On 22 May this year the CCC recommended that HMG legislate for the UK to be "net zero" with respect to greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. On 11th June PM Teresa May announced that such legislation would, indeed, be brought forth and on 12 June secondary legislation to do just that was tabled. All well and good but what does it all mean?
The first thing to note is that the current set of policies won't do the job. More is needed but HMG has been more or less silent on what. Furthermore, although it is clear that the country is way off track for reaching the targets in the 4th and 5th carbon budgets, little is being done to rectify that apart from some jiggery-pokery in carrying forward 88Mt of emissions from the 2013/17 budget (Philip Hammond at his worst). This is against the advice of the CCC.
Also against CCC advice is the inclusion of international carbon credits which many would regard as something of a moral outrage.
And the suggestion of bringing forward a ban on new petrol and diesel cars from 2040 to 2035 or earlier has also been ignored. There's nothing like getting tomorrow to pay for today!
The CCC's latest progress report highlights further failings, in particular that only 1 of the 25 headline policy actions set for 2018 has been delivered in full and no progress has been made on 10 of the other actions. That is an absolutely woeful record and all the implicated ministers and departments should be hanging their collective heads in shame.
Possibly worst of all is May's "get out clause" to revoke the legislation if other countries do not follow suit. So much for climate leadership - more like climate equivocation. ("Faith, here's an equivocator that could swear in both the scales against either scale").
So, while being a very welcome headline the reality is something of a curate's egg.
There's also the question of Johnson's reshuffle to be considered. Two of the key players are Andrea Leadsom and Theresa Villiers. Equivocation is again the word that springs to mind. A brief resume of their respective records is here.
What other headlines are there? Well, they are mixed:
HMG has rejected calls for mandatory environmental targets on big-name fashion brands.
It has been somewhat mean in funding new CCUS projects and facilitating aviation and road transport decarbonisation. However, I guess one should be thankful for anything!
It has unveiled a green finance strategy. Hopefully sensible policies will follow.
The Conservative Environment Network has spoken out. But will the government listen?
New research indicate that the UK lags behind mainland Europe in providing EV infrastructure. But we're not pulling forward fossil fuel road transport ………….. so ministers might say it does not matter.... :-(.
The CCC reports than none of the UK's largest 33 sector has made good progress in managing climate risk mainly because of poor policy support.
It looks as though the country is set to miss its 2020 renewable energy target. Well, well, well.
Rachel Reeves, chair of the BEIS Committee has penned an interesting letter to Andrea Leadsome. It's worth a look.
And finally, Ed Miliband's call for social justice to be embedded in the UK's drive to net zero is spot on the money in my book!
Tuesday, 30 July 2019
Tuesday, 23 July 2019
Brexit and My MP - Part 54
And my response:
Dear Anne,
I was about to put finger to keyboard to say how much I appreciate your principled stance when your email arrived. I have been critical of your actions and pronouncements on Brexit in the past but in this instance I must acknowledge that you have taken what I consider to be the only honourable step.
We live in difficult times. Brexit, whichever way it ultimately pans out, is a telling symptom of the inadequacy of political structures in this country and the paucity of political engagement nation-wide. I am still appalled that such a monumental decision as Brexit should be taken on the whim of just 37% of the electorate. On that narrow subject it is essential that (a) a no-deal Brexit is avoided and that (b) the country has the opportunity to pronounce its verdict on whatever deal is finally agreed.
Of far greater importance is the need to re-engage the population as a whole in political discourse, to eliminate the all-pervading current cynicism with respect to our representatives and to ensure that once again the general public may be certain that its voice it truly listened to. Without this, which I believe requires a major overhaul of our political systems, we will be unable to tackle the truly existential threats we face, such as climate change.
Yours sincerely
Richard Bawden
Go to Part 53 here
Dear Anne,
I was about to put finger to keyboard to say how much I appreciate your principled stance when your email arrived. I have been critical of your actions and pronouncements on Brexit in the past but in this instance I must acknowledge that you have taken what I consider to be the only honourable step.
We live in difficult times. Brexit, whichever way it ultimately pans out, is a telling symptom of the inadequacy of political structures in this country and the paucity of political engagement nation-wide. I am still appalled that such a monumental decision as Brexit should be taken on the whim of just 37% of the electorate. On that narrow subject it is essential that (a) a no-deal Brexit is avoided and that (b) the country has the opportunity to pronounce its verdict on whatever deal is finally agreed.
