7 Leisure activities in the village

C h a p t e r 7 Leisure Activities in the Village

With the passing years, there has been more oppor tunity for people to become involved in leisure activities, and this is reflected in the life of our village In the early years of the 20th centur y many of the organised activities would tend to b e c e n t re d o n t h e c h u r c h , t h e c h a p e l o r t h e s c h o o l . C o m p e t i t i o n a n d r i v a l r y w i t h o t h e r v i l l a g e s w a s f o u g h t o u t through traditional team spor ts, such as cricket and football. Suppor t for and par ticipation in such events has always e n g e n d e r e d a s e n s e o f b e l o n g i n g a n d p r i d e i n t h e c o m m u n i t y ; e s p e c i a l l y s o i n t h o s e d a y s w h e n e v e r y o n e k n e w ever yone else

E n t e r t a i n m e n t i n c l u d e d c o n c e r t par ties where people could enjoy the p o p u l a r s o n g s o f t h e d a y o r p e r h a p s p o e m s o r m o n o l o g u e s . We s h o u l d remind ourselves that there was no hit parade or ‘ top ten ’ , there was no radio broadcasting and for most people no g r a m o p h o n e s ! T h e p o p u l a r s o n g s were those that people gre w to enjoy having heard local per formers sing on f r e q u e n t o c c a s i o n s a t t h e s c h o o l o r c h u rc h c o n c e r t p a r t y Fo r t h o s e w h o e n j o y e d l e s s p a s s i v e e n t e r t a i n m e n t t h e r e w a s a l w a y s t h e S o c i a l T h e s e o c c a s i o n s o f f e r e d a m i x t u r e o f e n t e r t a i n m e n t : g a m e s f o r t h e c h i l d r e n , d a n c i n g f o r t h e o l d e r f o l k a n d p e r h a p s a r e c i t a l o r c o m m u n i t y singing for all age groups

T h i s c h a p t e r n o t o n l y c o n s i d e r s t h e v a r i o u s o r g a n i s e d a c t i v i t i e s t h a t have been an impor tant par t of village l i f e o v e r t h e y e a r s , b u t a l s o c o v e r s s o m e o f t h e v e n u e s t h a t h a v e b e e n u s e d , a n d t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n s t h a t r u n them. In par ticular, for over 75 years the village hall has been an impor tant v i l l a g e v e n u e f o r m e e t i n g s , a c t i v i t i e s a n d e v e n t s , m a n y o f w h i c h a r e o r g a n i s e d b y t h e V i l l a g e H a l l C o m m i t t e e i t s e l f T h e Po t t e r s p u r y Spor ts and Social Club is a relatively y o u n g o r g a n i s a t i o n , b u t h a s h a d i t s ow n p re m i s e s f o r s o m e 2 5 ye a r s a n d p rov i d e s f a c i l i t i e s f o r c o m p l e m e n t a r y activities

P o t t e r s p u r y, l i k e m a n y o t h e r v i l l a g e s , h a s l o n g b e e n p r o u d o f i t s

The ‘Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Band’ outside the chapel in the early 1900s [Mrs Mary Nunnari]

Pury football team from the early 1900s. [Hilda Faux’s ‘Memories’]

s p o r t i n g t r a d i t i o n s , a n d s o m e o f o u r spor ts clubs go back a ver y long time

T h e F o o t b a l l

C l u b

T h e v i l l a g e f o o t b a l l c l u b h a s r u n a l m o s t c o n t i n u o u s l y s i n c e t h e 1 8 9 0 s a n d , d u r i n g t h e 1 9 2 0 s a n d 1 9 3 0 s , Pu r y w a s t h e d o m i n a n t v i l l a g e t e a m i n t h e a r e a , b e i n g c h a m p i o n s o f t h e N o r t h B u c k s L e a g u e f o r s e v e r a l s e a s o n s . P h o t o s f r o m t h e 1 9 2 0 s o n w a r d s s h o w P u r y i n b l a c k a n d w h i t e s t r i p e d s h i r t s , h e n c e t h e y h a ve always been known as the Magpies

F o o t b a l l ( a n d c r i c k e t ) h o m e g a m e s w e r e p l a y e d o n M r S o p e r ’ s f i e l d o n t h e l e f t o f t h e Pu x l e y r o a d u n t i l t h e o u t b r e a k o f w a r i n 1 9 3 9 when the ver y strong team which had w o n s e v e r a l c h a m p i o n s h i p s w a s disbanded.

Reformed in 1946, the team was n o l o n g e r a s s t r o n g a n d h a d o n l y occasional successes in cup and league c o m p e t i t i o n s . I n 1 9 5 3 t h e t e a m moved to Walnut Tree Field, opposite H o l l y H o u s e , a n d t h e n i n 1 9 5 5 t o a n o t h e r f i e l d o p p o s i t e M a y ’ s C a f e P l a y e r s d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d i n c l u d e d A r c h i e B u s h e l l , J a c k Tr e w, A r t h u r

Evans, Frank and Reg Atkins, Charlie

M e a k i n s , G e o r g e B a s o n , J o h n Ni g h t i n g a l e a n d K e n B a r b y D u r i n g t h e 1 9 5 5 s e a s o n t h e t e a m w o n t h e N o r t h B u c k s D i v i s i o n 2 C h a l l e n g e S h i e l d w i t h a 2 - 1 v i c t o r y o v e r Deanshanger, which was followed by a n i g h t t o r e m e m b e r a t t h e A n c h o r where the club’s facilities were at the

The Watercress Cup

The football teams of Potterspur y a n d Ya r d l e y G o b i o n c o m p e t e d annually for the Watercress Cup, a n d i n t h e 1 9 2 0 s t h e r i v a l r y b e c a m e s o i n t e n s e t h a t a t o n e match trouble was expected. Sure e n o u g h t h e r e s u l t w a s h o t l y disputed so Jack Ratcliffe, Pur y ’ s r u n n i n g c h a m p i o n , g r a b b e d t h e c u p f r o m t h e t a b l e b e s i d e t h e pitch and set off, pursued by the Ya r d l e y t e a m A r r i v i n g a t t h e Anchor Inn, Jack gave the cup to t h e l a n d l a d y, M r s P r a t t , w h o l o c k e d i t i n t h e c e l l a r w h e r e i t r e m a i n e d , v i e w e d o n l y b y a chosen few, until the Anchor was d e m o l i s h e d i n 1 9 6 5 . I t t h e n f o u n d i t s w a y t o t h e m a l t i n g s a t the rear of the Reindeer which the club was using as changing rooms b u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y i t w a s l o s t , probably thrown away as rubbish b e c au s e i t s h i s t o ri c al s i gn i fi c an c e was not recognised.

Potterspury F C Championship winning team of 1937-38 Back row: George Johnson, Albert Evans, Jack Trew, Don Inwood, Charlie Webster Middle row: Alf Wootton, Eric Dunkley, Gordon Valler, Ken Holloway, Archie Bushell, George Dixon, Percy Leadbeater, David Kerr. Front row: Albert Tapp, Rupert Tapp, Sam Dunkley, Ted Postlethwaite, Captain Holt, John Elliot, Bob Russell, Doug Evans The team was photographed in front of the Mansion (Potterspury House), the home of the club president, Captain Holt [Source: Milton Keynes Museum]

Potterspury F.C. Champions 1923-24: Back row: Frank Jefcoate, Tom Patrick, Alan Cadd, Will Tapp, Tom Pratt; middle row: Arthur Barby, Bill Henson, Percy Leadbeater, Syd Tapp, Harry Jefcoate, George Wootton; front row: Burrell Faux, Bill Goodyear, Harry Tapp, Alf Woodward and Claude Faux. [Source: Mrs Gladys Barby]

t i m e Fr o m 1 9 5 6 t o 1 9 5 8 t h e c l u b ran a ver y successful under-18 side in t h e No r t h B u c k s M i n o r L e a g u e . By 1 9 5 8 t h e c l u b w a s s u p p o r t e d e v e r y Saturday afternoon by large numbers of spectators, and Becky Webster was o n l y t o o r e a d y t o a s s i s t i f a n opponent was progressing well down the wing within reach of her brolly!

A f t e r a s e a s o n ’ s c l o s u r e t h e c l u b w a s r e f o r m e d b y H a r o l d M e a k i n s , Ronald Henson, Maurice Lambert and B i l l G o o d r i d g e , a n d t h e p i t c h w a s moved to the field opposite the Nelson Cafe, on the Wakefield estate, where it remained until its move to its present s i t e o n t h e p l a y i n g f i e l d i n Me a d ow V i e w. I n t h e 1 9 5 9 / 6 0 s e a s o n a n e w r u l e w a s i n t r o d u c e d w h e r e b y o n l y resident village lads could play for the club This worked well and the team, the majority of whom were under 21, w o n t h e D i v i s i o n 2 t r o p h y f o r t w o y e a r s a n d w e r e r u n n e r s u p i n t h e Division 2 Championship in 1961.

O v e r t h e y e a r s w i l l i n g c o m m i t e e m e m b e r s , s u c h a s A r t h u r a n d K e n B a r b y, F r e d O s b o r n e , A r t h u r Wo o t t o n , G o r d o n B r y a n , H a r o l d M e a k i n s , R o n a l d H e n s o n , B r y a n B e v a n , G r a h a m Wa l k e r , J a c k C r a m p t o n a n d K e n n y R u s s e l l h a v e ser ved the club well In 1978 Dickie Wo o t t o n t o o k o n t h e r o l e s o f s e c r e t a r y a n d m a n a g e r a n d w a s t h e m a i n s t a y o f t h e c l u b f o r t h e n e x t e i g h t y e a r s w h e n d i v i s i o n t r o p h i e s w e r e w o n a g a i n s t S i l v e r s t o n e a n d Milford Villa

To t a k e u s t h r o u g h t h e s u c c e s s s t o r y o f t h e c l u b i n r e c e n t y e a r s w e turn to an account written by David M a j o r , w h o h a s b e e n a n a c t i v e member of the club since 1988

I n 1 9 8 8 l o c a l s u p p o r t e r s d i s c u s s e d t h e f e a s i b i l i t y o f b re a t h i n g n e w l i f e i n t o t h e c l u b w h i c h l a c k e d b o t h f i n a n c e a n d e n o u g h i n t e r e s t e d ‘ t w e n t y s o m e t h i n g s ’ k e e n t o p l a y f o o t b a l l Vi l l a g e re s i d e n t s l i k e Br y a n Be va n a n d Gr a h a m Wa l k e r h a d l o n g been successful in coaching the village y o u n g s t e r s r i g h t t h r o u g h f r o m p r i m a r y s c h o o l a g e t o 1 6 y e a r s o l d T h e i r i d e a w a s t o i n t r o d u c e t h e s e youths into adult football, to form a c o r e o f p l a y e r s f o r t h e v i l l a g e t e a m

that would last many years.

W i t h t h e f o u n d a t i o n s f o r f u t u r e success laid, a committee of locals was f o r m e d a n d M i c k H a r v e y, w h o h a d p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e o f p l a y i n g l o c a l f o o t b a l l , w a s a p p o i n t e d a s m a n a g e r Mick was an instant success, instilling c o n f i d e n c e i n t o t h e p l a y e r s a n d bringing in a fe w wise heads from the surrounding area to bolster the team He w o r k e d f o r W i n t l e He a t i n g a n d P l u m b i n g , w h i c h l e d t o B o b Wi n t l e g e n e r o u s l y p u r c h a s i n g k i t a n d footballs. The club applied to join the No r t h B u c k s L e a g u e i n w h i c h t h e y had played in the 1930s, winning the f i r s t d i v i s i o n t r o p h y i n t h e 1 9 3 7 / 3 8 s e a s o n . I n Au g u s t 1 9 8 8 Po t t e r s p u r y F. C . t o o k t o t h e f i e l d f o r t h e i r f i r s t g a m e i n D i v i s i o n 2 o f t h e N o r t h B u c k s L e a g u e ( D i v i s i o n 2 w a s a c t u a l l y t h e l o w e s t o f f o u r d i v i s i o n s w i t h t h e f i r s t , t h e i n t e r m e d i a t e a n d the premier ‘professionals’ all ahead of u s ! ) w i t h a n a ve r a g e a g e o f l e s s t h a n 21 and one player of 15. As the game kicked off I remember feeling scared, e xc i t e d a n d t h e t e a m l o o k e d a w f u l l y s m a l l , w i t h o n l y o n e o r t w o m o u s t a c h e s a n d s i x h a i r y l e g s a m o n g s t t h e m T h e y n e e d n ’ t h a v e w o r r i e d a s t h e c l u b w a s a b o u t t o embark on the most successful period in its long histor y

I n t h a t f i r s t s e a s o n w e w o n t h e c o v e t e d ‘ d o u b l e ’ – t h e l e a g u e championship and the cup We didn’t

Pury supporters outside the Anchor Inn. [Source: Jack Clamp]

Team of 1988/9. Back row: J. Richmond, D. Roberts, C. Aldous, M. Harvey, B. Gray, J. Rogers, J Major Front row: M Chamberlain, D Major, C Dimmock, C Bates, R Martin, L Walker [Source: Bryan Bevan]

The Magpies (youth) Football Club

I n 1 9 7 6 B r y a n B e v a n a n d R o g e r D i m m o c k s t a r t e d coaching village youngsters at Meadow View. Br yan went on to help run a football t e a m f o r t h e v i l l a g e s c h o o l , a n d t h e n , w i t h G r a h a m Wa l k e r ’ s h e l p a n d e n c o u r a g e m e n t , f o r m e d a s e p a r a t e c l u b i n i t i a l l y w i t h t w o t e a m s i n t h e u n d e r - 1 1 a n d u n d e r - 1 2 a g e g r o u p s p l a y i n g i n t h e M i l t o n K e y n e s a n d D i s t r i c t

League

T h e f i r s t t r o p h y t h e s e y o u n g l a d s w o n w a s f o r P o t t e r s p u r y school, and the same set o f l a d s s t a y e d t o g e t h e r progressing up to under-16 level and winning numerous trophies. A fe w progressed to county schools level and Bradley Sandeman went on to play professional soccer for the Cobblers and Port Vale. Many of the lads continued

l o s e a s i n g l e h o m e g a m e a l l s e a s o n ; Mick Har vey and Jimmy Rogers each s c o r e d ov e r 3 0 g o a l s . T h e f o l l o w i n g s e a s o n w e w o n t h e D i v i s i o n I championship and were promoted to join the big boys in the Intermediate D i v i s i o n . P l a y e r s l e f t a n d w e r e replaced by the next wave graduating from the youth team, and soon there w a s a s t r o n g c o r e o f e s t a b l i s h e d p l a y e r s a t t h e h e a r t o f Po t t e r s p u r y F C A reser ve team was formed who, to begin with, str uggled with horrific defeats but gre w to success as players j o i n e d f r o m n e a r b y v i l l a g e s M i c k Har vey stood down as manager after l e a d i n g t h e c l u b i n i t s f i n e s t a c h i e ve m e n t : w i n n i n g t h e No r t h a n t s A r e a C u p a t C o g e n h o e F C u n d e r f l o o d l i g h t s ; P o t t e r s p u r y F o o t b a l l C l u b h a d m a d e i t s m a r k o n l o c a l football.

T h e a r r i v a l o f m a n a g e r s D a v e C h i l d s f o r t h e f i r s t t e a m a n d N i c k P a c e y f o r t h e r e s e r v e s b r o u g h t a n i n f l u x o f n e w p l a y e r s , t a l e n t e d a n d committed youngsters who wanted to p l a y t h e i r p a r t i n P u r y ’ s s u c c e s s Results for the reser ves improved and

to play successfully for the village at senior level and are still doing so 22 years later. After starting up in 1976 the Magpies have run teams

e v e r y y e a r s i n c e , s o m e s e a s o n s w i t h u p t o f o u r t e a m s . P l a y i n g s u c c e s s c a n b e m e a s u r e d b y w i n n i n g t r o p h i e s a n d t h r o u g h t h e s h e e r e n j o y m e n t g a i n e d f r o m t r a i n i n g o r p l a y i n g i n m a t c h e s T h e c l u b i s proud of their many ‘fair play’ awards

F o l l o w i n g o n f r o m B r y a n a n d G r a h a m , m a n y p a r e n t s h a v e p u t i n m a n y h o u r s h e l p i n g to make junior training and games run smoothly, including Mick Wootton, Steve McGill, Roger Tapp, Steve Grey, Geoff Young and Derek R a y T h e p r e s e n t u n d e r - 1 6 t e a m i s m a n a g e d b y Je s s Owens and the under-11 side by John and Aaron Sheal.

t h e f i r s t t e a m w e re p r o m o t e d t o t h e Premier Division of the Nor th Bucks L e a g u e , a n u n t h i n k a b l e s u c c e s s , gaining promotion in three successive seasons, and more was to come

B y n o w t h e a v e r a g e a g e o f t h e f i r s t t e a m w a s 2 5 y e a r s , w i t h s o m e having played together for six seasons, a n d c o m p e t i t i o n f o r i n c l u s i o n keeping ever yone on their toes In the 1 9 9 4 / 5 s e a s o n , f o l l o w i n g o u r triumph in the League Cup with a 60 w i n a g a i n s t Si l ve r s t o n e , t h e l e a g u e c h a m p i o n s h i p we n t t o t h e w i re w i t h t h r e e t e a m s , Po t t e r s p u r y, L e i g h t o n B u z z a r d a n d O l d B r a d w e l l , i n c o n t e n t i o n a l l s e a s o n a n d m e e t i n g o n e a n o t h e r i n t h e f i n a l f e w g a m e s O u r 3 - 2 w i n a g a i n s t O l d B r a d w e l l effectively ended their title hopes but a 1-1 draw against Leighton Buzzard m e a n t w e n e e d e d t o a v o i d d e f e a t against local rivals Silverstone to win the title for the first time in 57 years S t i l l s m a r t i n g f r o m t h e i r c u p f i n a l defeat 6-0 on a day we hit top form, Silverstone harried us but never really h a d t h e f i r e p o w e r t o b e a t u s , o u r ner ves showed and we missed a hatful

o f c h a n c e s t o w i n c o m f o r t a b l y a n d had to settle for a 1-1 draw It was the b e s t r e s u l t a l l r o u n d b e c a u s e Si l v e r s t o n e re p a i re d t h e i r p r i d e a f t e r t h e i r c u p f i n a l h a m m e r i n g , b u t we re pleased that a fellow small Nor thants village team had taken on and beaten the best of Bucks and Beds and won t h e d o u b l e M o r e t h a n a f e w b e e r s were consumed that day.

