Here Is Something of Interest for Everyone

THE JOURNAL OF THE FRIENDS OF BUSHEY MUSEUM New Series No. 13 elcome to the latest edition of have memories about one of the vari- Summer/Autumn 2015 the Friends of Bushey ous drama groups that they can share W Museum’s Journal. It contains its with the readers of the Journal. I’m still usual collection of articles and waiting for something on the history of illustrations on a wide range of topics music in Bushey as well. and I hope that there is something of interest for everyone. Although there Ian Read has been helpful in finding are no articles about the First World photographs to illustrate the articles War, it gets a mention in several of the and Nick Overhead is responsible for articles. the layout and design of the Journal. Thank you. Bushey has a long history of drama, A registered charity in support of but it has not featured in the Journal, Thank you to all the contributors. Bushey Museum Registered Charity 1039713 with the exception of Jane Parker’s Please keep the articles coming in, article about The Bushey Story in the without your support there will be no very first issue of this series of the Journal. Journal fifteen years ago! Does anyone Janet Murphy Journal Editor Janet Murphy IN THIS ISSUE Layout and Design The Chewett Diaries Nick Overhead Fascinating insight of life from the turn of the 19th century 2

Bushey Museum That Reminds Me Rudolph Road Mollie Thomas remembers life in the 30’s 4 Bushey, Herts WD23 3HW 4 Tel; 020 8420 4057 A Remarkable Coincidence Fax; 020 8420 4923 Dianne Payne and a chance encounter 8 E; [email protected] Sporting Bushey www.busheymuseum.org Audrey Adams and local Open; Thurs-Sun 11am-4pm sporting hero’s 10

Reveley ‘s ‘Secret’ Journals The Journal is published by the 10 Barry Hyman uncovers the Friends of Bushey Museum Ladies’ Home Journal 12 and is mailed to all friends and selected local organizations. Moina Belle Michael-The Poppy Lady Contributions on all aspects of Janet Murphy tells the story of how Bushey’s social and artistic history are we came to love the poppy 13 welcome and should be sent direct to the editor at the Museum. What is the connection between Bushey, The Friends support the activities of Chesterfield and Scarborough? Bushey Museum and can be contacted Janet Murphy takes you on a via The Secretary, 119 Aldenham Road 12 historic journey 14 Bushey, Herts WD23 2LU Herkomer- Founder of Car Rallying in Germany © Bushey Museum 2015 Philip Morgan responds 16

Printed by ‘A little piece of Belgium in Bushey’ Beaver Graphic Service Katherine Whitaker and Toc H 18

Bushey Hall from the Air 16 Could it be from a balloon? 20

journal laytest 2015.indd 1 27/07/2015 09:44 The Chewett Diaries

Dianne Payne Pictures Bushey Museum Archive ore than a hundred years ago, Albert Ranney Chewett, who later owned MReveley Lodge in Bushey Heath, kept a series of pocket diaries covering the years 1898 to 1903 when he was a student at the Herkomer Art School in Bushey. in Bushey High Street. Albert was orchestral rehearsal in the village, Written in small, spidery already an art student, but needed he set off to London to buy a new handwriting, they provide a to improve his skills to enter the B flat instrument and case for which fascinating insight into his Herkomer Art School in the village. he paid £14/5/- (£810 at today’s personality and experiences at that He had arranged to receive tuition values). He later noted that ‘R.H.H. time. from Edward Bent Walker, one of Co’, the Rossin House Hotel Com- Herkomer’s talented students, a pany, which his father had owned,2 The first diary begins on 3 versatile flower, figure and portrait contributed a third of the cost. October 1898, when Albert, born artist and an experienced coach..1 Over the next four years Albert into a wealthy family in Toronto, set Over the next seven months Albert played regularly with the orchestra sail on the Parisian from Canada to took classes in sketching, painting on Tuesday evenings and took part Liverpool. Albert was twenty, the and life drawing at Walker’s in their concerts. youngest son of William Cameron studio, for which he paid him £2/8/- Chewett, who had died the previous a month (£137 at today’s value). Every month Albert received an year. His parents both had English He posed for his tutor a couple of allowance of £2/1/2d (£115) from ancestors and Albert had probably times and, in June 1899, Walker, his mother. Even though he was visited England previously but this gave him a pencil sketch. Albert wealthy, he was obsessive about time he had come for a specific kept it, the only image we have of recording his expenditure, noting reason. He makes no mention of his him during his student days. every purchase in his diary, a mother on the voyage, but she and practice he continued throughout a small family group are referred A typical student, Albert his life. His early diaries are littered to later in the diary, and must have recorded very little in his diaries with the prices of a wide range of travelled with him. about work and study but a great items: deal about social activities. On arrival in Liverpool, the Afternoon tea, a regular pastime of Railway ticket to London 1/9d, party set out for London and then the wealthy, was an ideal venue for tip for the porter 2d went straight to Bushey to find a introductions and, by Christmas, he Brushes and paint 5/7d, suitable house to rent. After a few had entertained a number of Art canvas 3/6d, days’ sight-seeing in the capital and School students, including several fee for life model 2/- a short visit to Ongar in Essex, young ladies. Albert played the Boots 16/8d, they settled in at The Red House clarinet and, after attending an stockings 4/6d, shirt 7/6d,

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tie 1/6d Herkomer’s Hair-cut and shave 9d students were Mouth organ 1/-, required to work bicycle bell 3/-, fireworks 1/-, hard in the studio brandy 6d all day with a break Orchestra fee 14/6d for lunch and were then encouraged Prices of entrance tickets for to draw or paint in art exhibitions and money lent or the neighbourhood borrowed were all diligently or at home in the documented. £5 notes were valuable evenings. It was a (£285) so Albert noted down the rigorous regime and number of any note he received or Albert was required passed on. On 30 December 1898 to present his work he paid 1/- for a new diary for the at the Boss’s ‘show- following year. ups’, some of which were ‘for men only’. As the months passed, his circle Albert’s diary of friends increased and he met records sketching Clement Flower, William Bennett, and painting Henry Kortwright and Frank Heath, interspersed with all students at the Herkomer School. walks, tea

He took walks and bicycle rides parties and social Pictures Bushey Museum Archive with friends and at weekends made gatherings at the Bushey Coffee Two Herkomer students believed to be (left) Lewis John Mason regular trips to London to visit art Tavern. Heavy snowfall in Grant and (right) A R Chewett exhibitions or the theatre. In July February occasioned ‘a snowball 1899 Albert took his first long break fight’, the purchase of skates for In Toronto he made five from study and he and his family 2/- and several days tobogganing. appointments with his dentist, spent five months back home in Orchestral activities continued, running up a bill of over £37 for Toronto. When they returned to Albert bought a C clarinet and a the treatment (more than £2,000). Bushey in December they rented 2 piano arrived at the family Returning to Bushey in October, the Grey Villas in Falconer Road. lodgings. He played croquet and family rented Tyncote in Bournehall tennis, enjoyed ‘Spook’ and bonfire Road and Albert brought back a On 1 January 1900 Albert began celebrations and late night generous supply of tobacco to share work as a student at the Herkomer gatherings, including one at the with his friends. In November 1900 School and his next diary took the home of Lucy Kemp-Welch, which photography was mentioned in his form of a notebook, continuing ended at 2am. He attended London diary for the first time, when he through to June 1901. Herkomer theatres and concerts and as his art and two friends exchanged prints, gave his tuition free but Albert paid training was essentially practical, he photographed each other nude for six guineas a term (£360) towards had time for private reading study purposes and took the running of the Art School. On including Malory’s romantic tale photographs to paint or use as Sundays he often attended ‘Herk’s Morte D’Arthur, Goethe’s Faust and studies. The following February receptions’, where ‘the Boss’ the Victorian poetry of Robert Albert bought a Brownie camera for displayed and discussed his own art Browning and Edgar Allan Poe. In 5/- and four rolls of film for 2/4d. works. On 11 February, Herkomer May 1900 Albert was present when His art studies continued but showed The Lady in Black, one of the Duke of Connaught opened the photography took on new the outstanding portraits he Royal Masonic School for Boys in significance and he spent whole days painted during his visit to America in Bushey. His diary recorded events producing prints and enlargements. 1887. The young lady had impressed on the wider stage, such as the relief Herkomer by her particular beauty of Ladysmith and the siege of Herkomer had painted portraits and the portrait was notable for its Mafeking, in passing. of members of the British royal simplicity of setting and the family and when Queen Victoria confrontational gaze of the subject..3 Albert and his family left Bushey died on 22 January 1901 he was In later years Albert painted again in late June to spend the summoned to her deathbed at several portraits of young women summer in Canada. As usual on the Osborne House on the Isle of of a serious disposition in the more voyage, Albert noted the fees he Wight to paint a memorial portrait. elaborate but homely setting of paid for the services of the ship’s ‘He showed the dead Queen lying Reveley Lodge. dining, bedroom and bath stewards. in a sea of white tulle sprinkled with

