July 2017 Supported by

The Newsletter and “What’s On” Guide for Residents & Friends of Village

The Blackbird 2 Open Garden for Demelza 3 Mutterings from The Millers 4 The Spitfire is Back! 5 Neighbourhood Watch 6 Chelsfield WW1 Casualties 7 Philip Lane Photography (2) 8 Paula’s Fund 10 Local Burglary 11 Local History Group 11 “My Hero” by Philip Boswell 12 Healthier Event 15 Archaeology Family Fun 15 Useful Contact Numbers 15 Dates for your Diary 16

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR EVENTS We need your news, reports, stories, photos, diary events, cartoons, etc. to continue to make the Village Voice interesting and useful Please send anything you feel suitable for the August 2017 issue to: [email protected]

or post to: Chelsfield Village Voice 2 Bucks Cross Cottages Chelsfield Village BR6 7RN by Friday 28th July 2017 July 2017 Page 2

The Blackbird

This month I decided to type were considered to with this nervous bird, its choose a bird that is well be fowl. Consequently call is both shrill and known to us all: the the blackbird became of persistent. This occurs common or garden the only bird that could most frequently when a blackbird (Turdus honestly carry the name predator such as a cat merula). The male sports tag although I do recall prowls into the bird’s the colour that gives the hearing a presenter on territory and a persistent bird its name while the the radio state that he ‘chink chink’ call heralds female looks identical but thought all bird that were danger to all species of for deep brown plumage. black were ‘blackbirds’ birds. Blackbirds sing so and was surprised to find readily that there is a now This bird is a member of that there were redundant idiom that the thrush family and one distinctions between states “To whistle like a of the most common in them! Clearly a townie… blackbird”, which means Britain although historic to do something very records suggest that its Blackbirds are quite easily. Such is this bird’s relative the song thrush prone to partial albinism ease whilst singing. was once more common, which can appear the two species spontaneously or can be Historically all thrushes, apparently reversing inherited. A few white including blackbirds were prevalence over recent feathers does make them regularly eaten and the centuries. Consequently, easy to identify as an price for a dozen was historically there are individual (see photo even regulated by more poetic references to below) although these statute. Killing for thrushes than there are to birds are very territorial consumption continued blackbirds. Its name is so one would only expect until at least the 1940s interesting in that it one of to find one male plus and there is a record of those names that is possible family members the residents of the onomatopoeic (it sounds on any given patch. village Roydon in Norfolk like the object it trapping and eating describes). But there are This birds’ song is one of blackbirds during the many British birds that the most under- harsh winter of 1947 are entirely (or almost) appreciated aspects of when villagers were black; ravens, crows, the countryside and has trapped by heavy rooks and choughs for been described as snowdrifts. Talking of example. Why is it that coming nearer to human eating blackbirds brings none of these acquired music than any other bird us to the well known the moniker ‘black’? It song. It’s both melodic nursery rhyme “Sing a seems that in times past and mellow and one of song of sixpence”. the word ‘bird’ only the first to herald each Sing a song of sixpence, applied to small birds new dawn. But when a pocket full of rye; while larger birds of any startled, as is very easy Four and twenty July 2017 Page 3

blackbirds baked in a pie; accounts went down a pecking against ones When the pie was treat with the guests. Just window then there will be opened the birds began for good measure, on a death in the family or to sing; occasion, snakes or mice amongst close friends. Was not that a dainty would be added. Clearly But then robins, dish to put before a King? the standards of hygiene considered by most as expected of one’s host being friendly birds also One may ask how the were a little different in have connections with birds survived the ordeal Tudor times. Still, worth death involving visitations to households that would be considered unusual (see the Dec 2014 issue of The Village Voice).

My only personal experience up close with a blackbird was when I had a large ivy hedge in my garden and knew that a blackbird was going in and out on a regular basis. So I decided to have a quick look and of the oven? The answer considering the next time shoved my head into the is that this rhyme is not you invite the boss hedge to simply find out just a whimsical poem for around for dinner.... where the nest was only kids but like many to find myself eyeball to nursery rhymes is Interestingly the eyeball with the female. actually based in fact. It blackbird’s colour does As is usually the case, a seems that in Tudor not appear to be nesting bird will simply times the kitchen would associated with evil or freeze and so I backed on occasion create a bad luck anywhere in off as fast as I could and ‘surprise pie’ by doing the Europe although saying the blackbirds raised a usual baking then lifting that, I did find one brood with no harm done. the pie’s crust and adding reference from Cumbria the live birds just before that says that if a Steve Fuller serving which by all blackbird should be found July 2017 Open Garden for Demelza

Demelza Hospice Care on 16th July from It is a beautiful garden for Children's Open 2pm - 5pm There will be and well worth a visit. Garden at 18 Grosvenor refreshments, plants and Rd, , BR5 1QU other stalls. Rosemary Norris July 2017 Page 4

