Newsletter of The John Hampden Society No. 32 - Summer 2002

The John Hampden Society exists to bring together people with an interest in John Hampden, and to encourage wider knowledge of this great 17th century Parliamentarian, his life and times SPECIAL GRAMPOUND ISSUE n Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd sent another which I had affixed, but there OSeptember 2001, the Society unveiled were wrinkles in it which I hoped their two plaques in Grampound, Cornwall to expertise could remove. They couldn’t mark the fact that this had been John without producing a new graphic, but they Hampden’s first Parliamentary seat in lent me a tool which should do the trick, 1621. The following is a diary of the and instructed me on the correct way to week’s activities, written jointly by Event roll the banner. Organiser Graham Barfield and Vice- Lunch was at a very good country pub Chairman Roy Bailey. near Axminster located down some of the narrowest Devon lanes I had ever negoti- ated, and a later stop was at Launceston, just into Cornwall, where I bought a wire Monday 27th August. Seal of the Ancient Borough of Grampound with Creed brush, some steel wool and a bottle of deruster to deal with the tarnished halberd G.B. Not an ideal day to start travelling - a wreath of flowers, and Tim Oliver’s hal- heads. Bank Holiday - but ever since falling asleep berds. The latter just fitted into the vehicle and ditching and writing off my car near diagonally, and everything else went on I reached Grampound at about 5.30 pm Winslow whilst driving to address a Chil- top. and found Graham ensconced in the guest terns local history group about John Hamp- house. Mrs Pat Miller, owner of Trevail, First stop was Swindon, where I was had originally offered to put me up there, den, I’ve been a bit wary of driving long hoping to pick up the new promotional distances alone. but as the week running up to the event leaflets from the printers. Unfortunately was school holidays, she had her son David So I broke the journey from my home in they were not ready (my fault for not and her two grandsons staying, so there Derbyshire by staying overnight with getting the artwork to them sooner), but was no room. friends near Monmouth. The car was laden the proprietor promised that they would be ready later in the day and he would send However, learning from Graham that he with everything I might need - lots of tools, was inhabiting a twin-bedded room at extension cable, folding steps, 60 bottles of them to my address in Grampound by courier. Perran House, two doors away from Tre- John Hampden’s Ale, all my photography vail, I had prevailed upon him and landlady gear plus tripod and about 200 copies of the From there it was a pleasant drive across Mrs Yvonne Diboll to let me share with book John Hampden of Buckinghamshire – some of the best countryside in Southern him. ‘I warn you I snore’, said Graham. The People’s Hero. England to Lyme Regis, where I had to call ‘So do I’, I replied. We were both on the makers of our banner. Because I understating the fact! was not happy with the first version of the portrait of John Hampden on it, they had Tuesday 28th August. G.B. A fairly late start, and back to the M5 across the old R.B. Although I had not in- Severn bridge at Chepstow, tended to arrive in Grampound happy that there is no toll on much before tea time, I left home exiting the Welsh side. I was in West Berkshire at about 8.45 horrified to discover a week later am, as I had a number of calls to that it was £4.40 to come back. make. A long haul between Bristol and My Volvo Estate, with the back Exeter; over 70 miles and an seats folded forward, was pretty almost equally long stretch on the heavily laden, with my luggage A30 between there and Bodmin. for the best part of a fortnight, all the exhibition material, the slide I passed through Bugle, dwarfed projector, a number of important by vast china clay spoil moun- files, my photographic equip- tains and dropped down into St. ment, a large case containing a Austell, where the industry seems Trevail, where John Hampden is said to have stayed, and still to be flourishing. camcorder, bits of uniform, the where the first plaque was unveiled.