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journal laytest 2015.indd 3 27/07/2015 09:44 lilies and other flowers, resembling home. The family rented Reveley a floating Ophelia and he took the Lodge, a house on Bushey Heath portrait back to his Bushey studio that provided generous for a few days to further refine the accommodation and a four-acre floral detail and to show it to his garden. A self-portrait Albert That students’.4 Albert noted in his diary completed in 1904 shows that at on 25 January that he was one of that time he was of striking the students who saw this portrait. appearance, with dark eyes, a dark brown beard and waxed moustache. reminds The Chewett family spent the Pictures Bushey Museum Archive early summer months of 1901 in Devon, where they visited the village me of Topsham, the home of their Ranney ancestors. Albert was clearly interested in his predecessors and copied the names (Bushey of William Ranney, his wife Elizabeth and their four children into his new black notebook. William Ranney, Heath in a consul for Sweden and agent to Lloyd’s,5 and his wife were buried in a family vault at Topsham church, where Albert noted down other the family members from the tablets of ancestry. A holiday in Yorkshire followed where Albert did some sketching and when they all 1930’s) returned to Bushey, they rented Albert’s four early diaries had Bournemead in Herkomer Road. travelled with him back and forth to As the new term began, Albert Canada and he stored them safely at ‘primed a yard of canvas, and Reveley Lodge with other treasured developed films in the evening’, an possessions. He was very fond of his Mollie Thomas indication of his dual interests. mother and painted several portraits of her over the years. ‘ hat’s Dad chopping the wood Albert’s period of study at the When she died at the age of 82 he for the copper.’ Herkomer School was due to end carefully kept eight copies of The My sister and I lay there in in the summer of 1902 but in March West Herts & Watford Observer of T the large double bed, which entries in his notebook suddenly Saturday 28 December 1918 we shared, listening to the sounds stopped. On 1 June he wrote, ‘I have containing her death notice. which came up the cottage stairs. not written anything in this book It was dark: it was Monday, and since March 3rd. Just after that date In 1921 Albert purchased Reveley Monday was wash-day, everyone something happened which I won’t Lodge and ten years later, at the age knew that. We listened as we heard put down but which I won’t forget’. of 53, he married Violet Georgiana the bucket being filled up with cold A little further on in the notebook, Eila Baillie on her nineteenth water from the only tap we had, and Albert carefully cut two horizontal birthday and it became their then the splash as the water was slits in one of the pages and permanent home. Albert died in tipped into the old stone copper in threaded through a tress of 1965 and in 2003 Eila bequeathed the corner of the kitchen. Then a gingery-brown hair. The next entry Reveley Lodge to Bushey Museum. loud ‘plonk’ as the wooden top was on 12 June records his arrival in placed over the boiler, followed by the crackling sound below as the Quebec and his return to Toronto References and the remainder of the notebook 1.Wigan Examiner 16 December 1913 fire took hold. Soon Dad’s steady records his expenditure and makes 2.Jeanine C Avigdor, The Chewetts and the tread would be heard on the stairs brief reference to family travels in Rossin House Hotel, as he brought up Mum’s early torontofamilyhistory.org morning cup of tea; no tea for us France, Belgium and Holland in 1903. 3.Lee MacCormick Edwards, Herkomer: A Victorian Artist (1999), p.108. though, just a kiss on the forehead It is clear that Albert enjoyed the 4.Lee MacCormick Edwards, Herkomer: and the rejoinder to be good girls period he spent in Bushey because A Victorian Artist (1999), p.93-4 and help Mum; then the sound of in 1910 he returned with his 5.Pigot and Co.’s National Commercial Directory the front door closing and the of Devon, 1830. mother and sisters and made it his tinkling of the bell as he cycled

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Pictures Bushey Museum Archive off to work in the darkness. Who real school teacher writing; Muriel blast of the whistle which told you would have thought that twenty Norcutt. ‘Now you must learn to write that your isolation would soon be years later I would be going through your proper name before you can go over. the same kitchen copper routine in to the big school.’ Well, you did not a remote and very old cottage far argue with authority, so while the away in Dorset, much to my others did jigsaws and drew pictures mother’s horror. She, by now, had and thumped lumps of plasticine, I graduated to a smart and very had to sit writing my name over and efficient gas boiler. She still had her over again until I could do it without copper stick though, and I soon had looking at the card. So, I passed the one of my own, treasured for many test, but from that time onwards, years. even now, I have had the problem of two names. Strangely enough there are We lived not far from St Peter’s sounds I can always recall, hearing At least I could move on to the Church on Bushey Heath and the them in the memory as clearly as big school, and a new sound pealing of the bells was clearly when one first heard them, and one became important – the school bell. audible. I loved to hear them, and is transported back in time. It rang at twenty to nine and again wished I could become a ringer. at ten to nine, and, if you were still Both my uncles were regular ‘Your name’s not Mollie, it’s Muriel.’ on Clay Hill when you heard the members of the team, but they said I I can hear the voice, see the face, second ringing, then you jolly well wouldn’t be able to manage the sally the hazel eyes behind the tortoise had to hurry or you’d be late and ropes. There was a particularly shell spectacles. I was six years hear the dreaded sentence: ’You’re moving sound and that was the old, almost seven, and due to leave late this morning; lose your playtime!’ muffled peal. I remember walking the Infants’ School in The Rutts, and you would sit in the classroom past the church with my mother and move on to Merry Hill Junior listening to your classmates in the on a foggy winter’s afternoon, and I School. But whatever was Miss playground, hearing the sounds of asked her why they were ringing this Coe talking about? She gave me a the milk-crates being moved about special peal just then. She told me card with my name printed on it in the school, and waiting for the shrill that the bells had been given to the

