To our amazement 13 fluffy baby chicks arrived...
Two sugar lumps
could keep
the pony
out of the dairy
At this time we averaged £1 each for pocket money, the average weekly
wage for a maid. The cockerels we sold for 4s6d each, and were taken in
crates to Braintree for the weekly market there. The crates went with
other parcels in a carrier which also allowed for two standing room only
passengers. I once fell out of the back door (foolishly leaning against
it) and being unhurt had no problem catching it up as it struggled up
a small hill. We were allowed to join the Young Farmers Union and greatly
enjoyed the infrequent meetings.
A number of reasonably wealthy men had a car and this included the
doctor. When Sir Fortesque Flannery, who of course, was Lord of
the Manor and also Patron of the Living (which meant he owned the
right to appoint the vicars) changed his car he would give my father
the abandoned one. Sir Fortescue was very generous to my father
and to the village in general and was greatly respected.
Some elderly residents could still remember when they were expected
not to go into the church for the main service of Matins until the
squire had arrived. As he got older and most times arrived late
– but never too late to read the lessons – this custom
ceased. He was a great benefactor to the church. Mr Addison who
lived at Wethersfield Place and was the overall manager of Courtaulds'
silk stocking factory in Braintree was also a stalwart of the church,
and would share with Sir Fortescue the cost of any major repairs.
