Newnham History Society Newsletter: Issue 2

The first edition of the Newnham history Society was, we are pleased to say, very well received and prompted many suggestions and memories. This second edition cannot include all of the contributions but a third is planned for July. In this edition, the account of Newnham’s evacuees is concluded. It is the story of two young sisters from Inner London who – after some impressive detective work by Sue Chester – were located enjoying active life in their 80s. As we remember VE Day, we also include two of the lovely poems written by Penny Alexander’s father (Owen Chave) who was killed in action in 1943 and some of the wartime stories of Janet Fenner’s family. Weather patterns this glorious spring have excited much recent interest. Edgar Mobbs paints a fascinating picture of the 27 years he has collected data on Newnham’s weather. Edgar has also provided a two-part review of Newham Parish Council’s work during the 1980s (the second part appears next month ).There are also articles about notable former Newnham residents: the plane-flying former Parish Council Chairman, Henry Deterding and Mrs Nancy Jelley. We hope you will enjoy this edition and perhaps be encouraged to send your memories and even photographs, especially those relating to the war years. Please contact Newnham History Society at [email protected] or John Mogg at [email protected]

Newnham’s evacuees – Part 2

Newnham History Society was fortunate to be given access by Liz Powell, Russell Key’s daughter, to a box full of documents relating to the evacuation of women and children from London at the beginning of World War II. Much of the material comprises notice and circulars. But there are also some letters relating to other evacuees during their stay in Newnham. Usually the correspondence is only fragmentary –such as a single letter with a draft reply -- but it offers a tantalising glimpse into the lives of the real people, both the host families and the children they took in during the war. When Judith Dorkins, Sue Chester and I sat down one evening to sort through the box, we had no idea that it would lead us, within a couple of weeks to telephone conversations and email exchanges with two of the little girls who spent part of those years here in Newnham. This is their story

Mary and Jean Mrs Markham replied that their mother had particularly requested that the sisters be In 1939, Newnham took evacuees from billeted together ‘as they would fret if three parts of London: Paddington, parted’ and so she would keep them for the Willesden and Westminster. Two young time being. The sisters then moved to a Mrs sisters Mary (5) and Jean (3) set off from Martin near the school before Jean was the Peabody Estate, in Turpentine Lane, placed with Mrs Bannard (somewhere near Pimlico (pictured below in March this to the post office, probably Orchard year). Cottage) and Mary with the Bradburys at Brookside.

They were initially billeted at Newnham Lodge on the back road to Badby but when Mrs Markham became ill in 1941, their host family asked for them to be moved. Mr Bradbury, the billeting officer, and his wife, from Brookside (on the Badby Road, at the Mary (front) with her grandmother in edge of the village) offered to take Mary. London shortly before the war Obviously, both girls were growing fast, as wrote to the Bradburys to ask if Mary and there are several letters in which Mrs Jean might come back to the village Bradbury is seeking to provide them with because of the ‘robot planes … with no warm winter clothing and new shoes. pilots’. As she explained, she didn’t want However, by September 1943, when the the children’s ‘nerves shattered by the raids worst of the Blitz was over, although we’ll be getting now the invasion is on’. To against official advice, Mary and Jean were further tug at Mrs Bradbury’s heart strings, back with their mother in London and she enclosed a beautifully handwritten note ‘doing well’ at St Vincent’s school (just from Mary thanking ‘Auntie and Uncle behind Westminster Cathedral). Mrs Bradbury’ for a birthday postal order and Bradbury had obviously become very fond saying how very much she would like to of Mary and her sister and had asked the come back to Newnham. Within a couple of authorities in London to keep an eye on weeks, the children were back in the them. village. They were fortunate because on 1 July 1944, the Peabody buildings were hit by a flying bomb which killed seven and injured 85 more.

