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Wherwell's Home from HomeAs the rest of the country celebrates the 40th anniversary of the end of the SecondWorld War, many hundreds of people across the globe will have cause to rememberwith gratitude and affection the Test Valley Tea Rooms, Wherwell.

The tea rooms only lasted from 1937 to 1947, situated at Chestnut Cottage, nextto the village shop. But it was as if divine providence had ordained they should becreated, specifically to care for the hundreds and thousands of servicemen lookingfor a moment of comfort during the war.

That monumental job done, and magnificently done, it seems almost as though thetask was over. But it will not be forgotten. A unique volume recently unearthed byMrs Marjorie White, of Beech Grove, has captured that brief moment of history forever.

The Test Valley Tea Rooms started almost by accident. As beautiful in pre-war daysas it is today, Wherwell always attracted more than its fair share of weekend admirers.Many would stop as Nance and Louis Chadwick worked in their garden at ChestnutCottage and ask where they might have a cup of tea. There wasn't anywhere for miles.

"It started in a very small way with maybe a dozen or so people ordering teas at theweekends," recalls Marjorie, the eldest of the Chadwick's three daughters. "Therewas just a handwritten sign at first, and my father had the idea of having a visitor's'book which people could sign as they left."

The first entry is dated February 1938, although the cafe had started the previousyear. Early entries show the extraordinary distances people had come to see Wher-well — Liverpool, Chester, Fulham, Edinburgh. Later, of course, the visitors wouldcome from further afield - the United States, Canada, Italy, Poland. But when theenterprise started Nance and Louis had no idea what lay ahead.

"Everything was home-made. There was the bakery next door at the back of thevillage shop and as business increased the baker suggested that my mother shouldmake up her cake mixes so that when the bread came out of the ovens early in themorning, in they'd go," says Marjorie.

The menu would be fresh brown and white bread and butter, honey, jam, water-cresssandwiches in season, a plate of home-made cakes and a pot of tea. The price ?One shilling and threepence — or 6p in today's money.

The tea rooms didn't take long to catch on. One day a cycling club came throughthe village and within a matter of weeks the Test Valley Tea Rooms were known tovirtually every cycling club in the south.

In the build up to the war the entries in the visitor's book came thick and fast, alwaysjolly, always complimentary. But in September 1939 there is silence. Entries do notstart again until late 1940, when the whole atmosphere in the book has changed dram-atically.

Instead of charming addresses from faraway places the pages are covered with the terseabbreviations of army units: RASC, RE, RAOC, Roy. Sigs.

In that short space of time Wherwell had changed from being a peaceful rural villageto being an essential cog in the massive machinery of war. The village was surroundedby army units, while at Chilbolton the RAF had laid down their airstrip for fightersand bombers.

The Test Valley Tea Rooms became the recreational centre for the hundreds and thousandsof servicemen who were stationed in Hampshire. And so it remained throughout thewar. Together with that other vital attraction, the White Lion, they brought happin-ess and respite to many.

"At the weekends the regular trippers would still come," recalls Marjorie, "and the boysin uniform would disappear into the kitchen".

In fact, those who were ekeing out their service on two shillings a day found that Nance'shospitality extended to giving them a free cup, and another and another, when themoney ran out.

"A jolly good tea says the London evacuee!" reads an entry in the book. There areentries in Gaelic and French — and in Polish when Chilbolton welcomed the Spitfireand Hurricane squadrons piloted by the eastern Europeans with their exotic addressesin Krakow and Warsaw.

And there was a very special tribute from the Italians, who were prisoners of war out-side the village. "They were obviously trusted by their guards because they used tocome first thing in the morning to collect their order of rock buns — my motherwould have to have 50 or 60 of them baked and waiting by 9 o' clock," says Marjorie.

When the Italians left, the parting was emotional. Nance received a number of lettersin halting English thanking her for the way she had treated them "as brothers, not asprisoners of war". They continued to write, one making his fortune in the post-waryears and offering her "anything in the world you want, I will give it to you".

