- This year we are asking Page 2 South Willingham News

Four generations (left) Alice, Margaret, Louise and Isabel; Alice with grandson Edward (right); Alice and Harold (below) and the Birthday Cake

Alice Bray is 90

The Pie and Chips Quiz at the Parish Hall was well attended. The Red Spot Team (left) won the Quiz with 72½ points; then 2½ Divots 68; Old Carpenters Cob- blers 61½ ; Odd Bins & Ringrose Rebels both 61; Willingham Thatchers 58; and winners of the Pointless Competition the Donkey Wallopers with 43.

Snowdrops and aconites at the corner of Woodbine Cottage garden Volume 10 Issue 1 Page 3

Why we live in South Willingham Louise Humphry

[Linda Jull and Louise Humphry have joined the South Willingham News team. Louise writes this time and Linda contributes to the next issue –Ed.] When Louise and I were asked if we would help gather material for the village magazine, it was suggested that a bit of history from resi- dents, both recent and longstanding would be welcomed, so we thought we would kick off with a bit about ourselves and why we have finished together in South Willingham. Hopefully it might encourage others to offer a bit of information about themselves. the last of a line going Louise back 200 years in the I was born in 1938, the trade. During the war 3rd daughter of what he worked for the war was to become a fam- department only, on ily of 6 children, 5 girls their guns. He also did and one boy. We lived 3 nights of fire watch- on the very edge of ing in central Birming- Birmingham almost ham and much later on next to Sutton Park he told us some of the which was an area of awful sights he had wit- some 2200 acres of nessed during those mostly natural land nights on the top of with a few lakes and George and Louise on their wedding day high buildings. streams as well. As we When I was about 7 we grew older we were al- employed and who moved to inner Bir- “He was the last of lowed to play in the made the stocks for mingham because of a line going back park on our own as long sporting guns. Some- my father’s health. He 200 years in the as we stayed together times when one of us had a poor chest for as trade.” and came home in time took his lunch in on the long as I remember, and for tea. It was war time bus he would show us it was a much shorter then, and not uncom- what he was doing. We bus journey for him to mon for us to be chiv- had to stand against the make from the new vied along by street wall with hands behind house. He did smoke wardens if it was a bit backs. We saw the most woodbine cigarettes all late for us. Within the beautiful chequering the time, but the con- park was a camp for patterns and the intri- nection between them Italian prisoners of war. cate shapes cut out to and lung disease had All we knew was that let the metalwork in. not yet been made. there were people living Also French polishing I joined the girl guides behind high wire fenc- and how the polish was as soon as I could ing and we could look made. There were piles which in those days was at them if we wandered of rough wooden at age 11, and it was into that area of the shapes at one end of the here that a couple of park. workshop and dad years later I first met would point out the best My father was a gun- Linda. We became smith who was self - ones and tell us what the wood was. He was (Continued on page 4) Page 4 South Willingham News

around the country dur- someone there if either Louise’ story ing these years and of us were ill. It took

(Continued from page 3) never seemed able to some time for the idea settle anywhere. to become reality as we friends and have contin- Linda and I were in searched for suitable ued to be ever since. closer communication properties, and also We came from totally by then and we spent while Linda’s cottage different back sold. She found the grounds and yet bungalow were always at ease where we with each other. now live Later our lives went whilst I was in different direc- visiting my tions, but always daughter in we stayed in touch America, even though at and we times it was not viewed it very frequent. Louise and Linda June 1957 together as soon as I was back. It I went to a large hospi- is totally ‘us’ and we tal in Birmingham to would not want to live train as a nurse when I some time visiting each anywhere else . Gradu- was 18. 48 hour week other. I discovered Lin- ally the bungalow and for £8 a month in the colnshire and was very garden are becoming first year! At 21 on the impressed by the rural what we need them to day the results of the peaceful nature of it. be, mostly through the “It is totally ‘us’ final exams were pub- Initially I moved to East efforts of Linda who is and we would not lished I was married. Barkwith where I a very practical and My brother went to the rented a property in the want to live knowledgeable person. hospital to get my enve- grounds of Barkwith anywhere else.” We have a studio for lope as I got ready for House. I was there for a her art work and my the wedding. Fortu- few years. Whenever I patchwork and quilting, nately I had passed. In was ill Linda would and soon when the fact I was the silver come across from Ben- building extension is medallist for my year. I niworth and look after completed the living continued working as a my dogs etc. It was she accommodation will be nurse, albeit part time who raised the idea of as we need it to be for when the 2 children us sharing a place so our life with 6 dogs were young, returning that as we got even (currently) █ to full time as they older there would be grew older. I was di- vorced from George in (Continued from page 1) themselves through the 1974 and remarried in County Council website happy to pass on concerns to (http:// 1977. My second hus- the relevant authority, usu- www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/). band died very sud- ally Lincolnshire County Based on the idea that the denly after 12 years. Council, and have a good more often an issue is re- Back to work I went relationship with many peo- ported the more likely it is to ple in the Highways depart- and continued until past be dealt with, we would wel- ment. However, residents come people reporting con- retirement age. I moved are able to report issues cerns themselves. █ Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 7