As I drove along the A390 and saw the Wednesday 29th August Creed Parish Council, with whom we had sign for Grampound I found it hard to both had a voluminous exchange of letters believe that the project we first mooted and phone calls since early in 2000 and G.B. Roy was kind enough to say that a who is clearly a good organiser. nearly two years ago was finally within plus feature of my loud snoring is that it days of completion. muffled the noise of the passing traffic. We were slightly nonplussed to discover I booked into Perran House, the guest- (Well, almost! – R.B.) I called to see Peter that the school had absolutely no means of house on the main (virtually the only) street Williams, the Churchwarden of Creed blacking out the huge window, so we in Grampound, to be joined shortly after by church. He lives a bit further up the street wondered how we were going to make our Roy. He was accompanied by the state-of- beyond the Dolphin and was in the back slides visible at the evening talks. This was the-art camcorder loaned by the National garden doing something technical, so I left a solved by Roger sweet-talking the adjacent Film & Television School through the kind message with his wife that I would like to village bowls club into letting us have the offices of our member Jim Rodda, who is fix the plaque in the church during Thurs- use of their modern club house which has their Finance Director. day. much smaller windows equipped with blinds. I then joined Roy at the Church of England pri- R.B. As promised the new promotional mary school at the bot- leaflets arrived at Perran House by courier, tom of the street and but when I opened them - what a disap- met helpful, merry pointment. The photographs were of a poor Jenny Luzmoor the resolution and looked very muddy. When I Head Teacher, who in showed one to Jenny Luzmoor she agreed the course of conversa- with me, so I got a message to the printers tion told us she is a that the result was unsuitable and that I good Catholic. Seems a would be returning them for reprinting in sensible, logical and due course. Meanwhile, we were obliged to even-handed choice for use them. running a C. of E. school. Rather more successful were the small enamel badges depicting John Hampden R.B . Although it was which Robert Hammond had designed and still the school holidays produced, and had posted to me at the Jenny was in and about guesthouse. every day of our visit except Friday, and went As if this was not enough, halfway Roy Bailey sets up the exhibition in the school out of her way to be through the morning I received a message helpful, despite having from my wife Annabel that several people As the insurer required a £1000 excess school matters to deal with. had phoned to complain that cheques I had payment from the client if the equipment recently issued from the Society’s cheque got lost, stolen or damaged, Roy under- Architecturally, Grampound School is a book were bouncing. This was due to using standably kept close hold of the item at all typical Victorian chapel-like village school, a book erroneously reported as lost, but I times. (You’d better believe it! – R.B.) with a high ceiling and a large arched thought I had sorted this out in writing. So window at the western end. This was later I had to break off from setting up the We moved into the bijou room we were to prove to a problem. The main body of the exhibition to try phoning the bank - without sharing at the front of the building over- building was divided into two by a glass success. looking the main road, along which traffic screen, and the larger part races virtually non-stop all night. No won- nearer to the entrance was der the inhabitants are agitating for a by- to be the site of the Soci- pass. ety’s exhibition. Roy wanted to call straightaway on Mrs Jenny had kindly ar- Miller at Trevail a few doors up the street, ranged for some tables to to discuss the plaque siting on her house be placed down the centre front, but I insisted on priorities (Very wise! of this room, on which – R.B.) and we went another few doors up were the school’s display the street for a meal at The Dolphin Inn, boards. These were a lot Grampound’s only pub. Here, to our sur- smaller in total area than prise, we found our landlady serving behind the display stand we nor- the bar! mally use belonging to the John Hampden Pri- We visited Mrs Miller and her son David mary School at Thame, on the way back to Perran House. David, so I had to set to work to on holiday from Peterborough, was once a make our material fit. Sealed Knot member and had brought his uniform with him, which he said he would One problem was that wear at the unveiling. We made noises of this made the directions encouragement. on some of the captions Graham Barfield and David Miller inspect the exhibition wrong, so I had to keep Back in the guesthouse, I received a Roger Paynter returned to say that BBC telephone call from my friend Dr David diving into Jenny’s office to reprint them on the school’s computer. There wasn’t room Radio Cornwall wanted to do an interview Marcombe, the Director of the Local His- for everything on the panels, but Jenny had with me about our visit the following tory Department at Nottingham University, afternoon and that he would take me in to who announced that he and his partner’s covered one wall of the room with black paper, and I was able to use this for some of Truro. Radio Oxford rang to ask if anyone daughter were setting off from Newark the from the Society could do an interview at following day to join us. the pictures, the halberds, and the wreath of flowers in the shape of the Hampden coat- Chalgrove. I suggested Maurice Kirtland, of-arms. Lord Hollenden or Bob Hammond, but the “I suppose that when you get to Bristol contact rang back to say that they were all you’ve more or less cracked it”, he said. I G.B. During the course of the morning unavailable. When I told them I was going told him that Grampound was a mere 130 to be at Radio Cornwall next day they miles or so further on down the road. various other people drifted in, among them Roger Paynter, Clerk to Grampound with asked me to record the interview from there. 2 We were also joined by Michael Galswor- and I had some difficulty in deciding thy who brought in some copies of The whether or not I should do the same with Book of Grampound with Creed, and Miss the Hampden plaque, for the sake of Mary Oliver who had done the illustrations conformity. for it, and who had also designed and 2002 printed some attractive notelets depicting Our plaque had four fixing bolts protrud- September The Society’s Exhibition will Trevail. They asked if these could be sold ing from the back and I had to drill four along with our books and products. No quite large holes into the wall to insert be on display at The Vale and Downland problem, but as the book cost £20 we them. Fortunately whilst at home I had Museum, Wantage, Oxfordshire, for an in- needed to keep an eye on it. made a simple device which enabled me definite period. The third visitor I could really have done both to get a horizontal level on the wall Sunday 27 Oct The Society’s 10th Anni- without - a strange woman from Hayle and accurately mark out where to make the versary. A special celebratory 17th century who claimed, against all the evidence, that holes, which was just as well, because they banquet will be held at Hampden House, John Hampden had died at a house in were absolute beggars to do once we had Great Hampden (by kind permission of Mr Thame that had been owned by her ances- got through the plaster and into the granite. Tim Oliver) from 1.30 pm to 6.30 pm. tor Maximilian Petty. I did the dirty and I had visions of burning out my electric gave her Maurice Kirtland’s address. As hammer drill and it felt as if I was on the For up-to-date information, see the Diary Chairman of Thame Historical Society, let end of a concrete breaker. page on the Society ’s website at: him sort it out! We had to abandon one of the holes, but www.johnhampden.org/diary.htm G.B. Peter Williams arrived to tell me that the remaining three bolts, generously smeared with quick-setting epoxy resin he wanted to deal with the church today as G.B. In the evening, Roy drove us to a he had another commitment tomorrow. We glue, went into the holes absolutely square and level, so I was highly pleased with the nearby village called Sticker where he agreed we would meet in the early after- afternoon’s work. wanted to try a renowned pub restaurant noon and I would take him to the church - called The Hewas Inn. Both food and beer about a mile from Grampound - because he We covered the plaque with a black velvet lived up to our expectations. has eyesight problems and is no longer able curtain attached to the wall by Velcro. The to drive. curtain was re-cycled, having done a simi- Thursday 30th August lar job eleven weeks earlier G.B. Not being happy with the special covering a brass memorial smashable glass phials of glue I had been plate in a similar ceremony sold by my builders’ merchants, which in a rescued chantry chapel turned out to be messy and dangerous to near Lincoln. handle once broken, I left directly after Having finished this im- breakfast for St. Austell to get more portant task, I spent a few Araldite for fixing the plaque on Trevail. minutes looking around the church, and was fascinated Unbelievably, the town’s B & Q hadn’t a to read, painted on a large tube in the place but the check-out girl board above the door, a directed me to the nearby Homebase where facsimile of a letter written I got the last couple of syringe-type packs. by Charles I in September These measure out the two