Characteristically, the offer was never taken up.

The Royal West Kents, the Highland Light Infantry, the Black Watch, the Royal Fus-iliers all proudly signed their names. "Will come back one day, when this world welive in is at peace — boy oh boy, what a day that will be," signed a private soldier onthe evening of 10 April 1942.

But among the plaintive messages were others — downright sad, "In memory ofmy old pal Martin. He was all right — while he lasted"; and downright frisky:"See you tomorrow but bring your Sister." "Enjoyable visit but where's thatgirl?" "Pretty girl upon the table I'd like to meet her if I'm able."The subject breaking all the soldiers' hearts was Nance's second daughter Edwina.then in her teens and helping with the teas. "Here's to the girl who made me comehere night after night — Edwina !" says another entry.

Marjorie had her fair share of admirers among the tea-drinkers, too, but as sheexplains: "I was in business myself at the time and I would usually come only atthe weekends to help out. I was very shy, I'd walk through the house and straightout the back." The other Chadwick daughter. Sheila — they were all rememberedas being equally beautiful — was still at school, so the focus of attention was onEdwina.

The teas extended to bacon and egg suppers, until Chestnut Cottage became a hiveof activity during every waking hour. It even had its uses at night — when theevacuation from Dunkirk took place troops slept on the floor, sometimes as manyas twenty at a time. It was a home from home the soldiers never forgot.

Often their visit to the Test Valley Tea Rooms was the high point of their days off.The servicemen would trudge happily from Fullerton and Barton Stacey, fromLongparish and Chilbolton, since there was little motor transport and virtually nobicycles.

This amazing activity lasted throughout the war as many residents of Wherwell wellremember. For a period in history this quiet and restful village was turned into anextraordinary international social hub.

The leather-bound visitor's book, its pages now yellowing with age, is a unique andoften poignant document. The entries from travellers, soldiers, locals and foreignersalike speak first of their warm affection for Chestnut Cottage and Nance and LouisChadwick's perpetual welcome.

But among the jollity of some entries there are messages of hope and sometimesfear. It is impossible to calculate how many of the hundreds and hundreds ofmen who wrote their names there survived the war, or who survive today. Some-how, though, they still live as you turn the pages — bright, optimistic young menwhose hasty scribbles sum up what was best about the war, that spirit of unityand cameraderie.

Some died, many lived — and many returned to Chestnut Cottage after the war torelive their memories. But the tea rooms by then had closed down.

"It was a sad ending," recalls Marjorie. "My father died in 1945, and although mymother insisted on carrying on for a year or two after that, it became too much.With a lot of persuasion from her family she saw it was time to have a rest.

"She was very sad indeed to give the cafe up. But in the years ahead people kepton coming back, again and again. They'd just turn up, maybe showing their wiveswhere they'd been during the war, and there'd always be a pot of tea waiting forthem. My mother never made any money out of the cafe in the end, but she wasrich in friends."

Even in 1985 the searching still goes on. Recently Marjorie heard a knock on herdoor, and opened it to be confronted by an enormous American eager to rediscover

the friends he knew must still be around Wherwell. One particular lady still tuggedat his heart strings all these years later. Luckily, perhaps, Marjorie was only ableto track down who it was he was looking for just as the American left to returnto the States.

Nance died in 1973, happily aware that through her generosity of spirit and throughher enterprise she had created a small piece of history and given not only herselfbut hundreds and hundreds of others fond memories from the darkest period ofthe 20th century.

Chestnut Cottage, Wherwell, was truly a Home from Home.

Christopher Wilson

Wishful Thinking

I always dreamed one day I'd goTo Samarkand or TokioTo Katmandu or Timbuctoo

Zanzibar or Jericho.I always thought one day I'd seeA minaret or a banyan treeThe Taj Mahal the Eiffel Tower

A bowery bird, the rarest flower,

I always hoped one day I'd knowThe wonder of the Arctic snow

The blistering heat of desert sands

The mystery of exotic lands.But in my heart I knew I'd stay

I cannot miss a single dayPerhaps in Wherwell it is spring

When all the birds begin to sing

And I must hear tho' I cannot seeThe nightingale in the tulip tree.