Track and trace

Mary and Jean’s story is the best Jean as a toddler documented of all those to be found in the surviving correspondence. When we read the letters, we really wanted to know what In October, a letter from the District happened to the sisters. But the chances of Organiser in Pimlico reported that the tracking down two little girls, born in the family’s housing conditions were not thirties, whose name had probably been satisfactory and that, as their mother was changed on marriage…? Not high, we working shifts, Jean and Mary were thought. But thanks to the detective skills of sometimes left alone. Mrs Bradbury was Sue Chester, the extensive resources online keen that the children should return to and Ancestry.com, we were delighted to be Newnham, but they stayed in London until able, within a couple of weeks, to speak to summer 1944 when the V1 (‘Doodlebug’) Mary and later Jean by phone. It raids began. Mary and Jean’s mother then subsequently transpired that, entirely coincidentally, Jean had met Les and Pat The Bradburys threw a birthday party for Pierpont of Westbrook on holiday a few Mary and (despite rationing) organised a years ago and was able to ask them for news ‘Who can eat the most cake?’ competition, of Newnham. Both Mary and Jean are alive, the 3d (1.5p) prize won by none other than well and enjoying life in the South and Jean. South West of England respectively. Jean remembers their schoolteacher, a Miss Mary and Jean’s Memories of Newnham Rhodes, who lived in Daventry Road, putting the little bottles of milk around the Both sisters remember the years they spent fire to defrost in time for break and that in Newnham as the happiest part of their whilst the children drank their milk the childhood and obviously have very fond teacher always eat an apple. They also memories of the village. remember playing with the Wareing Mr Markham told them that they were the children and with a girl named Sue who only ones left when he came to collect his lived at the pig farm at the end of Manor evacuees from the school – all the boys had Lane. gone! But Jean thinks this may have been said to tease them. The little girls loved being at the Lodge: they went mushrooming and potato picking (although they preferred to harvest the wildflowers). Jean remained in contact with Evelyn Markham, the daughter of the house, for many years. They were less content with their billet at Mrs Martin’s, whose house was cold and who made them sleep on a bed at the top of the stairs. Mrs Bannard was strict and insisted on church on Sundays, but Jean was happy there and especially remembers Mary and Jean today being given a summer hat with a blue ribbon. She was ‘the best girl singer’ in the church choir and Nelson Haynes was the best boy, although he annoyed her by chasing her. In the next edition of the review, we conclude the account of evacuees in Newnham with a few more stories that emerge from the archive. But for now, a On final thought: the letters and other documents show how tirelessly Mr Frank Bradbury worked to support all the residents of Newnham and their evacuee charges. He (and Mrs Bradbury) certainly earned the right to have a road named after them. If anyone has any other information about the children evacuated to Newnham, their wartime playmates or the Bradburys, the Newnham History Society would be delighted to hear from you.

JACKIE MINOR

Henry Deterding from Newnham Grounds.

Henry was born in 1897 and, as he grew up, During World War II, he served as a became very keen on flying. After his Lieutenant in the Fleet Air Arm flying marriage, both he and his wife Winifred Swordfish planes and on one occasion in learned to fly at Sywell Aerodrome to the 1940 flew from HMS Furious during the East of Northampton. On 30th April 1930 he invasion of Norway. Later on, he was bought his first plane - a Gypsy Moth with captured by the Japanese and endured a the registration G-AAWS. dreadful time as a Prisoner of War. After the war he would never have anything from Japan or anything that was made by the Japanese. Back home in 1945, he was appointed a Director of Sywell Aerodrome Ltd, becoming Vice-Chairman in 1952 and Chairman in 1960 until he retired at the end of 1961. One of his final planes was a Cessna 182 Skylane with the registration G- ARAW. This plane was black and yellow with cream and silver trim. It had extra He had an airfield made on the highest windows and very swish wheel pants – a point of his land at the top of Newnham truly dashing ensemble! It is recorded that Hill, where he had a hanger built for his this plane was at the National Air Races at plane. He sold his first plane in 1935. Coventry in 1963. Henry’s estate covered the majority of the land enclosed by the A45 and the Newnham Road to Dodford. They were a wealthy family as they had a substantial interest in the oil industry via Royal Dutch Shell, etc. He always supported the village and was Chairman of the Parish Council. He died in 1975 at the age of 78.