The following season, the reser ves emulated the first team ’ s success when they romped away with the Division I championship and clinched victor y in t h e c u p f i n a l , t h u s w i n n i n g t h e d o u b l e . N e w p l a y e r - m a n a g e r R y a n Bush led the first team in the Premier Division in what became a two-horse r a c e b e t w e e n P o t t e r s p u r y a n d Mu r s l e y Un i t e d . T h e w h o l e s e a s o n w a s t o b e d e c i d e d w h e n t h e t w o teams met in the last league match of the season and five days later were to d e c i d e t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e L e a g u e C u p f i n a l O n c e a g a i n Po t t e r s p u r y, when it tr uly mattered, proved to be up to the task in hand and put on a near faultless per formance, becoming l e a g u e c h a m p i o n s w i t h a 5 - 1 w i n

Under-13 Magpies of 1981 Back row: D Norminton, P Nash, J Billingham, J. Ellis, ? Swain, B. Lucas. Front row: M. Blackmore, F. Bull, J. Richmond, B. Aldous, L. Walker, D. Major [Source: Bryan Bevan]

The Sports and Social Club

A t t h e e n d o f t h e 1 9 6 0 s t h e P a r i s h C o u n c i l h a d purchased the land for the playing field From questions r a i s e d b y t h e F o o t b a l l C l u b a n d o t h e r s i t b e c a m e obvious that the Parish Council was unable to take on t h e f i n a n c i a l b u rd e n o f p rov i d i n g c h a n g i n g a n d o t h e r f a c i l i t i e s o n t h e f i e l d . In 1 9 7 0 , t h re e m e m b e r s o f t h e Parish Council, Horace Prosser, E r n i e Fa i r b r o t h e r a n d R o g e r P y e , w i t h m e m b e r s o f t h e F o o t b a l l C l u b a n d o t h e r interested villagers, formed the S p o r t s a n d S o c i a l C l u b . T h e s t a t e d a i m w a s t o p r o v i d e sporting and social facilities for use by all ages and groups of the c o m m u n i t y A s a s h o r t - t e r m measure the Football Club was g r a n t e d p e r m i s s i o n t o m o v e their changing hut to the field from its existing site.

In the early days, the main o b j e c t i v e w a s r a i s i n g f u n d s . M a n y v i l l a g e r e s i d e n t s w i l l r e c a l l t h e 2 5 0 C l u b w i t h i t s m o n t h l y c a s h p r i z e s , t h e s p o n s o r e d w a l k h e l d e a c h E a s t e r, t h e s e l l - o u t Ne w Ye a r ’ s Ev e d a n c e s , ‘ It ’ s - a - K n o c k o u t ’ , five-a-side football, fetes and car b o o t s a l e s . T h e r e a r e a l s o m e m o r i e s o f p r a m r a c e s h e l d round the village, the early ones s t a r t i n g a n d f i n i s h i n g i n t h e H i g h S t r e e t . O n e y e a r t h e wrong paint was used to mark out the the starting grid and it w a s n e a r l y a y e a r b e f o r e t h e lines wore away! There was also the hugely successful Festival of Tr a n s p o r t w h i c h w a s r u n i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e V i l l a g e Hall Committee.

The first stage was to build a p a v i l i o n f o r t h e f o o t b a l l a n d c r i c k e t c l u b s , w i t h c h a n g i n g ro o m s , s h owe r s , t o i l e t s , k i t c h e n a n d s t o r a g e area. Unfortunately during the construction it was found t h a t t h e f o u n d a t i o n s w o u l d h a v e t o b e r e d e s i g n e d because of the made-up ground in that area Despite this set-back the changing rooms were completed in 1975 £13,000 had been provided from fund raising, there was a grant of £5,000 and a £1,000 loan from the National Playing Fields Association. Earl Compton, Chairman of t h e N o r t h a n t s P l a y i n g Fi e l d s A s s o c i a t i o n , f o r m a l l y

opened the building in 1976

The second stage was the building of a spor ts hall f o r b a d m i n t o n , v o l l e y b a l l , s o f t b a l l , t e n n i s , k e e p - f i t , dancing classes and aerobics. It was back to fund raising again Fortunately the Village Hall Committee was on a s i m i l a r m i s s i o n a n d a f t e r s e v e r a l j o i n t m e e t i n g s t h e

P o t t e r s p u r y F e s t i v a l o f Tr a n s p o r t w a s b o r n . Eventually £56,000 was raised f r o m v a r i o u s s o u r c e s a l o n g with grants of £30,000 and a l o a n o f £ 1 0 , 0 0 0 f r o m t h e Sports Council, with about 50 r e s i d e n t s s t a n d i n g a s g u a r a n t o r s f o r t h e l o a n . Po t t e r s p u r y P a r i s h C o u n c i l provided a grant to build a car p a r k D i s a s t e r s t r u c k a g a i n ! W i t h i n a f e w d a y s o f c o m p l e t i o n t h e a l l - p u r p o s e sprung wooden floor began to b u c k l e . A f t e r m a n y w e e k s o f site meetings and litigation the floor was re-laid and the sports h a l l f o r m a l l y o p e n e d i n Ju l y 1988

T h e t h i r d s t a g e i n v o l v e d j o i n i n g t h e p a v i l i o n t o t h e spor ts hall to provide a central social area and the fitting out o f t h e b a r a n d c e l l a r a r e a s . T h i s w a s c o m p l e t e d i n 1 9 9 2 w i t h c l u b i n c o m e f r o m h i r i n g s , f u n d r a i s i n g a n d a loan from a brewer y

T h e b u i l d i n g o f t h e h a rd s u r f a c e a r e a , w i t h f u l l floodlighting, and large enough for two tennis courts, was the f o u r t h s t a g e , w h i c h p r ov i d e d a n a l l - y e a r r o u n d v e n u e f o r f i v e - a - s i d e f o o t b a l l , n e t b a l l , b a s k e t b a l l a n d t e n n i s . It w a s funded by a lottery award of £23,500 along with grants of £ 4 , 0 0 0 f r o m S o u t h N o r t h a n t s C o u n c i l ( S N C ) a n d £6,700 from funds

Planning permission has been granted for a further e x t e n s i o n t o i m p r ov e t h e c h a n g i n g f a c i l i t i e s a n d t h e toilets and to create a multi-purpose games room With an estimated cost of £200,000, enquiries are being made for lotter y funding and loans, all of which will be subject to a works management plan (being agreed with SNC) to ensure adherence to noise abatement restrictions.

The Sports and Social Club

The multi-purpose all-weather sports courts.

The start of pram race during the 1970s.

T h e r e w a s s t i l l t h e c u p f i n a l , a n d a large crowd gathered at Roade F.C. to w a t c h . Fa t e m u s t h a v e d e c i d e d t h a t Pottersp u r y w o u l d w i n b e c a u s e , e ve n after conceding two goals in the first t h r e e m i n u t e s , w e w o n w i t h a ridiculous scoreline of 7-4.

A l t h o u g h s u c c e s s c o n t i n u e s f o r the club, probably that 1995/6 squad w a s t h e b e s t , a l l u n d e r 3 0 y e a r s o l d a n d g e n u i n e f r i e n d s w i t h u n e q u a l l e d team spirit, ever yone wanting to play w e l l f o r f e a r o f l e t t i n g d o w n t h e i r friends.

C l e a r l y, Da ve ’ s a c c o u n t d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t t h e c l u b h a d o u t g r o w n t h e N o r t h B u c k s L e a g u e a n d n e e d e d a f re s h c h a l l e n g e . B o t h t e a m s m ove d t o t h e No r t h a n t s C o m b i n a t i o n L e a g u e a n d i n t h e f i r s t s e a s o n , t h e f i r s t t e a m f i n i s h e d s e c o n d i n t h e I n t e r m e d i a t e D i v i s i o n b e h i n d We e d o n F C a n d w e r e p r o m o t e d t o t h e P r e m i e r Di v i s i o n Da ve Ma j o r w a s i n s t a l l e d a s t h e n e w f i r s t t e a m m a n a g e r f o r t h e c l u b’s d e b u t i n t h e Pre m i e r Di v i s i o n a n d t h e t e a m f i n i s h e d a c r e d i t a b l e s i x t h i n t h e l e a g u e Su c c e s s c a m e i n A p r i l 1 9 9 8 , w h e n Po t t e r s p u r y w o n t h e Bu c k i n g h a m C h a r i t y Cu p f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e s i n c e 1 9 3 8 C u r i o u s l y e n o u g h , t h e Po t t e r s p u r y g o a l k e e p e r i n t h e 1 9 3 8 t e a m w a s J a c k Tr e w ; w h e n t h e t ro p h y w a s n e x t w o n , s o m e 6 0 y e a r s l a t e r, t h e g o a l k e e p e r w a s Ja c k Tre w ’ s g r a n d s o n , Jo e Ma j o r.

I n t h e l a s t s e a s o n o f t h e m i l l e n n i u m , P o t t e r s p u r y F C ’ s s u c c e s s s t o r y c o n t i n u e d , a s t h e y w o n t h e B u c k i n g h a m C h a r i t y C u p b y b e a t i n g To w c e s t e r To w n F. C . 4 - 2 a f t e r e x t r a t i m e . T h e t e a m a l s o w o n t h e No r t h a n t s C o m b i n a t i o n Pre m i e r L e a g u e C u p f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e e v e r. Wi t h t h e s e n e w l e ve l s o f s u c c e s s , t h e c l u b h a d w o n a t l e a s t o n e t r o p h y e v e r y s e a s o n f o r e l e v e n s u c c e s s i v e s e a s o n s a n d h a d n e v e r l o s t a c u p f i n a l .

T h e

C r i c k e t C l u b

A l t h o u g h t h e c l u b h a d e x i s t e d p r e v i o u s l y, t h e e a r l i e s t r e c o r d o f Po t t e r s p u r y C r i c k e t C l u b f r o m t h e o r i g i n a l a c c o u n t s a n d m i n u t e s b o o k d a t e s t o 2 M a r c h 1 9 0 3 , w h e n t h e s e c r e t a r y w a s Wm . H o l m a n , t h e t r e a s u r e r , G D o d s o n , a n d t h e c a p t a i n , G M a t t h e w s W R a t c l i f f e w a s e l e c t e d g r o u n d s m a n a n d w a s t o b e p a i d t e n s h i l l i n g s a t t h e e n d o f t h e s e a s o n A b a t w o u l d b e g i ve n a s f i r s t p r i z e t o t h e b e s t b a t s m a n a n d f i v e s h i l l i n g s t o t h e s e c o n d b e s t T h e b o w l e r w i t h t h e b e s t a v e r a g e w o u l d g e t a p r i ze o f f i ve s h i l l i n g s . 3 0 f i x t u re c a rd s we re t o b e o rd e re d a t a c o s t o f f o u r s h i l l i n g s a n d s i x p e n c e

Matches were to be arranged with Stoke Br uerne, Wicken, Deanshanger, H a n s l o p e , C a s t l e t h o r p e , S t o n y Stratford, Wolver ton, Greens Nor ton,

Wa k e f i e l d a n d H a v e r s h a m . Mo s t o f t h e s e t e a m s s t i l l p l a y re g u l a r l y, a p a r t f r o m H a v e r s h a m , Wa k e f i e l d a n d

Potterspur y.

I n 1 9 0 3 t h e r e w e r e 3 0 p l a y i n g m e m b e r s w h o e a c h p a i d o n e s h i l l i n g ( 5 p ) f o r t h e s e a s o n ( f o u r p a i d t w o s h i l l i n g s ) . D o n a t i o n s w e r e : o n e pound from the Duke of Grafton; ten shillings each from Mr Wm. Paterson ( t h e D u k e ’ s a g e n t ) , M r s N e w t o n ( Po t t e r s p u r y L o d g e ) a n d M r Wm . P r a t t ( T h e A n c h o r ) ; f i v e s h i l l i n g s f r o m M r H . C . Ne w t o n , M r C h e t t l e a n d t h e R e v Wa l t e r P l a n t ; t w o s h i l l i n g s a n d s i x p e n c e f r o m M r s L i n n e l l

Ex p e n s e s f o r t h e s e a s o n i n c l u d e d t h r e e n e w b a l l s a t f i v e s h i l l i n g s a n d s i x p e n c e e a c h : o n e s e c o n d - h a n d b a t a t t e n s h i l l i n g s , o n e n e w b a t a t e i g h t e e n s h i l l i n g s a n d s i x p e n c e , a n d a p a i r o f l e g g u a r d s a t s e v e n s h i l l i n g s a n d n i n e p e n c e E a c h g a m e , o n e s h i l l i n g w a s g i ve n e a c h t o t h e s c o re r a n d t o t h e u m p i r e Wa l t e r R a t c l i f f e w a s t h e b e s t b a t s m a n o f t h e s e a s o n , a n d r e c e i v e d a f i v e s h i l l i n g p r i z e , a s d i d A l b e r t St e w a r t , t h e b e s t b ow l e r.

I n t h e y e a r s f o l l o w i n g 1 9 0 3 , H . To o m b s s e r v e d a s s e c r e t a r y, a n d Wm . To o m b s a s t r e a s u r e r . Me m b e r s h i p n u m b e r s va r i e d b e t we e n 1 8 a n d 3 5 , e a c h p a y i n g o n e s h i l l i n g t o j o i n T h e l a s t e x p e n s e s e n t r y f o r 1 9 1 4 w a s f o u r s h i l l i n g s f o r n e w l o c k s ( d i d s o m e o n e e x p e c t a d e l a y i n p l a y ! ) . M a t c h e s r e s u m e d i n 1 9 1 9 w i t h H . To o m b s o n c e a g a i n e l e c t e d a s s e c r e t a r y a n d a s t e a m c a p t a i n ; h i s b ro t h e r Wi l l w a s t h e t re a s u re r T h e re w e r e 2 2 p a i d - u p m e m b e r s d e s p i t e a h u g e l e a p i n m e m b e r s h i p f e e s f r o m o n e s h i l l i n g t o t w o s h i l l i n g s a n d s i x p e n c e p e r s e a s o n . I n 1 9 4 8 W i l l To o m b s w a s t h a n k e d f o r h i s p a s t s e r v i c e s o f 4 5 y e a r s a s a n o f f i c e r o f t h e Cr i c k e t C l u b

T h e p l a y i n g f i e l d u s e d b e t w e e n 1 9 0 3 a n d 1 9 5 3 w a s t h e s a m e a s f o r f o o t b a l l , o n e o f M r S o p e r ’ s , s t i l l k n o w n a s t h e P l a y Fi e l d , a l o n g t h e ro a d t o Pu x l e y Fa r m , o n t h e l e f t , j u s t p a s t t h e d r i v e t o Wa k e f i e l d L o d g e . R e n t a l f o r u s e o f t h e f i e l d i n 1 9 2 3 w a s o n e p o u n d n i n e s h i l l i n g s a n d t w o p e n c e , i n 1 9 2 9 – t w o p o u n d s ,

An early Potterspury cricket team [Source: Jack Clamp]

a n d i n 1 9 5 2 – t w o p o u n d s t w e l v e s h i l l i n g s a n d s i x p e n c e . I n 1 9 5 3 M r S o p e r g a v e n o t i c e t o q u i t t h e P l a y F i e l d a n d p r o v i d e d a l t e r n a t i v e a c c o m m o d a t i o n i n t h e f i e l d o p p o s i t e M a y ’ s C a f e T h i s m e a n t t h a t t h e p a v i l i o n ( l i t t l e m o re t h a n a n a ve r a g es i ze d g a rd e n s h e d ) h a d t o b e m ove d . It w a s s u g g e s t e d t h a t M r R . Os b o r n e b e a p p r o a c h e d t o t a k e t h i s i n h a n d T h e c l u b r a n f o r a n o t h e r f o u r s e a s o n s u n t i l 1 9 5 7 a t i t s n e w g r o u n d a n d t h e n f o l d e d f o r l a c k o f i n t e r e s t e d w o rk e r s a n d p l a ye r s .

A r e - f o r m e d c l u b r a n f o r a f e w y e a r s o n t h e Me a d o w V i e w p l a y i n g f i e l d i n t h e 1 9 8 0 s , b u t a l s o f o l d e d . A t y r e c o m p a n y f r o m St o n y St r a t f o r d u s e d t h e g r o u n d f o r s e v e r a l s e a s o n s w i t h s e v e r a l v i l l a g e l a d s i n t h e t e a m b u t h a d v e r y l i t t l e h e l p f r o m t h e v i l l a g e i n w i c k e t p r e p a r a t i o n a n d g e n e r a l c l u b a c t i v i t i e s . In re c e n t ye a r s c r i c k e t h a s n o l o n g e r b e e n p l a ye d i n t h e v i l l a g e .