(Continued from page 6) The runaway train ran came to rest in Kingthorpe through East Barkwith sta- Bottom, see-sawing itself to SW and Bomber County a standstill. The Stan Fanthorpe train crew and recalled a near- staff at South disaster on the line Willingham in 1944. He was feared that the fireman to driver runaway would Priestly on an ex- collide with the GCR J11 locomo- Lincoln to tive. The train was Louth ‘pick-up’ in the charge of goods due on guard Sellers of the branch at Lincoln and con- that time. For- sisted of 18 wagons tunately the destined for vari- train was still at ous stations along Bardney. the Louth-Bardney Guard Sellars Branch. Every was held re- wagon contained sponsible for one large bomb, the 18 wag- not securing the brakes on ons constituting a full load the train. Because of war- on the heavily graded line. The two locomotives in the photo- time restrictions on reporting The first station at which graph are J11 engines at Louth the movements of arma- wagons were detached was shed, designed by Robinson for the ments the incident was not South Willingham. The Great Central Railway in 1901. reported to the press. They acquired the name ‘Pom- engine went forward with What fame for South Wil- Poms’ due to the similarity of their five wagons, leaving the lingham if it had got to the exhaust noise to that of the ‘Pom- rest and the brakevan on the national press. Is it possible Pom’ quick firing gun used in the single line and coupled up that anyone still living in the South African War to five empty wagons in the parish or neighbouring par- “What fame for siding, with the intention of ishes can recall this inci- South Willingham if backing them onto the rest tion and demolished the dent? If so I would love to of the train. However, all level crossing gates. Fortu- hear from you. it had got to the that could be seen was the nately, communication was When I was involved in national press.! rest of the train disappearing established with the signal- writing a history of Withcall down the incline in the di- man at Wragby who was I met Alf Ludlam who rection of Bardney. able to open his crossing kindly gave me photographs (Remember this was an am- gates. He estimated the of locomotives that worked munition train full of possi- speed of the wagons at 40 the Louth-Bardney Branch. bly Tallboy or Grand Slam mph as they passed through █ Bombs). the station. The train finally

(Continued from page 5) When discovering our (Continued from page 1) Walking in the Footsteps... ancestors I know from my St Martin’s Churchyard own personal experience 1731, d. 1818 at Tealby. and that of others that ken beyond repair, so any It’s an uncanny sensation many times we find our- contributions towards a new when you find that un- selves . . . unknowingly mower would be greatly ap- preciated. knowingly you’ve been WALKING IN THE walking in the footsteps FOOTSTEPS OF OUR If you feel that you can help of your ancestors and De- ANCESTORS. please contact Kay at The nise certainly felt this. Old Stables or Marcus and

