Notes from Jack Whurr

A happy new year to all.  As youngsters we looked forward to Christmas so much with the thought of Father Christmas coming down the chimney with sacks of presents just for me.  But the war and rationing which lasted until 1954 meant that there wasn't much for the stocking.  Children were happy to get some nuts, an orange, a couple of plastic toys, a book with crayons or a drum maybe.

The Village Hall which was the school doubled up for other things - socials & council meetings.  The social evenings were good, mainly organised for the children..One couple's name which comes to mind is Mr & Mrs Howell who lived in the second house in Brook Lane and also Mr Bush.  They were always doing things for the village as well as other generous people.

Mr Dean, who we children believed was a millionaire was the owner of the sand pits and lived in the big house on the right hand side as you go out of the village towards Harleston.  He allowed the village to hold  fêtes on a field just before the house.

Can anyone confirm that the Red Lion was called the White Hart sometime in the past?  Also, the Fishmongers Arms - which building was it?  Needham had a blacksmiths shop on the right hand side just past Burnthouse Lane and alongside it a large barn.  Mr Drain was building caravans in it when it went up in flames and the whole village was out to see it burn.  A rumour at the time was that it had been deliberately set on fire. There was an arsonist around said to be the butcher's delivery driver.  Most groceries were delivered to the house - the bread and milk came from the baker in Brockdish.  You gave the shopkeeper the order by phone or someone dropped a shopping list into the shop.  In Harleston a school boy delivered on a butcher's bike with a big basket on the front.  They worked after school and got a lovely 10 shilling note for the week.  That 10 shilling note meant a great deal.

How did people manage with few of them having cars or telephones?  Not everyone had a bicycle.  The buses were few and far between.  Yarmouth was the most popular holiday destination and we did have a railway station in Harleston.  Yarmouth was crowded in the summer.  The lovely sandy beach was covered with people in deck chairs eating cheese and tomato sandwiches with charabanc trips on day visits from Sunday schools, clubs, Mothers' Unions and boozy outings.

Jack Whurr