T h e T e n n i s C l u b

Te n n i s h a s h a d a va r i a b l e a m o u n t o f s u p p o r t i n t h e v i l l a g e T h e r e w a s a t e n n i s c l u b i n e x i s t e n c e b a c k i n t h e 1 9 2 0 s a n d l a t e r i n t h e 1 9 5 0 s , p l a y i n g o n t h e t e n n i s c o u r t s i n t h e v i c a r a g e g r o u n d s , u n t i l t h e n e w e r h o u s e s i n C h u rc h L a n e we re b u i l t i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 6 0 s

C o l i n a n d R o s e D i s h o t

re s u r re c t e d t h e c l u b s o o n a f t e r w a rd s , a n d t h e c l u b t h e n p l a y e d a t t h e S t e i n e r S c h o o l , Po t t e r s p u r y L o d g e . A t t e m p t s w e r e m a d e t o r a i s e f u n d s f o r c o u r t s o n t h e n e w p l a y i n g f i e l d De s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t a l a r g e q u a n t i t y o f c h a i n l i n k f e n c i n g w a s p u rc h a s e d , t h e p r o j e c t n e v e r s a w c o m p l e t i o n T h e D i s h o t s b r o u g h t t h e Te n n i s C l u b u n d e r t h e u m b r e l l a o f t h e S p o r t s a n d S o c i a l C l u b . T h e r e m a i n i n g f u n d s w e r e p a s s e d t o t h e Sp o r t s a n d So c i a l C l u b o n c o n d i t i o n t h a t w h e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y a r o s e , t e n n i s f a c i l i t i e s w o u l d b e p r o v i d e d a g a i n A l a r g e h a rd - s u r f a c e d a re a f o r m u l t i - s p o r t i n c l u d i n g t e n n i s h a s n ow b e e n p rov i d e d o n t h e s p o r t s f i e l d

T h e

A n g l i n g C l u b

N o t e v e r y o n e l i k e s p h y s i c a l l y demanding spor ts and this is reflected i n t h e e n o r m o u s p o p u l a r i t y o f a n g l i n g T h i s a c c o u n t i s b a s e d o n i n f o r m a t i o n s u p p l i e d b y S t e v e Goulding

Po t t e r s p u r y A n g l i n g C l u b w a s formed in June 1956 by a small group of local residents who regularly fished Wa k e f i e l d b o t t o m l a k e C l u b m e m b e r s h i p w a s o n e s h i l l i n g a n d a fishing permit was two-pence At that t i m e , Wa k e f i e l d o w n e r S o n n y R i c h m o n d - Wa t s o n a l l owe d o n l y t w o

anglers and a bailiff access to the lake at once

M e m b e r s o f Po t t e r s p u r y R o y a l B r i t i s h L e g i o n w e r e a l s o a l l o w e d t o f i s h a t Wa k e f i e l d b u t , f o r t h e s e a s o n f o l l o w i n g t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e a n g l i n g c l u b , S o n n y R i c h m o n dWa t s o n re q u e s t e d t h a t t h e t w o c l u b s c o m b i n e . T h i s w a s c a r r i e d o u t w i t h t h e t r a n s f e r o f n i n e s h i l l i n g s a n d n i n e p e n c e f r o m t h e L e g i o n C l u b f u n d s w e r e f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n e d i n 1957 by the proceeds of a dance held in the village hall which featured local b a n d Te r r y C a r r o l l ’ s R o c k e t s . Committee meetings were held in the Anchor Inn until 1963.

The first competition was held in Ju l y 1 9 5 8 a n d t h e f i r s t t r o p h y w a s presented to the club by Mr Tomkins, who was manager of Wakefield estate, a n d t h e f i r s t c l u b p r e s i d e n t Du r i n g 1 9 6 1 a d d i t i o n a l f i s h i n g r i g h t s t o t h e R i v e r To v e a t C a s t l e t h o r p e w e r e o b t a i n e d f r o m G e o r g e F r o s t , b u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y w e re a l l ow e d t o l a p s e . H o w e v e r, r i g h t s t o a s t r e t c h o f t h e river at Yardley were granted by Roger Weston in 1967

B y t h e y e a r 2 0 0 0 , m e m b e r s h i p h a d i n c r e a s e d t o 7 0 a n d , a s w e l l a s fishing the River Tove, club members a r e n o w k i n d l y a l l o w e d b y J u l i a n R i c h m o n d - Wa t s o n t o f i s h Wa k e f i e l d bottom lake from dawn to dusk with n o r e s t r i c t i o n o n n u m b e r s . T h e m e m b e r s h i p f e e i s £ 5 f o r a d u l t s a n d

Wendy Todd fishing at Wakefield [Wendy Todd]

A tennis group of the early 1920s in the grounds of the vicarage [Hilda Faux's 'Memories']

£ 3 f o r j u n i o r s a n d b e t w e e n 1 5 a n d 1 8 m a t c h e s a r e h e l d d u r i n g t h e s e a s o n Me m b e r s h i p i s r e s t r i c t e d t o re s i d e n t s o f Po t t e r s p u r y a n d Ya rd l e y Gobion, who take care to respect the e n v i r o n m e n t a n d v a l u e t h e r i g h t s a f f o r d e d t o t h e m b y t h e e s t a t e owners

T h e

G a r d e n i n g C l u b

Fo r t h e i n c re a s i n g n u m b e r o f p e o p l e w h o a s p i re t o g re e n f i n g e r s , Ma r i l y n A b b o t t t e l l s u s h o w t h e G a r d e n i n g C l u b c a m e i n t o e x i s t e n c e .

O n m o v i n g t o t h e v i l l a g e 2 7 y e a r s a g o , m y f i r s t ‘ o u t s i d e ’ j o b w a s t h e b a c k g a r d e n We h a d i n h e r i t e d t h re e l i l a c b u s h e s , o n e ro s e , a s h e d , a c r a z y p a v i n g p a t i o a n d l o t s a n d l o t s o f g r a s s . O ve r t h e f o l l ow i n g m o n t h s a n d y e a r s a g a r d e n g r a d u a l l y e m e r g e d w i t h a s m a l l ve g e t a b l e p a t c h a n d e ve n a s m a l l g re e n h o u s e A s t h e f a m i l y g re w t h e ve g e t a b l e p a t c h w a s a u g m e n t e d b y c r o p s g r o w n o n a n a l l o t m e n t i n P o u n d f i e l d R o a d . Su n d a y m o r n i n g s we re s p e n t d i g g i n g a n e v e r l o s i n g b a t t l e a g a i n s t t h e i n v a d i n g c o u c h g r a s s a n d r a b b i t s Bu t w i t h t h e l a r k s s i n g i n g ov e r h e a d a n d w i t h l u n g s b u r s t i n g w i t h f r e s h a i r, w h o c a re d ?

T h r o u g h m y i n v o l v e m e n t w i t h t h e v i l l a g e h a l l , t h e a u t u m n h o r t i c u l t u r a l s h o w b e c a m e m o r e

t h a n j u s t a n o t h e r f u n d r a i s i n g e ve n t . Ve g e t a b l e s w e r e s c r u t i n i s e d a n d s c r u b b e d t o s e e i f t h i s y e a r t h e y w o u l d g a i n a n y p r i z e s I n e v i t a b l y, w h e n m a n y g a r d e n e r s a r e g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r u n d e r o n e r o o f , t h e c o n ve r s a t i o n r a i s e s t h e q u e s t i o n : w h y n o t f o r m a c l u b ? S o i n S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 3 t h e G a r d e n i n g C l u b h e l d i t s f i r s t m e e t i n g i n t h e Wo o d Me m o r i a l H a l l a n d w e l e a r n t a l l a b o u t c h r y s a n t h s T h e re we re 4 6 m e m b e r s w h o t o o k a d v a n t a g e o f d i s c o u n t p r i c e s f o r p u r c h a s e s o f s e e d s , b u l b s , e t c . i n b u l k .

M e e t i n g s w e r e h e l d d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r m o n t h s l e a v i n g t h e s u m m e r c l e a r f o r w o r k i n g o u t s i d e . To p i c s r a n g e d f r o m h o w t o c r e a t e h a n g i n g b a s k e t s t o m a k i n g w i n e . I re m e m b e r M r B e d d i n g a v e a t a l k e n t i t l e d “ Grow i t , Gu a rd i t , Sh ow i t ” , w h e n h e re m i n i s c e d a b o u t h i s e x p e r i e n c e s a s a s h o w j u d g e . He t o l d s t o r i e s o f h ow s o m e e x h i b i t s we re re m ove d by u n s c r u p u l o u s r i v a l s t o e n a b l e t h e i r o w n t o s t a n d a b e t t e r c h a n c e o f w i n n i n g – h e n c e t h e t i t l e o f h i s t a l k I n 1 9 8 8 t h e l a s t h o r t i c u l t u r a l s h o w w a s h e l d d u e t o f e w e r g a r d e n e r s p a r t i c i p a t i n g T h e Ga rd e n i n g C l u b c o n t i n u e d b u t w i t h r e d u c e d m e m b e r s h i p N o w a d a y s t h e re i s a n a n n u a l t r i p a n d re d u c e d s e e d p r i c e s b u t n o re g u l a r m e e t i n g s .

b e e n a n e y e s o r e . T h i s l e d t o t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f P o t t e r s p u r y I m p r o v e m e n t G r o u p . Te d M c K a y t e l l s u s o f t h e g ro u p ’ s a c t i v i t i e s

P o t t e r s p u ry I m p r o v e m e n t G r o u p

I n 1 9 8 7 p r e s s u r e f r o m r e s i d e n t s c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e g e n e r a l u n t i d i n e s s i n t h e v i l l a g e p r o m p t e d the Parish Council chairman to call a s p e c i a l m e e t i n g a t w h i c h r e s i d e n t s could air their vie ws As a result, the Potterspur y Improvement Group was f o r m e d t o w o r k w i t h t h e P a r i s h C o u n c i l t o i m p r o v e v i l l a g e e n v i r o n m e n t a l a m e n i t i e s , a n d t o e n t e r t h e a n n u a l B e s t - k e p t V i l l a g e c o m p e t i t i o n o r g a n i s e d b y Nor thamptonshire ACRE.

A l t h o u g h m a n y o f t h e g a r d e n s o f Po t t e r s p u r y m a y b e we l l k e p t , p u b l i c a r e a s o f t h e v i l l a g e h a v e s o m e t i m e s

The group, known affectionately a s t h e PI G s , s e t u p a p ro g r a m m e t o sweep ever y road in the village over a p e r i o d o f s e v e r a l m o n t h s a n d e n c o u r a g e d t h e P a r i s h C o u n c i l t o p r e s s u r e t h e D i s t r i c t C o u n c i l i n t o i m p r o v i n g t h e q u a l i t y o f s t r e e t c l e a n s i n g N e x t , t h e y t u r n e d t h e i r a t t e n t i o n t o c e r t a i n u n t i d y a r e a s o f t h e v i l l a g e , i n p a r t i c u l a r t h e d e re l i c t a r e a i n a f o c a l p o i n t o f t h e v i l l a g e o p p o s i t e t h e v i l l a g e h a l l , w h i c h w a s b e i n g u s e d a s a n i m p r o m p t u c a r p a r k P l a n s s u b m i t t e d t o t h e Pa r i s h C o u n c i l w e r e a p p r o v e d , a n d a m o n e t a r y d o n a t i o n w a s p r ov i d e d t o purchase tur f. Appeals to villagers for p l a n t s , s h r u b s , t re e s , b u l b s a n d c a s h

The PIGs transforming the corner opposite the village hall [Lucie McKay]

Terry Richardson with prize catch. [Terry Richardson]

met with an excellent response, with t w o h u n d r e d r e s i d e n t s a c t i v e l y a s s i s t i n g t h e P I G s i n t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e g r o u n d o p p o s i t e t h e v i l l a g e h a l l into a pleasant area with seats where residents could rest.

A n a p p l i c a t i o n m a d e t o N o r t h a m p t o n s h i r e A C R E ’ s V i l l a g e Initiatives Fund resulted in a grant of £ 1 0 0 f o r t h e p u rc h a s e o f n e w t o o l s , all of which are still in regular use. A m a j o r p r o j e c t , c a r r i e d o u t i n conjunction with the Parish, District a n d C o u n t y C o u n c i l s i n 1 9 9 3 , w a s t h e p l a n t i n g o f 4 0 t r e e s a n d s e v e r a l h u n d re d b u l b s a l o n g s i d e t h e A 5 , a l l d o n a t e d b y r e s i d e n t s , t o c o m m e m o r a t e t h e 4 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y of the Queen’s Coronation

T h e PI G s e n t e re d a c o m p e t i t i o n to turn a “Grot Spot” into a “Bright Spot”; the spot being the overgrown p l a y a r e a b e h i n d t h e v i l l a g e h a l l O n c e a g a i n , w i t h s u p p o r t f r o m t h e Pa r i s h C o u n c i l a n d t h e v i l l a g e h a l l committee, residents and local Scouts r a l l i e d r o u n d t o c u t u p t e l e g r a p h p o l e s d o n a t e d b y E a s t M i d l a n d s E l e c t r i c i t y B o a r d f o r u s e a s g a r d e n r e t a i n e r s , r o t ov a t e t h e a r e a a n d o f fl o a d t o p - s o i l d o n a t e d b y l o c a l farmers.

M a i n s t a y s o f t h e g r o u p a r e Te d M c K a y, J i m G r a v e s a n d J a s o n We s t b u r y, w h o h a v e b e e n a w a r d e d t h e p a r i s h c o u n c i l e n v i r o n m e n t a l shield on several occasions, with help f ro m s e ve r a l v i l l a g e r s w h o r a l l y w i t h h e l p w h e n n e e d e d w i t h t r a i l e r s , e q u i p m e n t , p l a n t s , e t c . , n o t forgetting the vital cup of tea during “PIG digs”.

The PIGs are now working with St Ni c h o l a s C h u r c h a n d t h e Pa r i s h C o u n c i l t o p r o v i d e a G a r d e n o f Remembrance for the Millennium in t h e c e m e t e r y. Wo r k i n g p a r t i e s s t i l l c a r r y o u t r e g u l a r m a i n t e n a n c e o n p l a n t e d a r e a s a n d m e m b e r s h i p , which is free, is open to all residents suppor ting the aim of improving the village environment and encouraging community spirit M a n y v i l l a g e o r g a n i s a t i o n s ov e r t h e years have been for the benefit of the

y o u n g ( n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e i r h a r dp r e s s e d p a r e n t s ) . S o m e h a v e b e e n o r g a n i s e d b y t h e c h u r c h o r t h e chapel, some by the school and some b y g r o u p s o f p a r e n t s A l l o f t h e m have required many hours of tireless e f f o r t b y t h e i r v o l u n t a r y o r g a n i s e r s H o w e v e r , a r a p i d t u r n o v e r o f organisers and helpers means that no o n e p e r s o n c a n p r o v i d e a c o m p l e t e a c c o u n t a n d i n s o m e c a s e s information comes from a number of sources

Fo r t h e p re - s c h o o l p l a y g ro u p we have an account of its inception from Pat Pye.

Potterspury Playgroup

In June 1966, the Meadow Vie w and L i m e s ( Ma y s Wa y, e t c ) e s t a t e s we re s t i l l o n l y p a r t l y b u i l t T h e h e a d t e a c h e r o f t h e v i l l a g e s c h o o l a t t h a t t i m e w a s Jo e R i c h a r d s , a v e r y p l e a s a n t a n d p e r s u a s i v e m a n It w a s his idea that the village should have a p l a y g r o u p f o r p r e - s c h o o l c h i l d r e n . He believed the children would gain i n l o t s o f w a y s . T h e v i l l a g e c h i l d re n w o u l d g e t u s e d t o t h e n e w c o m e r s , a n d t h o s e t h a t h a d n o b r o t h e r s o r s i s t e r s w o u l d h a v e a c h a n c e t o m i x a n d g e t u s e d t o s h a r i n g ; t h e y w o u l d a l s o g e t u s e d t o t h e i d e a o f b e i n g s e p a r a t e d f r o m m o t h e r . T h i s e x p e r i e n c e w o u l d b e n e f i t b o t h t h e s c h o o l a n d t h e c h i l d r e n w h e n t h e y star ted full time education.

M o t h e r s f r o m b o t h t h e n e w e s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g Pa t P y e , Pa u l i n e L o c k e y, I r i s S a u n d e r s , J e a n Fa i r b r o t h e r, M a r y Fl e c k n e y, S a n d r a C r o s s , H e i d i H a w k e s , Pa t C o n n o r and Carol Syers formed a committee, with Pat Pye its first chairman It was n o t e a s y, b u t , w i t h J o e R i c h a r d s ’ help, the ne w committee got through t h e n e c e s s a r y o f f i c i a l p a p e r w o rk a n d Playgroup soon star ted to take shape The first thing to do was raise funds to pay for a trained playgroup leader, for toys, and play equipment It was decided to hold a fete As the village h a d n o t h a d a f e t e o f a n y s o r t f o r m a n y y e a r s , t h e p r o b l e m w a s w h e re t o h o l d i t T h e v i l l a g e p l a y i n g f i e l d

T h e S p a r r o w C l u b

This quaintly named organisation was one of the most unusual clubs ever to exist in the village. It was set up during the First World War when one of the problems of the day was perceived to be the loss of c o r n t o t h e c o m m o n s p a r r o w, which was consequently declared to be vermin. The Parish Council therefore set up the Sparrow Club w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n o f p a y i n g sixpence (sounds a lot) to the club for ever y sparrow killed One can o n l y w o n d e r a t w h a t t h e R S P B w o u l d h a v e t o s a y a b o u t t h i s today! In practice they would not h a v e h a d t o o m u c h t o w o r r y a b o u t , s i n c e e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e m i n u t e s o f t h e P a r i s h C o u n c i l i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e t w o n o m i n e e s a p p e a r e d t o h a v e q u i t e a f e w m e e t i n g s ( i n t h e p u b ) b u t n e v e r caught a single sparrow!

d i d n o t e x i s t , a n d t h e p l a y a r e a behind the village hall was too small. I t w a s d e c i d e d t o a p p r o a c h M r s G r a t t o n - H o l t w h o l i v e d a t t h e ‘Mansion’ (as Potterspur y House was k n ow n ) . Sh e re a d i l y a g re e d t h a t t h e fete could be held in her garden, and t h a t t h e f i e l d o p p o s i t e ( n o w t h e stables) could be used to hold a small g y m k h a n a M o s t o f t h e c o m m i t t e e h a d n e v e r o r g a n i s e d a n y t h i n g l i k e this before There was a pet zoo, with r a b b i t s , h a m s t e r s , m i c e , p a r r o t s , s n a k e s , s p i d e r s a n d a n y k i n d o f p e t that could be borrowed from friends o r f a m i l i e s T h e re w a s a f a n c y d re s s competition and several stalls: roll-apenny, Aunt Sally, win-a-goldfish, to n a m e j u s t a f e w. T h e re w a s a l s o t h e gymkhana, but that was the sad par t of the day. Joe Richards had arranged f o r a l o c a l m a n t o j u d g e i t , b u t d u r i n g t h e e v e n t h e h a d a h e a r t a t t a c k , a n d a n a m b u l a n c e h a d t o b e called to get him to hospital The fete

w a s a g re a t s u c c e s s a n d r a i s e d a b o u t £200, a lot of money in 1967.