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journal laytest 2015.indd 5 27/07/2015 09:44 church by Sir David Rutherford, who of work and his home? One of my lived in a big house in The Rutts, in great joys when visiting my aunt in memory of his son who had been Watford was to see and hear the killed in Ireland in 1920, on beautiful Concorde fly over. condition that they rang a half- muffled peal on the anniversary I was sitting in the garden a of his death. The story has always few days ago when a low airborne stayed with me. growling sound met my ears. It was vaguely familiar, and as it drew When war broke out in 1939, nearer I saw a small two winged the ringing of church bells was no aeroplane approaching, quite slowly longer allowed, except as a sign of but there was bit of wing wobble. or cooking or fruit and veg, and then invasion. We missed the sound, so A biplane? Surely not after all these go off to enjoy all the fun of the fair. when somebody had the inspired years. They belonged to my How we loved those roundabouts; idea that to mark the victory at El childhood when the sound of one perched on the galloping horses, we Alamein the bells should be rung, we overhead would make us all rush clung tightly to the brass poles as were overjoyed, and glad that the out into the garden and gaze up we whirled around. Did we ringers had not lost their skill. at this amazing contraption, which perhaps show off and risk waving to would be flying quite low, low an admiring audience? I can never Also connected with the bells, enough for the pilot in his open hear the sound without going back on one Christmas Day when I was cockpit to return our waves. But to those heady spins and hear my about ten-years-old, the ringing of that was long ago. What was this mother shouting frantically: ‘Hold the bells of Bethlehem was played one doing? I soon found out. Much tight.’ I could never understand why on the wireless and we stood to my alarm it began to swoop years later my son didn’t share my spell-bound in the kitchen. Really noisily, rapidly and erratically. It passion; he would turn green even from Bethlehem? I still hope after all seems that such displays by on the smallest roundabout at a these years that it was not a aeroplanes are becoming ‘The Thing’ village fete. recording! at local events, great crowd pullers apparently, though I must For a while I had an aunt who The coming of the war in 1939 confess that I feel anxious when lived in an upstairs flat in Rudolph brought many new sounds. Even such carryings-on take place Road, about half-way down I think. now I cannot hear the wail of the nearly over my house. Another My sister and I, living in a quiet air-raid siren on radio, television plane belonging to our childhood and almost traffic-free lane on the or film without a sharp intake of was the autogiro. We did not call it Heath were fascinated by the cars breath. And we became familiar a helicopter in those days. As with and vans, but what really excited us with the engine tones of various biplanes, we used to dash out into was the appearance of the fire-en- types of aircraft, and no doubt for the garden and stare up – and no gine and the firemen, and we would many of us, the flypasts of Spitfires doubt wave – at this amazing flying watch spellbound as the brilliant red and Lancasters on ceremonial occa- machine. My father once took us to machine left the garage and the men sions touches a chord and provokes the Hendon Air Pageant where we clambered aboard, wearing their many an ‘Oh!’ Aeroplanes? Yes we heard lots of bangs and saw traditional uniforms and metal look up as these modern beautiful parachutes and huge balloons – helmets. jet-liners cross the sky, and we wish forerunners of the barrage balloon. them well, especially when we know One burst into flames, very scary a family member may be on board. for a small girl, and enough to put Is that my grandson on his way back her off flying for life, which it did! to Houston, which is now his place As a small girl I loved roundabouts, so you can imagine how excited I became each August Bank Holiday Monday when we went to the Flower Show in Bushey. It was always held in what was then called Lord Bethell’s Field, and my sister and I could hardly wait to get inside the gate, accompanied by our parents, to see if they, or we, had won any prizes for our needlework

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journal laytest 2015.indd 6 27/07/2015 09:44 Then off they went, the bell clanging and colds. Well, maybe we didn’t madly. It was not such an exciting have any to sound to hear at night when we lay cure, but in bed, and imagined the engine who would racing along Elstree Road. I still pass up the recall the fear I felt and the chance of muttered prayer: ‘Please don’t let watching the our house catch fire.’ And do today’s massive ma- children still chant the rhyme: ‘Hold chine, polished your collar, never swallow, until an within an inch ambulance is out of sight?’ of its life, and of Goodness knows what dreadful exchanging malady we stood to succumb to if a polite and we broke this golden rule! friendly greeting with the bearded, My father was a Berkshire boy, red-faced driver, born and bred in Maidenhead; and who would sound the hooter for like so many of his generation, on our delight? such a long separation? On another the outbreak of the 1914-18 war, occasion I stood on the dockside at he couldn’t wait to join up, and And do you ever hear the cuckoo Southampton, watching as the final enlisted in the 4th Battalion of the now? I don’t, and it’s not because my preparations were made for the Royal Berkshire Regiment. Despite very old ears are wearing out. Can beautiful lilac-coloured liner of the being wounded in Italy, his loyalty you remember that first magical call Union Castle Line to leave on its to his Regiment remained, and he which meant that spring is here? At voyage to Cape Town and Durban. I never missed the annual reunions in first we would imitate him and try had been on board to say goodbye Reading. One result was his passion to fool our friends, but soon we had to my closest childhood friend, her for all things military and we grew no need, for the bird himself would husband and small daughter as they up knowing all the military marches call all day long until night brought a left to seek a better life in South and bugle calls. We had an old wind- relief from the monotony of his cry. Africa. I think there is nothing more up gramophone and records, which Didn’t he know any other songs? moving than the final blast on the even now, when I hear them, bring We may not have approved of his siren as the last ropes and chains back memories of a cold front room treatment of our much loved garden and gangplanks are withdrawn. There and flickering gas light. Despite the birds, but I suppose every spring we is no turning back as the huge vessel acquired familiarity, I still cannot forgave him when again we heard makes its first move. A train can hear the Last Post or Reveille that unmistakeable call, now all too shunt back and forth before it finally without a sense of sympathy for all rare: another of nature’s balances leaves the terminus, but for a ship, those caught up in wars and battles tipped. that first inch is so final. I watched, which are none of their making. unashamedly in tears, as the great And the first stroke of 11 o’clock I suppose the 1939-45 war tipped vessel sailed down Southampton on Armistice Day, echoing from Big many other balances too as many Water. We waved until we could no Ben is still almost unbearably sad. humans decided it was time to longer see each other. And we nev- What a pity guns have to be fired on move and seek a new life, and er did see each other again. I think these occasions. hopefully a better one elsewhere. that possibility was no doubt in our A blare of a ship’s siren is one of minds on that afternoon. There was Every summer we have a Steam those happy/sad sounds, equally little civilian flying in those days: Engine Rally locally, very popular moving on any occasion. It was a now it is commonplace and taken even among the younger generation. happy sound when I stood on the for granted. Trips back to the Old To me, the puffing and chuffing and dockside at Liverpool one bitter Country were unlikely. hooting recall the days when my December afternoon, and watched Mother sent my sister and me to the sea-battered liner Orduna with So many memories of sounds, stand by the roadside whenever a my sister on board, arrive from especially of music and people’s steam-roller was in the area doing Singapore, after a journey which voices! As I move into old age with some repairs and there would be was to change her life. And I recall its attendant hearing problems, a glorious smell of steam and tar the journey back to London in frequently struggling to hear what is which we were told to inhale. It was the cold, noisy, unlit and distinctly happening around me, at least I can a common thing for mothers to scruffy train, where conversation recall those sounds remembered, send their children to do this, telling suddenly became so difficult. Was which have enriched my life, and us that it would cure our coughs there really so little to say after which still remind me of so much.

