Page 31 - Moreton Village Only Book

Moreton Village Only 31

war. This ensured that there would not, after all, be unemployment for troops returning
home to their native Moreton.

Despite the prospect of good wages, not everyone went to work at Cowley. Door-to-
door salesmen remained in evidence and besides the Midnight Baker, another frequent
caller on the Moreton households was, Mr. Coggins. He came round in a van selling just
about everything under the sun, especially paraffin. He would buy any rabbit skins the
residents had available. They could usually oblige, as rabbit poaching was not exactly
uncommon, especially when people were able to lawfully enter upon land, for example
when there was a meeting of the local Hunt. Then they certainly took full advantage of
any opportunity presented!

However, in the big freeze of 1947 there were no callers at all for at least three days as
the village was completely cut off until a way out was dug with shovels. Jim Howes remembers
that Mr. Quainton, a farm labourer who lived at No. 14 The Furlongs, fell down on the ice
breaking a bone. It was impossible to get a doctor or an ambulance to the scene, so Samuel
Howes loaded him onto a wheelbarrow to get him back home to await medical attention
when the road was cleared.

As many of the villagers had only modest means, there was some assistance available
with “church coal”. This was a subsidy scheme, probably using income from the Moreton
Welfare Fund. One bag would be paid for and four bags delivered. These arrangements were
administered by a lady living at Folly Cottage who had earlier been a bishop’s wife and who
was generally considered to be rather “posh”. She kept a full-time maid whose living quarters
consisted of a shed in the garden. Peg Bradbury remembers taking the contributions to her
both before and after the war. There was also a scheme whereby families paid into a fund to
help with possible hospitalisation costs should the need arise – all of this was of course before
the NHS appeared. To be a member, one penny per week had to be paid per family to May
Mott who looked after the scheme on behalf of the village folk.

By the 1950’s the Devonshire family had been running the Royal Oak for about 15
years and would continue to do so until 1976. In the early days of their occupation the
facilities were very basic with one bucket out at the back for the comfort of the ladies and
another outside for the convenience of the men. There was the usual musical entertainment
on some evenings – quite often provided by a soloist performing on the piano accordion.
There was the ubiquitous Christmas Club and we are told a very successful darts team,
which is not surprising given the local influence of Aubrey Grace who was a dart player of
national repute. Aubrey won several prestigious competitions and was runner up in the
News of the World Individual Championship of London and the Home Counties in the
1936/37 season, where there were some 16,500 entrants.

One of the houses in The Furlongs was occupied at this time by a Mrs. White. She is
best remembered for owning a parrot which she always maintained was a cock bird.
However, one day it laid an egg causing Mrs. White considerable surprise and
consternation. The strain on the poor bird had obviously been too great, as a few days
later the hapless thing died!

In the 1950’s the Dennis family sold
Leys Farm and the milk round was
discontinued. This had been conducted on
a very personal basis whereby householders
would come out to the roadside to have their
milk ladled into their jugs straight from the
churns on the cart. Leys Farmhouse was
altered and improved by the new owners,
the Hawes family. There is still some activity
today at Leys Farm, but the farm buildings
are no longer used. In order to house his
family after selling the farm, Nelson Dennis
built a bungalow which is known as Elm
View. Then, some years later, a further
bungalow called The Furs was constructed
on the adjoining land. Cottage below the Royal Oak – now demolished.