Sid Pass

Whittington History Society

MEMORIES OF SIDNEY JOSEPH PASS

Born 19th August 1921 at No.1 The Green, Whittington

The following are facts on the amenities which existed in the village of Whittington during the 1920 – 1940 period, and of which many young and new residents may not be aware, also relative facts:

The community of Whittington in those times included the military people, who were always present in the village. Whittington Barracks always had two Battalions of two Regiments plus the strength of the North and South Staffordshire Depot, in all about 1000 Soldiers and families, who supported most of the activities in Whittington.

The three Public Houses all served Draught Beer brewed in Lichfield at Lichfield Brewery, which was later taken over by Ind Coope and Allsopps. All the pubs had dart boards, the Bell had a skittle game, and the Dog had a shooting gallery for Air Rifles. All the pubs had a piano and were frequently played for a sing song. The Odd Fellow Friendly Society lodge nights and the Buffs were held at the Bell. The Swan had a wooden building sited on the other side of the lane; this was used as a dance hall mainly and was always used by soldiers from the Barracks. Dancing to live music and changing partners, as was the case at all dances, made them into real social gatherings.

The Village Institute was the building that now houses the Whittington Social Club, which was formed in 1945, as an Ex-serviceman’s Club. The Village Institute was lit by acetylene gas that was generated on the premises, it was the main centre of social activities, such as Dances, Whist Drives and Concerts, as it had a stage with Dressing Rooms, and at the rear there was an annex, which housed a full sized Billiard Table.

From time to time Theatrical groups would book the Institute and stay sometimes for weeks, some were drama groups and others were variety groups. They all lodged with residents in the village and at The Dog.

Two local amateur groups also used to play at the Institute, one known as the Merrians, and the other the Whittington Amateur Dramatic society.

The Institute building was a farm barn which had been converted.

The arm of the law consisted of a Sergeant and a Constable, who were always about amongst the villagers, joining in village sport and social activities just like any other village person, which worked out very well.

The Boys Club existed in the building which is now known as the Church Hall. This organisation was different from what the name suggests. It was originally a semi-religious club and run by a Miss Ethel Smith, who then lived at Whittington Fields. They were a family of wealth. When she passed away the building was handed over to the Church and the Club activities then gradually came to an end.

In its hey-day the club was open five nights a week from six to nine thirty, the subscription was sixpence a month and was open to males over 14 years old. The Club had one full sized billiard table, one half sized billiard table, table tennis table, dart board, shooting gallery for air rifles, cards, dominoes, draughts and ropes with large rings on the end, on which could be hooked two parallel bars for gymnastics, boxing gloves were also available and were often in use.

The original building ran parallel with the road but was burned down about 1933 and rebuilt where it now stands, by Richard Moody, the local builder.

Until the 1939 War upset things, the Village always had a football team which played on several different fields around the place. The cricket team, until recent events, played on Barley Croft at the end of what was the original Spring Lane. A Tennis Club also existed and had their court on the Bit End field.

Before the war started, the Boy Scout troop was run by the Head Schoolmaster, Mr E Hughes. Girl Guides were led by the then Vicar’s daughter, Barbara Fleming, and the Brownie Pack was run by Anne Neal.

The Village also had an annual Flower and Vegetable Show, held in the field opposite the school playing field in Common Lane. One class in the show was for a Childrens’ collection of wild flowers. A Fair was always in attendance, and usually showmen named Drakeley or Francis came with side shows and a round-a-bout - steam driven. A Military Band usually played during the one day event.

May Day was upheld by choosing a school girl as May Queen. A procession went from the school via Church Street to the field opposite the Church where the Queen was crowned, and then followed Maypole dancing to a gramophone and records by the school children.

Village sports were more recent than some of the foregoing. During the period 1950-1960 they were held in the Bit End field and organized by the school teachers (Mrs Pashley and Mr Nichols) and parents, mainly for the children, but adults joints in also - not serious but novelty and fun events.

The Church Fete has been in existence many years and was held in Whittington Hall grounds and in the grounds of Fisherwick House.

For many years the Croft was used as a playing field by kind permission of Major Dyott until it was taken for building land for more houses.

Whittington had a weekly Doctor’s Surgery, held every Wednesday morning at No.1 "The Green", residence of Mr. A J Pass, who was sick visitor and paid out sick pay to Oddfellow Members who organized the surgery.