components in 1643 to the gentry of Corn- equal amounts and you can inject the glue wall, thanking them for horizontally into holes. their loyalty. R.B. I spent most of the morning polish- I arrived back at the school ing up the presentation of the exhibition totally exhausted after (and derusting the halberds!), not without bouncing about on the end interruptions. My repeated failure to get Roy and Graham erect the banner of the hammer drill. This the Society ’s bank to contact me led to me did not prevent Roy from firing off a vituperative fax to them. It had R.B . Before that, Graham and I set up the setting me on to clean the very rusty pair of no effect, but made me feel better! Society’s banner on the chain link fence at halberds borrowed from Tim Oliver and Finding out that there was a cobbler in the the front of the school, facing up Fore which had clearly spent most of their life in Street and visible to all westbound traffic. covered market in Truro, I decided to take a fairly damp place. We had some differ- my boots to be fixed. These were a pair of The exhibition officially opened at 1 pm, ence of views as to how brightly polished th but it wasn’t completely ready when the 17 century-style thigh boots that I had they needed to be, I asserting that a degree made during my membership of the Sealed first visitors arrived. We planned to close of rust lent them an air of authenticity. at 5.30 that evening, but on Thursday and Knot in the early 1970s by attaching Friday we would stay open until the two R.B . On the basis that the Devil makes oxhide uppers to a pair of old suede Hush talks commenced. Roger Paynter kindly work for idle hands, and I had mine full, I Puppies and dyeing them. They had served invited us to join him and his wife for felt that Graham could be well employed in me well, but the two halves were separat- lunch at The Dolphin, which made a very this task. These halberds would be dis- ing and needed attention. pleasant break. played in the school and would then sup- Halfway through the morning we were port the Society’s banner in the parade on joined by our one Cornish member Jacque- G.B. At St. Crida’s it did not take me long Saturday. Clean, bright and lightly oiled, as to realise what John Betjeman was at- line Hodges from St. Ives and her husband they say in the Army, seemed to me to be Terence, who had come to lend a hand, and tracted to in Cornish churches - the rock- more authentic. like solidity, due to their being made by John Seal from Alresford, who had mainly from granite a very long time ago. brought along a good selection of his Published by former Sealed Knot uniform and equip- We had been assigned a space directly The John Hampden Society ment. below the small stone tablet commemorat- The Malt House, Great Shefford ing a handful of service people from the With Derek Lester due to arrive the parish who lost their lives in the Second Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 7ED following day with some Greencoats’ uni- World War. I thought in view of Hamp- Tel : 01488 648441 forms, it appeared that Graham and I stood den’s end, it was a very fitting place. What Fax: 08700 522514 a good chance of being properly kitted out for the Carnival parade, where we would was slightly off-putting was that whoever E-mail: [email protected] fixed the war memorial did it on the slant be carrying the Society’s banner. Web site: www.johnhampden.org/ 3 days to be called ‘bedroom Roy, feeling tired, left the pub before I did, eyes’, to whom I had man- taking the keys to the guesthouse and bed- aged to talk for twenty min- room door with him. It was too late in the utes about our John Hamp- day for me to think through the conse- den initiative, without once quences of this, which were that when I left mentioning him. (This ex- the pub half an hour later, I found myself plains his rather dopy ex- locked out. Calls from the street to the open pression in the resulting window of our room were useless, as Roy photo. – R.B.) was by this time well asleep. R.B. On the way back from However, by throwing pebbles at the win- Truro, Roger invited me to dow of another guest who was clearly call in at his house outside watching TV, I persuaded a comely young the village to have a cup of thing to trip downstairs and let me in. The tea and to inspect the float, downside of this was a slagging off by a to be entitled ‘John Hamp- bad-tempered woman who complained ve- den Rides Again’, that he hemently about Roy’s door closing tech- and some friends were mak- niques. He had managed to leave the key in ing for the Carnival. He ad- the bedroom door, so I was able to slip Graham buckles down to cleaning the halberds mitted that it would be a less inside and escape her wrath. than serious representation Rather than break off for lunch, Graham of our hero and the Civil War went and got us some delicious crab sand- period and hoped that mem- wiches from the Atlantis Seafood shop op- bers of the Society wouldn’t posite Trevail; a policy we repeated the be offended. following day. G.B. On Roy’s return to the Off to Truro in the afternoon with Roger, school further critical obser- where I dropped off my boots and arranged vations were then made about to collect them the following morning. At the state of the halberd heads, Radio Cornwall my interview ‘up the line’ which led to my embarking with Radio Oxford turned into low comedy. rather reluctantly on another cleaning session. (In the end I I was sat down in a small studio, given had to finish the job myself. If some headphones to don, and told I would you want something done shortly hear the interviewer in Oxford. I properly … R.B.) didn’t, and I continued not to. Much con- sternation and dashing around, with the We closed the exhibition in Graham gives the first lecture time for the other (live) interview fast ap- the early evening and with proaching. Apparently, they could hear me John Seal’s invaluable help moved our Friday 31st August but not vice versa. In the end, someone stock of products across to the bowls club telephoned Radio Oxford and instructed me building in readiness for my talk, I having G.B. The previous night’s door closing to conduct the interview by listening on the spent quite a bit of the afternoon going episode had obviously been reported to the phone and talking into the microphone. So through the Society’s large collection of landlady, who gave Roy a quick demonstra- much for modern technology! transparencies, sorting out those I wished to tion, in front of breakfasting guests, on how use. to shut doors quietly. I apologised to her The Radio Cornwall interview was con- later, explaining that Roy came from a bro- ducted in a larger studio with someone I We had an audience of about two dozen, ken home, much of which he’d broken him- could actually see - regular afternoon pre- including Michael and Joan Portsmouth self! (Very droll – R.B.) senter Chris Blount. Modestly, Roger who had just arrived in Grampound. So as wanted to wait outside, but I persuaded him not to cut across Roy’s talk the following I took myself off to Trevail to fix the to come in and take part. He was, after all, evening, which was based on Hampden’s plaque on the house front in readiness for an important part of Grampound’s involve- life, I had specially written an account of unveiling the following day. Whilst it was ment. political life in England in Hampden’s day, the larger of the two plaques, paradoxically which filled in the background without ac- it only had two fixing bolts and though the He had earlier expressed concern at meet- tually mentioning Hampden too much. holes for these were quite hard to drill, they ing such an elevated personage as the Earl were much easier than in the church. This of Buckinghamshire but we were able to Roy sat at the back, making gestures to- was just as well, because the job was done reassure him that there was nothing to wards the end for me to speed up, in full view of the street, which worry about. In the words of our American but I noticed that on the fol- was why I wanted to get cousins, Miles was ‘a regular guy’. lowing night he actually my eye in first, so to spoke for rather longer speak, in the com- G.B . We dutifully listened to Roy’s inter- than I did. Typical! parative privacy of view on the school’s radio and I thought at the church. one point he was going to give me a name R.B. In actual fact, credit as the originator of the project. But Graham’s talk R.B. I followed he changed his mind. He obviously felt a bit lasted an hour with- along with my badly about this as on his return he apolo- out the question- 35mm camera to gised for the omission. and-answer session; record this impor- mine was an hour all tant activity, but I R.B. I did feel very bad about this because inclusive. At least ev- Mr Fixit! think the plaque must of all the work that Graham had put into eryone got their money’s have been quite heavy, this event, but the interview was over be- worth, and I got some moody because Graham got rather fore I realised my mistake. photographs of Graham holding forth. cross when I asked him to offer it up again for a second shot. G.B. However, I was able to tell Roy that G.B. We just managed to get into the Dol- in his absence I had been photographed and phin before nine, so we were able to order Leaving him to complete this important interviewed by an extremely pretty, slim food. We met Roger Paynter, his wife, son task, I drove into Truro to collect my boots, and nubile young lady reporter from ‘The and daughter-in-law there and had a good and spent a little while exploring the town West Briton’, with what used in my young talk. (sorry - city!)