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journal laytest 2015.indd 7 27/07/2015 09:44 AA RemarkableRemarkable CoincidenceCoincidence Dianne Payne

hen the Bushey First World War Exhibition, A Village Remembers, was W over in August 2014, Roger and I went on holiday to the Lake District. We stayed in a small guest house in Borrowdale at the foot of the Honister Pass, seven miles south of Keswick. Seatoller House, originally a small farm house, is over 300 years old and has been a guest house for more than 100 years. Its long tradition of warm Seatoller House hospitality and a friendly, informal atmosphere make it popular with walkers, artists, and those who want Intrigued by details of these year, German troops besieged the immediate access to the fells. Hunts in the visitors’ books, I could city. Leo and Anna Burley’s house not resist looking further. On 22 and all its contents were destroyed Seatoller House has visitors’ July 1914, two weeks before Britain during the bombardment. They books dating back to 1900, which declared war, Leo Burley, a British decided to make their home in record the names of participants diamond merchant living in Antwerp, England and never returned to in the Man Hunts, created by a stayed at Seatoller House with his Antwerp. During the war Leo Cambridge undergraduate, G M wife, Anna, who was the niece of served as a Special Constable and Trevelyan, in 1898. Inspired by the Professor Ludwig Knaus, a they both worked for Quaker great man hunt in Robert Louis celebrated German artist (1829– Charities to relieve the sufferings of Stevenson’s Kidnapped, this is a 1910). Leo Burley signed the war victims. Leo died in Finchley in game of hare and hounds played visitors’ book and made this 1921 at the age of 48. During his life out in the fells above Seatoller. On poignant entry: he had enjoyed many walking tours each of the three days of hunting, with his wife in the Black Forest, in several members of the hunt, the ‘Returned after an absence of more Switzerland and in the Lake District, ‘hares’, leave the house at 8 am, than 20 years to find the same unos- perhaps his favourite haunt..2 carrying scarlet sashes and hunting tentatious comfort and the same hospi- horns. The remainder of the party, table care, the same beauty of hill and A few visitors stayed at Seatoller the ‘hounds’, leave half an hour later. valley, of rivulet and lake. The European House during the First World War ‘Tally-ho!’ rings across the fells and capitals are seething with the violence and as I turned the pages of the the ‘hounds’ are expected to make of men’s passions; by the Danube the visitors’ book to July 1915, I spotted full use of their hunting horns to roar of Austrian artillery has already two signatures from Bushey. attract attention and can be caught been heard – and the dark, silent fells by touching. In 1901 the Hunt split around us remain in imperturbable in two – one organised from Trinity calm’. College, Cambridge, the other by C P Trevelyan. With a break for the In 1914 Antwerp was ringed by two world wars, both Hunts contin- Belgian forts and after the German Ancestry.com revealed that Edith ue from Seatoller House today..1 invasion of Belgium in August that Bateson and Anna Gayton were

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journal laytest 2015.indd 8 27/07/2015 09:44 both artists and, as I later galleries and at the International The youngest daughter of a discovered, were on Bushey Society of Sculptors. solicitor, she lived in Much Hadham Museum’s list of Artists and in Hertfordshire and the 1901 Students resident in Bushey in 1915. Her vibrant watercolour, Lambing census shows Edith living with her Time, was painted while she was there. Anna later acted as Edith Bateson, born in 1867, was living in Nightingale Road, Bushey housekeeper for her older the youngest daughter of William in 1918. It depicts the onset of an brother, a doctor and surgeon, who H Bateson, the Master of St John’s English Spring, with lambs and newly was Medical Superintendent of College, Cambridge. From 1891 shooting willows under a blustery Surrey County Asylum. she studied at the Royal Academy sky. The ‘modern’ feel and positive Schools, where she won three silver atmosphere perhaps accords with Entries in the visitors’ book at medals for sculpture. She was one the imminent ending of the First Seatoller House produced some of a group of women artists World War. While in Bushey, Edith fascinating stories. As Roger and I encouraged to take up sculpture at Bateson became part of the artistic signed our names, I mentioned Edith a time when modelling was done colony and befriended Winifred, the Bateson and Anna Gayton from the in clay before being cast in bronze. younger sister of the artist, Kate unique artists’ colony who stayed Prior to this, sculpture had been Cowderoy, who lived at The there in 1915 and added a link to thought too physically demanding Retreat, 5 Hillside Road. In 1919 Bushey Museum and Art Gallery. for women. One of Edith Bateson’s Edith exhibited a sculpture of statues now stands in the library Winifred Cowderoy at the Autumn References of Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford Exhibition of the International 1. Seatoller House – Published by The Lake Hunts Ltd University. Later, she moved on to Society of Sculptors, Painters and 2 Harvard College Class of 1900 fourth report”, painting and by the time she came Gravers in London..3 www.archive.org/stream/harvardcol. to Bushey in 1915, she was 3 ‘Edith Bateson’ Mapping the Practice and Profes- Anna Maria Gayton, about six sion of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, established as a professional artist at University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire, part years older than Edith, also online database 2011 of the Fylingdale group. She studied at the Royal Academy 4 ‘Anna Maria Gayton’, Mapping the Practice and exhibited four times at the Royal Schools, where she too won prizes Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851- 4 1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and Academy, at many provincial for sculpture in 1888 and 1890.. HATII, online database 2011

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journal laytest 2015.indd 9 27/07/2015 09:44 History of Bushey. He was also a talented all-round sportsman. At Felstead School he played first Sporting Bushey team football and cricket and set a record for the Mile that stood until 1924. At Oxford University he Bushey is not usually regarded as a hotbed of sporting talent, but it has won a Blue for football in the 1890 connections with several famous sportsmen, some of whom were featured Varsity match. After ordination, he in an exhibition at the Museum was appointed curate of St John’s, Walham Green, Fulham in 1892. ideology. Rampling, an outstanding He was asked to turn out for Audrey Adams relay runner, ran the second leg in Fulham FC, then an amateur club, the 4x400 metres relay and made and ended up spending three Frank Chester (1895-1957) up nine metres to inspire the team successful seasons as their right In the spring of 1914, cricketer to victory and a gold medal. ‘On back. On his arrival in Bushey, Hall Frank Chester had the world at his that day in Berlin’, Rampling recalled hung up his football boots. However feet. At the age of 18, he was in his 50 years later, ‘I just seemed to float he joined Bushey Cricket Club as an second season as a professional around the track, passing people opening bat and also represented with Worcestershire, and had without effort’. The Colonel, as he Hertfordshire. It was said that if already been identified as an was known affectionately, spent the Bushey batted first, the Reverend England all-rounder of the future. last nine years of his life in Bushey would ask to be excused fielding That summer he recorded his top House Beaumont, where he so that he could officiate at Even- score of 178 not out against Essex, celebrated his 100th birthday in May song and the twelfth man would and his best bowling figures of 6 2009. His visitors that day be required to take over. On the for 43. His progress was halted by included his daughter, the other hand, if Bushey batted second the outbreak of the First World distinguished actress Charlotte after tea, the assistant curate could War and his call-up to the Royal Rampling. He died peacefully a expect an urgent summons to take Field Artillery. In July 1917, while on month later. the service. active service in Salonika, he lost his right arm. He was fitted with an Pat Floyd (1911-88) Ted Ray (1877-1943) artificial limb, but had to accept that At six feet six inches and 14 stones Ted Ray hardly conformed to the his career as a cricketer was over. and with a good punch in both modern image of a top professional Instead he became an outstanding hands, Pat Floyd was a natural heav- golfer. He was a lumbering figure, umpire, rated by Sir Donald yweight. He won the Amateur Box- over six feet tall, weighing 16 stones Bradman as ‘the greatest umpire ing Association (ABA) heavyweight and with a walrus moustache. He under whom I played’. Chester stood title in 1929, 1934 and 1935 and played in a tight-fitting jacket, collar in a record 48 Tests, a total subse- represented England at the Empire and tie with a trilby hat and a pipe quently overtaken by Dickie Bird. Games and European Champion- seemingly permanently clamped He lived all his life in Bushey, and ships. In 1946, after wartime service between his teeth. Nevertheless, counted the balls of each over with in the RAF, he returned to the ring, he hit a prodigious length and had six pebbles taken from his mother’s despite being overweight and out a surprisingly delicate touch on the garden in Coldharbour Lane. of condition, and won his fourth greens. In 1912 he won the Open ABA title, 17 years after his first. Championship at Murrayfield, with Godfrey Rampling In his prime, Floyd had the talent a first prize of £50, and in 1920 he (1909-2009) to box professionally, but he pre- became the oldest winner of the US Godfrey Rampling was a profession- ferred to retain his amateur status Open at the age of 43. (His record al soldier and an amateur athlete and continue his day job with Times was surpassed by Raymond Floyd in who refused to take his sport too Newspapers. A familiar figure in 1986). Ray also captained the Great seriously. His idea of training was a Bushey, Floyd lived for many years in Britain team at the first Ryder Cup couple of laps round the cricket Herkomer Close and was President competition in 1927. During all this field at his army camp twice a week. of the Bushey Royal British Legion time, Ray was head professional at Despite this casual approach, Club. Oxhey Golf Club, part of which Rampling twice represented Great survives as the present nine-hole Britain at the Olympics and ran the Reverend Gilbert Oxhey Park Golf Club. Ray was race of his life at the 1936 Games in Montague Hall (1868-1937) not a great teacher, but his friendly Berlin, best remembered for Adolf Montague Hall is best remembered manner made him a popular figure Hitler’s attempt to hijack the Games locally as Rector of Bushey from in Oxhey, where he lived for many as a propaganda vehicle for Nazi 1898 to 1937 and author of a years.

