Sue Harling
15 January 2011 16:30
Sue Harling (d.15 January 2011) and her husband Peter (83, d.1 December 2010) were two of Ledbury’s best known residents.
"Memories of Ledbury from 1933", by Sue Harling…
My grandparents on my father's side lived above the Laundrette in the Homend and my father was actually born there. They then moved to Belle Orchard when it was built in 1911. My grandfather was part of the grocery business known as W. Madders and Son, where Careys is now.
I was born in Belle Orchard next door to my grandparents. My grandparents on my mother's side were builders in the Southend known as R Preece and Sons and my mother was born there, she had two brothers older than her.
Living in Belle Orchard one of my earliest memories is the milk being delivered by Ernie Barnett of Wall Hills with his horse and cart when he measured the milk into the jug at the back door. The manure left in the street was gathered up by local residents. A tree was planted in the front garden and the horse use to lean over the hedge and devoured the lot morning by morning.
The workhouse at the bottom of the road (Leadon Bank) was used by the tramps who had to break stones and chop wood before moving on. I can remember my mother giving each tramp a piece of bread and filling his billy-can before they went elsewhere.
In 1937 we had bathrooms built onto the houses above the coalhouse and an outside toilet. The Preece family business built these and I have a photograph of the men on the scaffolding in their best suits and trilby hats.
We used to frequent the hopfields along the Worcester Road where Jack Parry used to weigh the hops and we were well known for singing with gusto round the crib. How these sunny autumnal days stick in my mind and in the twilight of the evening the rich and colourful sunsets.
Where Belle Orchard Close is now, 'Gittings Lorries" were kept in line, This was before they took the Garage on at Parkway. Beyond that was a pathway which led to Mr. Barnes allotment where he grew fresh vegetables. As children we were sent to buy these each week. Before reaching the garden there was a barn storing orange juice for Schweppes. All I can remember is running past thousands of wasps.
As children we used to go to the Drill Hall for concerts which was roughly on the site of Somerfields. Some showed their old cine films which we thought were fantastic.
My late father Hubert (Ike) Madders played golf so the visits to LedburyClub were frequent. The entrance was through the Hill Farm with the Coneygree Wood on one side and Eastnor on the other. A few yards away was Fairy Glen where we used to picnic regularly. I can recall my father putting his golf clubs into the boot of the car on a Saturday night so as my grandfather would not know he played on a Sunday.
Shops we visited were Brays Outfitters (now Orangery and C & G) also Brays shoe shop; Shirvingtons shoe repairers (Head to Toe); Miss Minetts sweet shop (next to Jenkins fruiterers); Walters the drapers (Sez} sold anything from an evening gown to any coloured button you required; Miss Chadd (Seconds Ahead) sold delicious ice cream; Mr & Mrs. Vincer (First Page) was a bakery where the old man said I would turn into a chocolate bun. Father Christmas played a big part in my young life but when I began to read I noticed Denslows on the side of the new dolls pram and that gave it all away. Denslows was where Clarke Roxburgh is now.
As mentioned before my mother was part of the builders business in the Southend. One early memory is walking down the yard to the house, the workshops continued down for quite a way to include carpenters, plumbers and builders. Frank Shinn was one of the carpenters and once one of the Preece boys emptied his sandwiches and refilled them with sawdust. Was he in trouble!!
Mother's brother Robert ran the business at No. 7 where the workmen were, Cecil ran No. 10, another shop. Even today when I hear anyone whistling in the street I think of Josh Haines who was the chimney Sweep who lived where the Olive Tree is now. I used to run down to the bottom of the garden to watch the broom come out of the chimney. Josh was the favourite of everyone.
I started school at the Abbey School now Abbey House in the Homend. Charlotte Ballard was the Headmistress known as Lottie. The most vivid memory I have of this time was having my left hand tied behind my back with string to make sure I wrote with the right hand, in fact I did everything left handed so I went home and complained to my parents and all they said “and quite right too, we don't want anyone left handed in this family”. I was aghast. I am still ambidextrous and at one time played tennis with both hands. In 1939 I dreaded having to practice with gas masks on.