Whittington during these years was blessed with an Angel - District Nurse Darby - who came to the Village when she was 18 years old and stayed until retirement. With a capable nurse and friend like Nurse Darby in the community, very often villagers would rely on her advice and treatment rather than go to see a Doctor, although her main task was Maternity Midwife, on-call twenty four hours a day and night.

Two retired soldiers, Mr Joe Brown and Mr Ashton Travers were employed by the District Council to keep the village clean and tidy, which was very successful. Each had rather a large handcart to transport their tools and the rubbish they collected. These two gents swept the streets, mowed the verges with scythes, and edged with a mattock. Result very tidy village.

The Village garage was on the corner of The Green, run by Mr Tom Linney, who was Chauffeur to the Seckhams who lived at Whittington Old Hall. Petrol was originally served in two gallon cans which were returnable. Later on - and up until Mr Linney - retired, petrol was dispensed by two hand pumps, and could be obtained until about 9.30pm. He also carried out repairs and sold accessories in a small way.

A Taxi could be obtained in the village; a Mrs Sturgess had a four seater “T” Ford. She lived at Holly Villa in Main Street and later had a four seater Standard. Also a Miss Bella Moody, sister to the local builder, ran a two seater Ford with a Dicky seat. This service would get you to the station, where it was mainly used.

People could have their Boots and Shoes repaired in the village by a Mr Paddy Wheelan, who lived on the Rock, also Mr Jack Vicary who has a wooden hut in Mann’s field opposite Balls Farm as a work shop, and later John Pass (my brother) was a collecting agent for the shoe repairer at the Barracks. Also, a Whittington man, Mr Fred Owen, who was blind, had a wooden building sited on the Croft, where he carried out repairs and sold sweets, minerals and tobacco.

Villagers could get their horse shoed, implements repaired, chisels drawn out, picks and axes sharpened, items forge welded, at Mr. Tom Windridge's Blacksmith Shop, which was sited almost on the same spot as where the Village Hall is built. Later he moved to Chapel Lane, where now a house has been built next to the Telephone Exchange.

Fish and Chips were available from a Mr J Payne’s shop in Blacksmiths Lane; it was taken over by a family named Spooner. These premises are now part of the Co-operative Stores and unloading bay. Another shop where the frying was in dripping was run by Mrs Bradbury in what was a farm building at Green Farm, Main Street, part of which is still intact. Then at a later date just before the war, a shop was opened in Church Street alongside the footpath that goes across the Croft by a Mr Foster, who was a Midland Red bus driver and was later taken over by a Mr Hartley, a soldier who had finished his time in the army at the Barracks.

Bread was baked by Mr F Aston in the bakehouse behind their shop, which is now the Co-operative in Main Street. The Bakehouse was sited where the Co-op now stands, and was a flash oven burning coal, turning out a real crusty loaf, also buns, scones and cakes (plain).

Milk was delivered morning and night by Mr Tom Mann of Rock Farm, and by Maggie Alsopp from the farm, which is now farmed by Mr H Ball. Baxter employed a Mr Jim Britt, who delivered in the morning only. Milk was measured out by the pint at your door into your own jug.

Fresh free range eggs were always available from these farms and from Mr A Coxe of Callingswood. He ran a Poultry Farm of Pedigree Stock, part on the land adjoining his house and part of the field now taken for more houses on The Rock and Pass Avenue.

The local Butcher, Mr Harry Farnsworth, killed all the animals on the premises which are still intact, bordered by Main Street (opposite the Co-operative Shop) and The Green; he also produced sausage, pigs’ pudding, pickled beef and faggotts. Any cooking he had to do was taken to the Baker’s oven at Astons. Astons would also cook anyone’s Christmas dinner if sometimes it proved too big for the oven at home. Farnsworth’s also had a small shop at the Main Street end of the premises, where they sold green groceries, sweets and some fancy goods.

At that time there was not much call for vegetables, as every family had a vegetable garden or an allotment. One area of allotments were between The Bell and The Rock, and the other was along the side of the canal; and were reached via Norrington lane (Big Norrington), both taken for housing.