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journal laytest 2015.indd 10 27/07/2015 09:44 Godfrey Rampling Reverend Gilbert Montague Hall

Frank Chester

Pat Floyd

Tony Wilding (1883-1915) Tall, handsome and debonair, Tony Wilding moved comfortably among the pre-First World War international ‘smart set’. Having left his native New Zealand to study law at Cambridge, he preferred to tour Europe on his motor bike, winning tennis titles on the way. In 1910 he won the Wimbledon men’s singles title for the first time. Among the crowd that day was Maxine Elliott, a twice-married American actress and society beauty. She invited Wilding to a weekend house party at Hartsbourne Manor, her estate in Bushey Heath. Wilding became a frequent visitor, and rumours began to circulate about their relationship, despite the 15 year age gap. There Ted Ray were reports of an engagement, and even a secret wedding in Nice. Tony Wilding Meanwhile, Wilding retained his

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journal laytest 2015.indd 11 27/07/2015 09:44 Wimbledon title for the next three years. He also won an Olympic bronze medal in 1912, and helped Australasia to victory in the Davis Reveley’s Cup on four occasions. When the First World War started, Wilding enlisted immediately. He was killed in Northern France in 1915, one of the highest-profile sporting casu- ‘Secret’ Journals alties of the conflict. Maxine sold What takes your eye when you visit Reveley Lodge [what do you mean Hartsbourne in 1923 and retired to ‘Where is it?’ Shame on you!] Cannes. She never remarried.

Editor’s addenda Clearly the Chesters were a sporting There are stories, music, economy family. Frank’s brother Arthur had a Barry Hyman recipes, but best of all are the ads. happier time during the war. Early on White Naptha Soap which will he wrote home to say that he had been ‘lighten your housework immensely.’ o you love the garden; doing remarkably well with the bat in (As it’s also used in bitumen mining the vegetable plots; the Malta having an average of 99.33 for and lighter fluid I daresay it got beehives? Or do you his last three completed innings. He you really clean!) Gossard Corsets. head for the house, that had also been getting plenty of golf. He Heinz Tomato Ketchup (‘free from Dwonderful time capsule of a bygone was still playing cricket in 1917 when Benzoate of Soda.’) Lux flakes. And, age, full of captivating paintings, he had a batting average of 80.5 with unfamiliar to British readers, Aunt sumptuous dining furniture, and a a top score of 155. Both brothers were Jemima’s Pancake Flour; Smirnoff’s drawing room that would do service keen billiard players at Bushey Con- Russian shampoo; Pillsbury’s Health in Downton Abbey? servative Club, where Arthur had been Bran. And so on. champion before the war. Frank played Me? I pick up the written Most fascinating of all perhaps is using a specially constructed arm rest memorabilia. The old books. The which is now in the museum at Lords. the ad on the back cover headed envelope from the Chewett family with the line ‘How our 23 allies say in Canada c. 1930. And my latest When browsing through the – “Good health with Colgate’s ribbon find. Sitting on a corner table, two dental cream.’ It contains the flags Wisden’s obituaries of cricketers killed irresistible magazines – The Ladies’ during the First World War, I came of the 23 allied nations – anyone Home Journal. American A5 sized want to guess which? – with a across a familiar name, that of Lt magazines, dated respectively Edward Hedley Cuthbertson (Royal ‘good teeth’ message in each of February 1919 and January 1925. their languages. A small addendum Warwickshire Regiment) who died of Well, what you need is a roaring heatstroke in Iraq, 24 July 1917. He reads ‘During the preparation of this fire by which to curl up and take a ad, the Czecho-Slovak nation has been played for Clare College XI, and for dream trip back in time. Cambridge University. He made 151 recognised by our Government and the flag of Siam has been changed.’ playing for Hertfordshire against the The covers alone defy you to MCC Club and Ground at Lords in pass by without a peek inside and By 1925 the mood has changed 1910. He did not get a Blue for cricket when you do, what a little treasure and there’s a chubby baby on the but won one for association football. house you find. The 1919 edition cover. There’s story after story and clearly reflects the fact that the First feature after feature on appearance, Also mentioned in the entry was his World War is only recently over, clothes, cooking and beauty, e.g brother Geoffrey Bourke Cuthbertson, with Old Abe on the cover resolving ‘These Biarritz clothes forecast for who played firstly for Middlesex and ‘that these dead shall not have died in South and Summer’. There are short then he captained Northamptonshire, vain...’ (Hmm, plus ca change). The stories ‘Cleopatra was a Blonde.’ for whom he played in 43 matches very first article, ‘Making our men Features: ‘Brigham Young’; ‘Titian.’ without ever being on the winning side fit again,’ has pictures of amputees – not really a record to be proud of! learning skills from secretarial to Best of all again are the ads. You’d He was elected to the MCC in 1919 industrial. ‘Why shouldn’t prices go recognise the products, but the and when he died in 1993 at the age down, now the War is over?’ asks manufacturers? ‘Pebeco Toothpaste’; of 93 he was the joint senior member another. Patronising by today’s ‘Spencer Corsets’; ‘Vanta baby of the MCC. standards, one is headed ‘The War garments, teething bands and Bride’s New Work. He will be proud abdominal ‘binders.’ ‘Alaska cork- of her if she can make a good loaf.’ insulated fridges.’ You’ll know ‘Del