As a family we used to travel by train to Gloucester starting at Ledbury Station, Ledbury Halt, Greenway, Dymock, Four Oaks, Malswick, Newent, Barbers Bridge and Gloucester. This was picturesque whatever time of year but in the Spring when the wild daffodils were out it was beautiful. Everyone called it the daffodil line.
To be continued…..
"Memories of Ledbury from 1933", by Sue Harling…
My grandparents on my father's side lived above the Laundrette in the Homend and my father was actually born there. They then moved to Belle Orchard when it was built in 1911. My grandfather was part of the grocery business known as W. Madders and Son, where Careys is now.
I was born in Belle Orchard next door to my grandparents. My grandparents on my mother's side were builders in the Southend known as R Preece and Sons and my mother was born there, she had two brothers older than her.
Living in Belle Orchard one of my earliest memories is the milk being delivered by Ernie Barnett of Wall Hills with his horse and cart when he measured the milk into the jug at the back door. The manure left in the street was gathered up by local residents. A tree was planted in the front garden and the horse use to lean over the hedge and devoured the lot morning by morning.
The workhouse at the bottom of the road (Leadon Bank) was used by the tramps who had to break stones and chop wood before moving on. I can remember my mother giving each tramp a piece of bread and filling his billy-can before they went elsewhere.
In 1937 we had bathrooms built onto the houses above the coalhouse and an outside toilet. The Preece family business built these and I have a photograph of the men on the scaffolding in their best suits and trilby hats.
We used to frequent the hopfields along the Worcester Road where Jack Parry used to weigh the hops and we were well known for singing with gusto round the crib. How these sunny autumnal days stick in my mind and in the twilight of the evening the rich and colourful sunsets.
Where Belle Orchard Close is now, 'Gittings Lorries" were kept in line, This was before they took the Garage on at Parkway. Beyond that was a pathway which led to Mr. Barnes allotment where he grew fresh vegetables. As children we were sent to buy these each week. Before reaching the garden there was a barn storing orange juice for Schweppes. All I can remember is running past thousands of wasps.
As children we used to go to the Drill Hall for concerts which was roughly on the site of Somerfields. Some showed their old cine films which we thought were fantastic.
My late father Hubert (Ike) Madders played golf so the visits to LedburyClub were frequent. The entrance was through the Hill Farm with the Coneygree Wood on one side and Eastnor on the other. A few yards away was Fairy Glen where we used to picnic regularly. I can recall my father putting his golf clubs into the boot of the car on a Saturday night so as my grandfather would not know he played on a Sunday.
Shops we visited were Brays Outfitters (now Orangery and C & G) also Brays shoe shop; Shirvingtons shoe repairers (Head to Toe); Miss Minetts sweet shop (next to Jenkins fruiterers); Walters the drapers (Sez} sold anything from an evening gown to any coloured button you required; Miss Chadd (Seconds Ahead) sold delicious ice cream; Mr & Mrs. Vincer (First Page) was a bakery where the old man said I would turn into a chocolate bun. Father Christmas played a big part in my young life but when I began to read I noticed Denslows on the side of the new dolls pram and that gave it all away. Denslows was where Clarke Roxburgh is now.
As mentioned before my mother was part of the builders business in the Southend. One early memory is walking down the yard to the house, the workshops continued down for quite a way to include carpenters, plumbers and builders. Frank Shinn was one of the carpenters and once one of the Preece boys emptied his sandwiches and refilled them with sawdust. Was he in trouble!!
Mother's brother Robert ran the business at No. 7 where the workmen were, Cecil ran No. 10, another shop. Even today when I hear anyone whistling in the street I think of Josh Haines who was the chimney Sweep who lived where the Olive Tree is now. I used to run down to the bottom of the garden to watch the broom come out of the chimney. Josh was the favourite of everyone.
I started school at the Abbey School now Abbey House in the Homend. Charlotte Ballard was the Headmistress known as Lottie. The most vivid memory I have of this time was having my left hand tied behind my back with string to make sure I wrote with the right hand, in fact I did everything left handed so I went home and complained to my parents and all they said “and quite right too, we don't want anyone left handed in this family”. I was aghast. I am still ambidextrous and at one time played tennis with both hands. In 1939 I dreaded having to practice with gas masks on.
