Profile

Avril & Roger Mellor

Avril & Roger moved into Beechwood Avenue on April Fool’s Day 1986. With them came son Andrew, aged 11, Verity, who was 9, and their dog. They had moved down from their home town of Huddersfield where they were both born.

Roger had an older sister and Avril was the youngest of four girls. Avril’s father worked at Thomas Broadbent during the war – he was involved in the assembly of miniature submarines. Unfortunately he suffered a very severe accident to his leg and left the company in 1944, eventually working as a gardener. Roger’s parents were in business

On leaving school, Avril did a secretarial course and found a job as PA to the chief draughtsman at Broadbent’s, and it was there she met Roger, who had done an apprenticeship and become a qualified mechanical engineer. As he was working in production control he had many excuses to visit the drawing office! Avril’s father never fully recovered from his accident and died at the age of 61, to be followed ten years later by his wife. Avril and Roger had been planning to marry in 1973 but when Avril was left in the house on her own (her older sisters having married and left the nest) they decided to marry in 1972.

The couple were still both working for Broadbent’s, a company which had celebrated its centenary in 1964. A well-established family company they made industrial centrifuges and are still going to this day.

After Andrew was born in 1974, a friend of Roger’s sister offered Avril a job doing the wages for a big music shop, rather like our Millers of Cambridge. This was something she could do at home without leaving the children: Andrew had been joined by Verity in 1976. Eventually she was working for all three music shops in the chain.

Roger felt it was time for a change and went to a new job in Cleckheaton, where the company made wire combing machines for the textile industry. He became Assistant Works Manager but unfortunately after five years there was a takeover and he was made redundant. He got a fill in job bottling milk, thanks to a friend of Avril’s who was a farmer’s wife, but he soon joined a 20 week Government Training Opportunities Scheme in Systems Analysis and at one of their events he was offered a job in Leeds designing computer systems. He stayed there for 5 years

and was then headhunted by Rialto Homes who wanted him to move to Hertford.

This was quite a radical move for the family and Roger had to commute for 6 months whilst they sold their house, eventually moving into Beechwood Avenue. Both the children went to the local schools and Avril got a job at Cambridge University Press, once again doing the wages – only this time on a computer! After a while she got tired of the journey into Cambridge and took a job at Rumbolds the Plumber down The Moor. Here she did wages, secretarial work and the accounts. The local work fitted in better with family commitments.

This couple have always been ready to embrace change, and when a family friend offered Avril a job in London in a start-up company in Portman Square she thought this was a new challenge. She found herself commuting to London every day and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working in the metropolis. Sadly, as it was a start-up there was always a fear that it might not get up and running; the company folded and Avril gave up the big city, securing the position of Clerk to the Parish Council.

Meanwhile Roger was unfortunately made redundant a second time when Rialto was bought out by Fairview who had their own IT department, and in 2009 he was just looking for something to tide him over until retirement. His son Andrew, by now a fully fledged architect, introduced him to a solar panel manufacturer in Bassingbourn whose business was expanding, and Roger finished his working career with them.

Avril found the work as Parish Clerk by far the most exciting and stimulating work she had ever undertaken. She had to do extensive training to get a Diploma in Local Government but the rewards were great, meeting so many people, coping with different personalities on the council and dealing with bereaved people as they came to secure burial plots – such varied work.

They had been regular churchgoers since childhood, so it was natural that when they came to Melbourn they started attending All Saints Church where they quickly made friends. Avril joined the Young Wives, served on the Committee and then graduated to the Women’s Group, where she again got involved. Roger has served on the Parochial Church Council and has been Church Warden for over 6 years now, a post he takes very seriously. Roger was also involved in the Scouts, helping out at Scout Camps. They have both enjoyed their grandchildren – Andrew married Sarah and has Chloe and Joshua and they live in the village, whilst Verity married Alvie and lives in Cambourne with Imogen and Luca. They have done all the ‘grandparenty’ things: looking after the children, the dogs and even rabbits and hamsters.

This couple is so busy that I hardly liked to ask about hobbies. Avril does Yoga and Pilates whilst Roger plays badminton. They had an allotment, now relinquished, but both enjoy working in their delightful garden – they both belong to the Orwell Gardening Club, Avril being secretary for a number of years. She is treasurer of the U3A Excursions committee and helps to organise trips, the membership secretary for the National Trust Local Association, and is organising a five day trip to Mid-Wales for the U3A.

As if all that isn’t enough, Avril does invigilating for Melbourn Village College and Hills Road Sixth Form College. She has not caught anyone cheating yet, but says on one occasion the students were filing in to take their places when the fire alarm went. Everyone had to evacuate the premises and to her amazement there were dogs everywhere! It was Take Your Dog To School Day and the resultant chaos with fire engines and barking dogs etc made it a memorable morning.

They both love dogs and have had a number over the years, culminating in the adoption of first one and then a second retired greyhound. They are the most gentle, lovable creatures and contrary to common belief they need very little exercise. Since Echo died, Avril consoles herself with walking Poppy for a busy family in the village.

They have had some wonderful holidays. They both voted Chile as being the most interesting but also loved their 3 week cruise from Singapore to Abu Dhabi via ports of call in India. They had a disconcerting incident in the middle of the Indian Ocean when the ship’s engines stopped and they were becalmed for two hours. Rather scary, nothing in sight but sea! They went to Kenya with Link M’uranga, a working holiday where they spent time building a water tank. It may have been April Fool’s Day when they came to Melbourn, but Avril and Roger have made a huge contribution to the life of this village. Sociable, friendly, excellent hosts, willing to take part in village life, volunteering, not afraid to get stuck in. Huddersfield’s loss was our gain! Mavis Howard