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journal laytest 2015.indd 12 27/07/2015 09:44 With beautiful full colour illustrations, these reminders of the past are a delight, apart perhaps from the Jokes page. Most of them are fairly witty if a bit stiff by today’s standards of throwaway punchline, but two illustrate how racial and religious stereotypes were then quite acceptable. One is about little Jewish Ikey and another about little ‘darky’ Moses. Both are told in crass and probably inaccurate dialect and jar on the modern mind, more sensitive – one hopes – to minorities. Monte,’ ‘Palmolive,’ and ‘Yardley’s,’ but how about ‘Fels-Naptha, the That apart, the Ladies’ Home golden bar with the clean naptha Journal is a joy to read for both odor.’ (Naptha still going strong and Ladies and Gentlemen. Do pick no I haven’t misspelt ‘odour.’ them up and look next time the drawing room is open. Moina Belle Michael - the Poppy Lady the Ladies’ Home Journal who had died. on her desk. When she Three of the Janet Murphy had chance, she looked delegates to the through it and her conference came to Barry Hyman found items attention was caught by her desk to present of interest in the the coloured illustration, her with a cheque for copies of the Ladies’ Home accompanying the poem 10 dollars as a sign of Journal at Reveley Lodge, We shall not sleep, also appreciation of the but I wonder if he was known as In Flanders Fields, flower arrangements aware that an item in the by Lieutenant Colonel she had provided for Ladies’ Home Journal of John McCrae. the conference. She November 1918 inspired She was particularly spent the money on 25 Cummins. The inspiration an American lady, Moina moved by the final verse: silk poppies, which she for this came when Paul Michael, to campaign for ‘To you from failing hands then handed out to del- sought shelter from the the poppy as a symbol of we throw the torch; be yours egates at the conference, rain in his local library. remembrance. to hold it high. If ye break the first time that they This also happens to be Moina was on duty at faith with us who die we were used as symbol of my local library, but I Hamilton Hall, Colum- shall not sleep, though pop- remembrance. have not been similarly bia University, New York pies grow in Flanders Fields’. Some of you may have inspired! where a conference of the She vowed to wear a visited the Tower of Overseas Y.M.C.A. War red poppy like those from London to see the Blood For further information see Secretaries was being held. Flanders Fields as a sign of Swept Lands and Seas of http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ A soldier left a copy of keeping faith with those Red installation, by Paul people/moina-belle-michael.htm THE JOURNAL OF THE FRIENDS OF BUSHEY MUSEUM13

journal laytest 2015.indd 13 27/07/2015 09:44

What is the connection between Bushey, Chesterfield and Scarborough?

Some of you will be aware that I now of both Despensers in 1326, live in Chesterfield, but that is not the the manor reverted to the connection which is related to events crown and Edward II who gave it to his brother which happened centuries ago. Edmund of Woodstock, first earl of Kent (fifth creation). Janet Murphy Edward II was forced to abdicate in favour of his son he Manor of Bushey was Edward III. Edmund of granted by William I to Woodstock was executed, Geoffrey de Mandeville. accused of plotting to TA powerful man, he held 18 restore Edward II to the more pieces of land in throne; however his widow Hertfordshire and property in a Margaret retained his lands. further 10 counties. In the Domesday Survey Geoffrey de By comparison the descent of Mandeville is recorded as holding the manor of Chesterfield had land rated at one hide in the Manor been more ordered. The manor of Cashio, which was the hamlet of Chesterfield was granted by of Leavesden. These holdings gave King John to William Brewer in him complete control of the ford around Ely where he and his 1204. It descended through the at Bushey Mill an important cross- followers ran amok, pillaging and Brewer and Wake families until the ing point on the river for the road burning towns, churches and death of Thomas Wake during the between Harrow and St Albans. On monasteries and confiscating their Black Death in 1349, when it passed his death Geoffrey de Mandeville treasures. He was killed in 1143. to his sister Margaret, who was the was succeeded by his son, and then Although he was the most widow of Edmund of Woodstock. his grandson another Geoffrey, who notorious of the lords of the manor Thus, from 1349, Bushey and Ches- was deeply involved in the war for of Bushey, the descent of the manor terfield had the same manorial lords. the throne after the death of Henry was a catalogue of disputes over I, between Henry’s daughter, the ownership; charges of treason, Empress Matilda, and his nephew confiscations, executions and deaths Stephen. At first Geoffrey sided in battle. with Matilda, who in 1141 granted him a Charter confirming his right After the manor had been to hold the Manor, granting him confiscated from Geoffrey de the right to hold a market there on Mandeville, it was probably Thursdays, and a fair each year to granted to Geoffrey de Jarpenville. begin on the Vigil of St James, lasting The manor remained in the hands of for three days. By Christmas he had the family until Sir David de Jarpen- Joan Fair Maid of Kent changed sides and was supporting ville died about 1300, leaving a young Stephen who granted him another daughter Joan. His brother Thomas Margaret’s first son died young Charter confirming his possessions claimed that the manor was his and, when her second died childless and adding more. A few months and gave it to Hugh le Despenser, a in 1352, he was succeeded by his later he changed sides again and favourite of Edward II. Joan was not sister Joan. She was married to Sir was supporting the Empress the only woman to be deprived of Thomas Holand, who was created Matilda, who in turn granted him her inheritance as the Despensers, first earl of Kent (sixth creation) another charter with even more father and son, persecuted rich when she was just 12-years-old. lands. He was arrested by an widows and heiresses with invented While Sir Thomas was abroad angry King Stephen at St Albans. He criminal charges until they gave up fighting for the king, she underwent escaped and fled to the marshy land their estates. Upon the execution a form of marriage with William

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journal laytest 2015.indd 14 27/07/2015 09:44 Montagu, first earl of Salisbury Robert Blackwell and it remained (second creation). On his return Margaret in the family’s hands until Richard Countess of Thomas successfully petitioned Salisbury Blackwell died without issue in 1677 the Pope for the restoration of his when it passed to his cousins Susan wife. After the death of Sir Thomas Parkyns and Anne Pitt; the latter in 1360, Joan married Edward, the selling her portion to Susan’s hus- Black Prince, and she was the band Sir William Parkyns who was mother of Richard II. executed for treason in 1696 – the last of the long line of the lords of After Joan’s death the manors the manor who met a violent death. passed to her son Thomas, and, in In 1719 the manor was conveyed to turn, his son Thomas, who was Richard Capper, whose family held it beheaded. Some of his estates until it was sold in 1814 to General passed to his brother Edmund Frederick Nathaniel Walker. but Bushey and Chesterfield were In 1484 the manor of Bushey was retained by Thomas’s widow Alice granted to Francis Lord Lovel, who and on her death they passed to joined the long list of the lords of The Manor House Eleanor, sister of Thomas and the manor accused of treason and Edmund, who married Thomas, earl then the manor was granted to the of Salisbury. He started work on Earl of Oxford. He died without the magnificent Bushey Hall in 1428, heirs and the property was but died the same year. After the granted to Sir Thomas Boleyn, death of Eleanor, the manors passed father of Anne Boleyn although it is to her daughter Alice, who married doubtful if he ever obtained Richard Nevill, who thus became possession of the manor as in the fifth earl of Salisbury. He was same year, 1513, by an Act of As the manor of Bushey was beheaded in 1460, and succeeded Parliament, Margaret, grand- comparatively small, it might be by his son Richard, earl of Warwick, daughter of Richard earl of expected that these important who played an important part in the Warwick, was made countess of characters in history would have Wars of the Roses and was known Salisbury, and the Salisbury family spent little time in Bushey. as the Kingmaker. Like Geoffrey de lands were restored to her, However the main road between Mandeville, he changed sides. He including the manors of Bushey and London and the important was killed at the Battle of Barnet in Chesterfield. She was made Norman Castle at Berkhamsted 1471. governess to Henry VIII’s daughter passed through Bushey. It probably Mary, but later became a victim of became even busier when Queen His eldest daughter Isabel the conflict between Henry VIII Eleanor of Castile built a castle at married George Duke of Clarence. and the Catholic Church and was Langley in 1276 which was a The manors of Bushey and executed in 1541. popular home for the Royal Family Chesterfield were presumably until the time of Henry II. settled on his younger daughter The original manor house of A century later, Richard II wrote a Anne, wife of the Duke of Bushey would have been built on letter from his mother’s home in Gloucester (later Richard III), the demesne land of the manor – Bushey to a friend in Rome; at the because in 1475 the manors of property which was for the lord same time the manor of Bournehall Bushey and Chesterfield (just these of the manor’s own use. This was belonged to Alice Perrers, mistress two) and the hundred of Scarsdale where Bushey Hall Farm now is. In of Edward III. Margaret countess of (in which Chesterfield lies) were 1543, the demesne lands, fisheries, Shrewsbury held her first manorial exchanged by Anne and King mill and coney (rabbit) warren were court in Bushey in 1514. Edward IV for Scarborough and granted to William Milward alias The proximity to London and the some other Yorkshire properties. Alexander. At the same time the battles at nearby St Albans and Whilst it was clearly advantageous Manor of Bushey and its income Barnet meant that Bushey was at for Anne to gain Scarborough with were leased to him for 21 years. least on the fringe of the national its castle and Edward would have However in 1554 Queen Mary events during these turbulent times. gained a property near London granted the manor to Lady Winifred there seems to be no obvious and Lady Catherine, daughters of The same cannot be said of reason why Chesterfield should the eldest son of Margaret countess Chesterfield, which was rarely if be part of the deal unless he was of Salisbury, and the Manor and the ever visited by the lords of the man- aware of the lead mines in the High Bushey Hall estate were separated. or, but that was all about to change. Peak of Derbyshire. In 1573 the Manor was sold by to Margaret exchanged Chesterfield