As a family we used to travel by train to Gloucester starting at Ledbury Station, Ledbury Halt, Greenway, Dymock, Four Oaks, Malswick, Newent, Barbers Bridge and Gloucester. This was picturesque whatever time of year but in the Spring when the wild daffodils were out it was beautiful. Everyone called it the daffodil line.
To be continued…..
Peter Harling
01 December 2010 16:35
“A great man of Ledbury” is how Peter Harling was described by a fellow councillor.
A stalwart of local government, having served on all the councils that covered Ledbury in recent decades, Peter Harling served on Hereford and Worcester County Council and the old Malvern Hills District Council, of which he was chairman, in the days before local government reorganisation.
Subsequently, he represented Ledbury on Herefordshire Council, serving as its chairman for five years up to 2005. On giving up his chairmanship, he told the Ledbury Reporter: “I have enjoyed every moment of my ambassadorial role as chairman of Herefordshire Council. Being the elected representative of Ledbury is very rewarding and I take a lot of satisfaction from helping others."
Mr Harling was also a long-standing member of Ledbury Town Council, serving as mayor three times. He was also a founder member of the Ledbury and District Society, a churchwarden at St Michael and All Angels’ Church for 26 years, and a governor of both John Masefield High School and Ledbury Primary School, as well as a member of Rotary and Round Table.
Harling Court, the sheltered housing development in New Street, is named after him, and he had the honour of escorting the Queen around it when she visited Ledbury in 2003, which he called one of the highlights of his time as chairman.
A stalwart of local government, having served on all the councils that covered Ledbury in recent decades, Peter Harling served on Hereford and Worcester County Council and the old Malvern Hills District Council, of which he was chairman, in the days before local government reorganisation.
Subsequently, he represented Ledbury on Herefordshire Council, serving as its chairman for five years up to 2005. On giving up his chairmanship, he told the Ledbury Reporter: “I have enjoyed every moment of my ambassadorial role as chairman of Herefordshire Council. Being the elected representative of Ledbury is very rewarding and I take a lot of satisfaction from helping others."
Mr Harling was also a long-standing member of Ledbury Town Council, serving as mayor three times. He was also a founder member of the Ledbury and District Society, a churchwarden at St Michael and All Angels’ Church for 26 years, and a governor of both John Masefield High School and Ledbury Primary School, as well as a member of Rotary and Round Table.
Harling Court, the sheltered housing development in New Street, is named after him, and he had the honour of escorting the Queen around it when she visited Ledbury in 2003, which he called one of the highlights of his time as chairman.
Pip Powell
23 February 2010 16:28
Pip Powell, of Powell Cycles, The Homend, Ledbury, died peacefully on 23 February 2010, age 79 years. With kind permission of Ledbury Portal, here is a link to an article Pip wrote about Ledbury shopping in the 1930s.
http://www.ledburyportal.co.uk/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=661:ledbury-shopping-in-the-late-1930s&catid=207:history&Itemid=128
Peter Garnett
09 November 2006 16:26
Peter was a leading proponent of so many Society activities. We asked members to record their memories of Peter.
Brian Speakman writes:
It was just over 30 years ago when Peter and I first met. He was a history teacher and Deputy Head of the Secondary School and our task then was to moderate CSE History projects. I had just arrived in Ledbury as Head of History at the Grammar School. My first impression was of a pleasant and gentle person who was quite justly proud of the projects of his pupils, mainly on the history of Ledbury.
A few years later the schools combined to become John Masefield High School. Peter became a Deputy Head and worked in my department. There was rarely any tension between us, we discussed amicably and came to joint decisions. I never heard him raise his voice nor show any signs of anger - quite incredible for a teacher. That lovely smile was never far away. The way in which he related to his pupils was very similar and they really respected and liked him. Not only was he listened to, but his words were accepted. Peter was very keen on visits into Ledbury and to castles and historical sites further away. He made history come alive.
Eighteen years ago my family moved into the house next door to Peter and Lorna.Should colleagues move in next door ? - it was never a problem. So began years of talking over the garden fence. As well as being a keen ornithologist, botanist and zoologist, his garden was always immaculate, in contrast to mine. His garden in many ways reflected his office, very neat and tidy, no weeds to be seen, plants in rows, work plan according to season, highly controlled bonfires. My garden is one of curves and bushes, weeds concealed and surprises everywhere. Maybe it was our very different characters that enabled us to get on so well together.