Of far greater importance is the need to re-engage the population as a whole in political discourse, to eliminate the all-pervading current cynicism with respect to our representatives and to ensure that once again the general public may be certain that its voice it truly listened to. Without this, which I believe requires a major overhaul of our political systems, we will be unable to tackle the truly existential threats we face, such as climate change.
Yours sincerely
Richard Bawden
Go to Part 53 here
Brexit and My MP - Part 53
Today I received this from my MP:
Dear Richard
Further to our previous correspondence about events in Westminster, I am sending you a copy of my letter to the Prime Minister,
which sets out my reasons for resigning from Government today.
In my view, if we are to leave the European Union it is essential we maintain a close relationship with our nearest neighbour and biggest trading partner. I will continue to support the Government in any way I can from the backbenches as it tries to find a way to achieve this.
I would like to thank everyone who has contacted me already with their kind comments today, it really does mean so much to me.
In my view, if we are to leave the European Union it is essential we maintain a close relationship with our nearest neighbour and biggest trading partner. I will continue to support the Government in any way I can from the backbenches as it tries to find a way to achieve this.
I would like to thank everyone who has contacted me already with their kind comments today, it really does mean so much to me.
The
Rt Hon Anne Milton MP
Member
of Parliament for Guildford
House
of Commons
London
SW1A
0AA
T.
0207 219 8392
To paraphrase Neil Armstrong: One small step ……………………..
Wills - Price Reduction - Fantastic!
Wow! The cost of downloading a will and/or grant or representation from the government probate service has gone down to just £1.50. See the help page here.
Friday, 19 July 2019
Investigative Genealogy
Investigative genealogy seems to have caught the imagination "over the pond", a good example being this BuzzFeed article. One hears little about it in the UK (or I just don't look in the right places). To what extend are our police forces using these techniques I wonder?
Whatever, I've just been into my GedMatch profile and changed my preferences to allow law enforcement authorities to use my data. After all, one never knows who might be perpetrating crimes. I've recently discovered that a distant relative of my wife who, unfortunately, was obviously severely mentally disturbed, murdered his sister.
Whatever, I've just been into my GedMatch profile and changed my preferences to allow law enforcement authorities to use my data. After all, one never knows who might be perpetrating crimes. I've recently discovered that a distant relative of my wife who, unfortunately, was obviously severely mentally disturbed, murdered his sister.
Friday, 12 July 2019
Eleanor Alice Adelaide Bawden nee Russell (1888-1983)
And to follow …………… my paternal grandmother:
Eleanor Alice Adelaide Russell (known as Allie, or Puhh by
the family) was born at 4 Unicorn Buildings, Landport on 4 March 1888[1],
the only daughter of Ellen and Walter Russell, who in the next year had a son,
Walter Thomas Cornelius. At the time of the 1891 census the family was at the
same address[2].
Walter was an assistant warder at HM Convict Prison and all the other occupants
of the building were associated with the prison so I assume it was tied
accommodation of some form.
Some time during the following 10 years Walter transferred to work at Portland Prison and in the 1901 census the family is at 2, I Quarters, Portland[3]. Again, this appears to be some form of tied accommodation. The census return has Puhh “attending school”, presumably somewhere on Portland. For some time up until the end of June 1906 she was an apprentice teacher at Portland Prison Officers’ Schools[4][5].
In 1906 she commenced attendance at Salisbury Training College and became a certified teacher in 1908[6][7]. Apart from her attending school and acting as an apprentice teacher, the only information I have about her life prior to going to the college is entries in a remembrance album she was given for her 16th birthday, and almost universally they are homilies rather than informative pieces. Where the inscriber has included a location for the years 1904 and 1905 nearly everyone was located on Portland, and one of these is headed “Good-Bye” but without any indication of who may be departing, nor where. Entries for 1906-1908 are mainly associated with the college, several
addressed from “Top Room, King’s House, Salisbury”.
There are a few later entries, including several addressed from Weymouth.
In the Christmas 1908 edition of the Salisbury College magazine the cast list for “Comus”, performed in the previous summer, shows Puhh playing Mercury. Whether theatricals were “her thing” I do not know; the cast appears to comprise all the second year students of King’s House. Interestingly, in the list of appointments in the same magazine she is named as Russell, E Alice A, further indicating a preference to be known by her second name.
