Page 30 - Moreton Village Only Book

30 Moreton Village Only

In fact these shelters are now quite a rarity as only a few have been preserved, and the only
other one known to exist locally is at The Prebendal in Thame. Those with long memories
will recollect that the population had a choice of two domestic air raid shelters in the war
– the “Morrison” shelter for use in the home and the “Anderson” shelter for use outside,
both being named after members of Churchill’s wartime cabinet.

During the war, and for a number of years afterwards, the village had the services of
George Fulkes, a baker who delivered fresh bread daily. He had married into the Jackman
family who owned a bakery and a coffee shop in the Buttermarket at Thame (the shop is
now occupied by Don Butler, Upholstery). The bakery was in Park Street, Thame and
George baked no less than three times a day and it was not unusual for his delivery to be
at 10p.m. – which earned him the nickname the “Midnight Baker”.

A reference made in an article in The Farmers Weekly, 21st June, 1946 about Mr. Wynn’s
milking machine, one of the first in this country, as being the cheapest of all ways of milking.

The Second World War had catalysed industrial changes and innovation, and
agriculture was likewise affected. This meant that the post-war period saw some
monumental changes on the farms and particularly the introduction of new methods
and machinery. For example, hens caged in indoor batteries replaced systems of free-
range coops in the fields, and by 1946 Allan Wynn was milking some 50 cows at
Meadowbrook Farm. Alfa-Laval milking machinery had been installed and shortly
after that they acquired their first combine harvester. This was an International B64
with a six-foot cut, which was purchased second-hand for some £350. Today, a new
machine would cost at least £100,000.

As a result of such changes, the immediate post-war period saw rapidly falling roles
on the farms, which caused disquiet to those sons of Moreton who returned home from
the war, with every confidence of re-employment on the land. They had risked their lives
for their country and given their best years, and understandably felt they should at least be
assured of a job. Fortunately, salvation was at hand in the shape of the car works at
Cowley where there was a robust recruitment programme in the period following the last