Before the event of television, Major and Mrs Dyott of Freeford Hall, put on shows with Magic Lantern Slides, many of their travels to South Africa and Australia during the 1930’s. Major Dyott operated the slides while Mrs Dyott gave a commentary on them.

Mr Jack Evans ran a Cycle Repair Shop in part of the cottage in Main Street next door to the shop. Carbide, batteries, tyres and all cycle accessories could be bought from him all hours of the day.

Whittington had two deliveries of mail per day before the clever people thought up First and Second Class mail. The local postman, Mr Jack Berks, was also the local Barber; he lived in the cottages which are now demolished, where the Hardware shop stands.

Ice cream was made and sold by Mrs Rickwood at Woodbine Cottage, Main Street, and also next door by Mrs Leach, who at this time kept a General Store, including the sale of clothes.

A weekly event was the Soldiers from the Barracks on Route March with their full Military Band playing, and most of the dances which took place in the village would have a dance band formed from these soldier musicians.

The small building behind the house called “Tops” on the crossroads by The Dog, was always known as the Girls Club Room. It belonged to Major Dyott of Freeford, and was used by the Girl Guides, Brownies, the Band of Friends (Girls) and the Kings Messengers (Boys). The two latter were religious groups who did handicraft work and each year a sale of work was held at Freeford Hall, which was like a Garden Party; the proceeds went to Missionaires. The Child Welfare Clinic, a monthly event, was also held in this building.

The shop which is now the Post Office was a General Stores and before the war was owned by a Mrs Walker, who was a sort of agent for Marsh and Baxter’s Pork Butchers, and sold all types of cooked meats and everything from a pig except!

Daily newspapers were delivered from Lichfield by carrier bicycle, and evening papers were delivered by Mr Sid Richardson, whose family lived in the cottage adjoining the Bell Inn in Main Street.

The Swan Pub has a Pianola operated by an old penny in the slot; it had a selection of tunes, a forerunner of the modern Juke Box of today.

The Village Green was worn bare by the continuous playing of Cricket or Football by the local children. A Fair would be on the Green for one week each year, usually between Kings Bromley and Alrewas Shows; the Fair left one show at Whittington then went on to the other show. There were side shows sometimes Roundabout Dobby Horses Steam drive, or at odd times chair-a-planes and swing boats.

St Giles Church Steeple was then topped with a Wind or Weather Vane, now replaced by a Cross. The Weather Vane was taken note of by locals, when they had to make their weather forecast, taking into consideration wind direction and changes of direction.

During the late 1950’s Whittington School was classed as Secondary Modern. Children were brought from other local villages for certain subjects, such as woodwork. The Headmaster, Mr Charles Nicholl’s, special subject was woodwork, so a weekly evening class was run for approximately four years, which I was pleased to attend.

A clothing Club was in existence and may still be!! This was organized by the local Vicar and backed by a charity. A restricted number of villagers were given a turn in this club; they had to pay 1/- per week on their card, which was taken by the Vicar for a year. A voucher was then given to each person, who took it along to two or three approved shops, where they could buy clothes and linen at slight discounts plus the value added by the charity to their contributions.

Until about 1938, Whittington had four Public Houses; the Peel Arms was then closed. For many years it was run by Mrs Stevens. The premises are now used as a farm by Jim Cooper, who was at Rock Farm before the land was sold for more houses. The Peel Arms near the canal had a boat wharf at the rear where coal was unloaded for use in the village.

The Club, when it was still an Ex-Servicemen’s Club used to organize annual children’s’ outings to the seaside for the day, Mums and Dads also went along. These were very popular as the children were paid for from Club Funds.

Many short pleasant walks could be taken in and around the village, but are now blocked, and spoilt by the building of houses, and farming methods of today. Some walks fortunately were rescued from this fate.

Many items of clothing could be bought from Mrs Leach’s shop in Main Street, now under a new owner; ladies and baby clothes also knitting wools were the main sales. Ideal stamps were given with purchases, the forerunner of Green Shield.

Mother did not have to go to the supermarket in those days. Her main supplies were bought at George Masons. Every Tuesday a Mr George Rowes called on his pedal cycle to collect payment for the last week’s bill, and an order the following week. This was delivered by van the following Thursday by a Mr George Slater. The groceries were taken from the cardboard box which was taken away empty. Approximately 3 shillings and sixpence was saved each week against prices in local shops.