Frank & Kate Sladden

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Frank Sladden born 1896

Kate Bowler born 1896 was the daughter of Joseph & Mary Bowler

Frank and Kate married in 1918

Frank and Kate had 1 known child as follows :-

Francis Sladden born 1927 married Barbara E Thompson in 1950 at Downham, Essex. Francis died in 2002 and is buried in Lacey Green Churchyard

1939 Register (census). Frank Sladden 43 night watchman. Kate Sladden 44, Francis Sladden, William Bromfield 17 plumbers mate.

click 1950 'Darkie' The Steamroller Man by Geoff Gomme for more about Frank Sladden

Sold May 7^th 1957.  Conveyance to Frank “Darkie” Sladden, traction engine driver, the tenant, purchased Currell Row no 3, road frontage 11 feet 3 inches, from Elsie Mabel Toms.

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Geoff Gomme of Court Cottage, Church Lane, Lacey Green wrote about Frank Sladden

REPAIRING THE ROADS. The Local roads used to be looked after and repaired by J.Smith & Sons of Walters Ash. They sectioned off half the road for a certain distance and the tar lorry would come along spreading the tar, followed by men spreading the “chippings”, then the steam roller.

A "REAL" STEAMROLLER. In those days there was powerful gentleman named Frank Sladden who lived in 3 Currell Row, Lacey Green. He was in charge of and drove the steam roller. Here I’m talking about a “real” roller – not one of those piddling little Diesel engines or a hand-held vibrating machine, I’m not sure how much a steamroller weighed, but it certainly flattened and smoothed our roads.

DARKIE'S BLACK FACE. Mr Sladden had to walk or cycle to his roller early in the morning to light up the boiler to get up steam for the day’s work. He was given the nickname “Darkie” because at the end of the day he’d be black from shovelling coal to keep up the pressure.

WHEEEEE-UP. I remember he always had a cheery greeting for us youngsters: “Wheeeee-up” he’d shout, white teeth gleaming in his grimy face, and, of course we would be delighted to be recognised by such a great man. For the benefit of non-Bucks people, “Wheeeeeup” translates as “Hello, how are you?.