History-Earlymemories ofaYaptonian

By Allen Misselbrook, Yapton & Ford local history

While cataloguing my files I came across a letter from an Expat who was living in the USA, to his brother who was a member of our History Group. Ted Allnutt, who was born in 1920 in the North End of Yapton, described his early life living in Yapton during the 1920’s and 1930’s. For the purpose of this article, I have paraphrased his recollections into a series of memories. One of my earliest memories was as a 5-year-old watching steam trains passing over the level crossing, and observing Mr Fennel and Mr. Berles at work in the signal box. There was another level crossing, this one was situated at the end of Maypole Lane, where there was a Gatekeeper’s cottage occupied by the Dummers. As children, we spent much of our time in Maypole Lane playing on the old dump. Here we found many discarded parts of old bicycles from which we built serviceable machines which we could ride down the hill. Another source of fun was the pond. In winter when it froze over, we used to slide on the ice, that was until Jack Wadey chased us off. One of my jobs was to collect milk from the ‘Laurels’ accompanied by Rosie Welcome. As well as collecting the milk I had to draw buckets of water from a well outside of No. 1, Park Cottages. At other times Bob Stone, the milkman, allowed me to join him on his round, riding in the milk cart.

Park Cottages,North - End-Rd c1990

To get to school I had to walk, usually with Irene Simmonds who lived next door to Park Cottages. The headmaster at that time was Mr. Woolgar supported by his senior teacher, Miss McCloud Another teacher I can recall was Miss Biggs. Once a week I travelled to Littlehampton to attend a woodwork class. The Reverend Bartlett was the Parson and Mrs Barnes was his organist and Choir Mistress. The verger was ‘Fonzo’ (I cannot remember his real name). Following his death, he was succeeded by Roy Hotston. The Parson’s sister was the Scout and Cub Mistress and every year the Scouts and Cubs took part in the Remembrance Day march to Eastergate Cenotaph. The procession included ex-servicemen and their wives, marching behind a band whose tunes included ‘Officer of the Day’, Sussex by the Sea and ‘Old Comrades’. The sick of the village were ministered to by old Dr. Collins and if pills were needed, they were made while we waited. Most of our household supplies could be bought from one of the village shops. The Greengrocer was owned by Mr Dukes, he also had a delivery van driven by Mr. Watson. Meat could be bought from Mr Lynn whose Butcher’s shop was by the school, or from Mr Cotton Frank Lynn's Butcher's Shop whose shop was on the right-hand side of the Post office where Mr Diggance was the Post Master. A small Bakery at the back of the Forge in Church Road supplied our bread. The Blacksmiths name was Mr Pratt who could often be seen riding around the village on his motorbike. Mr Langmead had a farm at North End and the name of his cowman was Mr. Richardson’ Old ‘Putt’ Sears, who lived in one of the houses on the corner of Ford Lane, drove his Fordson Tractor. Occasionally we had the opportunity to see a slide show when a man with a ‘Magic Lantern’ would come and show slides such as ‘The Life of John Bunyon’. We were never bored, there were always things to do and play with, and none of them required a battery. To contact Allen Misselbrook on a local history matter please email: allen@yaptonhistory.org.uk