Mutterings From The Millers

The crop growth has now 15% plums left after the caught up with itself and frost hit his orchards. we are on target to start Once that blossom has combining the barley by been damaged that is it. the end of July, all being well and although we Our old farm cats have need more rain, we don’t sadly died but we are want it too heavy pleased to rehome some otherwise it will knock the cats from an industrial cereals down. Never estate. The Celia satisfied are we. The Hammond Trust collect cold and dry did affect the these semi feral cats and peas but that rain we had then help us establish in May has done them them on the farm. We Yellow Rattle (fading) the power of good and have introduced over the they have shot away. past few weeks two cats electric fence! Hopefully You probably have seen and hope to have their this will do the trick with the pods if you walk brothers and sisters by the fox visitors. across the field next to the time you read these Hewitts. Unfortunately notes. Although we feed Just maintenance work the pigeons like them too them, they help keep the has taken place over the and had been attacking vermin under control and past month really, as them. We apologise for stop the mice eating the Peter went to Indonesia the noise of the guns but twine around the bales. and proposed to his it was the only way to Trying to pick up a bale girlfriend ahhh and then keep them from eating with broken string isn’t Steve and I went to the pea pods. The fun. pigeons are leaving them alone now and feeding on The first batch of the barley that has been swallows has fledged and knocked down by the it is lovely to see them weather. Hay making will sitting on the telephone start any day now. wire being fed by their parents. We have had Although the frost did Great Tits, Dunnocks, some damage, the crops and Robins with their have recovered but Steve young in the garden too. was talking to a fruit A great sight. On the bird farmer recently and he side of life, I have order a has only 40% of his few new hens but also a apples, 20% pears and new energiser for the Pyramidal Orchid July 2017 Page 5

Ireland. When it was rattle has finished but course we all know about very hot, Steve did do there are some beautiful 15th July, St. Swithin’s some spraying at about 4 pyramidal orchids Day. I do like this one in the morning and saw amongst the ox-eyed about summer though deer running through the daisies. A lovely place to crops. There seems to walk and of course you Swallows high, staying be a lot more around this have that amazing view dry year. towards London too. Swallows low, wet till blow. On the green opposite Not many country lore the farmhouse, the yellow verses for July but of Chris Miller Chelsfield Village Fair (8th July) The Spitfire is Back!

If you have been emergency planning Any traffic build up in this following my endeavours briefing. area will force us to with the Civil Aviation cancel the flying displays. Authority in the Village You may, if you live on Voice or on-line, you will one of the affected roads, We realise that this is an be, I hope, pleased to have received, or if not inconvenience and we learn that we have the you soon will receive, a really appreciate that you permission for the CAA letter from our Chairman, come through for us for both the Extra and the Peter Lamond with every year but the lanes Spitfire. This is a huge regard to parking during are narrow and we are relief to me personally the Fair. We’re asking keen that the volume of and I would like to thank any of you who normally traffic does not cause all the villagers who park in the road to move jams or indeed damage signed forms agreeing to your car to the Exhibitor’s to neighbours’ cars. A vacate their properties car park (Jane Parkes’ huge thank you in during the flying display field - entrance at the top advance. (complimentary tickets end of the Five Bells car are on their way to you). park) by the Saturday Anyway, the Fair morning of the Fair. promises to be another The committee are now Ordinarily we cone off the good one. We have in the final stages of northern end of the Willow Birds of Prey preparation with village around the Five Centre providing flying marathon shopping trips Bells but this year we will entertainment plus a planned plus the be coning off the right static show of raptors, hundreds of other jobs hand side of Buck’s our friends from Reptile which seem to get done Cross Road all the way Events will be allowing before the day and the to Maypole Road in order the less squeamish to volunteers have to deter parking within handle their amazing undergone their first the Flying Display Area. collection of rescued July 2017 Page 6

snakes and lizards and Bromley and he will spectators in the Flying to complete our animal introduce our traditional Display Area, they will line-up we have Pauline May Queen parade by abort their displays and we Gregory and her highly the Green St Green May will still pay for them. popular pony rides. The Queen and her Entrance is a modest Fun Fair is back with entourage. £3.50 so encourage ludicrously large and everyone to come along weirdly painted vehicles The prize draw will and enjoy the whole day arriving in the village on happen at the end of the with us. We have 70+ Friday and we have the afternoon and the stalls, a beer tent, tea model steam railway aircraft displays will be rooms, a range of food rides which will be in subject to all the normal and you can listen to my their traditional place caveats such as inane commentary all back at the bottom of the weather, serviceability afternoon - what could field again (it was a bit etc. We are not possibly go wrong. mountainous at the top!). publishing the timing of these in advance as this A big thanks to all of you Lester and Henrietta is a condition of our CAA for letting us wreck Barnes’ superb Force 10 licence. It’ll be in the Chelsfield Village for one Big Band will round off programme! day each year - it’s all for the afternoon and we charity and you’re start with the sublime Finally, if you catch wind supposed to forgive us on sunny sounds of the of anyone planning to that basis! Croydon Steel Orchestra view the flying from once again. The Fair is outside the Fair, please Dave Griffiths being opened by the urge them not to. If our Chelsfield Village Fair Deputy Mayor of pilots see gatherings of

