HARRY TAYLORA man who cannot wait for spring to come so that he can
get out on his garden is Mr Harry Taylor of Acre Road, Carlton. What is
surprising is that Mr Taylor will be 90 years old this year and he recalls
some of his memories over the years for this magazine.
Born into a large family on October 2nd 1894, his parents lived in the
house which has only just been demolished in Brinkley. His father was
foreman on Mr King's farm and his wife was parlour maid at the Cottage
before her marriage. Today there can be seen a memorial tablet in Brinkley
Church dedicated to them.
Harry went to Brinkley School when Mrs Warr was the teacher but at 13
went to work with his father on the farm. He remembers Tom Phillips who
hanged himself in one of the farm barns at Hill Farm and Mr Cates now of
Charity Farm, finding him.
After the First World War when he served in France, Belgium and Greece
with the 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment he went back to farming but
in his own words "was a naughty boy" because he lost his temper and had a
fight with the then foreman (not his father) and he was given the sack. That
same day, Red. Waddington who was Rector told him of a job going as
horsekeeper at his son's farm, now known as Glebe Farm.
Harry remembers the Memorial Hall being built in Brinkley. Mr R W King
gave the ground and prominent villagers gave money for it to be built by Mr
Stan Taylor's father and a Mr Palmer who was a Carpenter at Brinkley Hall.
He himself loaned £20 as did Mr Grange, the local policemen and Mr Brown at
the shop and Mr Donald King loaned £50 each, all large sums of money in
those days.
The next venture was running a pub which he did immediately after his
marriage to Miss Ethel Potter from Cowlinge. They took over the New Inn at
Oakington. As previously mentioned Mrs Taylor was parlour maid at The
Cottage and was amazed at seeing a whole array of wooden legs standing in
the corner of one of the bedrooms. They belonged to Capt. Donald King who
used to joke with his 'legs'.
1921 was a very dry season he remembered with no water supply in the
village and a water cart had to go to Great Wilbraham. It stood outside The
Cottage and everyone had to pay a 1d for a bucket except him because his
wife ladled it out!
Harry and his wife will be remembered most for their years in the Post
Office in Carlton in what is now Hill House. Mrs Taylor was in charge there
for 30 years until she gave up the business in 1961 and they moved into Acre
Road. During this tie, Harry was Special Constable for the village, and
hanging in pride of place in his home is a certificate saying the same,
along with anther in praise of his wife for her long connection with the
Post Office.
He realises that the village of Carlton has changed a lot over the years
and tell when there was a pub in the village called the Axe and Saw where
Miss Palmer lives now. He laughs at the memory of a certain Tom Newman who
had his dinner brought to him in the pub because his wife was so fed up with
meals being kept waiting while he had his pint. When she appeared with the
plate of food, Tom was known to have said "Wait a minute, dear and you can
take the dish back!"
He was in the Drum and Pipe Band in which he played the drums and the
Band used to go round the houses playing and singing carols near Christmas
and used to get "a tidy bit"
"Used to have some lovely times at the Salvation Army too" Mr Cook had it
built and on Sundays they used to walk from Carlton, up to Brinkley, across
the footpath from the corner near Glebe Farm to Burrough Green where they
would play on the Green before walking back.
Harry used to help several people with their gardens, one of which was Mr
Carl Long at Rectory Farm, "Good sort of chap, I remember I caught five
pheasants in his garden one day".
Spring won't be long now Harry.
*****
Everyone in Carlton would like to thank all those responsible for keeping
us "running" in this beautiful but dangerous and very tedious snowy weather.
It is marvellous to have the roads kept open and we really do appreciate the
continuing deliveries of milk, bread, post, papers, etc., when conditions
are so difficult. Thank you to all concerned with these services. And,
although they may not all agree, thank you for getting the children to
school.
*****
OBITUARY
The month of February has been one filled with sadness for Brinkley
Village, Kris Johansen of Horseshoe Cottage, Willingham Green died this
month, and was cremated in February 26th. Our deepest sympathies to his
family, and especially his wife, at this time.