Personalities, Part III , Blisworth, Northamptonshire, UK.

All pictures are presented at relatively low resolution.   In some cases the pictures are not available due to copyright restrictions.  However, permission has been obtained, where possible, to include them here.  Printed below each image is the photographer's name, if known.

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24-35   Bernard Burbidge and Fred Digby in the 1920's

24-36   Fred Digby c. 1940.  See the railways section.

24-37   Sister Mary Ward of Stoke Bruerne, please see below.

Life and Work of Sister Mary Ward 

Mary Amos was born in Stoke Bruerne in 1885, daughter of Thomas Amos ropemaker.  She married Chas. Ward (date not known) who became eventually the village ropemaker after Mr. Amos died.  Mary travelled to Europe and stayed at many hostels and covents where she learnt a considerable body of medical knowledge as an assistant nurse.  She began as a nurse and midwife for the families on narrow boats in the 1920's and, as they now say, won their hearts and minds.  She became an employee of the Grand Union and Associated Canal Carrying Companies who readily saw the advantage of having her skills.  She retired in 1962 but continued to help the women of families on narrow boats for no payment or salary in return.  She frequently encountered doctors such as Derek Bull who generally came to respect her skills.  She was awarded the British Empire Medal in c1985 for services to the public.

24-38   Bob Young, George Clarke (aged 85 with his dog Sally) and Mr. Green beside Bob Young's daughter's house in High Street.  Mr. Green is the son of school teacher Arthur Green.  The year was 1996.

24-39   Doctor W.A.Clements senior.  A driver to avoid apparently - the Freeston brothers were often called to extract him and his car from a hedge.  Indeed, a doctor to avoid as he displayed a frightening shake and any injection tended to be hit-and-miss.

Possessed of double vision and a supreme confidence in driving between pairs of lights ahead, he drove straight over the flower bed in the centre of the Rector's front garden - guided by porch lights, apparently.

He originally trained to be a dentist but with the onset of sometimes severe Parkinsonism he opted for a GP life.  His son Steven joined the practice to help out.

Footnote:   Click here to discover the working conditions for this doctor and the two who followed him. Also a sorry tale of health, or lack of it, in times well before the NHS.

24-40   Ron French well remembered as an allotmenter and a chimney sweep on his day off (he worked in Phipp's brewery).  He would frequently be asked to weddings in order to ensure good luck for the couple.

After Frank's uncle got married there was no honeymoon - he returned to work immediately.

George Freeston confessed that he (not surprisingly) liberated the legging board which he found pushed into his neighbour's (Mr. Ratledge's) barn roof timbers.  Mr. Ratledge had used it for years as a convenient hop-up plank whilst working, repair bricklaying, in the tunnel.

24-43  Matilda Warren, 1831 -1899 (photo kindly provided by Ann Kirby)

Matilda Warren, married to Frederick Warren, helped run the post office at what is now 21A High Street.  Being literate and willing to help, she would read incoming letters and compose outgoing ones for any residents in difficulties.

He is accompanied by coachman Benjamin George Capell (son of John Capell of Sun, Moon and Stars note).

The Blisworth Girl Guides were founded in c. 1922 by Miss Margaret Tait (Lounds).  A pack of Brownies was formed for the "little ones" in February 1935, Mrs Mona M Clinch (Blisworth House) being Brown Owl.

24-46  A study:   Joe Bennett, who lived in a cottage by the Sun, Moon and Stars.  He managed a bookstall at the railway station.

Here, with relatives, were the only surviving Plowmans in the village c. 1920.

Left to right:  John Walker,  James Thomas Beeson, ? behind, Sarah Ann Voss Plowman, Sam Plowman behind, servant girl?
 

He is seated in the garden at Blisworth Hill Farm as he was a friend of the Pages, farmers.

Mssr Brown and Gibson were staff at the station, the three Hare sisters were teachers and musicians, the Clarke sisters were daughters of rail worker "Ducky" Clarke (because he married a Mallard girl).  Kitty Shakeshaft was daughter of a millwright at Westleys and hired out rowboats on the canal by the hour.  

Left to Right:  Francis Whitmore, Mr W Woolacott (sen.), Miss Davey (Shutlanger), Mr. Roe (Gayton),S Woolacott, George Perkins (son of village butcher), Mrs Faulkner (grandma of artist Peter Newcombe) and Mrs H. Warren.

At earlier times (eg. Nov 4, 1949) the group was called "Blisworth Players".  They took part in a countywide Women's Institute drama festival involving 21 village groups.  Mrs. E. R. Freeston, Mrs. W. A. Clements, Mrs. F. Cowley and Mrs. T. A. Sharpe were involved from Blisworth (no photos).

Part IV