In the 1911 census Puhh is shown as resident in Westham, Weymouth where she was an assistant teacher at a Weymouth Borough Council school. From this I guess that it was in Weymouth that she met George Charles Bawden (Huckleberry), whom she married in 1918[8]. (I have a photo postcard[9] from George addressed to Mr & Mrs Russell, Parkhust, IoW dated 17 June 1917 so they first met before then. From this I also assume that Puhh’s father, Walter, had transferred to Parkhurst prison).
Thereafter, until 1939, I know little more of Puhh’s life than those events detailed in my notes on Huckleberry and my father. It is possible that she suffered a miscarriage between the birth of Walter Harry and Charles Roskelly[10]. Presumably Puhh, as was the practice at that time, gave up teaching when she married. In the 1939 Register[11] she is recorded as undertaking unpaid domestic duties.
In 1945 she applied to join the Mothers’ Union[12] and was admitted in 1946[13].
After Huckleberry died, Puhh stayed on for many years in the
new bungalow that they purchased in West Parley. Eventually, however, it became
clear that she needed to be nearer family support and in 1976 she moved into a
flat in Wellesley Court, Richings Park[14]
to be close to Jean and Charles. There she managed without help for about a
year but after that Jean took over preparing her meals and visiting her every
day. From the point of moving in she had had some odd immovable ideas. For
instance, she couldn’t understand that she had purchased the flat fully
carpeted so she deployed “stepping stones” of small mats so that she didn’t
cause wear to the carpets. Later she began “annexing” library books, removing
the date sheet from them and claiming them as her own. My mother had to rescue
them and restore them to the library. She steadily became more fanciful and
when she started wandering off Jean and Charles found accommodation for her in
a care home in Harlestone[15].
In 1983 she suffered a fall in the house, breaking her hip. She was operated upon at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital but died a day or so after on 24 May 1983[16][17].
My memory of her is of someone with very fixed ideas and very little sense of humour. She had a keen sense of “duty” and was always eager to help but lacked the empathy to understand that it wasn’t always necessary, or even desired.
Eleanor Alice Adelaide Russell
Support for her Husband
Eleanor Alice Adelaide Russell (known as Allie, or Puhh by
the family) was born at 4 Unicorn Buildings, Landport on 4 March 1888[1],
the only daughter of Ellen and Walter Russell, who in the next year had a son,
Walter Thomas Cornelius. At the time of the 1891 census the family was at the
same address[2].
Walter was an assistant warder at HM Convict Prison and all the other occupants
of the building were associated with the prison so I assume it was tied
accommodation of some form. Some time during the following 10 years Walter transferred to work at Portland Prison and in the 1901 census the family is at 2, I Quarters, Portland[3]. Again, this appears to be some form of tied accommodation. The census return has Puhh “attending school”, presumably somewhere on Portland. For some time up until the end of June 1906 she was an apprentice teacher at Portland Prison Officers’ Schools[4][5].
In 1906 she commenced attendance at Salisbury Training College and became a certified teacher in 1908[6][7]. Apart from her attending school and acting as an apprentice teacher, the only information I have about her life prior to going to the college is entries in a remembrance album she was given for her 16th birthday, and almost universally they are homilies rather than informative pieces. Where the inscriber has included a location for the years 1904 and 1905 nearly everyone was located on Portland, and one of these is headed “Good-Bye” but without any indication of who may be departing, nor where. Entries for 1906-1908 are mainly associated with the college, several
addressed from “Top Room, King’s House, Salisbury”.
There are a few later entries, including several addressed from Weymouth.In the Christmas 1908 edition of the Salisbury College magazine the cast list for “Comus”, performed in the previous summer, shows Puhh playing Mercury. Whether theatricals were “her thing” I do not know; the cast appears to comprise all the second year students of King’s House. Interestingly, in the list of appointments in the same magazine she is named as Russell, E Alice A, further indicating a preference to be known by her second name.
In the 1911 census Puhh is shown as resident in Westham, Weymouth where she was an assistant teacher at a Weymouth Borough Council school. From this I guess that it was in Weymouth that she met George Charles Bawden (Huckleberry), whom she married in 1918[8]. (I have a photo postcard[9] from George addressed to Mr & Mrs Russell, Parkhust, IoW dated 17 June 1917 so they first met before then. From this I also assume that Puhh’s father, Walter, had transferred to Parkhurst prison).