(Henry Deterding, third from left)

EDGAR MOBBS Louis Turner

My dad Louis Arthur George Turner was a operator and his records show he was also "Man of Kent" being born in Ramsgate an excellent shot. He returned to the UK in Kent on 24th May 1904. On 26th August 1925 and was in the reserve forces for 10 1919 at the age of 15years 94 days he years. enlisted in the 2nd Battalion Wiltshire

Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's) stationed at Hounslow Barracks. His army records He married my mother on 5th August 1939 give his age as 17 years 94 days, so he was and bought a house in Whitton near two years under age. Twickenham. He was employed by a company making water filters as an

engineer. As this was protected After his initial training he was posted to employment, he joined the Home Guard for Dublin in 1920 whilst the Irish War of the duration of the war, being based at Independence was underway. The Battalion Hounslow Barracks again. His unit guarded were involved with internal security and the EMI factory at Hayes Middlesex where monitoring the activities of the Sinn Fein radar equipment was manufactured and so which meant patrols for a large number of was a target for enemy bombing. British forces stationed there. My father During 1941-42 I was evacuated aged 1 mentioned riding in "armoured” cars and year to Shepton Mallett with my mother and lorries taking bullion and armaments stayed in a very rural part of the area. We around the country making them prey to returned to our home when it was safer. In IRA ambushes - very worrying for a lad of 1944, my mother, who was a midwife, took 16! my baby brother and me (aged 4) to Manchester to help run day nurseries and crèches for the factory workers. At this time there were "doodle bugs" arriving in West London as well as other parts which were very worrying for my mother. Being in Manchester was part of the sacrifices many families had to make to help with the war effort. With the war over I can remember being taken to London on V.E. day amongst the huge crowds that were gathered there that day and can also remember rationing books 24 May 1904 – 15 March 1979 and when sweets were no longer rationed - what bliss! The Regiment was shipped to India in February 1922, also for security patrols as the struggle for independence was starting JANET nee Turner/ Roberts/FENNER to form around this time. Being posted to Bangalore my father trained as a telegraph The busy 1980s for Newnham’s Parish Council

John Hall, from Grove Cottage on Manor There followed a lot of changes. Firstly, the Lane, had been Chairman of the Parish Election Polling station was moved from Council since May 1976. At the election the Primary School to the Committee Room held on Thursday 5th May 1983 there were at the Village Hall. This stopped the school 14 candidates for the 7 places. John Hall having to close down for every election topped the poll and the others who joined held, which was always a real nuisance. him to serve the village were Michael Barrett from No 1 Westbrook, Mrs Anne Rushall from Markers End on Mounts Lane, Mervyn Isaacs from No 13 Coronation Road, Edgar Mobbs from Newnham Fields on Church Street, Roger

Billington from Redlands on Mounts Lane, and David Sharpe from No 4 School Hill. Next, all the public Rights of Way were The Parish Clerk was Bill Carvell from No recorded and way-marked to the parish 2, Council Houses, where he had his office boundaries, and then a map of the whole overlooking the Green. He had first been parish, showing all routes with their appointed in November 1953 by the then numbers, was installed in the Church porch. Parish Council Chairman Henry Deterding from Newnham Grounds. Henry’s daughter had acted as Clerk, but she had resigned and there were no volunteers to replace her. Henry visited Bill, placed the Minute Book on his table, and told him he was now the Clerk. The annual salary was £5 per annum - so no wonder there were no volunteers! In February 1962 Bill requested a review and his yearly salary was then increased to £14.10/-. The Nene Way was also being planned from Badby to the East Coast. The original In May 1984 John Hall decided to step plan was to take it straight from Badby to down as Chairman after 8 years. Roger Everdon, but the Council wished it to come Billington was appointed to replace him - through Newnham. That way it would assist but that only lasted for a couple of months the Romer Arms with passing trade and, if as he left the village in July. Edgar Mobbs it also went past the Church, walkers would was then appointed Chairman; while David then further benefit from walking through Steele from The Banks on Daventry Road the rare sunken road at the bottom of was invited to fill the vacancy - as he had Mounts Lane. been the 8th highest candidate at the previous year’s election. He was duly sworn in. That was finally agreed, and it was all could be obtained. The plan was to repair signposted. It has also subsequently meant where necessary and then to change all that many walkers enjoy the circular walk lights from the old 100-watt tungsten visiting all three villages. system, which had operated since lighting was first installed in the village in 1964, to new cheaper 35 watt sodium lighting. This would also include timers and photocells. Despite interest rates at 15%, the plan could be achieved and repaid in 5 years without adding a single penny on the parish precept. In fact, when interest rates dropped, the loan was able to be repaid early, and the Council had even been able to extend

