My mother was born in Hampstead London on
Shirley Wickham
Weavers Farm
Gurney Slade
Binegar
Nr Bath
DIARY
“March winds, April showers…..etc” I don’t think. It snowed hard all morning and then rained all afternoon and evening. In the morning we took a load of manure to Ida’s and collected the stakes and wire from Kingdown We got soaked. We did not go out again before 2.15 and then we took a load of manure to Dick Gill’s and collected some Swedes. Then we had to get sheep creeps from Emery’s and
We were pretty late this morning owing to the clocks put forward. It was pouring with rain till lunch time. Cleaned out and got mangles. Groomed calves. Went down Bown’s over the hedge. Colour was laid out. Got cows before tea. Saw G.C. Bunny must have gone back. Went to church. Wrote most of the evening. It did not get dark until late.
It was raining off and on all day. We got up fairly early. Phyllis went to Farrington with Mr Bown. The heifer’s calf went. I cleaned out and did all the odd jobs. Went over rectory and looked at the sheep. Picked some primroses. Had lunch early. Took some oats over to the sheep. Spoke to Hewart on the way. Chain-harrowed until 4. I did a bit on my own. Got cows. Had tea. Milked the heifer. I “nosed” her. It was wet. Carried hay for cows. Came in about 7.30. Dennis came over. Penned up at 9.
It was raining all day in shower, proper April weather. Got up in time to go out at 8. Nosed the heifer. Had a twin of lambs. Got wet feeding cows, changed breeches. Washed stall, fed sheep and cleaned up round manure heap. Had lunch. Got two loads of hay, one for heifers. Had tea. Milked. The heifer was quiet. Went up Dudden’s. Hubert and Dennis came over.
It was pouring with rain so the vet did not come to tail the lambs. I fed heifers after leaving the cows at the gate. Washed the stall down well after cleaning out the calves. Worked down ammonia and fed sheep over rectory. Went out again at 2.30 and spread ammonia on a quarter of Kingdown. Brought on cows. The heifer was quite quiet this evening. It dried up a bit. Went collecting.
It was a glorious sunny day. We had to be up early to get the sheep back for the vet at 10.30. We had a job to get the sheep in stall and the vet did not come until gone 11. We tailed all the lambs. I got my breeches splashed in blood from “squirters” I worked the pincers. I got my land army uniform. Had four teeth filled down Wells. Came back on the 5.30 bus. Went to youth club. I am “
I am now properly in the W.L.A. I wore my uniform for the first time. It was a dull hazy sort of day. Took the sheep over rectory and fed them. Did a bit of chain-harrowing over the brow. Got mangles. Had lunch. I had a boring job clearing the old rick over rectory and picking up loose hay. I rode silver down the road. He was lovely and comfy. Had hot cross buns. Finished about 6.15. Put I raspberries. Washed. Had lambs tails for supper.
It was a dull foggy morning but the sun came out later. We spent most of the morning putting up a sheep pen and picking up bits of Swedes. Barbara came over to make Easter cakes. We got in a good load of hay and put some by the hedge for the heifers. Got cows by 4. We had finished by 5.30 and were down Wells at 6. Saw “My friend Flicka” a lovely horsey picture. Got home at 10.
Got up at the usual time. Milked. It started to rain like the dickens and we got soaking feeding the cows and heifers over the rectory. We did not do much this morning except our usual jobs. We came in at 11.45 and had a bath. Changed into my uniform. Went down Bown’s at 2.30. Colour was asleep on sofa. Got cows after tea. Finished at 5.15. Went to church. Hubert, Dennis ,Susan, Milly and John came in.
Got up pretty late this morning. Did the milking and fed the heifers. Went over rectory. It was very stormy all day. We did our jobs before breakfast. Put up sheep pen. Came back, Phyllis went to Farrington at 1.15. I spent the afternoon cleaning mangles etc. Got cows a 4. P disappeared down Bown’s. Milked and finished about 6. Changed. Left for Chewton at 8.45. Joyce came C did not go. The hall was packed. No “Blackie’s” Hurrah! Has a good time.
Went to Green’s stock-judging. We had to judge 4 cows. It was quite interesting. I got 85 out of 120. We did not get back until 10.20
Took down rick, chain harrowed further ground. Had to put a pen up at night. Did not sit down til gone 9.
Got a load of hay and the drags from the rectory. Had to unload the cart, take out the drags and help get sheep in all after 1.10. I had a rest. Went to Wells by car. Had one tooth stopped and sealed. Went to Youth Club dance at hall. A poor crowd.
Had to put a pen up and pull Swedes first this morning as Colour was ploughing that field in the afternoon. We dragged and rolled. Did some dragging I like the job. It rained, put up a pen after milking , got wet. Spent a quiet evening.
Got up before 7.30. Milked and fed calves and heifers. Went over rectory. Had to take the pen down to let Colour get on with the ploughing. Had breakfast and then did our usual work. Went up Kingdown and hung the gate. Made the pen. Saw troops arrive at station. Had lunch I did some dragging by myself. Got hay from the rectory. Had tea. Finished about 6.30 It poured.
Finished work before 12. I had another bath, the water ran all over the floor. Went down Bown’s. We did not go to church but Stella, Phyllis, Hazel, Jean and I went for a walk around Bennet’s lane and Burnt Wood. Saw crowds of yanks.