Public Neighbourhood Watch Meeting

There was a Public We have had almost 4 as certain are required to Neighbourhood Watch years of continuous crime be followed. Meeting on 13 June reduction year on year, Any suspicious activity 2017. however it now seem that needs to be reported and Police reported it was crime is increasing individuals can be challenging times throughout the Met area. checked – not only the following the terrorist Motor bikes being ridded bike but also down to TV incidents. The Policeman by youths are cause for licences. If they police get killed at Parliament had concern as the riders to know, action can be worked in Bromley and believe they will not be taken, but it does require was known to many followed for H&S information to be given to colleagues. reasons. This is not true them so they can act. July 2017 Page 7

Borough Amalgamation

Perhaps the ongoing debate is the amalgamation of Boroughs. The current thoughts our Borough will be amalgamated with Croydon and Sutton. Many people do not agree that as the area is far too large and Croydon would suck all our Bromley resources to try to solve their crimes, leaving us in Bromley with limited responses.

John Leach Chelsfield’s Casualties From World War 1

Two names from the war census Frederick’s father labourer. In 1911 he is still memorial in St Martin’s was a blacksmith in Pratts living with his mother and porch this month, one is a Bottom but it appears he her grandson Thomas but casualty of war and one has died soon after Frederick they have moved to Oak a sad end much closer to was born, as in the 1891 Road, just off World’s End home. census Frederick’s mother Lane. He married Alice Mary is a widow, living with Rosina Tomkins at Green FREDERICK WICKHAM her parents in Otford without Street Green on 3rd August the children. It seems the 1912 and at the time he G/4748 Corporal Frederick children had been found signed up they were living at James Wickham of the 7th homes elsewhere, as one is 2 Nash Cottages, St Paul’s Battalion Queens Own on the census as having Cray. His attestation Royal West Regiment been adopted by a family in papers say he had already was killed in action on 21 st . However, I served 6 ½ years in the July 1917 aged 33. His can’t find Frederick, so Territorial section of the body was never found so he perhaps he was also Royal West Kent’s, in 1/4th is remembered on the Ypres adopted and given the Volunteer Battalion. He Menin Gate Memorial in surname of the family he signed up on 30 th November Belgium. Frederick was the was living with. 1914 and is recorded as son of Mary Ann and By 1901 Frederick is being 5ft 3½ inches tall – at Thomas Wickham of Oak reunited with his mother, that height the ½ was Road, , living with her in Banks important! The 7 th Battalion and he was baptised at St Cottages next to All Souls of the QORWK formed part Martin’s on 17 th February church in Pratts Bottom, and of the British Expeditionary 1884. From the 1881 working as an agricultural Force in Europe. July 2017 Page 8

Frederick’s army service missing on 21 July. registered on the census as record shows he was sent His widow Rosina’s address being a carpenter for back to England in 1916 to is initially given as 1 Bromley Board of recover from Bronchitis. It Chelsfield Terrace, Green Guardians, who ran the local also shows he was Street Green, but later she workhouses; his army reprimanded in the field on has remarried and is living in record says he had been 12 July 1916 for ‘playing Carlisle. She received the employed by them for 13 cards at 10.45pm’! war widow’s pension of 15/- years. His father James was a week. In 1918 Frederick’s also a carpenter. Frederick mother is living at Edith signed up in November Villas, New Road, Green 1915, but was discharged in Street Green. December 1916 as being no longer physically fit for war FREDERICK SMITH service, and it appears he was never sent to the Front. 48788 Private Frederick Sadly his army record Smith of the 52nd Battalion shows he developed cancer, Middlesex Regiment died on and it seems he married his 27 th July 1917 aged 40. Like wife Lucy only two months Louis Martin, featured last before he died. year, Frederick Smith is not on our memorial but is In 1917 the 7 th Battalion took buried with a part in the Operations on the Commonwealth War Grave Ancre including Miraumont headstone in the and the capture of Irles, they churchyard. As with Percy fought during The German Thorpe, who died at home in retreat to the Hindenburg May 1917, I would imagine Line and in The Third Battle this is because he gave of the Scarpe before moving loyal service before to Flanders. I can’t find a succumbing to illness and reference to a specific battle being invalided out. He in the period in July that lived at Rounds in the village Frederick was killed, so with his parents James and perhaps he died earlier but Emma Smith and their large was only confirmed as family, and in 1911 he is Philip Lane Photography Will Cease Trading in 2017 (Part 2)