T h e n e x t d a y, s a d l y, i t w a s l e a r n e d t h a t o u r g u e s t h a d d i e d It w a s d e c i d e d t h a t o n e o f t h e c o m m i t t e e s h o u l d g o t o t h e f u n e r a l as a mark of respect. In those days all t h e y o u n g c o u p l e s w i t h s m a l l c h i l d re n w e re o n v e r y t i g h t b u d g e t s (some things don’t change!) and most h a d n e v e r b e e n t o a f u n e r a l . T h e r e w a s a d i s c u s s i o n a n d I r i s S a u n d e r s s a i d s h e h a d a b l a c k d re s s , s o i t w a s v o t e d t h a t s h e s h o u l d g o “ I d o n ’ t h a ve a n y b l a c k s h o e s o r h a n d b a g o r hat,” she pleaded, but the rest of the c o m m i t t e e k i t t e d h e r o u t i n a b l a c k outfit and sent her off to the funeral. It t u r n e d o u t t h a t s h e w a s t h e o n l y person at the funeral in black, and no o n e k n e w w h o s h e w a s a n d n o o n e a s k e d h e r T h e y a l l k e p t l o o k i n g a t her and whispering She said she felt like “his other woman ” and was glad to leave.

T h e n e w P l a y g r o u p n o w h a d some money and a special hiring fee w a s a g r e e d w i t h t h e v i l l a g e h a l l , a s Playgroup would be the only users of t h e h a l l i n t h e m o r n i n g s d u r i n g s c h o o l t e r m t i m e J o e R i c h a r d s helped to arrange for free school milk t o b e d e l i v e r e d e a c h m o r n i n g T h i s

m e a n t e a c h c h i l d w o u l d h a v e m i l k a n d b i s c u i t s d u r i n g t h e ‘ q u i e t t i m e ’ each day. Adver tising commenced for a trained playgroup leader Luckily, a suitably qualified young lady had just g o t m a r r i e d a n d m o v e d i n t o O l d S t r a t f o r d S h e s a w t h e a d v e r t a n d a p p l i e d . S h e t u r n e d o u t t o b e e x c e l l e n t ( w h i c h w a s j u s t a s w e l l a s s h e w a s t h e o n l y a p p l i c a n t ! ) . St u rd y wooden toys, a climbing frame and a s l i d e w e r e p u r c h a s e d a n d t h e n e w l e a d e r p r ov i d e d a d v i c e o n w h a t e l s e w a s n e e d e d . I n a b o u t s i x m o n t h s P l a y g r o u p w a s u p a n d r u n n i n g . A c o n s t i t u t i o n w a s d r a w n u p t h a t i s s t i l l i n u s e t o d a y. A r o t a w a s e s t a b l i s h e d o f t h e m o t h e r s w h o s e children attended Playgroup and did n o t g o o u t t o w o r k ( n o t m a n y mothers did in those days!), and each m o t h e r t o o k h e r t u r n t o h e l p f o r a week at a time. This way the cost was kept down, so ever yone could afford t o s e n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n T h e o n l y expense was the hire of the hall and the wages of the trained leader

Fu n d r a i s i n g c o n t i n u e d ove r t h e y e a r s t o s u b s i d i s e t h e i n c o m e w i t h d a n c e s , b r i n g a n d b u y s a l e s , j u m b l e s a l e s a n d a C h r i s t m a s b a z a a r w h i c h b e c a m e a p r e - C h r i s t m a s “ m u s t ” f o r m a n y v i l l a g e r s . I n n e a r l y 3 4 y e a r s

which have elapsed since those early d a y s t h e r e h a v e b e e n m a n y l e a d e r s a n d h e l p e r s t o o n u m e r o u s t o n a m e . M a n y f r i e n d s h i p s h a v e b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d a n d a ve r y l a r g e n u m b e r o f c h i l d r e n h a v e s p e n t m a n y h a p p y h o u r s b e i n g p r e p a r e d f o r t h e i r f i r s t day at the ‘big school’.

T h e Yo u t h C l u b

T h e v i l l a g e e x p a n s i o n o f t h e l a t e 1960s had produced a large increase i n t h e n u m b e r s o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e village. Colin and Rose Dishot, who ran a furniture removal business, and h a d a y o u n g f a m i l y t h e m s e l v e s , star ted the youth club in about 1972 It m e t a t t h e v i l l a g e h a l l o n Fr i d a y n i g h t s . I t w a s r e a l l y t w o c l u b s , c a t e r i n g f o r y o u n g s t e r s a g e d f r o m 7 to 11 in the early evening, and older c h i l d r e n b e t w e e n 7 0 0 a n d 1 0 0 0 p m A n a p p e a l w a s m a d e b y t h e D i s h o t s f o r a s s i s t a n c e , a n d i n 1 9 7 3 Jo e H a r v e y s t a r t e d h e l p i n g w i t h t h e older children, and shor tly after, Alan a n d A n n e M a r i e C a r r a d j o i n e d t o help with the younger group.

I n 1 9 7 5 , t h e f i r s t y o u t h c l u b p a n t o m i m e w a s p u t o n . C i n d e r e l l a w a s c h o s e n , a n d s o m e a d u l t s w e r e a s k e d t o a s s i s t Jo e H a r v e y w a s t h e

Playgroup of 1987 with helpers, Pauline Trenholme, Lynn Kennedy, Elaine McGill and Anne Barrett

S t e p m o t h e r , A l a n D i m m o c k w a s B a r o n H a r d U p , A l a n C a r r a d a n d Roger Pye were the Ugly Sisters, and A n n e M a r i e C a r r a d w a s C i n d e r e l l a . It w a s a s e l l o u t ! T h e h i g h l i g h t w a s when the coach fell apar t However it i n s p i r e d t h e c h i l d r e n a n d t h e f o l l ow i n g ye a r Mi c h a e l Og d e n , w h o t a u g h t a t t h e s c h o o l , vo l u n t e e re d t o p ro d u c e t h e s h ow, w h i c h we n t f ro m s t r e n g t h t o s t r e n g t h . T h r e e p e r f o r m a n c e s b e c a m e t h e n o r m a n d i t c o n t i n u e d f o r a t l e a s t t h r e e m o r e ye a r s Fro m t h o s e e a r l y e f f o r t s c a m e an interest from which evolved both the junior and adult drama groups

G e o f f L u c a s t a k e s u p t h e s t o r y : O n l y n e w c o m e r s t o t h e v i l l a g e w i l l not have heard of Otters, which was the name given to the junior section o f t h e y o u t h c l u b . M a n y c h i l d r e n o v e r t h e y e a r s a s k e d , “ W h y c a l l i t Otters?” Well just take a careful look at the word Potterspur y!

S e t u p i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 7 0 s a n d ver y popular right from the star t, this c l u b w a s h e l d i n t h e v i l l a g e h a l l , f i n a l l y e n d i n g i n t h e m i d 1 9 9 0 s A w h o l e g e n e r a t i o n o f c h i l d r e n o f j u n i o r s c h o o l a g e p a s s e d t h r o u g h , t h e n w e n t o n t o s e n i o r y o u t h c l u b, where there was no upper age limit.

Entrance to Otters was strictly by s c h o o l a g e , b u t a l s o c o n t r o l l e d b y a waiting list on which parents had put their child’s name at the age of five A limit of 50 was imposed (25 boys a n d 2 5 g i r l s ) b y t h e N o r t h a m p t o n s h i r e A s s o c i a t i o n o f Yo u t h C l u b s ( N A Y C ) o w i n g t o

insurance, etc , but when the waiting l i s t b e c a m e e x c e s s i v e i n t h e m i d 1 9 8 0 s t h i s w a s i n c r e a s e d t o 6 0 , conditional on more adult help

The club met on Friday evenings d u r i n g s c h o o l t e r m , 5 4 5 t o 7 0 0 p m , with a drink and biscuit break a t 6 3 0 p m M i s s i n g t w o m e e t i n g s w i t h o u t a g o o d e x c u s e p u t a y o u n g s t e r b a c k o n t h e w a i t i n g l i s t , bringing the next eager child into the c l u b ( t h i s w a s v e r y r a r e ) A t 7 1 5 p m t h e s e n i o r s w e r e a d m i t t e d a n d stayed until 10 00 p m – an exacting experience for the helpers!

A l l m a n n e r o f a c t i v i t i e s a n d g a m e s we re a va i l a b l e w i t h i n t h e h a l l as well as the traditional table tennis,

p o o l , s n o o k e r a n d s p o n g e f o o t b a l l . T h e s e w e r e t i m e - r e s t r i c t e d s o n o individuals could hog a game for too l o n g , a n d a l l w i l l r e m e m b e r t h e w h i s t l e , a n ‘A c m e T h u n d e r e r ’ , t h a t w a s e m p l o y e d I n l a t e r y e a r s a s t e l e v i s i o n g a m e s b e c a m e a v a i l a b l e , these were purchased and kept up to d a t e w i t h t h e l a t e s t d e v e l o p m e n t s . ( T h e y w e re v e r y p o p u l a r a s n o b o d y had them at home!)

Unbelievably popular was ‘Disco N i g h t ’ h e l d e v e r y s i x w e e k s o r s o , using the club’s own disco equipment a n d u p - t o - d a t e r e c o r d s A n e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t s e r i e s o f g a m e s a n d c o m p e t i t i o n s we re d e v i s e d i n c l u d i n g ‘musical chairs’, team games and the old favourite ‘dead soldiers’ in which t h e l a s t t o d ro p t o t h e f l o o r o r w h o then moved when the music stopped was out! This was a great way to slow down and calm 60 youngsters After d r i n k s c a m e d i s c o d a n c i n g . P r i z e s w e r e g i v e n f o r b e s t d a n c e r s , a n d i n d e e d , f o r b e s t c o u p l e s ! A t h o m e time 60 steaming children with their best clothes now dir ty exited the hall a n d w a i t e d o b e d i e n t l y t o c r o s s t h e r o a d t o t h e i r w a i t i n g p a r e n t s w h e n t h e a l l c l e a r w a s g i v e n . R i g i d d i s c i p l i n e w a s e n f o r c e d t h r o u g h o u t e v e r y m e e t i n g a s w e l l a s a t h o m e t i m e , t h e r e b e i n g h a r d l y e v e r a n y i n s t a n c e o f d i s o b e d i e n c e e v e n w i t h t h e m o s t l i v e l y o f c h i l d r e n

Youth club 5-a-side football team, NAYC winners. [Bryan Bevan]

Youngsters playing snooker at Otters. [Geoff Lucas]

T h e F e r r e t s

Wendy Todd recalls: We’d been having a lot of trouble w i t h m i c e c h e w i n g t h r o u g h t h e P Y PE t u c k b o x i n t h e v i l l a g e h a l l s t o r e c u p b o a r d . D a m o n Wa t e r s , Ni c h o l a s Wa t e r s a n d M a r k B u r n s s a i d “ We’v e g o t a c o u p l e o f ferrets at home, do you want us to go and fetch them? T h e y’l l c a t c h t h e m i c e f o r y o u ” T h e y s a i d t h e f e r re t s would eat the mice, and, as I didn’t want any dead bodies s t i n k i n g o u t t h e v i l l a g e h a l l , I a g r e e d a n d t h e y w e n t home and got them. Well, did they stink when they got them out of their box It worried the life out of me that they’d wander all over the bookstall books and they’d all stink of ferret You don’t want to know what the smell of ferrets is like, you can ’ t describe it, it’s rank! I thought they’d have them on a string or something, but they just l e t t h e m r u n a b o u t a n d s u d d e n l y t h e y s t a r t e d s n i f f i n g

D i s c i p l i n e a t s e n i o r y o u t h c l u b w a s also strong but, in vie w of their age, l e s s c o n f r o n t a t i o n a l , a p o l i c y w h i c h p a i d o f f , e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g o u t i n g s s u c h a s t h o s e t o t h e t h e a t r e a t Christmas.

T h e p o p u l a r i t y o f Po t t e r s p u r y Youth Club over 25 years or so, and especially the income from the senior c l u b , w a s r e f l e c t e d i n i t s b a n k b a l a n c e , t h i s b e i n g b o o s t e d f u r t h e r b y t h e a d u l t Va l e n t i n e ’ s d i s c o e v e r y y e a r L a r g e a m o u n t s o f m o n e y w e re d o n a t e d t o o t h e r o r g a n i s a t i o n s a n d appeals for NAYC’s ne w headquar ters w e r e m e t s e v e r a l t i m e s . O n e o f t h e c l u b’s d o n a t i o n s t o t h e v i l l a g e h a l l after it was rebuilt was the ne w sign

For the next incarnation of the youth club, we turn to Wendty Todd

and getting all excited down in the corner by the boiler There was a box of carrier bags in there and one of the b oy s l i f t e d i t o u t a n d s u d d e n l y d r o p p e d i t a n d y e l l e d “Ugh! There’s a mouse in there”. There he was bravely holding his ferret in one hand and yet frightened by a mouse, but he let the ferret go assuring me that “It won ’ t b e a n i c e s i g h t w h e n t h e y c a t c h i t ” T h e y m a n a g e d t o catch one but the other one disappeared down below the floorboards, so they promised to come back the following week for that one.

D a m o n , Ni c h o l a s a n d M a r k h a d a l l t h e n e t s a n d pipes to take the ferrets to rabbit holes and catch rabbits T h e y k e p t t h e f e r re t s a t h o m e a n d a n o t h e r t i m e t h e y b r o u g h t t h e m d o w n t o t h e h a l l t o t a l k t o t h e P Y P E members about them, but they gave them a bath first!

P o t t e r s p u r y

Yo u n g P e o p l e ’ s

E v e n i n g ( P Y P E )

A f t e r t h e c l o s u r e i n 1 9 9 4 o f t h e y o u t h c l u b , w h i c h h a d b e e n s u c c e s s f u l f o r m a n y y e a r s , i t w a s d e c i d e d t h a t t h e r e w a s a n e e d f o r s o m e w h e r e f o r v i l l a g e y o u n g s t e r s t o g o. In Fe b r u a r y 1 9 9 6 P Y PE s t a r t e d , f r o m 7 3 0 p m t o 9 3 0 p m o n Friday nights in the village hall The c l u b w a s o p e n t o a n y y o u n g s t e r between the ages of 11 and 16 living i n t h e v i l l a g e ; t h e n a m e w a s c h o s e n by the youngsters themselves.

Of t h e o r i g i n a l a d u l t c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s We n d y To d d , L o r r a i n e R u s s e l l a n d Pa u l R u s s e l l c o n t i n u e d t h e i r i n v o l v e m e n t t h r o u g h o u t . T h e club membership rose to over 30 and i n 1 9 9 7 t h e l o w e r a g e l i m i t w a s

c h a n g e d s o t h a t y o u n g s t e r s c o u l d j o i n a f t e r t h e i r 1 0 t h b i r t h d a y. Yo u n g s t e r s c o u l d c h o o s e f ro m m a n y a c t i v i t i e s , s u c h a s p o o l , s n o o k e r , d a r t s , t a b l e t e n n i s , c o m p u t e r g a m e s , board games, basketball, football, etc There was also a tuck shop each week w h e re t h e yo u n g s t e r s c o u l d b u y s o f t drinks, crisps and sweets

Sp e c i a l e v e n i n g s w e re o r g a n i s e d : b i n g o n i g h t s , q u i z n i g h t s a n d d i s c o s all proved ver y popular Richard, the representative from the NAYC visited t h e c l u b s e v e r a l t i m e s a y e a r f o r t h o ro u g h l y e n j oy a b l e c r a f t e ve n i n g s T h e c l u b m a d e s e v e r a l v i s i t s t o t h e R o y a l a n d D e r n g a t e t h e a t r e s i n N o r t h a m p t o n t o s e e p a n t o m i m e s , a n d t o R o l l e r s i n M i l t o n K e y n e s w h e r e t h e y o u n g s t e r s e n j o y e d r o l l e r s k a t i n g a n d w a t c h i n g t h e a d u l t h e l p e r s m a k i n g f o o l s o f t h e m s e l v e s on

roller skates Linda Le wandowski,

Carol singing in the High Street [Margaret Gale-Smith]

Father Christmas on his sleigh (David Maybrey's milk float) Margaret Gale-Smith]

t h e l o c a l s t o r y - t e l l e r , o n s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s i n v i t e d t h e c l u b t o h e r house, where the youngsters enjoyed her wonder ful hospitality and stories

To r a i s e m o n e y f o r t h e c l u b t o buy ne w equipment, PYPE organised s e v e r a l s u c c e s s f u l v i l l a g e f e t e s E a c h y e a r a t h e m e w a s c h o s e n a n d t h e h e l p e r s d r e s s e d a c c o r d i n g l y, a s c l ow n s , t r o p i c a l i s l a n d e r s w i t h g r a s s s k i r t s , c o w b o y s a n d I n d i a n s , a n d Au s s i e s . P Y PE a l s o o r g a n i s e d s e ve r a l adult discos which helped to bring in m o n e y t o s p e n d o n i m p r o v i n g t h e club.