4 G.B. Once again, the levelling device I Also with us were my former John Hamp- fitted out with what I termed a Prince had made did the trick and enabled me to den Press colleague Gordon Leverton and Charming outfit, which made her look like drill the holes so the circular plaque went his wife Maeve, who had retired to East a principal boy and made me wish I was up with the lines of text dead level. I spread Taphouse, near Liskeard, some years ago. about fifty years younger. (Yeah, right! - glue over everything that looked as if it Gordon first visited Grampound on our R.B.) By the end of the ceremonies she had might stick to something in or on the house behalf in November 1999 and found out been recruited into John Hampden’s Regi- wall, and hey presto! the second plaque some basic information for ment of Foote. was fixed. me. He was also instrumen- tal in persuading our Hurry up Roy - former firm to make a the Cavaliers contribution to the cost of are attacking! the plaques. With this hard core of sup- port the audience for Roy’s talk totalled about forty, so there was plenty to discuss in the Dolphin afterwards.

Lord and Lady Buckinghamshire view the R.B. The Earl and Countess exhibition of Buckinghamshire and Lord Hollenden and his family had Tony Davis, the village handyman and arrived in the area, and would also a parish councillor, had made a fetch- be on parade on the morrow. ing pair of miniature opening curtains fitted Like a 17 th century regiment with a pull cord. These were offered up to billeted around the country- the plaque and found to be quite perfect, side, the team, most of whom but taken away in case it rained overnight, had made the decision to Getting ready for battle the plaque for the nonce being covered by a come at the last moment, R.B. After enjoying another of Mrs sheet of cardboard fixed to the wall with were spread about in guesthouses and farm- Diboll’s excellent cooked breakfasts (and waterproof building tape. I suggested that houses within striking distance of Gram- pound. remembering not to slam the doors!), I the curtains might have a promising after- checked out and joined the rest of the use on the front of a Punch & Judy show. The Buckinghamshires were team in getting ready for the reception. staying for the one night at a The cobbler in Truro had repaired my beautiful country house hotel boots at a very reasonable price, but it close to Creed church, while transpired that his enthusiastic stitching had the Hollenden family were at slightly reduced the diameter at the ankle, St. Mawes, down on the and it took me a good 10 minutes of coast. wriggling and straining to get each one on. Annabel and several other Having got them on, it was obvious that members of my family had there was no way they were coming off arrived at our holiday cottage again until the end of the day. This was a at Rock, on the North Coast, pity, as I was still wearing my light drill and she would be joining me trousers. Too bad! However, with the addi- for the ceremonies the fol- tion of a hat and shirt from John Seal, a lowing day. green jacket and orange sash from Derek’s collection, and the buff coat I had also A very interesting visitor was Mark Harvey, who lives made from oxhide in the ‘70s, I looked in Buckinghamshire, but who more or less the part. No gloves or sword, Jackie Hodges and Pat Miller inspect some of the was staying with his younger but you can’t have everything. children's work brother at St. Mawes. He is John Seal kitted out Graham with a spare Hon. Secretary of the Friends uniform which might have been tailor- R.B. With the exhibition open and begin- of the Vale of Aylesbury, of which Lord made for him, so he looked equally as ning to attract people, I now had some time Buckinghamshire is President. By a re- good. I dubbed us the Lord General and to wander around the school and note some markable coincidence, Trevail was his fam- Adjutant General respectively! of the work that pupils had been doing on ily home from 1954 to 1979, hence his John Hampden and the Civil War period interest in our activities. We spent some time having photographs that summer. taken, both inside and outside the school. Saturday 1st September Most of these were taken by Valerie Horne, It was very good stuff, with some excellent who exposed some 8 rolls of film in the illustrations, but I noticed that some of the course of the day. comments seemed similar. I then realised G.B. Some of the morning was spent with members being kitted out that the little dears had used some of the th text from material we had sent them earlier in 17 century military at- on. Ah well, imitation is the sincerest form tire by Derek Lester who, of flattery. unable to bring any mem- bers of John Hampden’s G.B. By this time, members of the Society Regiment with him, had were arriving thick and fast. Maurice and filled his car with spare Anne Kirtland, Liz Morris, Bob Hammond, uniforms. Derek Lester, Gill Blackshaw, Valerie Horne, Sam Hearn and Dr Paul Hooper, Kate Holland, it tran- plus David Markham with his partner’s spired, already belonged to daughter, Kate Holland. Paul Hooper an historic re-enactment brought along several copies of his book group, and needed very Our Island in War and Commonwealth , little persuasion to join the which he kindly made available free to Society members who members. were dressing up. She was Photocall with Town Crier John Sweetman

5 G.B. With everyone taking advantage of friends at St. Agnes, emerged the very extensive Greencoats’ wardrobe, a from the crowd to shout a very fair number of us had stepped back into the audible and cheery, “Hallo, you 17th century, in appearance at least, by the old poof!” at me, a greeting time the reception came round just after which I thought a tad inappropri- noon. ate and undeserved. (Oh, I don’t know! - R.B.) This was held in the school, in the smaller classroom beyond the one housing the R.B. The procession, led by exhibition. Food such as Cornish pasties Town Crier John Sweetman, and local white wine was provided by our walked from the school up to the hosts and quite a few bottles of John seafood shop and then crossed Hampden’s Ale by the Society. over to Trevail, with Derek Lester and Mike Portsmouth each It was a great success, being attended by carrying a large regimental ban- members of the parish and parochial ner of John Hampden Regiment church councils, the carnival committee, of Foot, and Maurice and Anne the vicar and the Lord Lieutenant of Corn- Kirtland forming a guard of ho- wall, Lady Mary Holborow. nour with the halberds. By this time the Society’s strength had Behind them was the rest of our been reinforced by the arrival of Miles and uniformed contingent and then Alison Buckinghamshire, Miles’s sister the three principals in the cer- Lady Helen Motteux and her husband emony – Lord Buckinghamshire, Hugues (who had recently returned from Lady Mary and Peter Hardaker – Zimbabwe), and Ian Hollenden. We had followed by the rest of the Soci- not met Lady Helen before, but she and ety members. I was busy with the Hugues proved to be a charming couple video camera, as I had been quite who threw themselves into the activities frequently since my arrival, and with great enthusiasm. recorded both the speeches. The photographer from the Western R.B. There were a couple of presentations Morning News was intrigued to to Lady Mary during the reception. Peter see a person in 17 th century gear wielding R.B. Lord Buckinghamshire spoke Hardaker, chairman of the parish council, such 21 st century state-of-the-art digital briefly of John Hampden’s life, career gave her a copy of The Book of Gram- equipment, and took a rather unusual pic- and reputation among his contemporaries pound with Creed . On behalf of the Soci- ture of me. and added: ety, I presented her with one of the Chil- tern Brewery’s presentation boxes contain- Sadly, despite e-mailing press releases to There are in history always interesting ing a bottle of John Hampden’s Ale and a a list of nearly 70 media contacts, he and paradoxes. John Hampden, a puritan bottle of their Lord Lieutenant’s Ale. The West Briton were the and parliamentarian represented a bor- only ones to turn up. Carlton ough in Cornwall which in the Civil West Country TV from Ply- War was staunchly Royalist. mouth had said they would cover the event, but didn’t.