Dragged the little ground. Silver was awful. Went to a “Salute the Soldier” meeting. Arranged programme for the week (May13th-20th) Got back about 9. Saw the first swallows over Mr Turner’s.
We got some straw and hay from rectory and took the wire over. Cleared straw off mangles. The horse hitched his cruple and knocked me flying into the manure heap “the school-boy wandering through the wood to pull the primrose gay, Starts the new voice of Spring to hear, and imitates thy lay” Heard the first cuckoo today. Dragged and drilled. Had a chat with the garage. Washed my hair.
We got up at 7 this morning and we were on to breakfast by 9. Mr Wareham told us about closing the hall at 11 last night. Black’s and whites had a scrap. Drilled and dragged. Went over rectory. Cleaned mangles. Dug tomato holes. Put up sheep pen. It rained. Bought cows in. Had tea. We have finished giving the calves gruel. Finished by 6. washed. It was raining like heck! We could not go to the Star Easton dance. Heard BBC dancing club.
I had hectic pains all morning as per usual. It was a glorious morning but later the wind became very rough. Went to Binegar Bottom and got some stakes. We had to put the sheep-pen up. It is much bigger and we did not come to lunch until 2.15. Got a load of hay and the cows. It was rough. Finished about 6.20. I got ready for youth club. Came back before 9.30.
Got up pretty late. Milked. I took the cows over rectory. We had to hurry over breakfast as we thought the sheep were out. Put up the pen. I picked a cuckoo flower and some wood anemones. I went to Wells. Met Mrs Attwell. Hewart would have given me a lift. I had a tooth out. It did hurt. I lost my bag at Shepton. Alf’s wife lent me 1/- Had tea. Mr and Mrs Ladd came. Went and phoned Police no sign of bag. Had quiet evening.
Got up at about 7.30 I did not feel very workish. I cleaned out the stall and the calves. Basil and Norman came to get something off the car. It was a glorious day and very hot. My arms caught the sun. Put up a pen. Washed stall. Had lunch. Dragged and put in kale. Got a load of hay and cows. Had tea. Milked etc. Put up pen. I felt thoroughly fed up. Wrote a bit. Went to bed early. A dance at the hall.
We got up just after 7 so that we could get finished for Sunday afternoon. Phyllis and Mr and Mrs Howes went down and got stick from Binegar Bottom. I did the cleaning out, mangles etc. We went down Bown’s. Hacker and Gerald came and we were larking about on the sand heap. I got tipped over the wall. Went to church. It was hot. Milly, John, Barbara and Dennis came to supper. Went to bed at 10.30.
Got up with an effort. Milked. Took the cows and fed them. Had breakfast. We did not have to make a pen as one was already up. I got mangles and P chain-harrowed. Had dinner. I did some chain-harrowing after getting mangles. Got a load of hay. Let sheep out and got cows. I had toothache. Must ring dentist. Went to red Cross at rectory.
Tueday 25th April 1944
We were late getting up. We had to go over rectory and feed the sheep. Mr Howes and P were having a conference, so I came on to breakfast. Cleaned out. All the sheep came home. Rolled up all the wire. After dinner we took the wire and stakes down Gill’s on trolley. W were down there till 3.45. Got cows. I had to milk in a hurry and phone the dentists. We went to YFC meeting Got a lift in car from Star Easton. Had talk on horses. It was very interesting. Left Killen’s about 11.15. came back with Dennis and Hubert.
Had a job to wake up this morning. It was a glorious day. I went about with no coat on all day. Did our usual work before breakfast. Had a blue hat from Verity. Wonders will never cease! Got wire and troughs from rectory. The horse played up. Sheep got out stopped gap. Got straw from further ground. Got a load of hay. I got cows. I did milking. Phyllis dragged over rectory. I went to Gill’s with wire. Saw all H.G’s. Wrote and read after cleaning out my drawer.
Did all our usual jobs. I went to Shepton on the 2.30 bus and then I went to Wells. I had to be at the dentists by 4. I went to Brown’s and got some lettuces. I had my tooth filled. I went to tea. Wells was full of clergy. I went to youth club after taking the sheep down Gill’s. We made the boys dance. It was great fun. Got home about 9.45
We were drilling kale all morning and rolling and dragging. The horse did not take any notice of the trains. Finished and got hay in afternoon. We went to Horrington on the off-chance. Came back about 10.
We took the sheep’s food down to Gill’s. We were going to drill spuds but the ground was too hard. Phyllis and Mr Howes got the plough. We ploughed in the spuds with the horse. I got the cows. We went to a dance at Horrington. Had a lovely time. Fred was very attentive! Colour etc came. Fred brought me home about 12.30. I got in before P.
Did not get up very early. We did not do much except feed the sheep. Let calves out. We had to cycle to Stralton with a yank. Saw Attwells. Milked. Went to church. Susan goes on sick leave tomorrow Went to bed early. Yank wants me to go to Cheddar. Heaven help us if I went.
Thoughts…
“Build a little fence of trust around today
Fill the space with loving work and therein stay;
Look not through the sheltering bars upon to-morrow,
God will help thee bear what comes of joy of sorrow.
Love on through doubt and darkness; and believe
there is no thing which love may not aleave.
“ Love is strong as death. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it”
“ I thank Thee Lord that thou hast made love to astound
That in the darkest spot on earth some love is found”