Peter had always been a friend of the church, and in his later years Peter joined Lorna at church and became a regular worshipper. In school he used to take assemblies where his themes were not religious but more akin to “the way of life”. I will always remember him telling the children that to smile at and be pleasant to each other cost nothing and could make all the difference to the day ahead - Christianity in action. While attending church bible studies he listened thoughtfully and said little, but his presence was strongly felt, though I will remember him more in the wild flower meadow in the church yard which he tended so lovingly, surrounded by the beauty of Creation.
I now have my treasured memories of a very dear friend. To go into the garden without Peter carefully tilling his earth seems strange, but in so many ways he is still there; his smile, his warmth, his love of nature, his love of family. I think of him and feel uplifted, and I will never forget the beauty of his burial in his beloved wild flower meadow.
“WIN” (Mary Winfield) writes:
I first met Lorna and Peter in 1964, when we all arrived to play tennis one evening at Ledbury County Secondary School, where Peter had arrived to take up his appointment as Deputy Head and teacher of history. I thought, “What a lovely young couple”, only to discover that they were older than I was ! Peter remained young at heart, and I think that was something that gave him such a deep understanding of his pupils and that endeared him to generations of them.
I taught with Peter from reorganisation in 1978 until his retirement from John Masefield High School in, I believe, 1991, the year that we moved onto one site. He found his perfect role as Head of the Junior Department, based at Upper Hall. With a wide catchment area, this unit of about three hundred pupils was the ideal environment for children coming into Ledbury from small country schools, enabling them to adapt to secondary education and to build their confidence. Peter ensured that this transition was both speedy and painless. Peter’s rule was a benign one: to his quiet but firm manner (he rarely needed to raise his voice), pupils responded positively. He involved them in local history projects and inspired in them a love of wildlife through the various clubs that he ran.
To his staff, he was invariably courteous and supportive, as when he soothed the fevered brow of the teacher caught in traffic whilst making the mad dash between departments, standing in with the class until one tore through the door. His sense of humour seldom failed him!
“PTG” was one of an increasingly rare breed: a gentleman in every sense of the word, respected and beloved of staff and pupils alike.
From Prue Yorke:
I worked for just three weeks as a temporary secretary for Peter when he was head of the Junior department of John Masefield High School. It was a complete change of work for me and Peter could not have been more helpful and kind. I was not very good and he was unfailingly patient, as he was towards all the pupils - and staff ! In the short time I worked for Peter it was apparent what a happy school he ran.
From Sue Harling:
Peter and I first knew Peter and Lorna Garnett when they moved to Ledbury and lived in the Churchyard at Bank House. They joined the Ledbury Round Table and Ladies Circle of which Peter and I were members. We soon became close friends. Almost as soon as Peter arrived in Ledbury he rang my father Hubert Madders (known as “Ike”) to ask if he could come to see him to talk about Old Ledbury.
My father felt privileged as Peter was prepared to put into book form in particular George Wargent’s history, as well as histories of Upper Hall, Hazle Farm and others. Peter liaised with the Herefordshire Record Office, and ensured that material was put into its safe-keeping.
From Valerie Beaumont Johnson:
I have so much enjoyed Peter Garnett’s books - my favourite is the “History of the Ledbury Grammar School”. On Society outings Peter and Lorna have made me feel so welcome.
John Masefield
12 May 1967 16:36
In Grace Before Ploughing, John Masefield's memories of his childhood in Ledbury, he describes events in the market place and the great impression they made on him as a small boy. Other poems, such as The Widow in the Bye Street and The Everlasting Mercy, also contain descriptions of the October hiring fair and the Ledbury market scene, and evoke the extreme suffering of people living in poverty at the time.
As a child John Masefield watched animals and wares being brought into the market place: ‘...the timber-carters were fine, hearty fellows, who made a point of entering the market place with a cracking of whips....The men made a practice of walking beside their teams as they entered the market place, and as warnings to those in the main street they cracked their whips with a skill and noise that encouraged their teams... and the horses responding to the cheer, with their great souls greatly exhorted and the great trees brought round the bend.’