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journal laytest 2015.indd 15 27/07/2015 09:44 and Scarsdale for four manors in Hampshire with George Talbot, fourth earl of Shrewsbury, in 1531 and after almost two hundred years Herkomer- Founder of Car Rallying in Germany Bushey and Chesterfield once more had different lords of the manor. This exchange did at least make sense as George Talbot was Philip Morgan consolidating his holdings around Rector of Bushey. 1981-1994 Sheffield and Margaret was consolidating her holdings in the Philip writes in response to the south of the country. It was George article Herkomer Man of many parts Talbot, the sixth earl, who had the in the last issue of the Journal. greatest impact on local affairs. The Manor came to him in 1560; two years later his agent surveyed the erkomer had so many gifts Manor, and, in 1567 at a stormy and skills that it is always The Konkurrenz Plaque 1906 meeting in Sheffield, his principle interesting to read summaries in 1900; it was between Paris and seat, he called the burgesses of of his life, and Hugh Lewis’s Lyon. These races continued for Chesterfield ‘arrant knaves’. A year H article in the Journal is no five years, and Herkomer went to later his advisers produced a exception. I would like to amplify Ireland to see the 1903 race. document which resulted in him Hugh’s reference to Herkomer’s tightening his control of the Manor interest in cars and motoring. First After the Gordon Bennett races, and denied his tenants their right to ask, can we establish what make the system of Grands Prix took to self government. Acrimonious of car Herkomer brought to Bushey over, in France first, hence the name, disputes followed until his death in to rumble along High Street? but quickly spreading through 1590. Secondly, to make a distinction Europe, and even from Paris to between motor racing and motor Peking (as it then was.) Now of George Talbot, sixth earl of rallying. course, it is an internationally

Shrewsbury, is better remembered Pictures Bushey Museum Archive recognised sport of major as the fourth husband of Bess of Herkomer at the start importance. Hardwick and the custodian of Mary Queen of Scots. Now it was Herkomer was struck by the Chesterfield that was on the fringe exceptional nature of the racing car, of national events. Mary was housed built specially and only for racing – a for some time at Chatsworth, single purpose vehicle. Realising the eight miles from Chesterfield. The impact that motoring would marriage between Bess and George inevitably have on society, he Talbot broke down, partly because developed the idea of holding events of the strains caused by the custody in which ordinary production cars of Mary. The Manor of Chesterfield would take part, on open roads, with passed via the Talbot side of the competitions within the family to the Dukes of Newcastle competition, such as completing a and then the Dukes of Portland, Motor racing consists of a group slalom course (on level ground), or whose principal seat was of cars competing with each other reversing into a number of narrow Welbeck in Nottinghamshire. to get from A to B in the fastest spaces. The winner would have to In 1792 an exchange of land time. The earliest race I can complete the course, which might between the Dukes of Devonshire discover took place in France in be from A to B or from A to B to and Portland resulted in the Duke 1899 between Paris and Bordeaux – A, within a given time; cars would of Devonshire becoming the Lord of on open roads. In England, start one after another. Being a the Manor of Chesterfield. racing on open roads was never standard car, it would not go as fast legal, though that ban did not apply as a racing car, but a combination of Although I said at the beginning to Ireland or the Isle of Man. The reliability and speed would produce that the connection between Bushey TT races for motor bikes is a the best performance; there would and Chesterfield was not that I have descendant of that exception. The be a winner. It was this kind of event lived in both places, if I had not done first international race was that produced the first Herkomer so this somewhat esoteric connec- sponsored by a wealthy American Konkurrenz from Landsberg-am- tion would never have come to light. newspaper owner, Gordon Bennett, Lech, of course, in 1905, sponsored

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journal laytest 2015.indd 16 27/07/2015 09:44

Herkomer- Founder of Car Rallying in Germany Pictures Bushey Museum Archive

Line of Edwardian cars outside the Mutterturn in Landsberg

by the Bavarian Automobile Club. late or early, This came to be known as we would lose rallying, and I have seen in Waal, points. From Herkomer’s birthplace, a ‘blue Chambery plaque’ announcing him to be the we were on a ‘Founder of German Motor Rallying’. common route Rallying sparked a whole new with those who version of motor sport, also a had started source for improving technology from other and of publicity for motor major European manufacturers. The Konkurrenz still cities through takes place. Kate and I saw the start the Alps. This in 2001 – a very remarkable lasted about gathering of vehicles made before two types of entrant. One was 24 hours with a number of special 1914. along the traditional lines of taking stages, driving those as fast as we part for fun with a holiday in Monte could over closed roads. Fatigue I have a particular interest in Carlo; others were in it to get a win and weather made it difficult not to the distinction between racing and or a place in a class – or even better. arrive late at controls. We did lose rallying, because I was lucky enough In a works team, you’ll know which time, but got to Monte Carlo about to take part in the Monte Carlo category we were in. We were 70th out of 300 finishers – and a Rally in the early 1960’s. A friend at driving a hand-built standard Mini. third place in our small class. A boy- college was a good enough driver to Behind us at the start at Glasgow hood ambition fulfilled. Might there be in the British Motor Corporation was a hefty Standard Ensign with a be another Herkomer around now rally team, and sold the idea to the full crew. We didn’t see them again. to introduce again a rally of impor- team manager of two curates doing We spent the best part of two days tance using cars we could buy in the the Monte: it might help publicity. driving a circuitous route through showroom? I’m afraid the whole These were years when there were France; if we arrived at a control scene is far too macho to think of it.

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journal laytest 2015.indd 17 27/07/2015 09:44 ‘A little piece of Belgium in Bushey’

January 1915, joining the battalion at the front at Beuvry, France on 31 January 1915.