Desperate needs mean as photographer by Paul and some studio flash. I was desperate measures and Dunstall,j gas log fire then offered to quote for a there followed a couple of importer from the USA, to section of the M25 at years of taking any work take all his photographs for Westerham by MJ Gleeson going, which included brochures, as well as for his who had somehow tracked gardening, decorating, motorcycle business of me down. They needed a treework, general domestic exhaust systems and keen price which I could give, repairs and gas log fire fairings. For this work I had and by return their buyer fitting. The latter was a direct to quickly get some large gave me an ever larger result of having been kept on format cameras and lenses contract for the A3 in July 2017 Page 9

Horndean. I had kept my enlarger, and got through two indemnity insurance became trusty Pentax SLR and 35mm Kreonite 16” processing due. I have kept a daily job enlarger and much of my machines. All this was book of all my assignments home darkroom, so was able housed in the custom built since 1977, and even have a to rapidly establish my wooden outbuilding at Holly smaller book of commissions business again trading under Cottage. It was embarking carried out prior to 1970/71 my old registered name. I into making my own colour when I moved to Tonbridge. I also had to find a pilot and prints that was to make a have serviced over 250 plane for the aerial work, significant increase in profits major civil contracts based easily out of nearby – one aerial job alone for the throughout the UK, of 12 . The loft at Warren Dept of Transport involved months duration or more. Road became a bustling 2,240 aerial photographs Some went to 7 years such photographic darkroom with a 6x8” print from every as High Speed Rail 1(each producing hundreds of black negative. This job nearly contract for HS1 needed 70 and white prints weekly, drove Ann mad as most of photos monthly with 3 10x8 which soon gave me more the photos of roads and prints from each - you can do than I could cope with. motorways looked the the sums! For most of the same….. When digital period from 1980 to 2008 I My very good friend Ann photography came in I was was incredibly busy and Blatcher of St Martins Church reluctant to change as I was travelling 30,000 miles and Chelsfield Players, came yet to be convinced it was as annually to construction sites to the rescue and became good as colour neg/print. I and airfields from Cornwall to my sole paid darkroom probably left it too late to Wales. Long before we assistant dealing with sorting, change by which time my moved down to Seaford I had numbering, titling tens of fine and costly collection of to dispose of several big thousands of prints, etc large format cameras were boxes of negatives relating to …and dealing with me…! Not virtually unsaleable! I ran sites, that had not been to mention sharing the both systems for a few years requested at the time of learning of lines for many a making CD’s by scanning the taking, but still have some play! For 30 years we prints, but by the time I was 20,000 negatives, and digital worked as a team with looking towards retirement images stored on the PC Jayne the business partner the need for hard copies had drives. I have kept many who and was kept very busy almost ceased and the sample prints of the best jobs with the telephone and “Darkroom” had no need to and brochures of opening posting work out, and be “Dark”. The relative ease ceremonies and other keeping in touch via the new of producing properly commercial work. I actually - fangled analogue mobile exposed digital images had have two copies of the M25 phone (this device saved another effect on my opening ceremony brochure, many a wasted journey or business, it was now one with a personal hand- allowed me to divert to noticeably less profitable, as written message from PM another site or airfield whilst many sites had their own Margaret Thatcher, who still miles from Chelsfield). cameras, seldom required opened the project - I had prints, and had no need of a the front cover photograph!. Ironically monochrome was professional photographer- If times get hard I shall sell fast giving way to colour and apart from the aerials ( even that for a fortune…… I had to invest in and then this specialization is falling learn the skills of colour victim to drones). A decade or so ago there printing and processing. We As I write this resume, I have might have been enough had two special printing just completed my last two equity in the business to sell consoles as well as a colour site visits as my costly public it on, but due to the July 2017 Page 10