I felt that the combination of these two G.B. The police would be a highly appropriate gift, and helpfully suggested to Lady Mary that if she didn’t stopped all the drink beer, now was her chance to start! In vehicles - fact, she later wrote Graham a charming quite an ho- Yet some 45 years later, the letter saying that her husband had drunk nour, as the Cornishmen were aggrieved the John Hampden’s Ale and she had A390 is the with the imprisonment of a enjoyed the Lord Lieutenant’s. Which is as main road Cornishman, Bishop Trel- it should be. between St. Austell and awney, by James II. From this G.B. Shortly before the gathering was due Truro and car- comes your Cornish National to make its short walk to the front of ries much of Anthem - Trelawney. So there Trevail, John Seal and I took down the Cornwall’s traffic are interesting links of dissent John Hampden banner from where it had to the far west of the against dictatorial authority, albeit at been fixed in front of the school entrance, county - and as Tony donned our headgear and marched up to different times, between the two coun- Davis had also fixed up a small public ties. the house to fix the banner on the newly address system as well as the curtains, the painted garden railings, after which we Lord Lieutenant’s introductory words and Our Patron then unveiled the plaque took up guard positions by the front gate. Lord Buckinghamshire’s unveiling speech (above) to applause from the spectators, were clearly heard by the sizeable crowd and once the traffic started flowing again, It was at this point that my son Nicholas, which had assembled on both sides of the many of the participants gathered in front who had come down from London spe- road to watch the proceedings. of the house for a photo session cially for the event and was staying with 6 G.B. Realising that nobody appeared to At 6 those in uniform were fallen in the procession was requested to halt by the have expressed any gratitude to Mrs Miller behind the leading bands and the Carnival school and only proceed when the band for letting us put up our plaque on her Queen - a quiet little girl who seemed had stopped playing. On our cue we house, I went afterwards and thanked her rather overwhelmed by it all, in solitary marched out onto the street, where we were on behalf of the Society’s members, for her splendour on her float. The team was great kindness. Graham and John, Derek Lester in his grey challenged as to our identity by two mem- officer’s uniform and Mike Portsmouth in a bers of the crowd dressed in splendid R.B . Mrs Miller invited me into Trevail to blue-grey uniform he had bought, each Royalist costume - Peter and David. This meet Mrs Amy Bane, a rather frail and carrying a standard of John Hampden’s led to an exchange of pantomimic dia- elderly lady who was the author of The Regiment of Foote. logue, as follows: Book of Grampound with Creed . We had an interesting conversation, during which Peter: Halt! Halt! ???? I taxed her with the comment in her book Me: Civil War strife is long over; we that John Hampden had found his true come in peace and friendship. love while in Grampound - something I Peter: Well said. But have you got found difficult to accept. I asked if it was the password? a local legend, but she said that she had read it somewhere but couldn’t remem- Me: Yea - bypass Grampound now! ber where. Peter: Correct. Let me see now - advance and be recognised. Who be We said goodbye to Miles and Alison ye? Buckinghamshire, who had driven down Me: Our banner tells all - we be from Aylesbury the previous day and followers of the great John Hampden were starting the long drive back up to of Buckinghamshire. Scotland to start their holiday. Peter: And is that the great John The rest of the members wait to march Hampden who was of immortal G.B. We were then at liberty for the memory and was MP for Gram- afternoon until the procession at 6 pm, so Behind them was Kate Holland in her pound? we spent the time clearing up the exhibi- ‘principal boy’s’ costume, Joan Portsmouth Me: Yea, his plaque is on yonder house - tion items in the school, fixing the Soci- looking like an aristocrat in a beautiful blue Trevail. ety’s banner to the two halberds, and dress and feathered hat, Gill Blackshaw in wandering round the recreation ground. Peter: It is marvellous, that is. Now, is he the rather more sober ensemble of a Puritan also the John Hampden who fought coura- middle class lady, and Maurice and Ann geously in the great Civil War? Kirtland, Liz Morris and Sam Hearn in Greencoats’ uniforms. Me: Indeed he was a brave soldier. Peter: And was it he who refused to pay Maurice was wearing a floppy black hat, unfair taxes? but the headgear of the other three looked Me: It was indeed. most peculiar - though doubtless authentic. Peter: Why, stap me, if he was against Since there are recorded instances of Customs and Excise men, he was one of women serving as men in the Civil War, us, not one of you. So I say, let ’s all Anne and Liz were certainly authentic. advance together in friendship and in peace, and we will escort the Carnival Queen and her fair Princess to the top of Grampound Hill and back. Me: Well said. Lady Helen Motteux inspects the whereupon, with a shout of ‘For King and troops on the Recreation Ground Parliament’ from the Society’s contingent This had the usual ingredients of a small we were allowed on our way, with Peter scale fete, together with some unusual and David leading. features like a bat handling lady. I wanted to ask her if she was serving battered bat butties, but was persuaded that it was not a nice thing to do. R.B. The turnout on the recreation ground was good one, with a selection of interest- T h e ing floats. Roger Paynter’s was not a very Society’s con- serious representation of the Civil War tingent was com- period, but no one took any exception. pleted by the non- uniformed ‘camp Our procession of members was asked to followers’ – Anna- take up position immediately behind the bel with my son band and the Carnival Queen, with the Tom and his wife banner on its (now shiny) halberds leading. and daughter (who It was originally intended that Graham and had made great use I would carry the banner, but it was of the face-painting Confrontation in Fore Street obvious that I couldn’t do that and capture stall), Lady Helen the whole event on video as well. and Hugues Mot- teux, Bob Hammond and Valerie Horne R.B. I had forgotten just how exhausting (Paul Hooper very sensibly decided to newsreel-type coverage of a procession At one point we asked David Miller, who could be! Having covered the interchange had some experience, if he would do the watch the whole thing from the sidelines). filming, but he got roped in to something As they do every year, the police closed the between Graham and Peter, I filmed the else of great importance by Peter Williams, A390 through the village for the duration of procession setting off, ran to get ahead, let as you will see. So John Seal took over one the parade. them go past, ran to get ahead again, etc. of the halberds, leaving me to concentrate At one point I hitched a lift in a Land on operating the camera. Carrying the G.B. Churchwarden Peter Williams and I Rover pulling the float immediately behind banner would have been much less ex- had carefully rehearsed a little ceremony to the Carnival Queen. hausting! take place out in the road, and our part of

