One of the problems with pursuing my obsession with the History of Everyman/Everywoman is being able to find enough material that is not dominated by the presence of the high and mighty.
Therefore, when someone like Bernie Allen gets in touch with a veritable gold-bearing seam of material, I grasp it with both hands and a breathless "Thank you, thank you!"
Bernie's material has provoked me into a perhaps overlong trawl through the Censuses in pursuit of his family, but I do not want to be diverted either from the original material he has provided.
I've said elsewhere that Bernie's father Wilfred was born, in Glemsford, in 1881 and eventually emigrated to New Zealand, returning to Glemsford only once in 1908.
But he remembered Glemsford
and he remembered growing up, and (probably) in the late 1950s he was prompted to right down some of his memories, possibly by newspaper articles sent him by his sister, Mabel Mayhew.
It is these memories (and some of the articles) that Bernie has sent me, and thus we have an unbroken link back over 120 or so years.
I am, with Bernie's permission and encouragement, publishing these memories here. I am leaving them unedited.
I wonder if anyone else can come up with similar stories.
Firstly, Wilfred gives us a glimpse of times when Glemsford people relaxed. The reference to Glemsfrod's Fair slips in alongside other passing references on this site and questions others have asked about the Fair and its origins.
During the school holidays when I was young or about June at the time Glemsford Fair was held there was quite a fortnight of gaiety.
The Public House called the “Cock Inn” always had what was called a greasy pole the top of which had a leg of mutton fastened.
It was about 30 ft high and well greased with tallow or soft soap and the one that climbed it got the leg of mutton.
Wilfred's description of the climbing the pole for a leg of mutton ties in with some details of Glemsford Fair that appear elsewhere on the site.
There was also a good sized pond over which a greasy pole was placed across and the one that climbed across received the prize, but
nearly all came to grief in the water until most of the grease was cleaned off on the clothes.
A pig was greased all over and one had to catch and hold it and it was the biggest job in the world to hold a greasy pig.
Secondly, a familiar outlet of boyish enthusiasm and energy, through the Choir and Football - "Muscular Christianity" was a widespread theme in the later Victorian period, and actually accounts for the creation of many of our best-known football clubs. Herbert Hall was Rector of Glemsford from 1887 to 1921.
Canon Herbert Hall rector of Glemsford, a nephew of Sir Benjamin Hall that had Big Ben erected whilst Minister of Public Works in England. He had as a curate when I was a boy the Rev. Jervis whose grandfather was Sir John Jervis (Admiral) at the Battle of St Vincent.
Rev. Hall treated us very well whilst I was a chorister, we went to the seaside every year, Harwich, Yarmouth, Southend, Clacton, Lowestoft and Dovercourt.
We also had an Association Football team that played local choirs in competition. We were in the diocese of Ely Cathedral, and I was confirmed by the Bishop of Ely (Lord Ailwyn Compton) at Glemsford. Our old school master, W. M. Payton, was organist and choir master.
On the next page, the Melford Riot, 1885.