aforementioned reasons I price was invariably the have enough images and doubt whether there would bottom line, the standard of stories in my head to provide be any buyers. Obviously a workmanship was written material for local shame that neither Nick nor recognized and taken as magazines for many years to Sal have any desire to take it read, and would sometimes come. You have been on, but similar to my father’s lead to me winning work warned! practice and dentistry, this when not the cheapest. would not have been viable. Other industrial I can therefore retire happy photographers I know who and fulfilled, and Jayne for Will I miss working ? have also retired, and have one, will be pleased not to not gone mad (or out of have me worrying about I think to some extent one focus), agree with me that we whether the weather will be always does miss the have all seen the best years OK for flying as I am glued to challenges that self- in our particular field of work. the BBC forecast each motivated employment morning or the evening throws up, but there was I shall now be satisfying my before! stress of course and the new creative needs with giving tighter regulations affecting talks on aerial photography, And I shall certainly not miss both working on sites and and my other great love of the 3 hour inductions for new aerial photography, were music and entertaining, and contracts, that I have had to taking a lot of the pleasure possibly going back on the endure for the last ten years! out of the job. I met hundreds stage with one of the three of people in the construction Amdram groups locally. Philip Lane - June 2017 industry, and at aviation Although I shall have to test centres from Cornwall to my powers of retention Nottingham, and tried to before letting myself in for keep the relationship I had any substantial parts! with them personal, efficient and friendly. This paid off by Despite our radical move to way of recommendations and East Sussex we have a deep being looked on favourably affection for Chelsfield and with many contracts. Whilst all our friends there, and I Paula’s Fund Unfortunately the following cancer. She has had two can read Paula's story on event details arrived too late rounds of chemotherapy and p.23 of Orpington Connect to be included in the June one round of radiotherapy - and Village Voice, so the “Big all unsuccessful. Her only www.gofundme.com/paulas- Event” has passed. hope now is to have immunotherapy-fund However, in order that if any Immunotherapy which is not of you, our readers would available on the NHS. It Please contact me further like to contribute to this costs £103K for 12 months. further information. urgent cause you have here This treatment will give her the information to make it the chance to spend more Thank you in advance. possible - Editor time with her four children (age 3-9). Vanessa Palmer Paula Davis is a local lady, just 38 years old and We have a big event on paulasimmunotheraphyfund suffering from a rare form of Friday 16th June and you @gmail.com July 2017 Page 11

Local Burglary Sorry to report another garage door down, tore promptly. burglary at a local Cottage down the CCTV etc etc. and Please be aware and report while the lady was out on stole a number of items. anything odd you see Friday 29th June. They ransacked the place, A report was made to the John. B. Leach smashed the back door and police who responded Safer Neighbourhood Watch Local History Group - Philip Hamblin When, almost 18 months newspaper for people to hunched back and sunken into the First World War, examine. chest and given a three- conscription was about to month reprieve. Ted was compel Britain’s young men Philip was born in 1894 at deemed fit for service but to take up arms and fight for Frome, Somerset, into a refused to co-operate and their country, Philip family of devoted was imprisoned for the rest Hamblin’s Christian Methodists. When he was of the war. principles and beliefs left about nine, they moved to him with no choice but to Tonbridge and in 1909 Philip Newspapers reported their disobey. was apprenticed as a case in detail and Robert compositor at the printing Foreman, a well-known and For the 21 year-old printer, a firm in the town where his respected fruit farmer at Methodist preacher in his father worked. Westwood Farm on Well spare time, war was Hill, wrote Hamblin a letter abhorrent. The Sixth Like his father and of “sympathetic Commandment “Thou Shalt grandfather, Philip took up understanding”. Like Philip, Not Kill” was inviolable: how preaching, giving his first the Foremans were could he take life or help sermon in September 1913 Methodists, so Philip asked others to do so? at the age of 19. He if there was a possibility of continued to be a preacher work at Westwood. Robert That stand brought him by for another 70 years. took him on and Hamblin fate to Chelsfield and When conscription loomed won a further three months’ Orpington, where he spent in early 1916, Philip sought exemption from call-up. the rest of his life, first as a exemption, along with his He quickly fell in love with farmhand then a friend Ted, on the grounds Miriam, the second of businessman – owner of the of conscientious objection. Robert’s three daughters, Orpington Press printing firm Their claims were rejected. who was a year older than and founder/editor of the An appeal judge later him. By the end of summer Orpington Journal granted both men non- they were engaged and, newspaper. combatant military service, realising he’d never save But neither wanted to be enough money to get Hamblin’s story was told at part of a military unit so they married if he stayed on the April’s meeting of the local quit their jobs and waited. farm, Hamblin went back to history group by Patrick In mid-April they were printing that winter. Hellicar, while Tom Yeeles arrested. After a medical Again he was called up for of the Orpington History examination Hamblin was military service, appealed, Organisation brought along rejected as unfit for any had another medical and volumes of old copies of the military service due to a was passed fit for home July 2017 Page 12