Virginia at The Manor February 2012 █ House. █ Page 8 South Willingham News

Snippets

We are very glad to wel- woman, Batman who had also be remembered with a come two new families to pinched the fairy off the plaque on the organ. These the village. At Foxcote, Christmas tree, a washer will be dedicated on that day Shaun and Katrina Couling woman with yellow gloves, by the Bishop of Lincoln, have come from Stenigot. an impresario and his ‘wife’, the Rt Revd Christopher Not far away, though previ- plus several other unsavoury Lowson at 1000. It will be ously they lived at Weth- characters camouflaged as his first visit to our Parish erby. Shaun is a contract civilians - and the presence and one of the first of his shepherd and works nights at Episcopate. The Church the moment, while Katrina is hopes the village will sup- chair of pre-school at Don- port them on this occasion. ington-on-Bain. Their two John and Jo Rouson live out girls, Emily and Molly catch at Mill Cottages but are very the school bus in the morn- ings and are already looking much part of village life. Jo forward to joining the Carol is making her contribution Singers next Christmas. by opening her garden for Phil Wilkinson and Mandy afternoon teas on the last Butler have come to live at weekend of the month dur- Saffron with their children ing the summer. See the Danny, Scott and Katy, back page for details. moving from Market Rasen. Phil is a carpenter and The Diamond Jubilee Cele- Mandy is into making ani- Frank Lacey presenting cheques for the brations are approaching fast “if any citizen mal homes and bird boxes so Church and the Hall and the villages round about recognises they work together making all kinds of wooden equip- us are all doing something, of a nun did not make it any someone they are ment. Details will be released more respectable. Your un- asked to inform the It’s a long time ago now, but dercover photographer gradually but we have the we have not reported on the appropriate risked his life to infiltrate bare bones of South Willing- Carol Singing last year. It this hive and managed sur- ham and Benniworth which was a good ‘do’ with a large authorities.” reptitiously to take some are enough to put in our dia- and tuneful group of us tak- likenesses and then escaped ries. South Willingham will ing all the evening to get before things became too round the village with essen- be having a Jubilee Lunch hot. The rogues’ gallery is th tial stops at Paul and Mau- on the opposite page and if on Monday 4 June and reen’s, Terry and Ann’s and any citizen recognises some- there will also be a group Marcus and Virginia’s. one they are asked to inform photo of us all (obviously £250 was raised for Lincs the appropriate authorities. going up on the Hall wall!) and Notts Air Ambulance. St Martin’s Church will have Benniworth are having their Any responsible citizen a big celebration on Pente- main Diamond Jubilee Cele- wandering the streets of cost, 27th May. A lot of work South Willingham on New bration on the previous day, has been done on the church rd Year’s Eve would have largely due to the generosity Sunday 3 starting at 5 p.m phoned the police. A number of Frank and Jill Lacey and a with a Fun Rounders Tour- of dodgy characters were plaque will commemorate nament followed by a hog observed creeping along to a their gifts. Audrey Hildred roast, music and dancing. venue near the centre of the also helped run the church Tickets will be on sale later village. There was a pirate, and was organist for many (we are invited) and if you an escapee from St years. A memorial fund for Trinian’s, the godson of the Audrey was spent on new want further details, phone Godfather and his moll, an altar frontals and she will Sue Olivent on 313264. eastern potentate and his Volume 10 Issue 1 Page 9

From the Morgan’s country garden Snowdrops on Station Road South Willingham Parish Council and Parish Hall Parish Councillors: Paul Cutts [Chairman] 313486

Management Committee This would be a good placeRowland to insert Crouch a short paragraph313428 about your Martin Doughty organization. It might include the purpose[Vice-Chairman] of the organization, its Louise Humphry Linda Jull mission, founding date, and Marcus a brief Edmundson history. You could 313623 also include Paul Fuller (Editor) a brief list of the types of products,Martin Doughty services, or programs313686 your or- Phone: 01507 313601 Nikki Harris 313618 Fax: 01507 313601 ganization offers, the geographic area covered (for example, west- Claire Harrison 313406 E-mail: [email protected] ern U.S. or European markets), and a profile of the types of cus-

tomers or members served. Parish Clerk: Margaret Charman 313776

Parish Hall ItParish would Hallalso :be useful to include Chris Washer a contact (Chairman) name for 313244readers who Jubilee Lunch want more information aboutMaureen the organization. Ferguson (Secretary) 313584 on Monday 4th Chris Nutten (Treasurer) 313500 June in the Parish Hall Website: www.south-willingham.org

The Parish Council and the Parish Hall are jointly produc- ing this paper and through the Management Committee are publish- Coffee Mornings 1st ing it quarterly. As well as official news and information about the Hall, they would like stories from around the village. As they are & 3rd Wednesdays also reporters, sub-editors, publishers and first copy printers, they hope village people will come forward with ideas and stories them- selves. Their thanks to Courseware4Trainers Ltd for the printing.

An interesting garden Open from 11 am – 3 pm on the last Saturday and Sunday of each month April to September

Just drop in and enjoy tea, coffee and homemade refreshments Served from the original windmill engine shed - Plants for sale

Jo Rouston 07958 233126 2 Mill Cottage Barkwith Road South Willingham Market Rasen LN8 6NN