At some point during 1915, Private Edgar Charles Fulks was shot; caught up in machine gun fire at night when taking ammunition supplies up to the front-line trench. Whilst kneeling on some duck- boards at a trench cross roads (each side would train their machine-guns on those crossing points and fire off random shots at night), Edgar was hit and it was like a brick hitting him. He dropped in the mud. He soon realised that he could feel his hands and feet but couldn’t get up. The German bullet had lodged in his diaphragm, and he was taken to army field hospital but the doctors would not operate to remove the bullet as the act of cut- ting into his diaphragm would have killed him. That bullet remained Edgar Charles Fulks lodged in Edgar’s diaphragm for the rest of his life, only noticeable to Talbot House, formerly a hop him when he laughed. merchant’s house, is located in the Katharine heart of Poperinge, a bustling town Edgar returned to England, near Ypres, Belgium. ‘Pops’ as the recovered, and was transferred to Whitaker soldiers called it was a busy the 5th Bedfordshire Regiment. He transfer station where troops on was promoted to Acting Sergeant, he Bushey & Oxhey Men’s their way to and from the battle- specialising as a gunnery instructor, Branch of Toc H was founded fields of Flanders were billeted. and remained in the army till he was in the mid-1930s. One of its discharged at St Leonards, Hastings T key founding members was It is here that Army Chaplains, on the 6 March 1919. Edgar Charles Fulks, builder and Philip (Tubby) Clayton and Neville decorator, of 25 and later 27 & 29 Talbot, opened an ‘Every-man’s’ club It is not known whether Edgar Koh-i-Noor Avenue, Bushey. So on the 11 December 1915. It was Fulks visited Talbot House whilst on what was Toc H? And what has Toc an alternative place of wholesome active service, but he certainly H to do with Belgium and Bushey? recreation where soldiers, would have known about Toc H, as regardless of their rank, were the knowledge of this renowned Toc H as an organisation was welcome. haven from hell had permeated born out of a need to give soldiers throughout the British Army to a respite from hell during the First Edgar Charles Fulks (1895-1976) troops stationed at home and World War. The name Toc H is an volunteered to serve in the First abroad during the First World War. abbreviation of Talbot House and World War and he enlisted on Stories would come back to Blighty, the soldier’s nickname; ‘Toc’ the 7 September 1914, completed of the special feeling of fellowship, signifying the letter T in the signals his training and was then drafted camaraderie and Christian spelling alphabet used by the British into the 1st/1st Battalion of the brotherhood that emanated from Army in the First World War. Hertfordshire Regiment on the 23 within the walls of Talbot House.

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journal laytest 2015.indd 18 27/07/2015 09:44 ‘A little piece of Belgium in Bushey’

After the war, Reverend ‘Tubby’ and life-long friend Frank Jefferys, Membership was open to men of Clayton wanted to recapture the around him to form a small 16 years and upwards and, like War’s spirit of comradeship in tentative Group. This Group, in Talbot House, was open to men common service and to pass it onto course of time and after a real test from all ranks of society. Each the younger generation for the of stability, unity and work, became prospective member had to be greater task of peace. He started a Branch, which was granted a sponsored by two members of the again on a modest scale in 1919- Lamp of Maintenance as a symbol branch before election. An 1920, and, with a group of men who of its trust and responsibility, to be initiation ceremony was held where had passed through Talbot House lit with a simple ceremony at all the member up for election during the war, set up the meetings. Each lamp was dedicated accepted the Objects of Toc H and movement called Toc H. The main to the memory of one of the Elder pledged himself to Fellowship with aims of Toc H were to work for a Brethren – those who, whether in other men and to the service of better world through the example peace or war, passed over in the those less fortunate than himself. of friendship, service, fair-minded- doing of unsparing service for their ness and the Kingdom of God. fellows. The Bushey & Oxhey Lamp The corporate life of the branch’s It was known as the Four Points of was dedicated at the Coming-of- weekly meetings was an important the Compass. Age Festival of Toc H in June 1936 aspect of the Fellowship. A yearly in memory of Lieutenant Frank programme would be drawn up, In 1922 Toc H was granted a Harry Bethell, who was killed on speakers booked, and activities Royal Charter and in 1929, thanks 25 September 1915, aged 19, and decided, but integral to each to the generosity of Lord Wakefield, donated by his father Lord Bethell meeting were the discussions and the original Talbot House in of Romford, who lived at Bushey debates generated about issues of Poperinge was bought for the House in the High Street. the day. movement. Many of the furnishings, posters, pictures and memorabilia The Bushey & Oxhey Men’s Meetings always began with a were returned to Talbot House and, Branch of Toc H met weekly in the prayer, followed with the Ceremony in 1932, it was opened to visitors. appropriately named Power House, of Light. All present would stand Every year after 1932 many former the former electricity and all lights put out. One member soldiers and their families returned generating room which powered appointed gives the word: ’Light’ on pilgrimage and in November Bushey House before mains and the Lamp of Maintenance is 1934 Edgar Fulks made the same electricity was connected. Entrance lit. The leader of the group would journey (see postcard). to the Power House was via a large begin with the words: ‘With proud wooden gate, situated near to the thanksgiving let us remember our elder This journey must have been a present Bushey Dental Surgery brethren, especially …’ after which seminal moment for Edgar Fulks, in the High Street. A large notice he would recite Lawrence Binyon’s as soon afterwards he gathered a board, fixed to the post of the gate poem For the Fallen. number of Bushey & Oxhey men, hung out to advertise the branch, A prayer would close the meeting. including his army compatriot adorned with its logo, the Toc H lamp. Every member was expected to do voluntary service in the community, following the three main Toc H themes: Individual help, Leadership and comradeship, and Corporate jobs. Edgar Fulks fulfilled these by offering friendship, hospitality and respite in his home to very poor, elderly, former hop pickers from the East End of London after the Second World War. He ran the Youth Fellowship group at the Congregational Church in Bushey, where he was affectionately called

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journal laytest 2015.indd 19 27/07/2015 09:44 Pop Fulks. He, together with other honorary secretary in 1936 and af- less fortunate than himself and to branch members, looked after ter Bushey House was sold in 1949, serve his local community gardens for elderly residents in meetings took place in his carpen- without looking for any recognition Bushey. After the Second World ter’s workshop at 29 Koh-i-Noor or reward. War, he organised yearly rambling Avenue. Other honorary secretaries holidays, staying at Youth Hostels, were Henry Southall 1938-49 and December 2015 is the 100th for up to twenty friends from treasurer in 1952 to 1954. Edward anniversary of the founding of Bushey. Henry Abrams 1952-54 and in 1956 Talbot House, and in 2020 it will be Frederick Keen. The branch closed the 100th anniversary of the Edgar often went to the yearly in 1964. founding of the Toc H movement. Toc H Festival of Lights evening at the Royal Albert Hall, and frequent- Edgar Charles Fulks, a modest If you have any information or ly went on pilgrimage to Talbot but friendly man, whose way of life memories about the branch, please House. His wife, Gladys, and his was underpinned by the principles contact me on 020 8950 6786. two daughters, Margaret and Sheila, of Toc H, brought a little piece of were members of the Watford Belgium to Bushey for every man Acknowledgements and sources: women’s branch. Sheila recalls the who wanted to participate in the 1. Katharine Whitaker wishes to thank Edgar Fulks’s two daughters, Margaret Blaza very moving pilgrimage that she and traditions of fellowship and service. (91) and Sheila Fisher (88) and grandson her husband made with her parents In researching this article and inter- Paul Fisher for their knowledge and support in 1953 to Talbot House, receiving viewing three surviving members in the writing of this article. Holy Communion in the little of his family, I have a strong feeling 2. Toc H archive, Birmingham University chapel in the Hop Loft. that Edward Fulks was a contented, library, special collections. thoughtful and considerate man 3. National Archives, Kew, London. Edgar Fulks was the branch’s who did his utmost to help those Bushey Hall from the Air This is a letter card written at The Hall, Bushey on 11 August 1884. The writer begins: Just a few lines to forward you the Card of this place. It is indeed well worth knowing of and seeing – a Perfect Club or Hotel Pension, for Any one to come to. It is very full now.

Pictures Bushey Museum Archive This is the garden front of the Hall, and it is a faithful representation as is shown by this postcard of about 1870, even down to the large trees casting a welcome shade. There appear to be two grass tennis courts in front of the Hall together with one hard court at the extreme right. It is difficult to say how accurate the background is. Certainly the Colne, the Five Arches and the tower of Watford Church are obvious but are they correctly aligned? Did the artist sketch the surroundings when flying over in a balloon?

20 THE JOURNAL OF THE FRIENDS OF BUSHEY MUSEUM

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