He also describes vividly the great yearly marvel called the October Fair: ‘...It was a hiring fair, where men sought employment for the coming year, and the broad main street was glad with the sports of the fair: swings, merry-go-rounds, and coconut shies. It was busy also with the work of the fair: the sale of beasts of many kinds, which came there looking their smartest, to be judged and tried, in pens in the crowded street in the tumult of noise that made the fair so wonderful. The sideshows ...kept to the west side; the pens of the beasts were east from there. In any clear space men tried the paces of the horses for sale. Under the market building, and in a paven space just south from it, there were egg and cheese and butter sellers, and the cheap-jacks, with their patter, and their piles of crockery. In the road.... men placed wonderful painted zinnias and wooden sticks...By daylight the town began to fill up with those who had come for the fair.’
He describes how people came from far and wide, and the traditional trading of insults between the English and the Welsh. ‘To a little boy, the aspect of the Market Place was one of entrancing interest, noise and glad excitement. There was a mingling of rude music, song and cries of cheer; cheap-jacks were calling their goods, raising loud laughter, or smashing plates when bidders would not bargain for them. Mechanical music came from the merry-go-rounds, and from mouth-organs played by those in the swings. All those who had goods to sell spoke in their wares' praise. All the beasts and fowls from local farms, brought there for sale, added their cries and calls. Horses were being tried for short distances; pigs and sheep were complaining in their pens; and men were praising their wares or their beasts at the tops of their voices....Usually, too, there were mummers, in their traditional costume....Various amusements started when the business had ended: a boxing booth would open for the young men eager to try their skill; others would be tempted to show their strength, by hitting a pestle with a mallet. This was ever a favourite sport with the young men. They would be tempted to have three shies for a penny at Aunt Sally, and...every time you hit you would get a good cigar.’
Link:
John Masefield Society
As a child John Masefield watched animals and wares being brought into the market place: ‘...the timber-carters were fine, hearty fellows, who made a point of entering the market place with a cracking of whips....The men made a practice of walking beside their teams as they entered the market place, and as warnings to those in the main street they cracked their whips with a skill and noise that encouraged their teams... and the horses responding to the cheer, with their great souls greatly exhorted and the great trees brought round the bend.’
He also describes vividly the great yearly marvel called the October Fair: ‘...It was a hiring fair, where men sought employment for the coming year, and the broad main street was glad with the sports of the fair: swings, merry-go-rounds, and coconut shies. It was busy also with the work of the fair: the sale of beasts of many kinds, which came there looking their smartest, to be judged and tried, in pens in the crowded street in the tumult of noise that made the fair so wonderful. The sideshows ...kept to the west side; the pens of the beasts were east from there. In any clear space men tried the paces of the horses for sale. Under the market building, and in a paven space just south from it, there were egg and cheese and butter sellers, and the cheap-jacks, with their patter, and their piles of crockery. In the road.... men placed wonderful painted zinnias and wooden sticks...By daylight the town began to fill up with those who had come for the fair.’
He describes how people came from far and wide, and the traditional trading of insults between the English and the Welsh. ‘To a little boy, the aspect of the Market Place was one of entrancing interest, noise and glad excitement. There was a mingling of rude music, song and cries of cheer; cheap-jacks were calling their goods, raising loud laughter, or smashing plates when bidders would not bargain for them. Mechanical music came from the merry-go-rounds, and from mouth-organs played by those in the swings. All those who had goods to sell spoke in their wares' praise. All the beasts and fowls from local farms, brought there for sale, added their cries and calls. Horses were being tried for short distances; pigs and sheep were complaining in their pens; and men were praising their wares or their beasts at the tops of their voices....Usually, too, there were mummers, in their traditional costume....Various amusements started when the business had ended: a boxing booth would open for the young men eager to try their skill; others would be tempted to show their strength, by hitting a pestle with a mallet. This was ever a favourite sport with the young men. They would be tempted to have three shies for a penny at Aunt Sally, and...every time you hit you would get a good cigar.’
Link:
John Masefield Society