lighting hours from 11 PM to Midnight! The next problem was the street lighting. This plan worked so effectively that it was The Council had had a plan to repair one or recommended to other parishes in the two of the lights each year. It was now September 1985 issue of the County’s decided that that would take far too long. Northants Village Viewpoint magazine. The Department of the Environment was approached to approve a loan - as it had been worked out that, if the East Midlands EDGAR MOBBS Electricity Board could repair and update everything at once, a significant discount .

Flight Lieutenant Owen Cecil Morgan Chave (‘Ariel’) 1912- 1943

Owen was the younger son of Captain Sir Benjamin Chave, a merchant seaman knighted for outstanding courage and leadership during the 1914-18 war, after his ship was torpedoed and sunk. Sir Benjamin is commemorated in the National Portrait Gallery. Owen attended Ballard School and Brighton College. He became a schoolmaster and then a flying instructor in commercial aviation whilst still contributing to Punch, The Spectator, Empire Review and the Royal Air Force Review. He joined the RAF in 1936 and volunteered for operations as captain of a Stirling bomber. His plane was shot down over Belgium on 14 February 1943 and so he never lived to see his daughter Penny (Alexander). His poetry was published under the pen name ‘Ariel’and below are two poems that reflect the troubled times (not unlike our own) through which he lived.

THE PROMISE OF THE SEASONS Moon wax, moon wane, Summer will come again, Flowers and sun she’ll bring, Fair skies and everything Bright in her train.

Tide ebb, tide flow, Let writhing Europe know Time and our arms will free, All from their misery, All from their foe.

FLYING OVER FROST

White lie the Wiltshire Downs below With yet some shading there to show The living grass Where crisp and keen each blade uptilts On rounded hummock formed like quilts As I on my enormous stilts Above them pass.

And out beyond my wingtip’s edge A sharp horizon like a hedge Precise and bare Runs with the hills to Savernack, That far-off smudge of green and black Whose trees defy the frost’s attack And meet the air.

Cool, neat and fresh the English fields And sweet content their prospect yields For everything Unites to say that all is well, That we shall break this vicious spell And prise from winter’s crusted shell Another Spring.

Newnham Rainfall

NEWNHAM HISTORY SOCIETY.

This is a summary of the rainfall in Newnham village over the last 27 years as recorded in Church Street from 1992 to 2019. The overall average has been 30.18 inches per annum.

The wettest years have been: 1 1992 37.77 2 2019 37.04 3 1998 36.59 4 2014 35.64 5 2007 35.26

The driest years have been: 1 2011 21.21 2 1996 21.87 3 2005 23.05 4 2003 23.07 5 2010 25.62

The wettest quarters have been 1 July - Sept 1992 15.58 2 Oct - Dec 2019 14.81 3 Oct - Dec 2000 13.67 4 Jan - Mar 2014 12.45 5 July - Sept 2006 11.55

The driest quarters have been: 1 Apr - June 2011 3.73 2 July - Sept 2003 3.84 3 Apr - June 2010 3.86 4 Jan - Mar 2005 4.18 5 July - Sept 1996 4.39

The wettest months hashave been: been: 1 January 2014. 6.19 2 September 1992. 6.01 3 August 2004. 5.91 4 October 2019. 5.81 5 August 2010. 5.74

The driest months have been 1 June 2018. 0.09 2 April 2007. 0.13 3 April 2011. 0.19 4 August 1995. 0.29 5 July 1995. 0.50

As you can see, the latest complete year 2019 featuesfeatures in in all all the the wettestwettest records. No wonder the local farmers had problems sowing their crops! EDGAR MOBBS

James Roberts

My father in law (1st husband) Alfred buildings collapsing around them and like (known as Alf) James Roberts was a so many others, they then had to come back "Kentish Man" being born in Dartford Kent to the "day" job. which is north of the River Medway being the dividing line of the original west and east counties of Kent.