Thereafter, until 1939, I know little more of Puhh’s life than those events detailed in my notes on Huckleberry and my father. It is possible that she suffered a miscarriage between the birth of Walter Harry and Charles Roskelly[10]. Presumably Puhh, as was the practice at that time, gave up teaching when she married. In the 1939 Register[11] she is recorded as undertaking unpaid domestic duties.
In 1945 she applied to join the Mothers’ Union[12] and was admitted in 1946[13].
In 1983 she suffered a fall in the house, breaking her hip. She was operated upon at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital but died a day or so after on 24 May 1983[16][17].
My memory of her is of someone with very fixed ideas and very little sense of humour. She had a keen sense of “duty” and was always eager to help but lacked the empathy to understand that it wasn’t always necessary, or even desired.
[1]
Birth registration GRO reference 1888 Mar Portsea 2b 453.
[2]
1891 England and Wales census RG12/859/81/4.
[3]
1901 England and Wales census RG13/1997/80/45.
[4]
Letter from the Chaplain’s Office, Portland Prison, dated 27 July 1906,
currently in my possession.
[5]
Letter from Sarah H Batchelor, Head Mistress of Prison Officers’ Girls’ School,
Portland, dated 7 February 1908, currently in my possession.
[6]
Archbishop’s Certificate in Divinity, currently in m possession.
[7]
Board of Education Teacher Certificate, currently in my possession.
[8]
Marriage registration GRO reference 1918 Jun Isle of Wight 2B 1308.
[9]
Photograph 400.
[11]
1939 National Register RG101/6938A/004/42.
[12]
Mothers’ Union preparation card, dated 24 June 1945, currently in my
possession.
[13]
Mothers’ Union admission certificate, dated 9 January 1946, currently in my
possession.
[14]
Jean Barham Bawden (née Johnson) autobiographical notes.
[15]
Ibid.
[16]
Ibid.
[17]
Death registration GRO reference 1983 Jun Norwich 10 1797.
George Charles Bawden (1891-1963)
This is something of an experiment. I have been writing little biographical pieces about my children's ancestors and I wondered how easily I might pop them into this blog. The answer is that with a little bit of effort it is possible; so here are a few words about my paternal grandfather George Charles Bawden.
George Charles Bawden (usually known by his second name or, within the family, by his nickname – Huckleberry) was born at St Mawes, Cornwall on 3 December 1891[1], the only child of Thomas Henry James Bawden and his second wife Sarah Roskelly. In the 1891 census taken in the April before Huckleberry was born Thomas and Sarah are shown to be living at Marine Parade, St Mawes with the three children from Thomas’s first marriage; Henry, Christina and Mabel[2].
By the time of the 1901 census[3] the family had moved to the Coast Guard Station at Axmouth, Devon and young Henry had died.
My father believes that at some time the family moved to Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, evidenced by the fact that in 1996 he still possessed books signed by Huckleberry and dated there in 1908[4][5]. This is confirmed by a letter of reference from the headmaster of Parkstone School[6] indicating that Huckleberry was a pupil there from January 1906 to July 1909 and that he subsequently attended on one day a week as a student teacher until July 1910 at which time he presumably moved to teacher training college. He appears to have undertaken a student teacher role at Swanage School at the same time[7]. My father also told me[8] that Huckleberry had been patronised by the Reverend Gresley[9], vicar at West Pennard and possibly also by a Miss Drake.
So, by 1910 Huckleberry was at Culham College (a teacher training college)[10] from where he gained recognition as a certified teacher in 1912[11]. From there it would appear that he had a short stint at St George’s School, Portland as an assistant master[12] before moving to Melcome Regis Boys’ School, Weymouth[13]. Huckleberry specialised in teaching “backward” children[14] and I have in my possession a certificate from the Educational Handwork Association attesting that he had attended an advanced stage basketry course. It is probably reasonable to assume that this was connected with his specialised teaching. For some time he also taught at night-school[15]. I think he worked hard at advancing his career – two other certificates I possess show that he became an Associate of the College of Preceptors in 1931 and a Licentiate in 1932[16]. Apart from war service (see below) it would appear that George remained at this school until he was appointed headmaster of Sturminster Marshall School in 1943[17]. Some time later he became headmaster at West Moors School from where he retired in 1956[18].
Huckleberry was for many years a member of the Masons. He appears to have joined the Culham College lodge in 1919[19], remaining a member of that lodge until he transferred to the Portland lodge in 1922, subsequently leaving that lodge (and I assume the Masons alt
ogether) in
1937[20][21].