Sally Chetwyn

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Wherwell Women's Institutefrom 1935-1985

There has been a Women's Institute in Wherwell for fifty years, On December 19th1934 twenty-three people met to discuss the possibility of forming a Branch. Thefirst meeting was held on January 23rd 1935 with twenty-eight members present.Mrs Jenkins (Lady Brecknock's mother) was elected President.

The Minute Book tells us that to build up funds "Social Dances were held, entrancefee 6d (21/2p), from 9 pm until midnight and on occasions 1 a.m. !" They also ranwhist drives and rummage sales, which no doubt the village supported and enjoyed.They instituted competitions at the monthly meeting, one which caught my eyewas 'A dress to be worn by the maker, costing no more than 2/6d (121/ap).

The highlight of the pre-war years was undoubtedly the Pageant, staged in the PrioryPark in August 1938 presented by the W.I., written by Mrs Watson, scripted and produceproduced by Mr Paul Jewitt, (Mrs Chetwyn's father). It told the story of QueenElfrida and the Abbey and was enacted almost on the exact spot where the eventstook place in 986 A.D. Nearly all the village took part, the costumes mostly madeby members were effective and authentic as can be seen in the photograph.

During the war dances and whist drives raised some three hundred pounds forcomforts for the troops, PoW's, and other causes. The W.I. National SavingsGroup collected £1,200, a goodly sum for so small a village, and were awarded aCertificate of Honour by the N.S. Association.

In 1951-2 the first 'Village Scrap Book' was compiled in response to a competitionlaunched by the Hampshire Federation. It covered the history of Wherwell from986 A.D. to 1952, and collected a first class award. Apart from history it containsdelightful original drawings of flora and fauna by local artists including Mrs MaryLiddell. It is a treasured posession.

Village Scrap Books have been kept from 1952 without a break until the present dayand have become of increasing interest with passing years.

Programmes show that the W.I. endeavours to cater for all tastes with speakers, filmsand demonstrations on a wide variety of subjects. For pleasure, outings are arrangedto theatres, gardens and places of interest. At County and National levels their voiceis heard on serious issues affecting life today, and it carries weight with governmentdepartments. The motto is "For Home and Country" and the W.I. aims to serve thecommunity where possible. 'Litter weeks' were instigated in an effort to keep thevillage tidy. Daffodils were planted around the War Memorial in 1965 to mark thefiftieth year fo the Hampshire Federation.

The W.I. was asked to 'Plant a tree in '73' and a maple was put in the garden of MillClose. The ceremony was performed by Lady Brecknock who is a member of theInstitute. Among the members there is a school governor, a parish councillor andClerk to the Council. Others serve meals on wheels, work for the welfare of the blind,S.S.A.F.A. and youth.

Newcomers to the village are welcomed by the President and invited to join. Meetingsof special interest are open to visitors. Any village that does not enjoy the activitiesand fellowship of the W.I. is the poorer, so may the Institute in Wherwell continueto flourish for many years to come. Ethel Tufnell

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Wherwell Cricket Club

Back row:

M. James (Scorer); A.G. Rowles; M. Rowles; J. Claughton; D.A. Rowles; M. Brewer;S. Rowles; J. Guest (Umpire).

Front row:

A. Musselwhite; J. Raymond; C. Hitchings; B. Deane; P. Rowles.

League cricket was seen for the first time in Wherwell last summer, when the club played inthe Winchester Wiltshire League.

For the 1985 season the Club moved on to play in the Hampshire League. In addition tomore widespread travel the team have needed to adapt to some tougher cricket. Todate Wherwell have lost six matches, won four, with two abandoned due to rain.