7 and the rest of the family Some wore a Kingdom’s crown had left earlier, so I fol- And made themselves a name; lowed them back to our Some by God’s word brought Kingdoms holiday cottage at Rock, down and fell asleep on the set- tee! And with his judgement came. Sunday 2nd September Some fashioned wisest laws To guard our liberty; G.B. Gordon, his wife and Some champions of a lonely cause I made an early start so as not to be late for the unveil- Set slaves and prisoner free. ing at Creed church. The allowed-for tourist traffic which I thought was amazingly appropri- Derek Lester lowers the Regimental colours as did not materialise and we ate. the returning procession passes Trevail arrived early. At the top end of Fore Street the parade This gave me a chance to arrange with From then it was very much the normal turned into the courtyard of a large house Father Ian Morris that we would not disrupt order of morning service, finishing (again to allow the traffic, which had already been him by popping off camera flash guns, but most appropriately) with John Bunyan’s halted for nearly 15 minutes, to flow again. would re-run the unveiling ceremony at the rousing hymn ‘Who would true valour see, I really appreciated the rest, as I was very end of the service. an interesting and amusing sermon by hot and very out of breath! When the Father Morris and the hymn ‘Soldiers of police again stopped the traffic for the The early arrival let the Levertons browse Christ arise and put your armour on.’ return journey, filming going down the hill amongst the tombstones in the churchyard was much easier. and permitted me to hang about taking pictures of some of the more colourful G.B. It was a long pull up the hill and an participants - including John Sweetman the effort to keep the banner stretched tight, so Town Crier - a large man in a top hat and when we stopped to turn round I passed my canary yellow waistcoat, who looked like a halberd to Kate Holland, reckoning that as comedy character from the pantomime - the youngest member of the group she plus his lady dressed in Cornish tartan. probably had a lot more puff left than any of the rest of us. R.B. Leaving the rest of the family, Annabel and I rendezvoused with Liz Mor- I excused myself by saying that I wanted ris at the school, where she left her car. One to break off on the return, to pop into The less to block up the narrow lanes around Dolphin and tell the landlord how many of Creed church, but there were plenty there us would be having a farewell lunch on the when we arrived. Sunday, but I don’t think it fooled her for a moment. I felt and probably looked fair tuckered out. G.B. The unveiling, before the final offer- tory hymn, was performed admirably by R.B. He wasn’t the only one! The lunch Ian Hollenden who made a short but was a good idea of Graham’s. I had thoughtful and well-researched speech, as originally tried to organise a special buffet follows: Sunday lunch at the Eastern Promise Chi- nese restaurant, which stood almost oppo- Before performing my official task of un- site the school and was reckoned to be one veiling this plaque in memory of my ances- of the best in the South West of England. tor John Hampden, MP for Grampound in the 1621 Parliament, I feel I should say a few words about Hampden’s relationship It needed a commitment from at least 15 th St. Crida's Church, Creed with the Church in the 17 Century. It was people to make it worth their while to not always an easy one. open, but the take-up fell well short, so I had cancelled the tentative arrangement on Our Chairman, Lord Hollenden, who was By way of background to this, I should Thursday. However, Graham had noticed to perform the unveiling, was there with his mention that John Hampden, ever since his that the Dolphin did a Sunday roast for wife Callie and two sons, and we were school days at Thame Grammar School, under £5, and arranged with the landlord pleased to see Jenny Luzmoor, whose some twelve miles from the village of Hampden, had been brought up with an that a party of us would eat there after the recent conversion away from the Church of education based very much on religion, and church service. England had not prevented her from com- as a devout Calvinist, even to the extent of ing all the way from her home near Cambo- having to recite a chapter of either the Old G.B. The procession over, I returned to rne to support us. or the New Testament for a quarter of an the school which had been our headquar- hour every day before dinner. Calvinism ters for the last four days, to change into Jackie and Terence Hodges had made the stressed the equality of all men in the sight ‘civvies’ and found that Kate had just done even longer journey for the second time of God; in brief it was very much a condi- similarly, she teasingly telling me that I from St. Ives, and were later rewarded with tioned reaction against corrupt Catholicism. had arrived slightly too late to see any of The young Puritans at this school grew up, a copy of Paul Hooper’s book. Lady Mary and I quote: ‘To fear God, and no person, her interesting bits. Reflected sadly that Holborow was again kind enough to attend. such disappointments were mainly the and nothing else’. story of my life... (I refuse to comment – Similarly during his university days, at R.B.) Father Morris had obviously gone to a Magdalen College, Oxford, a staunchly Pu- great deal of trouble to ensure that the ritan institution, his Calvinistic beliefs were All that remained was to follow my content of the service was as appropriate as further cemented. However it is significant colleague Gordon Leverton back to his possible. The first 3 verses of the opening that John Hampden’s undergraduate days home at East Taphouse for well-merited hymn, which I had never heard before, were considerably enlivened by the future went: Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud, food, drink and rest. preaching highly inflammatory sermons Give praise for famous men along the lines that ‘Presbyterians were as R.B. I didn’t stay for the evening’s activi- bad as Papists’. Little did the young John ties, which included a bonfire at the recre- From history’s open page, Hampden realise the significance of these ation ground, as I was feeling pretty by whom our God unfolds his plan sermons, and the huge influence that Laud bushed after the day’s exertions. Annabel for each succeeding age. would have on future events. 8 Some 15 to 20 years later, as a committed It also transpired that he and Callie had She took us to a small study, where high Parliamentarian, John Hampden first spent their time in St. Mawes taking 7-mile up on the wall was the famous portrait, started to become aware of the dangerous walks along the beach as training for a 100- said to have been given by John Hamp- powers that the Church held in those days. kilometre sponsored walk on behalf of the den’s son Richard to Sir John Eliot’s elder Archbishop Laud had already started his campaign to crush Puritanism, and a National Autistic Society that they were son. Over the fireplace was the original number of dissenters had been cruelly shortly to undertake in Inner Mongolia. portrait of Sir John in the Tower of punished in the manner of the day. Yes, Inner Mongolia! London, painted when he was close to death. Hampden himself was shortly to fall foul of Annabel wandered off to inspect the gar- the Archbishop’s fervour, when in 1634 he was severely reprimanded for using a dens, but the rest of us were treated to a churchyard in Beaconsfield for his muster, fairly comprehensive tour of the lower part or gathering of troops; and also for failing to of the house by the obliging Mrs Berming- attend his own church every Sunday. I ham. should explain that in those days, it was a common habit for Puritans to enjoy the G.B. There is an air of genteel shabbiness sermons given at neighbouring churches, about the place - ‘The Earl doesn’t like despite, amazingly enough, this practice change’ - which was reinforced as we were being officially against the law at the time. Valerie Horne invests Roger Paynter with shown the vast servants’ quarters, a warren one of the Society ’s badges after lunch of abandoned rooms piled high with dis- Subsequently in his role as a parliamentar- used and discarded furniture, the doors ian he was able to practice the conviction of G.B. We headed back to The Dolphin bearing large plaques recalling the splen- his beliefs, and redress the balance of where, for a modest £4.75 a head, twenty of dours of a bygone age: ‘HOUSEKEEP- power between the Church and the King on us - including our guests the Paynters, Mrs ER’S ROOM’, ‘SERVANT’S BEER CEL- the one hand, and Parliament on the other. Miller and David, the Levertons, David LAR’ ‘ICE ROOM’ and so on. Marcombe and Kate Holland - sat down to I give these brief insights into John Hamp- a splendid and very adequate Sunday roast Yes, the place was originally a port as its den’s life, to illustrate the fact that, whilst he lunch. It was the perfect way to finish off a name suggests. The River Tiddy - an arm is primarily known since his death as a most enjoyable week. of the Tamar - once came up almost to the great parliamentarian and a man of the house. The nearby village church - still people, he was undoubtedly helped in car- R.B. Some of the members were heading vast - stands adjoining the house, and long rying out this important role in history by his straight back home, but about a dozen of us before the Norman Conquest had been the strong religious upbringing and his unwa- had one more visit to make to complete the cathedral for Cornwall and Devon. vering belief in the Protestant religion. weekend.

