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June 2005
I'm going to do it this summer! It's a decision I've been putting off for at least 2 years but recent events have forced me to confront my worst nightmares. I'm going to combine all 4 sites into one and I'm going to do it this summer. I'm then going to book 2 weeks in a rest home!
Circumstances have backed me into a corner and I don't have any wriggle room left. As you will remember from last month's letter I've had severe computer problems. These are all effectively fixed but in the meantime one of my hosting addresses with Wanadoo has become discontinued and site 2 is not currently available despite reactivating the account. Maybe things will change when Wanadoo get all access rights re-established. In addition I have discovered that several domain names involving the word Feltwell are available for cheap purchase, so the possibility of having my own domain is now real. And hosting costs have dropped significantly. In addition I cannot morally expect Paul Whiteside to host the entire set of sites, currently 90Mb, for nothing and as Wanadoo seem unwilling to supply me with Broadband I've decided to go it alone. Watch this space as they say.
I advertised the arrival of 75 Squadron veterans in last month's newsletter for those of you who were interested in meeting them and on Sunday 8th May over 30 members and relatives attended the memorial service held in remembrance of those squadron members who died during WW2. Many of those present had flown from New Zealand for this special occasion. They were accompanied by British members of the squadron and their relatives when they visited Feltwell, which was their last stop on a tour that had taken in memorials at Peterborough, Mepal and Newmarket. It was a wonderful experience for me to meet some of those who are mentioned on the website in photographs and articles or who have been in contact by email. The message on the memorial wreath sums up perfectly the reason for the visit, "We remember with pride the supreme sacrifice made by our comrades during World War 2. Your devotion to duty for your country is greatly appreciated enabling us to enjoy the freedom we have today."
On the evening of 7th May 2005 the music of war-torn Britain was brought back to life when 11 ladies from the village entertained an audience of over 40 Feltwell residents in the Methodist Chapel Hall. This event was part of the VE and VJ day celebrations organised by St Mary’s PCC. The singers were ably supported by Mrs Sybil Cooper at the piano. The audience, who had been provided with copies of the lyrics, was encouraged to join in and did so with great relish. The walls of the Methodist Hall echoed to the sounds of The Lambeth Walk, White Cliffs of Dover and There’ll Always be an England to name but three songs from the extensive repertoire. Between songs we were entertained by a variety of readings reminding us that humour was an essential part of surviving the hardship of wartime. To underline this fact the ladies produced a selection of underwear from their song books during a rendition of Hang Out Your Washing On The Siegfried Line! Earlier in the day an exhibition of wartime memorabilia held in St Mary’s had raised £99. The concert added an additional £80 to this total. The weekend was certainly one to remember.
Another event worth remembering was the visit by Feltwellian David Wells and his wife all the way from New Zealand. David was here rekindling his memories of his childhood and filling in details of his father's life in the Air Force which included visiting the site of the plane crash in which his father died and his grave. We spent a wonderful evening with them and the Engles (Dan Engle had done a lot of research into the plane crash and identified the site). [David, when we get the money together Sue and I will take you up on that offer of a bed!]
I would like to finish with these recollections from Mr Alan Whitehand about his time in Feltwell Civil Defence.
"I joined Feltwell Civil Defence when I was 18 years old in 1942. The Senior Warden then was Mr Rex Montgomery, an ex-naval officer who had been invalided out of the forces due to ill health. He sadly passed away a few months later. Mr G. W. Price, headmaster at the village school then became Senior Warden. He was a very efficient and popular man.
Capt. H. F. H. Hardy of Denton Lodge, Feltwell, was District Head Warden, a lovely old gentleman who would sometimes take us to meetings and exercises in his Rolls Royce.
Our Headquarters were at Manor Farm, home of the Storey family, where there was a room fitted with bunk beds, phones and other basic facilities.
In the first years of the war the post was manned by two wardens, seven nights a week, 10.00pm-6.00am. Later it was increased to three wardens per shift.
My shift companion was Derrick (Curly) Brown and we were joined later by Ben Blunderfield.
We also had training in first aid, stirrup pump exercises and checking people’s gas masks. Despite a lot of red alerts I cannot recall ever being called out to any bombing or fire scene. Thankfully."