In fact, rain has affected many of the matches this season, but the weather seems tohave whetted the appetite of Dennis Rowles, who has scored two centuries so far. Onthe second occasion Dennis' contribution to the winning teams total of one hundredand forty-nine for five was one hundred and four not out. This included seven sixes.

John Claughton

Wherwell F.C. 1984-5 Season

This season saw our 'walled meadow' hoodoo continue with us losing our fourthFinal in four years, this year after a very hard fought game going down 1 — 0 toMoon F.C. (Salisbury) with a goal scored by Steve Slade midway through thesecond half.

We entered for the first time the 'W.C. Stokes Memorial Cup', a Salisbury Compet-ition, in which we reached the semi-final before losing again by 1 - 0 to Tisbury Utd.

In the League we finished a very disappointing half way. Our reserve team reachedthe semi-final of the President's Cup and put up a great fight against LaverstokePark Albion before going down 1 — 0 after extra time. They also finished halfway in the League.

Five-a-side in the League A team finished third, and B team in fifth position. Inthe Cup competition we lost in the final by 3 — 2 to Chute after giving awaya two goal lead.

1st team player's player the popular centre half come centre forward Dave Bird.2nd team players' player was once again Pete Bowles. Jimmy Hawkins ourTreasurer won the 'Ian Purver Memorial Cup' as clubman of the year.

E. Rowles.

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10

PROGRAMME OF SPORTS TO BE HELD ON THE SUMMER BANK HOLIDAY

MONDAY

Field Opens 1.45 p.m.

1. Men, 14 and over: 100 metres 2.002. Boys and Girls, 5, 6, 7: 60 metres 2.033. Toddlers, 1,2,3,4: 25 metres 2.064. INTER VILLAGE SUPER STARS 2.105. Ladies 15 and over: 25 metres Egg and Spoon 2.156. Boys and Girls, 11,12,13,14: 60 metres Sack Race 2.207. Boys, 5,6,7: 60 metres Sack Race 2.258. Tennis Trophies presentation 2.30

9. Girls, 5,6,7: 60 metres Sack Race 2.35

10. Boys and Girls, 8,9,10: 60 metres 3 legged 2.5011. Boys and Girls, 11,12,13,14: 200 metres 2.5512. INTER VILLAGE SUPER STARS 3.0013. Men, 15 and over: Sack Race, 100 metres 3.03

14. Ladies, 15 and over: Flower pot Race, 25 metres 3.0615. Boys and Girls up to 15: Pick-a-back 60 metres 3.12

16. Toddlers Boys and Girls, 1 to 4: 25 metres 3.1617. Boys and Birls, 5,6,7: 3 legged 60 metres 3.2018. INTER VILLAGE SUPERSTARS 3.2519. Boys and Girls, 8,9,10: 100 metres 3.3520. MEDIEVAL COMBAT DISPLAY 3.4021. INTER VILLAGE SUPERSTARS 4.0022. Men 15 and over: 200 metres 4.0823. Ladies 15 and over: Sack Race, 60 metres 4.12

24. Boys and Girls, 5,6,7: Obstacle Race, 100 metres 4.1825. Boys and Girls, 8,9,10: Obstacle Race, 100 metres 4.2426. Boys and Girls, 11,12,13,14: Obstacle Race, 100m 4.30

27. INTER VILLAGE SUPERSTARS 4.3628. Men, 15 and over: Obstacle Race, 100 metres 4.4629. Ladies, 15 and over: Obstacle Race, 100 metres 4.5030. Boys and Girls, 8,9,10: Sack Race, 60 metres 4.5631. Men over 40: 100 metres 5.0832. Ladies over 40: 60 metres 5.14

33. Boys and Girls up to 15: (Handicap) 100 metres 5.2034. Boysand Girls, 11,12,13,14: 3 legged, 100 metres 5.25

35. INTER VILLAGE SUPERSTARS 5.3036. TUG OF WAR - Chilbolton v. Wherwell 5.4037. GRAND DRAW

11

From the Fullerton Roman Villa

The Family

Mr BodmanMrs BodmanHog BodPod BodLon BodBee Bee Bod

Odd BoddDog BodFelma Bod

The house was made of chalk and rockThe family of Brit/Roman stockCalled - Bodman, the house called 'Riverside'And to the earth their skills applied.