He was born on 12th December 1905 having three older sisters. His family moved to Staines Middx in 1925 where they bought two grocers’ shops, Alf managed one and his father, the other. Alf married Bessie from Manchester and they had a son Edwin (Ted - my husband) in 1933 and once the war had broken out Alf became a Toward the end of the war he became an Fireman in the Auxilary Fire Brigade. A.R.P warden as well. Rationing was in force and like many other grocery shops he had to manage his stock not knowing when the next shipment would arrive in the U.K. Coupons also had to be managed and be accountable to "The Ministry"

Staines and the surrounding area were targeted by German bombers on occasions and everyone had their Anderson shelter in the back garden or a shelter under the stairs or dining room table.

Alfred James Roberts 12th December 1905-14th May 1984 JANET nee Turner/ Roberts/FENNER

Although based in Staines in West London their unit was frequently moved to Central London to help the London fireman when there weren't enough firemen and equipment to cope during the Blitz, with the number of fires and rescues overwhelming some forces. It was exhausting, dirty and dangerous work with

Mrs Nancy Jelley of Newnham Manor

Nancy was born in Faversham, Kent in 1914. She encouraged their daughter Deirdre to ride She was the youngest in the Kendrick family, ponies and horses, such that she went on to having two elder brothers and a sister. She had become an active showjumper, competing and red hair and was quite adventurous as she grew winning competitions all over the country. up. She had a Great Dane as a pet dog, and a Nancy was driving the horsebox - she still had horse with which she hunted and “point to a licence to drive everything up to and including pointed” with the Tickham Hunt. She also an army tank! learned to fly and gained a full pilot’s Licence. Nancy also stood joint guarantor to stop the Before the war, she acted as a Dental Nurse in threatened closure of Newnham School. her father’s practice. When WWII broke out, Because of continued petrol rationing she she applied to join the RAF but was turned would drive Deirdre in her pony and trap for down as they did not want women pilots! So, lessons at Miss Hancock’s in Staverton. from the ground in Kent, she had to watch the battles being played out in the skies above her. After Douglas’s death in 1960, Nancy had the Instead, she assisted the war effort by joining bungalow built on the highest point of the land the Auxiliary Territorial Service (The ATS) and in Mount’s Lane, which she called Little rose to become a Subaltern in B Company 41 Trelawne – her maternal family all came from AA Brigade Group. the Tredrea’s of West Cornwall near Penzance. It was while serving there that she met her This was a Colt Cedarwood Bungalow from future husband Major Douglas Jelley, who was Kent, which always kept the inside warm. then with the 72nd Searchlight Regiment of the Royal Artillery. They were married in early 1943. They had a flat near Kew Gardens in London, but also had memories from sleeping in underground stations to avoid the bombing. Nancy was then asked back to fly transport planes over to Canada but had to decline as she now had a young daughter. At the end of the war, the family first moved to Northampton and in 1946 they started living in Newnham Manor. Nancy then bought a Guernsey cow -from Guernsey- which she called Bluebell, for its milk but then she could make butter as well!

(and not Mrs Jelley)

Newnham Manor was sold to Mrs Hill, and Nancy and Deirdre moved into the new bungalow in 1962. Nancy then took up carriage driving and, for years, competed all over the country but particularly in Windsor Park. She involved all members of the next generations. She also encouraged Marge Hosford from The (not the actual Bluebell) Limes on Manor Lane to start driving a pony and trap, and together they would regularly be seen following each other on the roads around she installed after her daughter had married, Newnham. Nancy would also give rides to the leaving her on her own. Marge would walk up village children at events on Newnham Village Mounts Lane and the pair would spend the Green. She would also ride out accompanied by evenings together chatting and watching TV. Fred Fleet riding one of her horses. Nancy lived on at Little Trelawne until she died in 1998 aged 83. She kept ducks, geese and chickens, and used to rise very early in the morning to feed them. She also had several dogs – Shetland Sheepdogs and Rhodesian Ridgebacks. She drove a speedy Mini Cooper S, and it was quite a sight to see EDGAR MOBBS the Ridgeback sitting up beside her on the passenger seat! Nancy owned one of the very early (and very large) colour televisions, which