P Y P E a l s o w e n t c a r o l s i n g i n g around the village to raise money for local charitie s . Santa trave lle d round handing out sweets donated by Joan a n d B r i a n H a r t w e l l w h o r a n t h e C o c k p u b Sa n t a ' s f l o a t s w e r e o f t e n quite unusual: the first year his sleigh was on the back of David Maybrey's milk float, and then he was seen on t h e b a c k o f a p i c k u p t r u c k T h e v i l l a g e h a l l c o m m i t t e e a l s o h e l p e d w i t h t h i s e v e n t ; D i c k S h a r p w a s always willing to dress up as Santa.

B y t h e s u m m e r o f 2 0 0 0 , s a d l y, t h e n u m b e r s o f b o t h a d u l t h e l p e r s and young members had declined so much that PYPE went the way of its p r e d e c e s s o r s . T h e c l u b e q u i p m e n t w e n t i n t o s t o r a g e i n t h e v i l l a g e h a l l to await the next group of enthusiasts prepared to do something positive for the youngsters of Pur y

In addition to the above facilities for t h e y o u n g t h e v i l l a g e n o w h a s f a c i l i t i e s f o r t h e e v e n y o u n g e r c h i l d r e n w i t h t h e Un d e r 5 s , w h i c h m e e t s we e k l y i n t h e v i l l a g e h a l l a n d p r o v i d e s c o n s t r u c t i v e p l a y o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r i t s m e m b e r s , a n d t h e s o m e w h a t s i m i l a r M i n n o w s , which is r un by the church.

J u n i o r

D r a m a G r o u p

In 1980 an after-school junior drama c l u b b e g a n a t t h e v i l l a g e s c h o o l , u n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e o f M i c h a e l Ogden Enthusiastically suppor ted by

c h i l d r e n a n d p a r e n t s a l i k e , O g r a n the club for nearly ten years, initially p u t t i n g o n p e r f o r m a n c e s i n t h e s c h o o l h a l l , t h e n m o v i n g t o t h e village hall as the shows became more a m b i t i o u s E a r l y p r o d u c t i o n s included ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Fa c t o r y ’ , ‘ B e s i d e t h e S e a s i d e ’ , a n d ‘Jame s and the Giant Pe ach’, as we ll a s a c o u p l e o f r e v u e s t h a t i n c l u d e d s o m e h o m e - g r ow n m a t e r i a l Fo r t h e v i l l a g e h a l l s h o w s , s o m e o l d e r c h i l d r e n a n d a d u l t s w e r e i n v o l v e d , re s u l t i n g i n e xc e l l e n t p ro d u c t i o n s o f ‘ J o s e p h a n d t h e A m a z i n g Te c h n i c o l o u r D r e a m c o a t ’ a n d ‘ O l i v e r ’ . B o t h o f t h e s e s h o w s a t t r a c t e d f u l l h o u s e s t o t h e h a l l , w h e r e t h e a c t i n g , m u s i c a n d costumes were greatly appreciated by ever y member of the audience.

S c o u t s a n d C u b s

T h e re h a v e b e e n a n u m b e r o f s c o u t g ro u p s i n Po t t e r s p u r y ove r t h e ye a r s a n d n o l i t t l e c o n f u s i o n o v e r t h e i r n a m e s A c c o r d i n g t o H i l d a Fa u x ’ s ‘ Me m o r i e s ’ a s c o u t g ro u p f o r m e d i n 1 9 1 2 , b u t t h e f i r s t r e c o r d s o f s c o u t i n g i n Po t t e r s p u r y t h a t a p p e a r i n t h e a r c h i v e s o f t h e d i s t r i c t s e c r e t a r y r e f e r t o m e e t i n g s w h i c h took place at the Anchor Inn in the e a r l y 1 9 2 0 s T h e r e w e r e t h e n a b o u t 3 0 s c o u t s , 1 2 w o l f c u b s a n d f i v e r o v e r s c o u t s C a m p i n g w a s v e r y popular, and from the early days the Q u a r r i e s a t C o s g r ov e w a s a p o p u l a r venue. The records show that a group of cubs camped there in 1924 under t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f A J S m i t h ,

h e a d t e a c h e r a t Po t t e r s p u r y s c h o o l , and James McLeod.

This group presumably ceased to o p e r a t e , a s a n e w g r o u p w a s s t a r t e d i n 1 9 4 0 b y K e n E d w a r d s . K e n describes how this group was formed: “ H a v i n g i n h e r i t e d t h e 1 s t S t o n y Stratford Cub Pack from an enlisting f r i e n d , I d i s c o v e r e d t h a t a l l i t s m e m b e r s w e r e t r a v e l l i n g f r o m Potterspur y, some being ‘natives’ and t h e o t h e r s ‘ e va c u e e s ’ . Be c a u s e o f t h e blackout and lack of transpor t, it was e a s i e r t o m o v e t h e g r o u p t o Potterspur y Most of the boys at that t i m e we re c o m i n g u p t o s c o u t a g e ” T h e g r o u p w a s k n o w n a s t h e 1 s t Fur tho Scout Group, a neutral name c h o s e n b e c a u s e t h e Po t t e r s p u r y a n d Y a r d l e y G o b i o n G r o u p , O l d Stratford Group and Cosgrove Group all had small numbers and decided to amalgamate

Ken recalls, “ We all se wed yellow tape on our green neckerchiefs (later t h e c o l o u r c h a n g e d t o r e d a n d y e l l o w ) a n d m e t o n c e a w e e k a t a s o c i a l r o o m i n a p r i v a t e h o u s e f o r s i x p e n c e ( o l d p e n c e ) . ( We w e r e r e q u e s t e d t o k e e p t h e n o i s e d o w n ! ) S u b s c r i p t i o n s a t t h a t t i m e w e r e a p e n n y p e r w e e k ” I n i t i a l l y t h e meetings were held in the loft above t h e c o a c h h o u s e a t t h e r e a r o f t h e t h e n v i c a r a g e a n d t h e n f o r a s h o r t time in a room at Potterspur y House. C a m p i n g f e a t u r e d l a r g e l y i n t h o s e days (equipment was transpor ted for miles in a trek car t) and the Cosgrove Q u a r r i e s c o n t i n u e d t o b e a p o p u l a r v e n u e . T h e f i r s t t i m e K e n t o o k t h e Scouts camping they found some old

Scout group outside the vicarage, about 1922 [Source: Jack Clamp]

b e l l t e n t s i n Po t t e r s p u r y w h i c h we re p r o b a b l y o r i g i n a l l y o w n e d b y t h e e a r l i e r g r o u p . K e n h a d t o l e a v e i n December 1943 when he enlisted in the Fleet Air Arm, although it seems t h a t p a r e n t s k e p t t h e g r o u p g o i n g beyond that date When he returned t o t h e a r e a i n 1 9 4 6 t h e s c o u t s h a d closed down.

The next revival began under the auspices of the Rev Arch who called a m e e t i n g i n t h e v i c a r a g e i n t h e autumn of 1948. It was attended by a b o u t 3 0 p e o p l e ( b oy s a n d p a r e n t s ) and was addressed by Mr Cann, the C o u n t y S c o u t C o m m i s s i o n e r A s a result of this meeting, a scout group w a s f o r m e d u n d e r s c o u t m a s t e r Do n a l d Pa l m e r, a n d a c u b p a c k w a s a l s o f o r m e d u n d e r A k e l a , M i s s Grierson.

T h e g r o u p w a s r e g i s t e r e d a s t h e 2 n d Po t t e r s p u r y S c o u t Gr o u p , a n d t h e o r i g i n a l g r o u p f l a g h a d t h e 1 s t c o v e r e d b y a n e m b r o i d e r e d p a t c h T h e m a i n , a n d i n m a n y c a s e s , t h e o n l y p a r t o f t h e u n i f o r m w a s t h e n e c k e r c h i e f a n d w o g g l e . H a l v i n g a red and a green neckerchief and hand se wing red and green halves together made up the neckerchiefs. (Had this b e e n t h e G u i d e s m a n y n e e d l e w o r k b a d g e s m i g h t w e l l h a v e b e e n awarded )

Weekly group meetings were held in the school and the group consisted of two patrols: the Pee wit patrol and t h e K e s t r e l p a t r o l . E a c h p a t r o l w a s a b o u t 1 0 s t r o n g a n d t h e y h e l d re g u l a r p a t r o l m e e t i n g s , t h e Pe e w i t s

in the loft above the vicarage stables

a n d t h e K e s t r e l s i n a s t a b l e a t t h e Reindeer Inn. The Pee wit patrol was more active since most of the patrol m e m b e r s w e re f r o m t h e c h u r c h e n d o f t h e v i l l a g e a n d h a d v i r t u a l l y f r e e a c c e s s t o t h e v i c a r a g e g r o u n d s T h e vicar kept pigs in the stable below the den and the scouts were often praised for their ‘good deeds’ in helping the v i c a r t o r o u n d u p h i s p i g s , w h i c h e s c a p e d re g u l a r l y, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e s c h o o l h o l i d a y s O f t e n i t w a s w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r t h e v i c a r w a s puzzled by this regular escapade, but one thing he never kne w was that the r e c o r d ‘ p i g g y b a c k r i d e ’ s t o o d a t about 50 yards!

T h e g r o u p p r o s p e r e d f o r m o r e than five years and went on weekend c a m p s t o C o s g r ov e Q u a r r i e s In t h e s u m m e r o f 1 9 5 0 a l o n g w e e k e n d camp was held on a farm r un by the g r o u p s c o u t m a s t e r ’ s p a r e n t s a t

B o u g h t o n ( b e t w e e n N o r t h a m p t o n and Pitsford) The old bell tent (yes! t h e o n e w h i c h k n e w C o s g r o v e Quarries so well) was used for storage since it was by now unfit to be used a s s l e e p i n g q u a r t e r s A t n i g h t t h e s c o u t s w e r e o b l i g e d t o s h a r e a n o l d t i t h e b a r n w i t h t h e o t h e r w i l d l i f e ( r a t s , m i c e a n d a b a r n o w l ) . T h e bedding consisted of grain and cattle feed sacks, both full and empty ones. Un f o r t u n a t e l y s l e e p, s u c h a s i t w a s , w a s d i s t u r b e d a t f i v e o ’ c l o c k e a c h m o r n i n g b y t h e y o u n g m i l k m a i d switching on the milking machine

T h i s g r o u p d i s b a n d e d e a r l y i n 1 9 5 3 o w i n g t o l a c k o f s u p p o r t . A ne w group was formed in 1963 with Au d r e y W i n t l e a s c u b m i s t r e s s , a n d Pat Collett as her assistant Known as the 2nd Potterspur y Group, it met in t h e O l d S o c i a l a n d i n c l u d e d b o y s f r o m Ya r d l e y G o b i o n , s o w a s l a t e r renamed the Potterspur y and Yardley G o b i o n G r o u p ( P Y G ) N e w s p a p e r cuttings of the time paint a picture of a v e r y e n t h u s i a s t i c , l i v e l y a n d s u c c e s s f u l t i m e f o r t h e S c o u t s w i t h l o t s o f p a r e n t a l i n t e r e s t . T h i s enthusiasm led to camping standards a w a r d s p r e s e n t e d a t N o r t h a n t s C o u n t y S c o u t C a m p a n d m a n y f o o t b a l l i n g s u c c e s s e s : t h e Ga r y D ye r Memorial Shield for winning a six-aside football competition in 1968-69, a n d t h e To w c e s t e r D i s t r i c t C u b S h i e l d f o r t h e s e v e n - a - s i d e C u b s ’ f o o t b a l l t e a m M r P i c k a r d w a s c h a i r m a n o f t h e G r o u p P a r e n t s C o m m i t t e e P a t C o l l e t t ( n o w P a t Rowden) (Akela) helped boys to gain

Scout camp, around 1922 [Source: Jack Clamp]

Scouts and cubs take part in the St George’s Day Parade 1980 [Geoff Lucas]

c e r t i f i c a t e s , a s h i e l d f o r s p o r t a n d a c e r t i f i c a t e f o r a r c h e r y R i c h a r d L a w r e n c e , I v o r T h o m a s a n d M r Priest were assistant leaders.

D a v i d A l l p o r t b e c a m e s c o u t m a s t e r ( S k i p ) a n d i n 1 9 6 9 a p p l i e d f o r p e r m i s s i o n t o b u i l d a s c o u t h u t o n M e a d o w V i e w p l a y i n g f i e l d . A some what rickety surplus hut became a va i l a b l e f ro m t h e re a r o f Gre y s t o n e L o d g e A g r o u p o f e n t h u s u i a s t s d i s m a n t l e d t h e h u t a n d b r o u g h t i t down on a tractor and trailer. It was t h e n re - e re c t e d o n a b a s e i n s i d e t h e n e w p l a y i n g f i e l d . I n 1 9 7 1 t h e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e 2 n d Po t t e r s p u r y Scout Group met in the ne wly built s c o u t h u t f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e A s p o n s o r e d w a l k o r g a n i s e d b y I v o r T h o m a s a n d D e r e k L o c k e y r a i s e d £100 for floor covering.

In 1974 Ted McKay became cub l e a d e r a n d w a s i n s t r u m e n t a l i n r e p l a c i n g t h e o r i g i n a l h u t w i t h a l a r g e r, m o r e s u i t a b l e b u i l d i n g H e recalls, “ When I first star ted working f o r L u t o n B o r o u g h C o u n c i l o n e o f my first projects was to clear site huts f r o m t h e a i r p o r t . I m a n a g e d t o g e t one donated provided we dismantled i t a n d t o o k i t a w a y. O n e v e r y h o t w e e k e n d , a b o u t f i f t e e n Po t t e r s p u r y m e n p l u s s c o u t s a n d c u b s w e n t t o Lu t o n t o b r i n g t h e h u t b a c k It w a s stored in Bob Wintle’s field for about a year Then with a long list of good w o r k e r s f r o m Po t t e r s p u r y t h e n e w hut was erected ”

T h i s w a s a n o t h e r v e r y a c t i v e ,

c o m m i t t e d p e r i o d O t h e r l e a d e r s a t t h e t i m e i n c l u d e d B e r t Pe a r c e , M r R o e a n d B a r b a r a L l o y d . A c t i v i t i e s i n c l u d e d g a n g s h o w s , S t G e o r g e ’ s D a y p a r a d e s , c a m p i n g a t t h e Q u a r r i e s , w h i c h i n c l u d e d o r i e n t e e r i n g a n d p a c k n i g h t s , t h e Soapbox Derby Challenge Shield, the B i l l K n o t t Tr o p h y ‘ 8 5 r a f t r a c e ’ , j a m b o r e e s a n d D i s t r i c t s w i m m i n g a n d s p o r t s e v e n t s . Te d M c K a y a n d Barbara Lloyd organised the first cub c a m p f o r m a n y y e a r s , w h i c h w a s n a t u r a l l y h e l d a t t h e C o s g r o v e Q u a r r i e s M a n y p r o f i c i e n c y b a d g e s we re a t t a i n e d b y b oy s w o rk i n g h a rd on a weekly basis. Some scouts went o n t o g a i n t h e c h i e f s c o u t a w a r d , a m o n g s t t h e m Pa u l M c K a y, S h a u n Elliott and Jonathan Blakeney

S c o u t l e a d e r s i n v o l v e d a f t e r t h i s included Bob Elliott, Richard Childs a n d L e n P o w e l l ; a n d f o r a w h i l e Shaun Elliott and Jonathan Blakeney ran the Scouts The most recent cub l e a d e r w a s P e t e r S i m p k i n w i t h C h r i s t i n e S t i n t o n , S h a u n a n d J o n a t h a n a s a s s i s t a n t s M a r g a r e t Yo u n g a l s o h e l p e d a t t h i s t i m e A l l o f t h e a b o v e a c t i v i t i e s c o n t i n u e d t o m o r e o r l e s s t h e s a m e f o r m a t . Ev e n t u a l l y, h o w e v e r, t h i s d w i n d l e d down to just cubs until, sadly, owing t o o t h e r c o m m i t m e n t s a n d t h e d i s r e p a i r o f t h e s c o u t h u t , c u b s finally closed in the summer of 1998.

Some of the scouts progressed to t h e W h i t t l e b u r y v e n t u r e s c o u t s , a v e r y a c t i v e g r o u p w h i c h o n c e h e l d

t h e i r m e e t i n g s i n t h e Po t t e r s p u r y s c o u t h u t Ev e n t u a l l y h o w e v e r, t h e h u t d e t e r i o r a t e d t o t h e p o i n t t h a t i t had to be demolished and a long and h a p p y t r a d i t i o n o f s c o u t i n g i n Potterspur y came to an end

L i n d a Bl a k e n e y, w h o c a r r i e d o u t t h e r e s e a r c h f o r t h i s b r i e f h i s t o r y, s a y s , “ I b e l i e v e t h e c o n c e p t o f s c o u t i n g e n v i s a g e d b y L o r d B a d e nPow e l l h a s t r u l y b e e n a l i v e ov e r t h e years in Potterspur y scouts. Scouting p r ov i d e s a w a y o f g i v i n g y o u n g s t e r s p r i d e a n d c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e i r a c h i e v e m e n t s , t e a c h e s t h e m t e a m s p i r i t , a n d e n a b l e s t h e m t o h e l p t h e m s e l v e s a n d o t h e r s . It i s a g r e a t s h a m e t o h a v e l o s t t h i s i n P o t t e r s p u r y. We h a v e a s i t e f o r a s c o u t h e a d q u a r t e r s a n d i f w e c o u l d e n g e n d e r e n o u g h e n t h u s i a s m i t would be a great asset to Potterspur y to have a thriving scout group in the village again.” Perhaps one day a ne w generation of Potterspur y youngsters will enjoy camping at the Quarries as much as their predecessors!