service only on condition launched two years later. At ceased publication in 1952 that he took the place of a fit first it appeared monthly, when Hamblin sold out to man in industry to release delivered free to all 2,000 the Kentish Mercury. He him for war service— to houses in the village of retired in 1960 at the age of which Hamblin strongly Orpington, then twice a 66, with his two sons, Paul objected. month with a cover price of and Jim, now running the a penny. In 1930, Hamblin flourishing business. The old Eventually, he was granted bought the ancient cottage cottage was pulled down, a exemption if he found “work that housed the firm’s offices new building erected with of national importance”, and built a new two-storey two shops fronting the High which he did by taking a job print works in the garden . Street and the original works at Cockerhurst Farm, not far building extended to the from Westwood, where whole site. there was just the farmer and an aged, one-eyed It was a boom time for cowman. printing but labour problems left the Hamblins with no After the war, Philip took a option but to sell up. The printing job in London. But in Orpington Press ceased to 1920 he bought the plant of exist in 1973. a small printing business in St Mary Cray for £100, Sadly, Miriam was found an empty shop in diagnosed with leukaemia Road and the and at the end of 1968 the Orpington Press was born. couple moved back to Next he acquired a complete Lancing Road. Miriam died printing plant that had been in April 1971, a week short lying unused in rat-infested A couple of years later he of her 78 th birthday. Philip stables in Orpington High and Miriam moved home to continued to live there on his Street and rented the Lancing Road, Orpington, own, looking after himself premises too. where they stayed until and still very active until his around 1953. They sold the death on 23 February 1990 In August 1922, Philip house to their younger son – in his 96 th year. married Miriam and they Jim and his wife and bought bought a terraced house in “Long Range”, a substantial Worlds End Lane. detached house at Well Hill, There will be no Local from Miriam’s brother Bob. History Group meetings in The Orpington Journal was The Orpington Journal July or August. “My Hero” by Philip Boswell

By chance I came across lights in the earlier period. the traction engine yard your magazine and read The road was indeed almost opposite our Philip Lane’s memory of its atrocious and the dip in the bungalow owned by John unmade condition and road nearly always flooded. Young, a threshing another article about the lack As kids playing in the street contractor who owned of street lights. I lived there the puddles were an several traction engines, from 1937 to 1964 and recall attraction. Cars were few. As threshers, straw binder and that we had gas lamp street a boy my main interest was associated farm equipment July 2017 Page 13

and vehicles. My favourite which had been used for to have his boiler tubes engines were Sandy Macnab goat farming previously. The cleaned or renewed. Then I and Ben Lomond. There was road was made up around could help. I could shout out a forge in his workshop that time. when the brush came where he made parts for through each boiler tube repairs. When he raised I wrote a short story of my pushing out a cloud of rust. steam and towed his wagon memories which I called ‘My My interest was mostly train along Craven Road and Hero’ and attach it in case satisfied by just watching the men in the yard go about up Chelsfield Lane we boys you have occasion to fill a their maintenance work but followed on bikes or ran page of your magazine some my real treat was to be behind and hung on the back time. allowed into the forge of the caravan. He also had workshop and help pass a a Foden steam car and a If you are in touch with Philip tool or pump the bellows to Deutz tractor which made a Lane ,remember me to him blow up the fire which spat very distinctive POP POP and let him know I and roared up the chimney. sound which all the boys sometimes see his articles The blacksmith always said, recognised as soon as it was and photos. He lived just up ‘stand back sonny’ as he started up. Occasionally the road from me in smote the red-hot iron to when the road became Chelsfield Lane. My Wife’s shape a piece for Sandy almost impassable he would aunt Mrs Jean Burgess still before plunging it into the use this tractor to do a bit of lives in Craven Road and of water bath with a terrific fizz road repair. course we visit from time to and burst of steam. Heavy The interest has remained time as we only live a short hob-nail- boots, leather with me and only today I distance away in Longfield. apron and a flat cap was the visited the steam rally at blacksmith’s dress. Hadlow Down in Sussex Philip Boswell where numerous steam The shed had a heavy smell of oil, smoke, steam, hot traction engines were on MY HERO metal and sometimes burnt display and being paraded bread as a sandwich had around the show ring. A My memory remains fresh dropped off the long steel lovely sooty smell pervaded and the pictures within it rod with a forked end and the atmosphere and the quite clear after 70 years into the fire. He often sound of the steam whistles have passed. Sandy Mc- toasted his sandwiches and Nab was my greatest hero so familiar after all these boiled the water for tea over and he lived in the yard years. I was given a picture the coals. The shed was of Sandy for my recent 80th opposite my house. He was a traction engine. I visited dark and had only the earth Birthday and a picture of a for the floor. The atmosphere refurbished Ben Lomond is the yard frequently. In winter, he remained was hot and smoky. Holes in shown on steam-up.co.uk cocooned beneath draped the corrugated iron roof web site at the Dorset Steam tarpaulin sheets which hung allowed narrow shafts of Fair in 2001. It had been rather sadly from his roof sunlight through. Very large rebuilt and looks very grand edges. He was usually wooden doors with pieces compared with its hard missing some vital engine rotting or missing were working days. It has even part or a wheel or two whilst propped open on their got soft tyres. The yard was being propped up on heavy rusting hinges to provide built on in the nineteen fifties oily blocks of wood. As he some air and light. On the and we moved to a new sat in the yard he always walls and the steel table house across the road which had an old bucket in the top hung or lay the heavy tools my Father built on land of his chimney to keep out and pieces of metal to be the rain. Sometimes he had wrought. The anvil, a huge July 2017 Page 14