The home upon a sunlit slopeWith heating; water; even soap.All around was marsh and bog;Very much inclined to fog.

Surrounded there by game and hareAnd I expect by wolf and bear.So they had a lot of grubWith furs to wear; got by the club !

They had a Mrs Mop or twoAs Mrs Bod had much to do.Rearing children by the score,Always afraid there would be more !She washed and sewed and grew her herbs.And milled her corn tu feed her birds.

*One day when Mr Bod was ill,His arrows all unsharpened still.Sent Hog Bod out to go and hunt,So off he went; in family punt.

He caught a very wriggly eel,And took it home and tried to peel.Its skin off for the cook to cookBut she by nature took a look.And screamed and screamed at what she saw,So poor old eel was eaten raw.

Mr Bod was feeling better.Said Good lad I'll write a letterSaying that you're very good,And able now to catch our food.

Now young Pod Bod had reddish hair;And was not one to stand and stare.He peddled off on his two feetTo see if he could catch some meat.He had a stone of flint to sling,Which he would aim at anything. ,., ,-

He returned with hare and roe,limping as he'd hurt his toe !"What a clever boy you are",Said Mrs Bod with much "Ha Ha".

Miss Lon Bod had ideas grand, •••She was the beauty of the land.She would not scrub or brush or clear*;.To help her mother - wasn't keen.

Bee Bee Bod was very small,Unlike his brothers who were tall, ;

He crawled about the Roman floor "'"Which had pictures by the door. !

'•/ ! £•Dog Bod he was big and old.And never did what he was told, *s

The Felma Bod was a bit more cuddly.He had a name and it was Dudley.He often caught the rats and miceWhich ate Bod farmer's cockatrice.

Now Odd Bod was the village loonHe worked away beneath the moon,Cos' that was what he thought was best,He had a brain, but who'd have guessed.

Sometimes the Druids pass-ed byPointing at the brightening sky,To get the maiden to Stonehenge;To string her up and get revenge.For all the sins around the world,By killing off the wretched girl.

The local hippies gathered roundTo see that she was tightly bound,The Bods hid Lon; so she was notTaken by this heathen lot.

Nowadays the site is no moreBut Fullerton Manor holds the floorAnd Curlings dine with candles litWith Sheraton chairs on which to sit.

Where once the Bodmans sat on stools,Which they had made with woodland toolsThey surely had a happy time,And on that note I'll end this rhythm.

Pam Liddell

13

Sword in the Stone SocietyAlthough this Arthurian re-enactment group only formed in spring of this year, itsbrief performances have already become a popular feature of fairs and fetes in Hampshireand Dorset.

If you wonder why the 'action' is so brief, take the opportunity to pop a few pences into their charity collecting box and try to wield one of the battle swords yourself. Youwill quickly appreciate why those knights of yesterday had to be super fit athletes tosurvive.

The society's members are typical of those in the many re-enactment groups springing upall over the United Kingdom. They include a professional actor, Nick Scott (KingArthur); two computer consultants, Alan Jones and Dave Wood (Sir Tristan and SirMordred); an optician, Richard "go on poke his eye out" Sargent (Sir Gawain); a pinefurniture restorer, Matthew Smith (Sir Galahad) and salesman Dave Griffin (Sir Lance-lot). The rascally squaire contingent are a motley bunch of students as you wouldn'twant to meet, and they are constantly encouraged by the knights to return to theirformer leisure activities such as playing leap-frog down the M1 and collecting spentcartridge cases in Beirut.

Anyone interested in joining the group will be most welcome and should contactTony Fowley (Merlin) on his Tudor Armoury stall where some examples of Heraldryand decor weaponry will be on display at the sports fete.