This was followed by a short address When helping with the final arrangements from Lady Mary. for this event, it occurred to me that, if possible, it would be a good opportunity while in Cornwall to see the Walker por- trait of John Hampden, which has been in the possession of the Eliot family at Port Eliot since the 17 th century. Following the Society’s formation in 1992, the latest representative, the Earl of St. Germans, kindly allowed us to use the picture in any way we wished. Port Eliot and the church So we invited him to the ceremony on Later it was a monastery; doubtless the Saturday, and asked if we could visit Port Eliots bought it at the Dissolution, dis- Eliot and see the original on the way home. mantled some of it, rolled the stones He suggested that I ring him after lunch on further downhill to the river frontage and Derek Lester and Kate Holland flanked Sunday to confirm that he was at home, but rebuilt or enlarged their ancestral home. In the plaque, each bearing a standard of John when I did he said that he was in bed due course the river was diverted, the Hampden’s Regiment of Foote. As the feeling unwell. This explained why he did grounds and the house mock battlemented, service concluded, they and Ian patiently not turn up the previous day. Nevertheless, probably in the late l8th or early 19th stood for several minutes whilst members he agreed to our request. century. of the congregation - which totalled around R.B. We made our way around into the seventy - lined up to take photo after We rendezvoused in St. Germans village, village to inspect the church, which has photo. which is a good 30 miles east of Gram- two parallel aisles and an enormous Nor- pound back towards Plymouth, and drove man doorway, not now used. On the wall John Sweetman the Crier climbed the down the long drive to the house, where we beside the altar is a memorial plaque to Sir short staircase to the belfry ringing plat- were met by the Earl’s housekeeper, Mrs John Eliot, who was buried in the Tower. form under the tower, made a brief an- Rita Bermingham. nouncement and we all headed for G.B. Some of the slightly eccentric no- the wine and nibbles which had tices in the grounds: ‘PLEASE been kindly provided by the mem- DO NOT INTRUDE,’ ‘PRO- bers of the parochial church coun- CEED WITH CAUTION - CHIL- cil. DREN ON MOTORBIKES EV- ERYWHERE’, reminded me of R.B. During this convivial get- the notice prominently displayed together, during which I was asked at the old entrance to Renishaw for two copies of John Hampden of Hall to deter faint-hearted visitors: Buckinghamshire , I had an interest- ‘PLEASE DO NOT TREAD ON ing conversation with Ian Hol- MR SITWELL’S SNAKES’! lenden, in which he vouchsafed that In the late afternoon we said our he had found it difficult to concen- final goodbyes on the sweeping trate on writing his speech a few gravelled forecourt of Port Eliot, weeks earlier, because at the time all agreeing that it had been a he had been on holiday in South splendid weekend, helped enor- Africa, watching a pod of whales mously by the fine warm dry from a sunlit beach in Natal. Viewing the Hampden portrait weather. 9 The nicest comment came from David Marcombe, a veteran of many years of IN GRAMPOUND arranging, organising and leading success- ful and well-attended university weekend and day schools. He remarked that every- thing about the event had an easy air of And so we went to Grampound The Procession, that was fun; informal spontaneity, which carefully con- To spread the word of Hampden. Up that hill went everyone, Roy * drilled the walls to fix the plaques No one said “It’s one in five”! cealed the fact that a great deal of meticu- He did it all with good attack. Never mind, I’m still alive. lous planning and thought had gone into its “Hampden elected to be M.P.” Then the bonfire - lots of music preparation. And I don’t think you could The plaque now there for all to see Quiet chats at close of day. want higher praise than that. In Grampound. Sunday saw us at St Crida’s As I started back on the return leg of my Graham’s lecture filled the hall, Solemn service, John Hampden needs us 699 mile round trip, I considered the fact Roy’s kept people well enthralled. To unveil a second plaque that we might now apply our organisational The school was filled with pupils’ drawings On the Church, at the back expertise to doing something similar in And their own words, all outpouring A better site there couldn’t be Hampden’s other constituency of Wen- Showed that they had learned their task Where man gave lives for Liberty. dover in a few years’ time. In Grampound. If, as I think, John Hampden joined us, I do think he would have said And as I concluded the record of this People came from near and far “Well found, well done, God speed us all interesting and challenging project, I dis- Some on foot and some by car ‘Til we meet again in Grampound. covered (unsurprisingly) that I have accu- Our exhibition there to see: mulated 100 A4 pages of notes, letters and Hampden members clothed in greencoats Last of all the final dinner sundry information about the Grampound Hampden standards to be seen, waved The Dolphin swimming with project onto my computer. But it’s been a Aloft with much panache Chatter and Laughter In Grampound. Town Crier - mine of information. lot of fun. I enjoyed the whole celebration. R.B. It certainly has. As I drove back to Lords and ladies did abound I’ve been teacher, pupil too, the north coast with Annabel to commence “Civic Dignitaries” here were found. The sun has shone the weekend thru’. Locals took us to their hearts, What more could one ask a truncated week’s holiday, I thought of the Came along and played their parts Now we’ve reached the end; new friends that we had made in Gram- In celebrating Hampden’s past Could we do it again? pound, and I hoped that the contact would In Grampound. In Grampound. continue as it had after our visit to Hamp- den (Maine) in 1994. Miles and Ian spoke well, as always, V.A. HORNE SEPTEMBER 2001. Lady Mary had a ball. There had been a serious purpose behind Enthusiasm never palled. I would like to say a personal thank you our Cornish sojourn, but we had extracted The Town Crier came, all resplendent an enormous amount of enjoyment from it, to those members involved in organising which I hope this diary shows. The people this visit as nothing runs this well without And the sun shone over all. much unseen hard work (or “beaucoup de of Grampound had bent over backwards to Civic Lunch with Local Wine assist us in every possible way and to make Local fish and Cornish Pasties Travail”) being undertaken beforehand. us welcome. We are grateful to all of them Lots of wonderful delicacies for their help. Best, by far, the warmth of the people * Actually, it was Graham! Who welcomed us in Grampound. Thanks must go to all those members of the Society who participated, but the credit for the success of the whole operation belongs to Graham Barfield, who con- Roll of Honour ceived the original idea two years earlier and ran with it, dealing (among other The following, listed in alphabetical order, things) with all the organisational difficul- contributed to the cost of producing the two ties, seeking planning permission for the plaques. The Society ’s Committee would erection of the plaques, and having them like to express its thanks to them: designed and made. I only really came into any involvement in Roy Bailey, Graham Barfield, Anthea the last few months; getting the exhibition Coles, William Eason, Cynthia Etten- material updated and having some new field, Kenneth and June Godfrey, colour slides made, producing name Robert Hammond, Dr Frank badges, and sending out press releases - Hansford-Miller, Sam Hearn, Christo- and that was quite enough! pher and Joanna Hobart, Miles Hobart-Hampden - Earl of Bucking- Perhaps the best way to finish this diary hamshire, Jacqueline Hodges, Dr Paul is with the poem (right) written by Valerie Hooper, Valerie Horne, Jack and Joan Horne, who made such a vital contribution Horton, Moira Hunter-Watts, The by recording so much of the activities on John Hampden Press Ltd., Barry and film, and who is already busy organising a Veronica Keating, Gordon and Maeve similar event in Wendover for 2003. Leverton, Liz Morris, Lady Helen Motteux, John Pearson, Michael and Joan Portsmouth, Jim Rodda, John Editor ’s Note and Chris Seal, Gloria Smith, Doreen I must apologise for the fact that this special Taylor. souvenir edition of such an important event has taken so long to produce An explanation of the reasons would fill Further copies of this special newsletter another page and would be extremely boring, are available at £2.00 each by sending a but I hope that readers will feel that the wait stamped, self-addressed A4 envelope with was worthwhile your remittance to: I hope to put all the many photos from this Park Meadow Cottage event in a special album on our website in due Thame Park Road course, so keep watching Thame www.johnhampden.org Oxon OX9 3PH 10 THE JOHN HAMPDEN SOCIETY . . . honouring a great Englishman 10 th Anniversary Banquet