G u i d e s a n d B r o w n i e s

A c c o r d i n g t o M i s s H i l d a Fa u x t h e first company of guides in the village w a s f o r m e d i n 1 9 1 7 . H o w e v e r, w e h a v e n o i n f o r m a t i o n o f t h o s e e a r l y days. In 1944, the Captain was Miss D o r o t h y M a x e y, w h o w a s s i s t e r t o t h e s c h o o l h e a d t e a c h e r ; t h e L i e u t e n a n t w a s E l s i e L a w s o n . M e e t i n g s w e r e h e l d a t t h e p r i m a r y s c h o o l a n d t h e r e w e r e f o u r p a t r o l s , called Robin, Thr ush, King fisher and Swallow Miss Faux took over around 1 9 5 0 Ev e n t h o u g h t h e g u i d e s h a d b e e n g o i n g f o r q u i t e s o m e t i m e t h e c o m p a n y w a s n e v e r r e g i s t e r e d a n d w h e n M r s H a r r i s o n t o o k o v e r t h e r u n n i n g o f t h e c o m p a n y s h e r e g i s t e r e d i t a s t h e 1 s t Po t t e r s p u r y C o m p a n y i n O c t o b e r 1 9 6 4 T h e r e w e r e 3 6 g i r l s a n d m e e t i n g s w e r e a t The Old Social Potterspur y won the Tow c e s t e r Di s t r i c t C h a l l e n g e Sh i e l d m o r e t i m e s t h a n a n y o t h e r g u i d e c o m p a n y i n t h e d i s t r i c t T h e company was r un by Shirley Emmins a n d L u c i e M c K a y a n d i n 1 9 8 5

Archery practice for the cubs. [Geoff Lucas]

t h e a r t s , b e c o m i n g a h o m e m a k e r, keeping the guide ‘law’ and getting to k n o w p e o p l e . F a v o u r i t e a c t i v i t i e s i n c l u d e g a m e s , p i t c h i n g t e n t s , c o o k i n g ( b o t h i n d o o r s a n d o u t d o o r s ) , f u n d r a i s i n g , c r a f t s , c a m p f i r e s i n g i n g a n d f i n d i n g o u t a b o u t g u i d e u n i t s b o t h l o c a l l y a n d internationally. The 21st centur y will s e e c h a n g e s i n g u i d i n g , w i t h c o m p u t e r s h e l p i n g t o p r o d u c e a regular ne wsletter, to which all guides contribute

We n o w t u r n t o o r g a n i s a t i o n s f o r a d u l t s o f t h e v i l l a g e . F i r s t , P h y l l i s R u s s e l l o u t l i n e s t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e Wo m e n ’ s I n s t i t u t e ( W I ) f o r t h e

m e e t i n g s m o v e d t o t h e Wo o d M e m o r i a l H a l l L u c y S o p e r a n d J e n n y C h a l m e r s t o o k o v e r i n September 1997.

Potterspur y Guides currently has 1 2 m e m b e r s i n c l u d i n g s o m e f r o m D e a n s h a n g e r , C o s g r o v e a n d Pa u l e r s p u r y. T h e u n i t i s s p l i t i n t o t w o p a t r o l s , c a l l e d O r c h i d s a n d F o r g e t - m e - n o t s , t h o u g h o v e r t h e y e a r s p a t r o l s h a v e h a d a v a r i e t y o f n a m e s T h e r e a r e t h r e e l e a d e r s , n a m e l y Ti g g e r, P i g l e t a n d E e y o r e , who r un the guide unit, which meets e v e r y M o n d a y f r o m 7 u n t i l 8 . 3 0 p m , but not during school holidays

G u i d e s u n d e r t a k e a n u m b e r o f a c t i v i t i e s w h i c h c ov e r t h e f o l l o w i n g e l e m e n t s o f l e a r n i n g : e n j o y i n g t h e o u t - o f - d o o r s , k e e p i n g f i t , t h i n k i n g for yourself, helping others, exploring

w o m e n o f P o t t e r s p u r y a n d i t s changing role over the years

T h e W o m e n ’ s I n s t i t u t e

A l t h o u g h t h e W I w a s f o u n d e d i n B r i t a i n i n 1 9 1 5 , i t w a s n o t u n t i l 5 M a r c h 1 9 2 7 t h a t i t s t a r t e d i n t h e v i l l a g e w h e n 7 0 - 8 0 P o t t e r s p u r y women met for the first time. Sadly, r e c o r d s a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e f o r t h o s e e a r l y m e e t i n g s , b u t t h e a i m o f t h e m ov e m e n t w a s t o i m p r ov e t h e l i v e s o f w o m e n i n r u r a l a r e a s t h r o u g h e d u c a t i o n a n d c r e a t i o n o f g r e a t e r social awareness.

Potterspury Guide group: winners of the District Shield in 1989. Back row: Samantha Goff, Rachel Burrage, Karen Gauld, Karen Warner, Fiona Emmins, Michelle Babb, Laura Weaving, L u c y P a r k i n , R a c h e l P a t t e r s o n . F r o n t r o w : L u c y E r r i n g t o n , S a r a h W i l l s , J e n n i f e r B a b b , Christine Gauld, Rachel Lynds, Ellie Clark, Caroline Emmins. [Potterspury Guides]

Guides at camp, Silverstone 1990. [Potterspury Guides]

1st Potterspury Girl Guides in 1920. [Hilda Faux’s ‘Memories’]

Wo m e n h a d f e w e r c h a n c e s a n d c h o i c e s i n l i f e 7 5 ye a r s a g o On t h e w h o l e , t h e y w e re e x p e c t e d t o m a r r y a n d d e v o t e t h e i r l i f e t o t h e i r h o m e a n d f a m i l y. I n d e p e n d e n t w o m e n we re s e e n a s a n e xc e p t i o n a n d o f t e n t h e y w e r e s h u n n e d f o r t h e i r b e l i e f s a n d / o r a c t i o n s Mo s t w o m e n l i v i n g i n P o t t e r s p u r y e a r l y i n t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y w o u l d h a v e h a d l i t t l e e d u c a t i o n b u t w o u l d h a v e b e e n p r e p a r e d b y t h e i r m o t h e r s f o r t h e i r o w n f u t u r e l i v e s a s w i v e s a n d m o t h e r s . W i t h w o m e n a b l e t o v o t e f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n 1 9 2 8 , w o m e n came to accept that they had a voice a n d c o u l d b e p r o a c t i v e i n c h a n g i n g their lives for the better. The WI gave each woman a sense of independence a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s a w a y f r o m t h e i r day to day activities of keeping house and rearing children

Me e t i n g s i n v o l v e d a n u m b e r o f d i f f e re n t o r g a n i s e d a c t i v i t i e s . W h i l s t e d u c a t i o n a l a n d e n j oy a b l e , t h e y a l s o e n a b l e d m e m b e r s t o g a i n a g r e a t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e w o r l d o u t s i d e t h e v i l l a g e . A s a n o r g a n i s a t i o n , t h e WI campaigned to improve r ural life f o r a l l b y w o r k i n g t o g e t b e t t e r f a c i l i t i e s i n v i l l a g e s , s u c h a s t h e p r o v i s i o n o f p u b l i c c a l l b o x e s I n those days ver y fe w people had their own phone, and it is hard to imagine how isolated people could be without e f f e c t i v e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s o r transpor t.

D u r i n g t h e S e c o n d Wo r l d Wa r the WI did much to suppor t the war e f f o r t . Me e t i n g s i n v o l v e d t a l k s a n d demonstrations on how to cope with r a t i o n s Wo m e n h e l p e d g r o w m o r e

fr uit and vegetables in their gardens –cabbages took the place of carnations!

S u r p l u s f o o d g r o w n w a s s o l d a t p r o d u c e m a r k e t s A s t h e W I w a s a r u r a l o r g a n i s a t i o n m a n y o f i t s members took in evacuees.

S u r v i v i n g r e c o r d s f r o m 1 9 4 3 o n w a r d s r e v e a l a s t i l l t h r i v i n g m e m b e r s h i p a l t h o u g h w o m e n perhaps no longer felt the same need f o r s u p p o r t a s t h e i r p o s i t i o n i n s o c i e t y c o n t i n u e d t o c h a n g e M e e t i n g s , h o w e v e r, c o n t i n u e d t o retain an almost traditional formality A v i s i t i n g s p e a k e r w o u l d t a l k o n r e l e v a n t i s s u e s o f t h e d a y, t h e r e w o u l d b e a c o m p e t i t i o n a n d r e f r e s h m e n t s A c t i v i t i e s w o u l d b e p l a n n e d , v i s i t s t o t h e t h e a t r e , d a y t r i p s t o p l a c e s o f i n t e re s t a n d m e a l s out Perhaps these are things we now

t a k e f o r g r a n t e d , b u t f o r a y o u n g m u m i n t h e e a r l y s i x t i e s t h e y w e r e special events The core membership w a s m i d d l e - a g e d , p rov i d i n g s t a b i l i t y a s y o u n g e r m e m b e r s a t t e n d e d i n t e r m i t t e n t l y b e t w e e n h a v i n g children. In 1966 an air trip to Paris was organised Seven members went Fo r m o s t , i f n o t a l l , t h i s w a s t h e i r first time abroad as well as their first t i m e f l y i n g Wo u l d t h e y h a v e e v e r a c h i e ve d t h i s i f t h e o p p o r t u n i t y h a d n o t b e e n p r e s e n t e d t o t h e m b y t h e WI, and all for 22 guineas!

R e a d i n g t h r o u g h t h e r e c o r d s , l i t t l e s e e m s t o h a v e c h a n g e d , b u t s o m e t r a d i t i o n s h a v e n o t s u r v i v e d . O n e w a s t h e p o t a t o g r o w i n g c o m p e t i t i o n , w h i c h i n v o l v e d members ordering a quantity of seed p o t a t o e s w h i c h t h e y g r e w a n d t h e n

A WI outing in the 1950s. [Source: Mrs Margaret Meakins]

W I f l o a t M a y D a y p a r a d e a n d f e t e 1 9 7 1 : J u n e T h o r p e , R i t a T i p p i n g , J o s i e M e a d o w c r o f t , Pauline Lockey, Grace Griffiths, Kath Ness, Doris Clamp, Iris Saunders, Jean Fairbrother, Pat Pye; at the front: Derek Lockey, Cath Ness, Stephen Pye, Robert Pye [Source: Roger Pye]

T h e V i l l a g e H a l l

T h e v i l l a g e h a l l w a s b u i l t i n 1 9 2 1 , a s a w o o d e n h u t transferred from Weedon barracks after use during the First World War It was run by the YMCA for a number of years, a n d w a s k n o w n a s t h e R e d Tr i a n g l e I n s t i t u t e a f t e r t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n ’ s s y m b o l . I t w a s o p e n m o s t n i g h t s o f the week for young people, a n d p r o v i d e d e q u i p m e n t f o r l o t s o f a c t i v i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g s k i t t l e s , d a r t s , d o m i n o e s , d r a u g h t s a n d billiards A large glass case h o u s e d a n u m b e r o f b o o k s , t h a t c o u l d b e borrowed and returned (A f o r e r u n n e r o f t h e for tnightly, now monthly, b o o k s t a l l t h a t h a s b e e n r u n n i n g f o r t h e p a s t 1 0 years or so )

T h e r e w a s a ‘ m e m b e r s h i p f e e ’ f o r v i l l a g e r s o f t w o p e n c e a week, and funds were also r a i s e d t h r o u g h b i n g o s e s s i o n s o n F r i d a y evenings, which became so popular that coaches were l a i d o n t o b r i n g p l a y e r s f r o m p l a c e s s u c h a s B u c k i n g h a m , G r e e n s N o r t o n , To w c e s t e r a n d P a u l e r s p u r y M o n d a y evening was whist evening, w h i c h w a s a l s o v e r y p o p u l a r, w i t h a s m a n y a s 1 6 0 p e o p l e t a k i n g p a r t i n t h e C h r i s t m a s w h i s t d r i ve , w i t h p r i ze s o f g e e s e , t u rk e y s a n d cockerels. Dances were also held regularly. Potterspur y WI has met in the hall since it started in 1927, and has carried out many activities such as fruit bottling

In July 1944, the owner of the Institute, Mrs Nansi Wynne Davies, offered to give the hall, and the land on w h i c h i t s t a n d s , t o t h e v i l l a g e , a n d i n M a r c h 1 9 4 5 a conveyance and trust deed granted the hall into the care of six trustees, the Rev. R. Arch, the Rev. W. Whitehouse and Me s s r s J L u c k , G Br ow n , G Bu t t o n a n d A Ev a n s A m a n a g e m e n t c o m m i t t e e , c h a i r e d b y M r B u t t o n , w a s elected. Later that year, a plot of land at the rear of the hall w a s c o n v e y e d g r a t i s f r o m Q u e e n ’ s C o l l e g e , O x f o rd , t h e o w n e r s o f B e e c h H o u s e Fa r m , t o t h e t r u s t e e s o n t h e condition that no buildings be erected on the land and it be used for no other purpose than a recreation ground. In the late 1970s, the trusteeship was taken over by Potterspur y Parish Council, and the hall became a registered charity

D u r i n g t h e S e c o n d Wo r l d Wa r, s o l d i e r s b a s e d a t Wa k e f i e l d w o u l d c o m e t o d a n c e s i n t h e h a l l , a n d t h e o r i g i n a l f l o o r c a m e t o t h e e n d o f i t s u s e f u l l i f e a s g a p s d e v e l o p e d b e t w e e n t h e b o a rd s , a n d n a i l s b e g a n t o s t i c k t h r o u g h . A n e w f l o o r o f Canadian Maple strips was laid in the early 1960s, with the help of funds from the C a r n e g i e Tr u s t a n d f u n d raising from whist drives. A b r i c k e x t e n s i o n f o r a r e p l a c e m e n t k i t c h e n w a s built in the early 1970s. A f a l s e c e i l i n g w a s a d d e d t o k e e p h e a t i n g c o s t s d o w n , b e c a u s e a t t h e t i m e t h e h e a t i n g w a s p r o v i d e d b y w a l l - m o u n t e d e l e c t r i c heaters, which sent most of t h e i r o u t p u t i n t o t h e p i t c h e d c e i l i n g t we l ve f e e t above the floor!

In 1 9 8 4 m o n e y r a i s e d f r o m t h e P o t t e r s p u r y Fe s t i v a l o f Tr a n s p o r t w a s u s e d , t o g e t h e r w i t h g r a n t s a n d a l o a n f r o m A c t i o n with Communities in Rural E n g l a n d ( A C R E ) , t o replace the exterior wooden b o a r d c l a d d i n g w i t h b r i c k w o r k a n d t h e c o r r u g a t e d i r o n r o o f i n g w i t h m o d e r n c o a t e d m e t a l s h e e t i n g . A m e e t i n g r o o m was added to the rear of the building, and the original brick p i l e s s u p p o r t i n g t h e w h o l e h a l l w e r e s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d renewed in some places. This work was done by Cowley’s of Stony Stratford.

In 1992, Maurice Henson from Daventr y rebuilt the k i c h e n t o e n l a r g e i t , m o d e r n i s e d t h e t o i l e t s , i n c l u d i n g a cubicle for disabled people, added a storeroom, a rear lobby, an exterior ramp for wheelchair access, and installed gas-fired central heating in the kitchen, toilets and meeting room. In 1996 he removed the false ceiling and installed a strip pine c e i l i n g i n l i n e w i t h t h e p i t c h o f t h e r o o f, e x p o s i n g t h e original cross-beams This was possible because of the much improved heating system, floor-mounted gas-fired heaters, which were installed in the mid 1970s and renewed in 1992. S i n c e a b o u t 1 9 3 5 t h e h a l l h a s h a d a m o v a b l e s t a g e , consisting of low trestles and eight large platform sections The Potterspury Players have added various podiums to this a r r a n g e m e n t , a l t h o u g h t h e s e a r e s t o r e d e l s e w h e r e a n d brought into the hall only when needed

The village hall before the 1984 rebuilding [Source: Dick Sharp]

A village event attracting a large gathering outside the village hall, with the Jubilee Oak, since lost to road improvements, seen in the foreground [Mrs Gladys Barby]

h a r v e s t e d T h e w i n n e r s , w h o w e r e usually the same year after year, were judged on the quantity and quality of t h e r e s u l t . S o m e t i m e s t h e r e w e r e u n u s u a l p r i ze s f o r t h e re g u l a r r a f f l e ; i n D e c e m b e r 1 9 6 6 i t w a s t w o p o r k c h o p s ! T h e t o p i c s o f t h e v i s i t i n g s p e a k e r s re f l e c t t h e c h a n g i n g w o r l d In Ap r i l 1 9 6 7 t h e t a l k w a s o n d r u g addiction (not a problem ne w to the 1 9 9 0 s ) ; i n D e c e m b e r 1 9 6 8 i t w a s flying saucers.

T h e W I h a s c o n t i n u e d t o f l o u r i s h , k e e p i n g p a c e w i t h c h a n g e a n d s o m e t i m e s h e l p i n g t o m a k e change happen. Perhaps it also fills a s l i g h t l y d i f f e r e n t r o l e n ow, a l l ow i n g w o m e n t o e s c a p e f ro m t h e p re s s u re s o f t h e m o d e r n w o r l d a n d g i ve t h e m t i m e t o t h i n k a n d re f l e c t o n c u r re n t issues.

T h e

F o r g e t - M e - N o t C l u b

S i n c e i t s i n c e p t i o n t h e r e h a v e b e e n many individuals who have given time

a n d e n e r g y t o t h e F o r g e t - m e - n o t C l u b. Fo r a n u m b e r o f ye a r s Ph y l l i s R u s s e l l h a s f i l l e d t h i s r o l e a n d h a s p r ov i d e d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n o n w h i c h this account is based

The club began in about 1960, as a social club, originally for ladies over 6 0 a n d m e n o v e r 6 5 It s n a m e w a s c h o s e n b y t h e m e m b e r s . T h e f i r s t P r e s i d e n t w a s M r s M a r y D u f f y, succeeded by Miss Kathleen Gardner, and followed by Mrs Audrey Wintle It meets once a month in the village hall for games of bingo, whist, a raffle and tea provided by a voluntar y group of members.