SEE OUR DISPLAY AT 3.40 p.m.

14

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16

Growing up in Fullerton and Wherwell

We were both born in the parish in the same year, which seems a very long time ago.At Fullerton almost my first recollection, while still in a push-chair, was going to ameet of the local fox hounds at Longstock Park and being the youngest presentwhen they made a kill, in what is now the Water Gardens, I was blooded. To this dayI go quite cold at the sight of a fox.

Mr and Mrs Hitchcock at the Mill always made me most welcome and I spent manyhappy hours just watching the every day workings of the mill, and a carpenters shopwhich was adjoining the corn grown at Fullerton Manor which was ground for flourfor the Manor and also for the feeding of the animals. A large waterwheel turnedthe large stones. Outside were eel pots which were lowered, particularly if thundery,and the eels were kept in a 'keep tank' where the river flows through all the timeuntil there were enough to fill two or more boxes, when they were taken to Fuller-ton station in the evening and would be in Billingsgate Market early next morning.

in the winter the sheep would be lambing and a lambing pen was built of hurdles,usually in the direction of Racks Lodge where the head shepherd lived. His shep-herd's hut was drawn to the pen, the small stove was kept alight and weak lambsbrought in for warmth. Milk was heated for bottles and the shepherd lived there forabout six weeks.

In the spring the sheep were all brought to the farm for shearing, which was headedby Mr Carter, the late Henry Carter's father. I was allowed to watch if I stayedquietly in the corner and every year it was an event to look forward to.

17

When the fleeces were rolled up they were put on long rectangular canvas sheets andthen laced up to form a long roll. The wool sales were held in Winchester and thiswas one day in the year which was an outing for the Carters. They spent hourspolishing the brasses and harness, only used for special occasions. The bridles weresurrounded with bells in sets of three. Manes and tails were plaited with colouredbraid and the four-wheeled waggons had an extra polish.

They set off early in the morning, a wonderful sight, and returned at tea-time.

When I was five years old I went to Andover to school. My mother took me to thestation and I was put in charge of the guard and allowed to travel in the guard's van,where there was a seat for one each side. The back of the seat protruded for aboutfour inches and this formed long narrow windows which enabled one to see thelength of the train and the engine.

Occasionally we came to Wherwell on the train, if we needed to go to the Post Office,then at Chestnut Cottage, or to take shoes to be repaired at Young's cottage. Weusually walked and always walked to church on Sunday mornings.

If only stamps were needed or a small parcel posted, one met the postman on thestation platform at 6.45 pm where there was a letter box and having emptied theletter box he then cycled back to Andover, having come from Andover after lunch,via Westover and along the track to Fullerton Manor, he then delivered in Fullertonand Wherwell where he emptied the letter box at the Post Office and then returnedto Fullerton Station. There was also an earlier delivery in Fullerton at breakfast time.

A baker delivered daily and the thing I remember most was his 'lardy' cakes, and thearrival of Hot Cross buns still warm in time for breakfast on Good Friday.

Our doctor came from Stockbridge and was one of the very few car owners in thedistrict. If one needed the doctor, one tried to find someone to cycle to Stockbridgeor the porter at Fullerton rang to Stockbridge station, and hoped someone would bekind enough to go to the doctor. Unfortunately the surgery was at one end of Stock-bridge and the station at the other.

It seemed that the summer was always hot and sunny from May, when we were told'Do not caste a clout 'til May is out' (I never knew if it was the month of May or theflower on the hawthorn) until September when we were back at school. I am sure itdid rain.

An almost annual event was the arrival of the Territorial Army on summer manoeuvres.Gun carriages and wagons, all pulled by horses and mules. They usually camped behindthe cottages running down to the river at Vine Cottage. The soldiers used the river forwashing and the horses were led there to drink.

My father enjoyed long walks and his were the longest 'miles' I have ever known. Onevery popular walk was over West Down which was then covered in heather and only afew hawthorn trees over which honeysuckle grew. From the top to the road and downto the river was just grass, full of wild flowers, particularly harebells, so there wasa lovely view across the valley with just the alternate red and white chestnut trees bythe road.