27 th October 2002 marks the 10th anniversary of the formation of the John Hampden Society. It is intended to mark this event by holding a 17th century banquet in the Great Hall of Hampden House, Great Hampden, where the inauguration took place a decade ago. By happy chance 27 th October this year falls on a Sunday, which is the only time Hampden House is available to us, so the banquet will follow the 17 th century custom of dining early. It will commence at 1.30 pm and continue until 6.30 pm, with 24 courses (dishes) in 3 removes, as follows:

FIRST REMOVE SECOND REMOVE THIRD REMOVE Gammon of bacon pie Sausages cooked in claret Cheddar Leg of mutton stuffed with apricots Roast pork Brie Kippers with onion Lemon chicken Fruit Tarts Muggets Venison pie Minced Tarts Pease Pottage Grand Salad 2 Fruit Leathers Grand Salad 1 Lob Lolly Marmalade Eggs in mustard sauce Cucumber Salad Fresh Fruit Carrots with marigold flowers Leafy Salad Syllabub

Period musician Peter Bull will play throughout the afternoon, and there may be other entertainments. Cost of the banquet will be £25.00 per head. This price excludes drinks, which diners should arrange for themselves. Glasses will be provided and there will be no corkage charge. There is a limit of approximately 50 places, so priority will be given to John Hampden Society members. Bookings must be made by Saturday 21 st September, and a deposit of £10.00 per person is required. Cheques, etc., should be made payable to ‘The John Hampden Society ’ and endorsed ‘Banquet ’ on the back. Diners are earnestly requested to attend in 17 th century dress. The Society has achieved a great deal in its relatively short existence, and this banquet, to be held in John Hampden ’s ancestral home by courtesy of the owner, Tim Oliver, will be a celebration of our efforts to honour the man known as ‘The Patriot’, and a springboard for future activities It is hoped that as many members as possible will attend. For further details or for any enquiries contact Derek Lester at the address below, or on 01992 701304 (h), 07860 539244 (m), or by e-mail to: [email protected] ------

To: The John Hampden Society 8 Margaret Close WALTHAM ABBEY Essex EN9 IPZ

Please reserve me . . . . places at the 10 th Anniversary Banquet on Sunday 27 th October at Hampden House, Great Hampden I enclose a payment of £ . . . . . as a deposit.

Name ...... Address ...... Postcode ...... Tel. No ...... E-mail address ...... If your booking is for two or more persons, please list all their names here: ...... If you do not wish to cut this newsletter. please photocopy this form

11 JOHN HAMPDEN MEMORIAL - WENDOVER

As you are probably aware the John Hampden Society has, for sometime, had background plans for a John Hampden commemorative plaque in Wendover. As I have valuable contacts in and around this area, I decided to ‘test the water’ for reactions to the idea. I talked with four people in February and in the following weeks the idea moved from a possibility to a reality. I reported this to the Committee who decided to let me run with the project under the watchful eye of' Bob Hammond. Working in conjunction with Wendover Parish Council, we now have basic plans in place.

As we will need to order and PAY for our plaque by the end of August 2002 I THAME need to ask you if you will give me your support for the Wendover venture? If OXFORDSHIRE each member is willing to contribute a minimum £6 we would cover most of OX9 2BW the cost of the plaque, leaving current funds available for the projected video. TELEPHONE (01844) 213661 Please make your cheque payable to the John Hampden Society, endorsed on the reverse ‘John Hampden Memorial Fund’ and send it to: ACCOMODATION, RESTAURANT & BANQUETING The Hon. Treasurer 134 Park Road CHALGROVE FESTIVAL Chiswick The Chalgrove Village Festival, held on May London W4 3HP Bank Holiday weekend (Sat 4th to Mon 6th ) was an outstanding success. Fine weather Please do it as soon as possible so that it does not get overlooked! We will run ensured a good turnout - both of spectators and participants. The military side was organ- a commemorative roll to record all donors. ised by local member Richard Parsons of The unveiling of the Memorial plaque will take place on June 21st 2003. This The Marquis of Winchester's Regiment, and featured displays, drills and skirmishes by a date has been chosen as the annual dinner at Thame will be on that day, number of Royalist regiments of The King’s thereby making it easier for members with a long journey to attend both events Army of the ECWS, plus Col John Hamp- in one day. The event will have a timespan from 12 noon, when it will be den’s Regiment of Foote. opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, until about 4 p.m. The The John Hampden Society was involved on Earl of Buckinghamshire will perform the unveiling ceremony at a time yet to all three days. On the Saturday evening be decided. Graham Barfield gave an illustrated talk on John Hampden in the Village Hall, where Plans are afoot to have an early 1600’s style country fair/market on the Manor Chalgrove Local History Group also Waste - the central square - in Wendover, with stalls selling honey, candles, mounted an exhibition. On the Sunday Derek Lester led a walk across the battlefield on herbs, John Hampden’s ale, etc - anything that would have been at a country behalf of The Battlefields Trust, and advised fair at that time. Hopefully we shall have some involvement with local schools, us that the conditions were considerably some mini pikemen maybe for Derek Lester to drill, maybe some children warmer than on the previous walk in March selling lavender bags etc. and of course EVERYONE IS REQUESTED TO 2000! COME IN THE COSTUME OF THE DAY. Our society exhibition will be on On Sunday the Society’s exhibition, which show on the day and there will be a couple of talk and slide show sessions had been updated with some of the Gram- leading up to the event. pound pictures, was set up in the Village Hall in front of the one by the Chalgrove Our multi-talented member Graham Barfield has taken up stone carving in Local History Group, and attracted a good recent years and has offered to produce a roundel with a John Hampden head, deal of interest, despite the large number of alternative attractions outside. These in- similar to the one on the plaque in Thame, to be mounted above the plaque. cluded a parade by the regiments from We had a marvellous reception from the local people in Grampound last year Chalgrove Manor, drill, and a skirmish much and a good response from members and their friends who attended those enlivened by the use of a very noisy cannon. A fun fair, a beer tent, and many stalls events, making it a truly memorable experience. Let us hope we can match the selling a variety of items made the whole experience here in Hampden country. Festival well worth attending. Valerie A Horne, 2 Willow Bank Terrace, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP2l 7SD. Tel: Many thanks to those members of the Society who helped to set up the exhibition 01296 432329 and manned it throughout the day.

Hampden’s Greencoats advance Annabel Bailey and Valerie Horne on duty at the exhibition

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