piece of steel tapered and workshop of course. the hedge. pointed at one end was the central feature standing next Summertime saw more Harvest time was the very to the forge fire. It also activity in the yard and the best time. It was hard work served as the blacksmith’s threshing machine, the straw following the binder picking seat whilst pieces of metal binder and the caravan were up sheaves and standing were heating in the red-hot checked and painted up. them in stooks to dry. Then embers. He waited, large The diesel Benz would be a few weeks later tongs in hand studying the started up with much pitchforking them up onto colour of the glowing metal popping and backfiring trailers carting them to build ready to lift it out and begin noises before settling into a the ricks. The low levels the beating and bending to regular engine rhythm were easy to build throwing shape before returning it to shunting the various the sheaves down from the the fire for the next process. equipment around the yard trailer to be stacked neatly in A large pillar drill and a to form up a train to set off a large rectangular (or milling machine completed behind Sandy to the local sometimes round) shape. As the major items in the fields. it got higher the sheaves had workshop. to be tossed upwards to the The sight of Sandy and his people on top and finally There were several lesser train going up the road was arranged to form the sloping heroes in the yard almost impressive and brought all roof which kept the rain off. opposite my home. There the boys and some of the Ladders were lowered and was the giant Benz tractor; grown- ups out to see them all retired except the boys the Foden steam car and off to the fields via the who returned to climb the Ben Lomond the huge old narrow lanes. Old John so ricks and slide off the sloping traction engine, forerunner to proud at the wheel and Wally roofs onto a pile of straw Sandy which rarely moved worked hard at shovelling arranged for a soft landing under its own steam and coal into the boiler. A couple below. then only in the yard, but still of the bigger boys would be steamed up at threshing time hanging on the back of the Finally, it was my hero’s turn giving a shrill blast on its caravan. Some of us got our to bring the threshing whistle before its giant bikes out and followed along. machine to the ricks. We flywheel turned and drove My own shoes had many dismantled them tossing the the long belt to the threshing metal studs in the soles and sheaves into the hopper machine dealing with the horseshoe shaped steel on where the separation of dried sheaves brought in the heels which made it grain and straw took place from the farms on tractor difficult to keep feet from amidst the vibrating noisy drawn trailers. Ben Lomond slipping on the pedals. The shakers causing clouds of had iron wheels without any Engine’s progress was slow dust and chaff to litter the softening road pads so no and came to a halt frequently ground around. Then the longer took to the highways as the train met a horse and excitement as the very base lest damage occurred. cart or the occasional car or of the rick was exposed and Sandy had rubber road pads van coming in the opposite everyone gathered around on his wheels which had to direction. Turning into a field with sticks at the ready, be renewed every year or was often difficult and anticipating the rats running two if he had been on much usually meant un-hitching out in all directions. Most road travel. Each pad held the thresher, bailer and escaped. Job done and in place with two large bolts caravan and partially Sandy got up steam to pull which had to be drilled out manhandling them to a the machinery back to the and renewed for each worn position for Sandy to pull yard to await the return of pad. Bolts made in the them in through the gap in the harvest next year. July 2017 Page 15 We would like to thank CHELSFIELD PARK HOSPITAL for their sponsorship printing the Chelsfield Village Voice

Our Healthier Bromley Event Hear about the future of health services in Bromley and SE London Tuesday 18 July 2017, 1pm – 4pm Bromley Central Library, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1EX Read more about how we have been working to improve health and care services at www.ourhealthiersel.nhs.uk Come and hear about the Sustainability and Transformation Plans in detail. 1pm-3pm Market place-Walk around, find out about our plans and share your views 3pm-4pm Question and answer - A panel of local clinicians and experts will answer some of the questions raised during the session.

July Festival of Archaeology Family Fun Date: 16 Jul 2017 Location: Crofton , Crofton Road, Orpington, BR6 8AF Time: 10:30 - 16:30 Cost: Adults £1.50, Concessions £1.00, Family of four £4.00 Family event at Crofton Roman Villa...Sessions at 10.30am and 2.30pm Parking available off York Rise, adjacent Orpington Railway Station. For all the family, children to be accompanied. No booking needed. Telephone: 01689 860939 Email: [email protected] Web: http://cka.moon-demon.co.uk/villa.htm USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS

Bromley Council BMI Chelsfield Park BT Line Faults 0800 800151 Main switchboard: Hospital Thames Water Emergencies 020 8464 3333 Main Reception 0800 714614 E-mail: fixmystreet.com 01689 877855 National Grid (Gas) Opening hours Monday to Physiotherapy Emergency (leaks) 0800 111999 Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm 01689 885920 Bromley Police Station & Address: Civic Centre, Outpatients Police non emergency 101 Stockwell Close, 01689 885905 Samaritans Bromley, BR1 3UH Freephone 116123 Councillors Reporting Problems to the Keith Onslow Safer Neighbourhood Council [email protected] Team 020 8721 2605 Can be reported via the Samaris Huntington-Thresher chelsfield.prattsbottom.snt CVS website, or if urgent by 020 8464 3333 @met.police.uk phone out of hours samaris.huntington-thresher Emergency Duty Team @bromley.gov.uk Chelsfield Village Hall 020 8464 4848. Lydia Buttinger (bookings) 01689 831826 or [email protected] email to: Neighbourhood Watch [email protected] John Leach 07711304965. Chelsfield Village Voice [email protected] NHS Non-Emergency 111 Chelsfield Players [email protected] EDF Electrical Power Failure Chelsfield Primary School www.chelsfieldplayers.org 01689 825827 Call 105 or 0800 316 3105 July 2017 Page 16

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

WEEKLY EVENTS Pilates Classes & Pre & Afternoon W.I. EVERY MONDAY Post Natal Pilates Classes Newcomers Welcome Chelsfield Methodist Hall, Wed 6.50-7.50pm Contact Gwen on Windsor Drive & 8.00-9.00pm 01689 834879 or Sue on 01689 827407 Iyengar Yoga Classes Thursday 8.20-9.20pm 9.30am-11.00am Friday 9.35-10.35 &10.45- Sunday 16th July Suitable for Beginners 11.45am Crofton Roman Villa Contact Denise Post Natal Pilates 12-1.00pm (adjacent Orpington Station) 01689 853215 (Babies Welcome) Festival of Archeology Call Bethany Lucas Sessions 10.30 and 14.30 EVERY MONDAY (See page 15 for details) Chelsfield Village Hall and 07415 638546 [email protected] Sunday 16th July Brass Crosby Room 18 Grosvenor Rd BR5 1QU Chelsfield Housemartins Further classes at: www.bethanylucaspilates.co.uk Open Garden for Demelza Monday Afternoons, for local From 2pm - 5pm Well worth a people who are unable to go EVERY WEDNESDAY Hatha Yoga Classes visit - Refreshments and out without help. plants for sale (See page 3) EVERY MONDAY, 10.30am-12.00am Contact Pam Keeper 01732 Tuesday 18th July TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY Bromley Central Library & SATURDAY 458930 EVERY THURSDAY Healthy Bromley Event Christ Church Hall, (See page 15 for details) Charterhouse Rd Chelsfield Village Hall Pilates Classes Class Street Dance Tuesday 18th July Monday 6.55pm Beginners 4.30pm-6.00pmBoys & Girls (3rd Tuesday of Month) Tuesday 7.45pm Beginners all Ages Chelsfield Village Hall Wed 9.15am Mixed Ability Info: Clare 07960 865518 Evening W.I. Wed. 1.30pm Over 60’s www.class-streetdance.co.uk Newcomers Welcome Saturday 8.45am Beginners From 7.45pm EVERY SUNDAY Contact Madeline 01689 Saturday 10am Intermediate The Chelsfield, Windsor Dr. Contact Sally 07786 035640 891533 [email protected] Live Singer Wednesday 19th July see 5.00pm-8.00pm Five Bells www.orpingtonpilates.co.uk Contact 01689 600656 Open Mic Night for venues and more info SPECIAL EVENTS So all you budding musicians EVERY TUESDAY Saturday 1st July out there, come along and Brass Crosby Room St James Church Hall, have a go! St Martin’s Toddler Group Starts at 8.30pm 10.30am-12.00 midday Playford Ball Saturday 12th August Contact Sarah Ford: 7 pm - 10.30pm Tickets £10 Bishop Justus School 01689 853415 Wednesday 5th July Magpie Hall Lane Bromley [email protected] Five Bells Mother Daughter Day EVERY TUESDAY Open Mic Night 9.30am-4.00pm The Chelsfield (Windsor Dr.) So all you budding musicians Workshops,Stalls,Pamper Quiz Night out there, come along and Treatments have a go! Thursday 28th September From 7.30pm Contact 01689 Starts at 8.30pm (Last Thursday Each 600656 Saturday 8th July Month) EVERY TUESDAY Chelsfield Recreation Brass Crosby Room Five Bells Ground Local History Group Charity Quiz Night Chelsfield Village Fair Starts 10.30am from 9.00pm From 12.00 Midday Thursday 30th November EVERY WED THURS & FRI Wednesday 12th July Chelsfield Village Hall Chelsfield Methodist Church (2nd Wednesday of Month) Floral Workshop Hall, Windsor Drive Chelsfield Village Hall Wreath Making From 7.30pm