During the time I was at school a bus started coming from Kings Somborne to Andover,via Stockbridge, Longstock, Fullerton, Chilbolton and Wherwell, this was on Fridaysfor market day. It was a corn market held outside the Town Hall, Andover, on thecobble stones. The farmers took the samples of corn in small linen bags and did businesswith the corn merchants.

At this time all the children walked to school in Wherwell, in what is now AbbeydaleGardens. I remember a little boy and girl aged 5 and 7 who walked from the NorthLodge at Longstock Park all alone to Wherwell. How times have changed. The youngestson from the farm of our local Vet, at the further end of the park, also came fromFullerton to go to school in Andover.

Later in the early thirties the daily bus started. They ran from early morning until lateevening. A service which has now almost disappeared.

19

Harvest time meant picnic teas in the fields and in the autumn the harvest supper. Astore was swept clean and a very large Union Jack was brought out to cover the wallbehind the top table. Small flags on sticks were crossed in two's down the sides of theroom and corn was bunched and like the flags, fixed to the walls. A large loaf was the centre-piece of the top table. The supper was boiled beef, potatoes, pickled onions with appletart. Barrels of beer and stone jars of ginger beer stood in the corner.

When I was older, I went after the supper, to listen to the sing-song. Everyone wasexpected to sing, they seemed to sing the same song every year and were accompaniedby a concertina.

There was a Wherwell Ladies Cricket team of which I was a very junior member. Weused the same pitch as the men's team, just behind the cottages at Fullerton station.

It is surprising how the services have diminished in the village through the years.

There were two bakeries with grocer's shops, and one separate grocer in what is nowour garden. Two family builders and both were undertakers. Two milkmen, whodelivered with a covered bucket on the handlebars of their bicycles, using a half-pint measure to put it into your milk jug.

The blacksmith, besides shoeing horses, did repairs to any household items. Theplumber lived in a cottage next to the Malt House now pulled down. Opposite in afield were rows and rows of clothes lines, being part of the laundry. A long galvanisedshed contained the copper and stone sinks and the irons were heated in a room of thecottage, over coal fires.

A T-model Ford at the White Lion was the local taxi, mostly used by fishermen comingfrom London to Andover Junction. Others came to Wherwell station, via Whitchurch.

There were two bakers coming into the village three times a week, one from Chilbolton,the other from Stockbridge, and from Andover, three butchers and three grocersdelivered.

A fishmonger, with his pony and trap collected his fish from Fullerton station andand then came door to door.

Most people kept chickens and pigs and Mr Snow sold barley-meal and corn and wouldbuy any surplus eggs and chickens.

Later there were two open buses from Chilbolton which picked up Wherwell poepleto go to Andover three times a week.

Two Andover laundries came into the village and a hardware mobile shop came bringingparaffin, as did four other vans. Nearly everyone had a paraffin cooker in the summerwhen it was too hot to light a kitchen range and of course everyone had paraffin lampsand lanterns.

Electricity came in 1935 and each hpuse had five lights and one power plug. Later onecould add to this.

Children today certainly have more things materially, and many more opportunities,but I think we had a happier and more peaceful life without the strife and horrors oftoday- Mary & Victor Pyke

BRECKNOCK SPORTS AREAFloodlit All-Weather Surface

FOR BOOKINGS PLEASE CONTACT:Mr. E. Rowles, 7 Beech Grove, Wherwell.Telephone: Chilbolton 632Tennis membership now available

