(Continued)
Next door lived Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and family; he worked for the Tilbrook family who lived opposite and farmed locally. I remember their stackyard was situated next door to their house at the lower end of the Street, and stacks were once set alight much to the consternation of the village, but fortunately no damage was done to property.

Next door to the Thomas's lived Alec and Bessie Sadler who kept the Post Office. In those days Alec had to cycle to Withersfield to collect the mail, bring it home, sort it and then deliver it. Alec was a great character. He was captain of the local cricket team and I was lucky to be able to play with him and many others when I came home from school (Canterbury).

Next door Mr. Baines had his saddler's shop but he lived further up the Street where the new Rectory is situated. The last house on this side of the street used to be the village shop kept by a Mr. Purkis, but this was closed long ago.

Little Thurlow Hall was the home of Hugh Fleming whose brother, the Rev. Basil Fleming, was the Rector of Great Thurlow. The bakery was run by Mr. Rutter. I remember that during the summer months when the two village pumps ran dry, the water for the baking was obtained from the pump in our kitchen. This well has now been covered in.

Mrs. Pemberton Barnes (a very eccentric lady) lived in the big house next to the bakery. There was also a windmill at the back, and a tennis court where father and Mr Rogers used to play. On the square lived Fred Atherton and his family before they moved to Great Thurlow opposite the church. He was the gardener to the Rev. Basil Fleming, and pumped the organ on Sundays. I believe there are many members of the family still living in the area.

There was a house called "The Limes" where Capt. Frink lived, and I believe his son the Brigadier had a house built down The Drift. In a barn at the back of the Cock Inn the villagers used to play skittles, and the noise was like thunder to us children.