Almost ever y month there is also a n o u t i n g – t o t h e c o u n t r y, t h e s e a s i d e , o r t h e t h e a t re T h e m o n t h l y s u b s c r i p t i o n w a s o r i g i n a l l y o n e o l d penny and has ver y gradually risen to 5 0 p . R e g u l a r r a f f l e s , t h e o c c a s i o n a l bring and buy stall, coffee mornings a n d f e t e s h e l p t o r a i s e f u n d s A n evening whist drive in the village hall once a fortnight brings in about £250 a y e a r . S o m e t i m e s t h e r e i s a n unexpected windfall, a donation from

a well-wisher or local organisation

T h e r e i s a H a r v e s t S e r v i c e a n d a u c t i o n o f p r o d u c e , w h i c h h a s a l s o been supported by Paulerspur y ’ s Good N e i g h b o u r s C l u b f o r t h e l a s t f e w y e a r s . T h e y e a r e n d s w i t h a f r e e Christmas lunch and party

Members numbers grew by 1982 t o m o r e t h a n 8 0 , b u t n o w m e m b e r s h i p i s d ow n t o 5 0 At f i r s t , most of the club members were from old Potterspur y families but when new houses were built, retired people came t o l i v e n e a r t h e i r c h i l d r e n a n d grandchildren The club gave them the o p p o r t u n i t y t o m a k e a n e w c i rc l e o f f r i e n d s , a n d t h i s h a s b e e n e s p e c i a l l y h e l p f u l i f o n e p a r t n e r h a s b e e n l e f t alone

T h e c l u b b e n e f i t s f r o m w i l l i n g h e l p e r s , w h o h e l p a r r a n g e t h e f u r n i t u r e a n d m a i n t a i n a h i g h standard of cakes and sandwiches for t e a s A t t h e C h r i s t m a s p a r t y i n D e c e m b e r 1 9 9 4 , f r a m e d c e r t i f i c a t e s w e r e a w a rd e d t o M r s G l a d y s Ba r b y, M r s L i l i a n Sm i t h , M r s A l i c e Ev a n s , Mrs Beatrice Fox, and Miss Kathleen

A Forget-me-not Club Christmas dinner [Source: Phyllis Russell]

G a r d n e r b y No r t h a m p t o n s h i r e A g e Concern in recognition of more than 25 years voluntar y ser vice to the club.

P o t t e r s p u r y D a y C e n t r e

Vo l u n t e e r s a re a l s o t h e l i f e - b l o o d o f the Day Centre for the elderly which takes place in the village hall. It was s t a r t e d i n 1 9 8 5 by Ei l e e n L a w re n c e , Kathleen Gardner, Linda Sabin, Joan G a r d n e r a n d M a r g a r e t H o l t o n Fo r m a n y y e a r s n ow t h e m a i n o r g a n i s e r has been Georgina Dimmock who has supplied the following account.

In 1 9 8 5 , f o l l ow i n g a m e e t i n g i n D e a n s h a n g e r w i t h No r t h a n t s S o c i a l

Ser vices to discuss the need for homes a n d d a y c e n t r e s f o r t h e e l d e r l y i n South Northants, it was decided that an additional venue was needed in the a r e a t o s u p p l e m e n t t h e d a y c e n t r e a l r e a d y o p e r a t i n g i n D e a n s h a n g e r. Po t t e r s p u r y v i l l a g e h a l l w a s s e l e c t e d because of its excellent facilities.

Do n a t i o n s we re s o u g h t f ro m t h e P a r i s h C o u n c i l s o f P o t t e r s p u r y, Yardley Gobion and Cosgrove to help f i n a n c e t h e p r o j e c t w i t h c a p i t a l f u n d i n g f r o m S o c i a l S e r v i c e s . T h e Day Centre opened on 3 April 1986, when elderly residents from the three v i l l a g e s e n j o y e d t h e i r f i r s t o f m a n y happy days at the centre, cared for by voluntar y workers from each village

T h e D a y C e n t r e i s r u n f o r t h e

e l d e r l y w h o a r e c o n f i n e d t o t h e i r homes It also gives relief to relatives a n d c a r e r s o f t h e i n f i r m . E a c h T h u r s d a y a r o u n d 1 0 3 0 a m t h e members are brought to the centre by t h e So c i a l Se r v i c e s ’ s p e c i a l l y a d a pted vehicle and receive a welcoming cup of c o f f e e , o r t e a , a n d b i s c u i t s . T h e i r physical capabilities are limited, so not t o o m u c h a c t i v i t y t a k e s p l a c e i n t h e m o r n i n g , b u t t h e y e n j oy t h e i r c h a t s together and catch up on events from the past week At noon they sit down to a home-cooked two-course lunch, prepared in the kitchen of the village hall by volunteers. This is followed by a c u p o f t e a a n d a r a f f l e , t h e p r i z e s d o n a t e d m a i n l y b y t h e m e m b e r s t h e m s e l v e s A r o u n d 1 3 0 p m t h e y s e t t l e d o w n t o a g a m e o f b i n g o , f o l l owe d by d o m i n o e s a n d c a rd s At 2.30 p.m. they are ser ved cups of tea a n d c a k e s , a f t e r w h i c h t h e y a r e transported home around 3 p.m.

I n t h e s p r i n g a n d a u t u m n t w o coffee morning/bring and buy events a r e h e l d t o r a i s e m o n e y f o r a C h r i s t m a s p a r t y a n d a n o u t i n g i n J u n e T h e D a y C e n t r e c a n accommodate up to 18 members who a r e c a r e d f o r b y t e n d e d i c a t e d v o l u n t e e r s , w i t h o u t w h o s e g e n e r o u s efforts the centre could not function. I t s f u t u r e r e s t s o n t h e c o n t i n u e d s u p p o r t o f S o c i a l S e r v i c e s a n d sufficient voluntar y workers

The social life of the village has been m u c h e n h a n c e d o v e r t h e y e a r s b y various forms of enter tainment One o f t h e s e , t h e Po t t e r s p u r y E x c e l s i o r P r i z e B r a s s B a n d , e n t e r t a i n e d t h e village at all major events for over 70 years. Here, Doug Holloway, himself a former bandsman, recalls some of the histor y of the band.

P o t t e r s p u r y E x c e l s i o r P r i z e B r a s s B a n d

The village band was in existence in the late 1800s, and in 1904 entered a c o n t e s t o r g a n i s e d by t h e Ge n t l e m e n o f Du n s t a b l e . T h e b a n d t r a ve l l e d t o the contest on a horse-drawn cart and w o n t h e f i r s t p r i z e – a s i l v e r - p l a t e d

A Day Centre Christmas dinner [Georgina Dimmock]

Day Centre helpers, Margaret Holton, Linda Sabin, Iris Saunders and Eileen Lawrence, at the Christmas party in 1986. [Eileen Lawrence]

cup. The contest was never held again, so the band held the cup which is now k e p t w i t h t h e c h u r c h p l a t e f o r s a f ekeeping

Between the wars, in the summer, t h e b a n d w o u l d g i ve re g u l a r Su n d a y evening concerts on the green by the cross-road on Watling Street, opposite the Anchor pub

B a n d p r a c t i c e w a s h e l d i n t h e

Cock club room (now the restaurant).

A p o p u l a r s t o r y o f t h e t i m e r e l a t e d h o w, a r r i v i n g l a t e f o r p r a c t i c e o n e n i g h t , o n e o f t h e b a n d s m e n w a s s o i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e s o u n d o f h i s c o l l e a g u e s p l a y i n g t h a t h e we n t i n t o t h e p r a c t i c e r o o m a n d s a i d , “ T h a t s o u n d s g r e a t – c o m e o u t s i d e a n d listen” Whereupon they all put down their instruments and went outside!

T h e b a n d c e a s e d t o p l a y d u r i n g t h e S e c o n d Wo r l d Wa r b u t s t a r t e d a g a i n i n 1 9 4 6 B y 1 9 5 3 , w i t h R e g A t k i n s a s c o n d u c t o r, t h e b a n d w a s v e r y a c t i v e , p l a y i n g a t n u m e r o u s v i l l a g e f e t e s i n t h e a r e a a n d l e a d i n g c h u r c h p a r a d e s f o r R e m e m b r a n c e S u n d a y s e r v i c e s , w h e n t h e y w o u l d march four abreast via Sanders Lane, Bl a c k we l l En d , Wa t l i n g St re e t , Hi g h S t r e e t a n d C h u r c h L a n e ( w i t h n o parked cars in the way!)

A n o t h e r o l d v i l l a g e t a l e r e c a l l e d that when Pur y band marched by the p i g s w e r e s a t o n t h e w a l l t o l i s t e n . ( This tale was we ll known in all the surrounding villages!) The Coronation p a r a d e t h r o u g h t h e v i l l a g e i n 1 9 5 3 w a s l e d b y Sy d Ho l l ow a y p u s h i n g a model of ‘ The Pig on the Wall’

There was of course much rivalr y between Pur y and Yardley bands and Pur y used to say that one Christmas w h e n Ya r d l e y B a n d w e n t r o u n d playing carols they played outside one ‘house’ where the collectors could not find the door They walked round it s e v e r a l t i m e s b e f o r e t h e y r e a l i s e d i t was a hay rick!

Potterspury Brass Band in the early 1900s [Source: Jack Clamp]

Potterspury Excelsior Brass Band outside the village hall in 1953 The bandsmen are, standing: Bill Atkins, Bob Webster, Jim Bumby, Les Pittam, John Chambers, Dennis Webster, Mr Wheeler, Tony Wootton, Sid Carter, Walt Knightly, Edgar Johnson, and seated: Gary Roberts, John Smith, Fred Atkins, Mr Parkinson, Reg Atkins (conductor), –, Frank Atkins, Doug Holloway, Richard Birchall. [Source: Doug Holloway]

As the number of bandsmen from the village dwindled, more and more had to be transported to practice from t h e s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a . B y 1 9 6 1 i t became beyond the financial means of the band to continue to transport the players to practice and the band had to close down Some of the bandsmen went on to play with Wolverton Band a n d t h e re m a i n s o f t h e b a n d’s f u n d s were paid over to the Parish Council for the general benefit of the village.

D a n c i n g C l a s s e s

In the 1970s, a revival in interest in b a l l r o o m d a n c i n g l e d t w o v i l l a g e r s , J i m a n d G r a c e G r i f f i t h s , t o s t a r t classes in Potterspur y, following their training at the Grace Wootton School o f D a n c i n g i n No r t h a m p t o n u n d e r the late Fred Moore. In July 1976, Jim p a s s e d t h e Na t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f Te a c h e r s o f D a n c i n g e x a m i n a t i o n s and turned professional (he became a Member of the Association in 1981) Here, Jim and Grace tell us how the classes have grown and thrived.

C l a s s e s s t a r t e d i n S e p t e m b e r 1 9 7 6 , o n Tu e s d a y e v e n i n g s i n t h e v i l l a g e h a l l , a n d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g Januar y an additional beginners class started in Yardley Gobion church hall. I n Ju n e o f t h a t y e a r t h e c l a s s e s h a d merged, taking their amateur Bronze Me d a l Te s t s i n Ju l y W i t h e v e r y o n e

passing and three-quarters gaining the highly commended grade, these pupils m o v e d o n t o t r a i n f o r t h e i r S i l v e r M e d a l Te s t s , a n d a s e c o n d e v e n i n g ( Su n d a y s ) w a s r e q u i r e d f o r a n o t h e r beginners class. The following year a t h i rd e ve n i n g b e c a m e n e c e s s a r y a n d , a s t h e b i n g o s e s s i o n s h e l d i n t h e village hall on Thursdays closed, this became the beginners class that year C l a s s e s c o n t i n u e d o n t h e s e t h r e e e v e n i n g s a w e e k u n t i l t h e e n d o f S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 5 , w h e n t h e Su n d a y e v e n i n g p u p i l s j o i n e d w i t h t h e

Tu e s d a y o n e s t o b e c o m e t h e i m p r o v e r s / a d v a n c e d c l a s s , l e a v i n g Thursdays for beginners.

T h e p u r p o s e o f h o l d i n g d a n c i n g classes was to offer ballroom dancing tuition to the village and surrounding a r e a O v e r t h e y e a r s t h e c a t c h m e n t a r e a h a s e x t e n d e d a s f a r a s N o r t h a m p t o n , D a v e n t r y, Buckingham, Brackley, Bletchley and M i l t o n K e y n e s . P u p i l n u m b e r s re a c h e d 1 0 0 a t t h e h e i g h t a n d s i n c e 1 9 7 6 a b o u t 1 , 0 0 0 i n d i v i d u a l p u p i l s h a v e , a t s o m e t i m e , a t t e n d e d t h e classes, ranging in age from teenagers to pensioners

Va r i o u s f u n d - r a i s i n g e v e n t s h a v e t a k e n p l a c e b o t h f o r v i l l a g e o r g a n i s a t i o n s a n d n a t i o n a l c a u s e s These included a sponsored quickstep, w h i c h i n v o l v e d t h e p u p i l s a s k i n g friends, relatives and work colleagues t o s p o n s o r t h e m f o r d a n c i n g t h e q u i c k s t e p c o n t i n u o u s l y f o r 3 0 m i n u t e s A l t h o u g h v e r y e x h a u s t i n g , these were thoroughly enjoyed by the d a n c e r s , w i t h s o m e d a n c i n g m o r e t h a n o n e s e s s i o n O n o n e o c c a s i o n £ 1 , 8 0 0 w a s r a i s e d t h i s w a y t o s e n d Glyn Griffiths on Operation Raleigh to Zimbabwe, where his team built a much needed medical centre, repaired a b u i l d i n g w h i c h w a s p a r t o f a n

Dancing class group with an array of trophies, pictured in the village hall at a time when the false ceiling was still in place. [Grace Griffiths]

Performance of ‘See how they run ’ by Potterspury Players with Mike Peet, Malcolm Henley, John Giddings, Joan Ogden, Dave Burrage, Joyce Wesley and Eileen Giddings. Seated Michael Ogden. [Eileen Giddings]

o b s t a c l e c o u r s e f o r t h e Z i m b a b w e e q u i v a l e n t o f o u r S c o u t s , a n d a l s o built night shelters for personnel who conducted wildlife counts On other occasions funds were similarly raised t o b u y t h e p r i m a r y s c h o o l a n e w f o o t b a l l s t r i p , a n d t o s u p p o r t t h e Playgroup in its early years. Donations h a v e a l s o b e e n s e n t t o t h e Br a d f o rd City football fire tragedy, the British He a r t Fo u n d a t i o n , W i l l e n Ho s p i c e , and others

A m o n t h l y S a t u r d a y d a n c e , supported by past and present pupils, is run in conjunction with the classes a n d p r o c e e d s a r e d o n a t e d t o t h e village hall, primarily for the upkeep o f t h e f l o o r w i t h t h e s u r p l u s f o r additional improvements, such as the i n s t a l l a t i o n o f c e i l i n g f a n s I n 1 9 9 5 several pupils took part in the village celebrations for the 50th anniversar y of VE Day.

T h e c l a s s e s p r o v i d e b a l l r o o m d a n c i n g t u i t i o n w i t h i n a h a p p y a n d r e l a x e d a t m o s p h e r e , g i v i n g p u p i l s a w o n d e r f u l c h a n c e t o m a k e n e w friends, widen their social scene and at the same time enjoy healthy exercise

P o t t e r s p u r y

P l a y e r s

F o r t h e d r a m a t i c a l l y i n c l i n e d , t h e v i l l a g e h a s f o r n e a r l y 2 5 y e a r s supported a flourishing drama group M a l c o l m H e n l e y, a l o n g - t i m e

member, has provided this account.

A g r o u p o f t h e a t r e - m i n d e d villagers got together in 1976 to form t h e Po t t e r s p u r y P l a y e r s a n d p u t o n p l a y s i n t h e v i l l a g e h a l l . T h e i r f i r s t production was ‘Beside the Seaside’, a comedy by Leslie Sands This set the tone for the group, and the accent has been on comedy ever since, although o v e r t h e y e a r s t h e y h a v e t a c k l e d p a n t o m i m e s a n d m u s i c a l s t o o , f r o m ‘Cinderella’ to ‘Oliver’.

I n t h e e a r l y d a y s , b e f o r e t h e v i l l a g e h a l l w a s r e - b u i l t ( i n 1 9 8 4 ) , facilities for the actors were basic, to s a y t h e l e a s t B a c k s t a g e m e a n t j u s t t h a t – t h e n a r r o w g a p b e t w e e n t h e b a c k o f t h e s e t a n d t h e w a l l s o f t h e hall Squeezed into this gap were the cast, stage manager, prompter, props and costumes. Once the audience was l e t i n t o t h e h a l l t h e re w a s n o e s c a p e until after the show Costume changes during the plays had to be carried out i n s e m i - d a r k n e s s , a n d c o m p l e t e silence. However ner vous the actors, it was a relief for them to get on stage! The extended hall offered lavish new facilities by comparison, especially for those pantomimes and musicals. The new side rooms allowed for the large cast (including children) and the racks o f c o s t u m e s n e e d e d f o r t h e m . T h e extension also allowed cast members, especially ver y ner vous ones, to sneak out during the per formance and nip

next door to use the loo!