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Traveller's JoyThose who care to travel westward through beautiful Argyll,Where narrow roads wind for mile after enchanting mile.Over the hill around each turn, more breath-taking the scene.Up craggy heights then down to valleys lush and green,Where thundering waterfalls and rushing rivers splash,Grassy banks and silent pools where sunbeams flash,Purple heather and sparkling quartz stone the heights,The magestic golden eagle wheels and glides its spiral flights.Along the ways of Morvern the road dips to the sea,Here secret bays are bordered grand and grassy lea,The glory of the beechwood a patchwork of light and shade.Carpets of bluebells stretch to the far point of each glade,Lovely stands the old farm house, high above the sound,Higher yet tower the hills where golden gorse abands,Strong stone walls and rickety gales enclose the pastured lands.Where in complete contentment the dreaming cattle stand,Around the old barns and over the meadows the excited swallows dash,The cuckoo calls, the song thrush pipes from the spreading Ash,Unforgetable is the beauty on the peninsula of ancient Ardnamurchan,The scent of wild flowers fill the air where they cascade in glorious profusion.Mid summer time when, when the sun sets late over the bay of Tobermory,On the mountains of Mull it casts its last golden glory.

Jeffery Rowles

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COLE and SON

Sports Specialistsincluding

Fishing and Shooting

67 High St., AndoverTel: 51773

Your Intersport Shop

EST. OVER 175 YEARS

SHAW & SON9 HIGH ST., ANDOVER

GROCERIES, PROVISIONS, DELICATESSENWINES & SPIRITS

YOUR GROCERY ORDER PREPARED ANDDELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR IN ANDOVER

AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES

PHONE ANDOVER 52003

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ConclusionYet again the interesting stories of our little village have compiled the Wherwell Anth-ology. On behalf of the Wherwell Playing Field Committee I would like to thank thecontributors for the excellent material provided for this, our Anthology XII.

Sally Chetwyn for her delightful illustrations and poem 'Wishful Thinking'; PamLiddell for her enjoyable rhyme from the Fullerton Roman villa; Ethell Tufnell forsharing with us some memories on the history of the Wherwell Women's Institute;Mary and Victor Pyke who describe with such feeling what growing up in Fullertonand Wherwell was like: Jeffery Rowles for taking us on a picturesque journey throughScotland; Ernie Rowles and John Claughton for keeping us up to date with villagesports; Christopher Wilson who managed to find some spare time in spite of his busyschedule with the Daily Express to write 'Wherwell's Home from Home'.

A special thank you to Marjorie White whose recollections made Christopher'sarticle possible, and Doreen Spratt for all her suggestions and help in finding materialfor this Anthology.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to all the traders who,by placing advertisements, cover the cost of printing and make the Anthologypossible.

P.S. The Playing Fields Committee would particularly like to thank Nicole andSamantha Hutton for producing this year's anthology.

I. Y. H. - H,

Hair Design

The Broadway, Andover-

s Andover51885RedKen hair is now available for retail at Ashley's Hair Studio.RedKen is a product used world wide by top cosmetologists,and it deals with hair, scalp and skin disorders. If you sufferfrom any of these disorders, pop in for a free consultation.

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QUARLEY MANORKITCHENS & DESIGNS

Individually designed kitchens in Old Pine and Oak.Hand made by local craftsmen in our own workshops.

Traditional bathrooms with hand made vanitory units andbath panels incorporating hand painted and period

sanitary wear, brass taps and beautiful tiles.

Bedroom wardrobes custom built in natural timber,fireplaces hand made and period, architectural by-gones

and pine furniture.

Browse around our showroom and see our extensivestock of period furniture and architectural items

telephone or visit us at;

QUARLEY MANOR, QUARLEY, NEAR ANDOVER,HANTS. Tel: GRATELEY (026 488) 758

and ask for Nick or Toni Hammick

CHARTERED SURVEYORS ESTATE AGENTS

HE IRTSAUCTIONEERS /878 VALUERS

OVER 100 YEARS EXPERIENCE OF LOCAL PROPERTY

41 London Street,Andover,Hants.(0264) 23402

HERBERTS AUCTION ROOMS

Crown Chambers,Bridge Street,Salisbury, Wilts.(0722) 27184

(0264) 64820

Printed by Sarsen Press, Winchester