Huckleberry enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery Howitzer Brigade as a private on 25 November 1915, becoming a gunner 2nd class in April 1916 and a gunner in June of that year[22]. The brigade was deployed in France but I have not yet followed up the brigade diaries to ascertain exactly where. I don’t know when Huckleberry was demobbed although he was still with the brigade in October 1918 as there is a record of his passing a revision of gunnery drill[23]. It is also noted that in June of that year he had been posted to RMA headquarters for training for a commission[24]. As was standard practice Huckleberry was awarded the Victory and British War medals which are currently in my possession.
It was during his military service that he married Eleanor Alice Adelaide Russell on 12 June 1918 at Northwood on the Isle of Wight[25].
During the early part of WWII Huckleberry was a civil
defence warden and I have a letter from the local head warden (W Cumming)
commending his action during a raid in 1942 which destroyed the house in Old
Castle Road, Weymouth in which the family were living. This was the second time
that the house had been bombed, the first being in 1940 when the weapon did not
explode[26][27].
They had two children – Walter Harry and Charles Roskelly.
After he retired Huckleberry moved with his wife to a new development at West Parley, Dorset[28]. There, among other activities, he became the first warden at the newly built St Mark’s church[29]. He died on 9 January 1963[30].
I was 12 when Huckleberry died and my memories of him are rather thin. Perhaps the best description I can afford him is that he came across as a very “straight” person. Life appeared to be very ordered and structured with no room for deviation. However, he also came across as being very fair within the confines of his particular regime. I suspect that, without really showing it, he enjoyed his extended family. I particularly recall that he spent some time with me when I was quite young ensuring that I was competent with multiplication tables.
George Charles Bawden
An Upright Man
George Charles Bawden (usually known by his second name or, within the family, by his nickname – Huckleberry) was born at St Mawes, Cornwall on 3 December 1891[1], the only child of Thomas Henry James Bawden and his second wife Sarah Roskelly. In the 1891 census taken in the April before Huckleberry was born Thomas and Sarah are shown to be living at Marine Parade, St Mawes with the three children from Thomas’s first marriage; Henry, Christina and Mabel[2].
By the time of the 1901 census[3] the family had moved to the Coast Guard Station at Axmouth, Devon and young Henry had died.
My father believes that at some time the family moved to Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, evidenced by the fact that in 1996 he still possessed books signed by Huckleberry and dated there in 1908[4][5]. This is confirmed by a letter of reference from the headmaster of Parkstone School[6] indicating that Huckleberry was a pupil there from January 1906 to July 1909 and that he subsequently attended on one day a week as a student teacher until July 1910 at which time he presumably moved to teacher training college. He appears to have undertaken a student teacher role at Swanage School at the same time[7]. My father also told me[8] that Huckleberry had been patronised by the Reverend Gresley[9], vicar at West Pennard and possibly also by a Miss Drake.
So, by 1910 Huckleberry was at Culham College (a teacher training college)[10] from where he gained recognition as a certified teacher in 1912[11]. From there it would appear that he had a short stint at St George’s School, Portland as an assistant master[12] before moving to Melcome Regis Boys’ School, Weymouth[13]. Huckleberry specialised in teaching “backward” children[14] and I have in my possession a certificate from the Educational Handwork Association attesting that he had attended an advanced stage basketry course. It is probably reasonable to assume that this was connected with his specialised teaching. For some time he also taught at night-school[15]. I think he worked hard at advancing his career – two other certificates I possess show that he became an Associate of the College of Preceptors in 1931 and a Licentiate in 1932[16]. Apart from war service (see below) it would appear that George remained at this school until he was appointed headmaster of Sturminster Marshall School in 1943[17]. Some time later he became headmaster at West Moors School from where he retired in 1956[18].
Huckleberry was for many years a member of the Masons. He appears to have joined the Culham College lodge in 1919[19], remaining a member of that lodge until he transferred to the Portland lodge in 1922, subsequently leaving that lodge (and I assume the Masons alt
ogether) in
1937[20][21]. Huckleberry enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery Howitzer Brigade as a private on 25 November 1915, becoming a gunner 2nd class in April 1916 and a gunner in June of that year[22]. The brigade was deployed in France but I have not yet followed up the brigade diaries to ascertain exactly where. I don’t know when Huckleberry was demobbed although he was still with the brigade in October 1918 as there is a record of his passing a revision of gunnery drill[23]. It is also noted that in June of that year he had been posted to RMA headquarters for training for a commission[24]. As was standard practice Huckleberry was awarded the Victory and British War medals which are currently in my possession.