I n t h e b e g i n n i n g , p r o d u c t i o n s were directed by Michael Ogden who, w i t h h i s w i f e Jo a n , w a s t h e g r o u p ’ s driving force The first few plays even w e n t o n t o u r, w h e r e b y t h e w h o l e p r o d u c t i o n w a s t a k e n t o Ya r d l e y Gobion and Deanshanger After Joan and Og moved away, various directors t o o k o n t h e t a s k , t h e l a t e s t b e i n g Mags Fenn. She had joined the group ‘ j u s t t o h e l p b a c k s t a g e ’ . L o t s o f members started out with that aim –many of them went on to be leading a c t o r s i n t h e g r o u p ! M a g s w a s e v e n t u a l l y p e r s u a d e d t o t a k e o n t h e mantle (or millstone – depending how t h e c u r r e n t p r o d u c t i o n i s g o i n g ) o f director

Si n c e 1 9 7 6 t h e P l a y e r s h a v e p u t on at least one show a year, usually a comedy play or farce. The pattern has now settled into an annual production in November. The production process s t a r t s i n s p r i n g w i t h a s e r i e s o f m e e t i n g s t o c h o o s e t h e n e x t p l a y. P u b l i s h e r s ’ c a t a l o g u e s a r e s t u d i e d , playscripts are borrowed from libraries o r o t h e r g r o u p s , a n d p a s s e d a r o u n d f o r c o m m e n t . Eve n t u a l l y a c h o i c e i s made. As the Players have always been a small group the selected play must be suitable for the numbers available –a s w e l l a s b e i n g g o o d e n o u g h t o b e w o r t h d o i n g M a n y d r a m a g r o u p s have trouble attracting enough young p e o p l e , e s p e c i a l l y m e n , s o a u d i e n c e s have to get used to suspending their disbelief when the juvenile lead, aged forty-five, appears on stage! Over the y e a r s t h e m e m b e r s h a v e c h a n g e d Joyce Wesley is now the only original m e m b e r l e f t – b u t t h e g r o u p s p i r i t l i v e s o n M o s t o f t h e m e m b e r s a r e l o c a l , b o l s t e r e d b y ‘ i m p o r t s ’ f r o m Milton Keynes and surroundings.

On c e c h o s e n , t h e p l a y i s c a s t by t h e d i r e c t o r a n d r e h e a r s a l s b e g i n i n the spring. Early on these proceed at a s o m e w h a t l e i s u re l y p a c e . T h e a c t o r s ’ eternal motto is “I will learn my lines – n e x t w e e k ” . T h i n g s w i n d d o w n d u r i n g t h e s u m m e r, b u t p i c k u p a m o r e u r g e n t p a c e i n S e p t e m b e r Increasingly broad hints encourage the c a s t f i n a l l y t o l e a r n t h e i r w o r d s Meanwhile, other group members are

Performance of ‘There goes the Bride’ by Potterspury Players in 1998 with Liz Bromage, Mike Street, Alex Carroll, Dick Sharp, Helen Pritchard and Eileen Giddings [Mags Fenn]

p r a c t i s i n g t h e i r o w n s p e c i a l i t i e s . C o s t u m e s a r e b o u g h t , b o r r o w e d o r made Props are acquired – ever ything f r o m a t e l e p h o n e t o a s e v e r e d h e a d The set is designed and lighting effects a r e p l a n n e d T h e v i t a l p r o c e s s o f selling tickets begins – nobody wants to perform to a half-empty hall

The set goes up on Sunday before opening night. The original village hall stage has been much enlarged over the years, providing more space for acting. The basic set is built in a day, but still has to be painted, lit and ‘dressed’ with furniture, ornaments and props, then it’s ready for the dress rehearsal. It’s the l a s t c h a n c e t o g e t i t r i g h t – o p e n i n g night tomorrow! The Players perform on three nights and then they have to t u r n o u t a g a i n t h e n e x t m o r n i n g t o take it all down again. It’s over – until the next time.

T h e g r o u p h a s b e e n a f i x t u r e i n t h e v i l l a g e , o f f e r i n g a n a b s o r b i n g hobby for the dozens of members and p r o v i d i n g a s t e a d y s u p p l y o f entertainment over the years.

The Inter-Village Quiz

F o r t h o s e w h o p r e f e r t o e x e r c i s e their minds rather than their bodies, o n e o f t h e v i l l a g e e v e n t s i n re c e n t ye a r s h a s b e e n p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e a n n u a l N o r t h a m p t o n s h i r e I n t e rVillage Quiz, in which teams of four d o b a t t l e o v e r s e t s o f g e n e r a l k n ow l e d g e q u e s t i o n s i n a s e r i e s o f rounds spread over three months in the autumn Potterspur y has entered a t e a m ( s o m e t i m e s t w o ! ) s i n c e t h e b e g i n n i n g i n 1 9 8 0 , a n d i n 1 9 8 1 w o n t h e c o m p e t i t i o n , w h e n t h e r e was a total entr y of 128 teams The t e a m c o n s i s t e d o f Jo a n Pu l l i n g e r, D a v i d M a r k s , S t e v e P a r k i n a n d Gordon Murray Gordon was vicar of the parish at the time, and caused hilarity during the grand final of the c o n t e s t w h e n h e f a i l e d t o f i n d t h e r i g h t a n s we r t o h i s Bi b l e q u e s t i o n , b u t c o r re c t l y i d e n t i f i e d t h e s o u n d s inside a betting shop!

I n t h e m o d e r n e r a t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f village organisations are publicised and reported in the village newsletter, The O l d M a i l , w h i c h , o v e r t h e p a s t 2 0 years, has become a village institution in its own right

Begun in June 1983 by a group of v o l u n t e e r s f r o m P o t t e r s p u r y a n d Ya r d l e y G o b i o n , a n d r e p l a c i n g t h e e x i s t i n g p a r i s h n e w s - s h e e t , t h e f i r s t i s s u e o f T h e O l d M a i l c o n s i s t e d o f eight pages of news, views and dates of forthcoming events from both villages. The Old Mail takes its name from the h o r s e a n d c a r t p u r c h a s e d b y Po t t e r s p u r y w o r k e r s t o c a r r y t h e m daily to and from the Railway Works i n Wo l v e r t o n F o r m a n y y e a r s t h e horse, Polly Stewart, saved the men the daily two hour walk along the canal to w o r k a n d b a c k , b y p u l l i n g t h e c a r t known as The Mail Polly was stabled w i t h t h e c a r t a t t h e O l d B a k e h o u s e F a r m b y t h e A 5 a n d l a t e r a t T h e R o p e w a l k a n d f i n a l l y h a d t o b e d e s t r o y e d a f t e r b e i n g s t r u c k b y lightning one evening during a violent storm on the way back to Potterspur y

T h e o r i g i n a l p r o d u c t i o n t e a m p r i n t e d T h e O l d M a i l t h e m s e l v e s a t Linford Media Centre but later, with t h e g r a d u a l i n c r e a s e i n p a g e s , i t b e c a m e n e c e s s a r y t o e m p l o y a p r o f e s s i o n a l p r i n t e r I n M a r c h 1 9 8 5 C o s g r o v e , b e i n g p a r t o f t h e c h u r c h b e n e f i c e , j o i n e d t h e t e a m a n d t h e resulting 16 pages has steadily grown to a magazine consisting of a current a ve r a g e o f ove r 5 0 p a g e s o f m o n t h l y r e p o r t s f r o m c o u n c i l s , v i l l a g e o r g a n i s a t i o n s , c h u r c h e s , a n d s p o r t s and recreational clubs, as well as items o f i n t e r e s t w r i t t e n b y i n d i v i d u a l r e s i d e n t s . T h e m a g a z i n e , w h i c h i s d e l i v e r e d t o n e a r l y 1 5 0 0 h o m e s , i s financed by an increasing number of l o y a l a d v e r t i s e r s , s p o n s o r s h i p f r o m

local businesses, and generous annual d o n a t i o n s f ro m v i l l a g e o r g a n i s a t i o n s , t h e c h u r c h e s a n d t h e t h r e e p a r i s h c o u n c i l s . O u r c u r r e n t a d v e r t i s i n g manager is Potterspur

y resident John Giddings

E d i t o r s h i p i n Po t t e r s p u r y b e g a n w i t h A n t h e a S h a r p w h o , a f t e r 2 5 i s s u e s , h a n d e d o v e r o n w h a t w a s i n t e n d e d t o b e a t e m p o r a r y b a s i s t o De e Lu rk i n g s w h o t h e n re m a i n e d t o c o - o r d i n a t e Po t t e r s p u r y c o p y f o r a f u r t h e r 1 8 i s s u e s ! O u r t h i r d e d i t o r, We n d y S h e l d r i c k , m o v e d f r o m t h e village after only eight issues and was f o l l o w e d b y S u e B o n d w h o , h a v i n g edited 21 issues, also moved out of the village. Mags Fenn, originally The Old Mail treasurer, then took over as editor a n d r e m a i n e d f o r 8 5 i s s u e s , l a t t e r l y helped by Gill Webb who did most of t h e t y p i n g a n d t o o k o v e r a s e d i t o r from Mags in April 1999 Out of the s e v e n m e m b e r s o f t h e c u r r e n t p r o d u c t i o n t e a m , o n l y Po t t e r s p u r y ’ s Marilyn Abbott, one of our two pasteu p a r t i s t s , re m a i n s f r o m t h e o r i g i n a l t e a m T h e m a g a z i n e h a s c o m e a l o n g w a y s i n c e t h e d a y s o f e l e c t r i c t y p e w r i t e r s a n d t h e L i n f o r d M e d i a Centre print workshop

Over the years The Old Mail has p r o v i d e d i t s r e a d e r s w i t h i n t e r e s t , a m u s e m e n t , f o o d f o r t h o u g h t a n d sometimes sadness. Each issue contains r e c o r d s o f m o n t h l y m e e t i n g s , b u t o f t e n t h e r e a r e a l s o e n t e r t a i n i n g a c c o u n t s o f r e a d e r s ’ a c t i v i t i e s , i t e m s written by schoolchildren, appeals for h e l p w i t h v a r i o u s v e n t u r e s a n d s o m e t i m e s m o v i n g t r i b u t e s t o l o v e d a n d m i s s e d m e m b e r s o f t h e community. There is also a continuing re c o rd o f g r a t i t u d e f o r m o n e y r a i s e d f o r c h a r i t i e s a n d f o r v i c t i m s o f w a r s , e a r t h q u a k e s a n d h u r r i c a n e s , o f t e n f ro m e ve n t s r u n by t h e yo u t h o f t h e

village. The strip cartoon “Pyg Tales”, drawn by Mandy Cuthbertson, was to be found on the back page until July 1 9 9 3 w h e n St Ni c h o l a s C h u r c h a n d t h e U n i t e d R e f o r m e d C h u r c h produced a joint list of ser vices which filled the back page.

P r o b a b l y t h e g r e a t e s t s o u r c e o f amusement was one April issue which c o n t a i n e d a r e p o r t o f t h e p r o p o s e d t w i n n i n g o f Po t t e r s p u r y a n d Ya rd l e y G o b i o n w i t h t h e F r e n c h v i l l a g e o f Tirez-les-Jambes, and an outline of the l a t e s t E U ( t h e n t h e E E C ) p e a a n d b e a n p l a n t i n g r e g u l a t i o n s f o r a l l o t m e n t h o l d e r s A l s o m e n t i o n e d w e r e p l a n s t o g r e e t t h e E U C o m m i s s i o n e r , H e r r G e r h a r d t Mu n c h h a u s e n , o n h i s f l y i n g v i s i t b y h e l i c o p t e r a l o n g t h e ro u t e o f t h e A 5 o n 1 A p r i l T h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e Po t t e r s p u r y r e s i d e n t , a s r e p o r t e d b y t h e No r t h a m p t o n s h i re C o n s t a b u l a r y, standing at the junction of Poundfield R o a d a n d Wa t l i n g S t r e e t w a v i n g a l a r g e b u n c h o f c a r r o t s a t a p a s s i n g h e l i c o p t e r h a s a l w a y s r e m a i n e d a myster y!

The Potterspury Wine Circle

Fo r t h o s e w h o e n j o y t h e i r w i n e ( o r anybody else’s!) the Potterspur y Wine C i rc l e w a s i n i t i a t e d i n t h e 1 9 7 0 s f o r

t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e i n c re a s i n g n u m b e r of people who were making their own wine Winemaking is a skill practised b y v i l l a g e r s s i n c e t i m e i m m e m o r i a l T h e o r i g i n a l t e c h n i q u e s i n vo l ve d t h e collection of various fruits and flowers f r o m t h e h e d g e r o w t o p r o d u c e a ‘ m u s t ’ , w h i c h w a s t h e n p l a c e d i n a large pot or container, and a piece of t o a s t c o n t a i n i n g b a k e r ’ s y e a s t w a s floated on the top. Many houses in the village were then able to offer guests a glass of their home brew The resultant wines were often ver y sweet but could

b e q u i t e p o t e n t ! Un f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e l e g e n d s o n e f r e q u e n t l y h e a r s concerning the ver y ancient bottle of w i n e w h i c h h a d , o v e r t h e y e a r s , become stronger than whisky are sadly u n t r u e ! Me e t i n g s we re h e l d m o n t h l y in one of the classrooms of the school T h e r e w e r e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , t a l k s , c o m p e t i t i o n s a n d w i n e t a s t i n g . E a c h m o n t h p e o p l e b r o u g h t a l o n g t h e i r latest brew for the delectation of their friends, who would bravely sip it and make suitably enthusiastic comments b e f o r e s n e a k i n g q u i e t l y o u t o f t h e

A Ya n k i n t h e V i l l a g e

In t h e a u t u m n o f 1 9 9 5 L i n d a L e w a n d ow s k i a n d h e r family arrived in Potterspur y, a transfer to England due to her husband’s work which resulted in a five year stay at Wakefield Lawn.

Shor tly after wards the first of her monthly ar ticles in The Old Mail catalogued the first experiences of life i n m i d d l e E n g l a n d t h r o u g h t h e e y e s o f a n a t i v e Californian, via a Brooklyn childhood, and “A Yank in the Village” had arrived Linda’s accounts of grappling w i t h t h e v a g a r i e s o f B r i t i s h e l e c t r i c a l a p p l i a n c e s , Milton Keynes roundabouts, the UK driving test and the realisation that supermarket trolleys surrender your i n v e s t m e n t i f y o u r e t u r n y o u r t r o l l e y t o t h e t r o l l e y p a r k , s o o n b e c a m e a m o n t h l y t r e a t f o r O l d M a i l re a d e r s Ap a r t f r o m h e r a c c o m p l i s h e d w r i t i n g , L i n d a also made many ne w friends from her great talent for s t o r y t e l l i n g ( w h i c h s h e d e ve l o p e d a f t e r s h e a r r i ve d i n the village) and she will be remembered for a long time

by the many children she enter tained on visits to local schools and bir thday par ties, and by audiences at her adult stor ytelling sessions

Following a difficult year when she was diagnosed w i t h b re a s t c a n c e r, L i n d a re t u r n e d t o t h e St a t e s w i t h h e r f a m i l y i n J u n e 2 0 0 0 a n d r e a d e r s o f h e r ‘f i n a l ’ ar ticle, published in July, cried with her: “In one life I am going through the motions of repatriation....In my s e c re t l i f e , I a m p a r a l y s e d by g r i e f, re t re a t t o t h e b e d and cr y buckets full of tears under the covers at the loss of England and the special life I had there” However, “ Ya n k e d f r o m t h e V i l l a g e ” c o m m e n c e d i n T h e O l d Mail in autumn 2000 and Linda found a publisher for h e r f i v e y e a r c o l l e c t i o n o f a r t i c l e s . “A Ya n k i n t h e Village – Thoughts about Life in and out of England from a former Brooklyn Girl who once wished she was Ja n e Ey re ” a p p e a re d o n o u r b o o k s h e l ve s i n 2 0 0 1 a n d proved a r unaway success.

Wine Circle fancy dress dance group with David Clark, Peggy Clark, Kathy Hammett, Andrew Barton, Irene Mearing, Jenny Burrage, Kate Barton [Eileen Giddings]

r o o m t o d i s c r e e t l y d i s p o s e o f t h e re m a i n d e r ( It w a s g e n e r a l l y b e l i e ve d at the time that the premature death of a particularly handsome laurel bush j u s t o u t s i d e t h e c l a s s r o o m d o o r w a s d u e t o a n e s p e c i a l l y v i r u l e n t g i n g e r wine which made a regular appearance at those meetings!)

Wi n e s w e re m a d e f r o m u n l i k e l y raw materials: onion, peapods, leaves, etc. A visiting speaker (a well known author on the subject of winemaking) s a i d h e c o u l d n ’ t u n d e r s t a n d w h y p e o p l e w e re s u r p r i s e d t h a t s t u f f l i k e

onion wine tasted so horrid. Over the years more of the members travelled a b r o a d a n d b r o u g h t b a c k t h e “ r e a l s t u f f ” A s C u s t o m s r u l e s h a v e changed the group eventually realised t h a t i t w a s u n w i s e t o c o n t i n u e poisoning one another, destroying the s c h o o l h a b i t a t a n d s u f f e r i n g f r o m u n p l e a s a n t c h e m i c a l i n d u c e d h e a d a c h e s a n d o t h e r s i d e - e f f e c t s t o o indelicate to mention. The group had always organised popular social events ( i n c l u d i n g a s e r i e s o f a n n u a l f a n c y d r e s s d a n c e s a t t h e v i l l a g e h a l l ,

c a m p i n g w e e k e n d s , a w a y w e e k e n d s etc ) It was therefore decided to give up making wine and confine activities t o d r i n k i n g t h e s t u f f a n d c o n t i n u e with social events. Today these events take the form of a social ge t-together at a member’s house with good food p r o v i d e d b y a ‘ c a t e r i n g t e a m ’ a n d g o o d w i n e ( u s u a l l y p r ov i d e d b y t h e French via Tesco) A far cr y from the o r i g i n a l d a y s w h e n i t w a s n o t unreasonably suggested by a member t h a t t h e C i r c l e m o t t o s h o u l d b e “ I f it’s cool – it’s mature ”