It was during his military service that he married Eleanor Alice Adelaide Russell on 12 June 1918 at Northwood on the Isle of Wight[25].
After he retired Huckleberry moved with his wife to a new development at West Parley, Dorset[28]. There, among other activities, he became the first warden at the newly built St Mark’s church[29]. He died on 9 January 1963[30].
I was 12 when Huckleberry died and my memories of him are rather thin. Perhaps the best description I can afford him is that he came across as a very “straight” person. Life appeared to be very ordered and structured with no room for deviation. However, he also came across as being very fair within the confines of his particular regime. I suspect that, without really showing it, he enjoyed his extended family. I particularly recall that he spent some time with me when I was quite young ensuring that I was competent with multiplication tables.
[1]
Birth registration GRO reference 1891 Dec Truro 5C 127.
[2]
1891 England and Wales census RG12/1827/40/19.
[3]
1901 England and Wales census RG13/2019/76/1.
[4] Letter 22 from Charles Roskelly Bawden to Frank G Bawden
20 January 1996.
[5] It
is possible that these books are among those stored in the “Archive”.
[6]
Letter from E Stanley Moss, headmaster of Parkstone School, dated 8 March 1912,
currently in my possession.
[7]
Letter from H P Padmore, head master of Swanage School, dated 5 March 1912,
currently in my possession.
[8]
Undocumented conversation with Charles Roskelly Bawden.
[9]
Photograph 394, which shows two elderly clergymen, was annotated by George’s
wife “Friends of Huckleberry in his youth who had much to do in making him the
man he was”. My father suggested that one of these gentlemen is the Rev.
Gresley.
[10]
1911 England and Wales census RG14/6478/117/3/10/9999.
[11]
Certificate of recognition supplied by the Board of Education, currently in my
possession.
[12]
Letter from John William Warren, headmaster of St George’s School Portland,
dated 2 July 1913, currently in my possession.
[13]
Letter from the managers of Melcome Regis Boys’ School, signed by Bert Biles
and dated 4 August 1933, currently in my possession.
[14]
Charles Roskelly Bawden autobiographical notes.
[15]
Ibid.
[16]
The College was an examining body and learned society of teachers whose aim was
to promote good, certifiable standards of teaching - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_Preceptors
accessed 23 September 2017.
[17]
Letter from Percy Smallman on behalf of Weymouth and Melcome Regis Education
Committee, dated 30 November 1943, currently in my possession.
[18]
Culham Club Magazine no 196, September 1963, page 29.
[19]
Certificate of initiation dated 19 November 1919.
[20]
Certificate of clearance from Culham College Lodge dated 12 September 1922,
currently in my possession.
[21]
Certificate of clearance from Portland Lodge dated June 1937, currently in my
possession.
[22]
Royal Marines Register of Service, National Archives reference ADM 159/97/1396.
[23]
Ibid.
[24]
Ibid.
[25]
Marriage registration GRO reference 1918 Jun Isle of Wight 2B 1308.
[26]
Letter 22 from Charles Roskelly Bawden to Frank G Bawden 20 January 1996.
[27]
DGF Acutt in his book “Brigade in Action” wrote: ’One incident occurred in this
district which I can well remember, as it happened to a scholastic colleague of
mine, who was residing it what was then No 21 Old Castle Road. It was not until
some hours after the raid that my colleague, Mr C Bawden (a warden) on tidying
up the front garden and clearing it of rubble, discovered a hole about a foot
in diameter close to the front wall of the house. Investigation showed that the
hole sloped down and inward under the floor of the front room and appeared to
be of some depth. There was nothing to account for the hole except – could it
be an unexploded bomb? Hurriedly he moved his family to a place of safety, and
then informed the appropriate authorities of his suspicions. They proved to be
correct. The family had been having its meals, literally sitting over a bomb!
The floor boards were removed and at a depth of some six to seven feet the bomb
was discovered – a 100 kilo, which was rendered ineffective and removed. It was
certainly a case of Providence.’ Sherren & Son, p100-101.
[28]
Correspondence with FJM Gale & Co., solicitors; and TH Squire, builder,
dated 1956 and 1957. These documents have been passed to the current owners of
the property, Janet and Mark Cooke.
[29] Parish
magazine of All Saints with St Marks, West Parley, February 1963.
[30]
Death registration GRO reference 1963 Mar Christchurch 68 364.
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