Richard & Pat Leftwich
From Lacey Green History
Richard Leftwich born 1938 was the son of Richard & Margaret Leftwich
Patricia 'Pat' B Mcmenamin was from Princes Risborugh
Richard and Pat married on 20th August 1960 at St Teresa's Church in Princes Risborough.
Richard had come to Lacey Green about 1940 with his parents and two older sisters. They lived in Graham Cottage no 1, Main Road, next to Stocken Farm
When Richard's widowed mother had left Lacey Green she lived in Cliftonville with her sister, but Pat and Richard were worried about her. They were able to have a small 'granny annex' built on their house in High Wycombe so Margaret lived there until she died in 1994.
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Richard 'Richie' sent his memories of life in Lacey Green as follows :-
I started spending time at Stocken Farm when I was very young, playing with John and getting into all sorts of scrapes.
Climbing trees and making camps in trees. (Gerald Bedford came to the resce once when I got stuck up a tree).
Most memorable was making fireworks - looking back now it was very dangerous.
As we got a bit older we were able to help with various jobs. One of my regular jobs was to sweep the path by the back door and to mow the front lawn.
In summer we used to follow the binder and make up the stooks of wheat, oats and barley. The hay, corn lift was initially powered by a horse going round and round but later was driven by a Petter engine.
I also remember planting a new hedge with several hundred hawthorn quicks across the airfield and it is still there today.
We used to feed baby lambs and runt pigs which were kept warm in a box in the kitchen by the Aga and we built a pigsty for Alice, which was the first pig on the farm.
Chopping up mangolds in a machine, bagging them up with chaff to feed the animals
Preparing sheep for Risborough Show.
Helping John thatch hayricks.
Riding on the wing of the old Fordson tractor with spikes on the wheels which was replaced with a new Fordson Major tractor.
Taking the horse to the blacksmith at Gt. Hampden for new shoes.
Watching TV on a 9ins screen. It was one of the first in the village.
A highlight of the year was John's birthday party. Mrs West made wonderful cakes and ice creams.
Mr Crook had a leg problem and frequently said he wanted a new leg so we made him a small wooden one with moving knee and foot joint. It made him laugh and thought it was wonderful.
My parents and we chldren all attended church every Sunday. There was also a Chapel in the village. The Church was opposite the school and not far away was the village police station. The nearest post office was Harveys grocery shop in Loosley Row.
There was a bus service to Princes Risborough by Farmers Coaches. This was quite a reasonable service, but if you missed the bus back it meant getting the Thames Valley bus going to Wycombe and getting off at Woodway and a long uphill walk to Lacey Green. Some years later there was a regular bus to High Wycombe. We used to watch for the Thames Valley bus going through the village from Wycombe and then go and wait at the bus stop, as the bus used to turn round at The Whip. Whilst several buses came from Wycombe to the village, most turned round at the entrance to Bomber Command, which meant walking on to Lacey Green. A bus collected children from the villages to go to secondary school.
I recall during the winter, the wonderful mell and warmth of the village bakery, where we used to lean against the warm wall and chat. The baker (Sid Janes) delivered bread by horse and cart. The milk was delivered by Harry Floyd in an Austin 12. Mother had a big jug whch was filled from a churn. Our rationed groceries were delivered once a week by Harveys in an Austin 7. He was based in Loosley Row and someone had to take the order earlier in the week. Newspaper delivery was available from Oakfords.
I do remember Mr and Mrs West having a telephone (Princes Risborough 215) This was an upright pedestal to speak into and a lift off ear pierce for listering. A local telephone box was n the village.
Years later for social activities young people went to Princes Risborough where evening classes were held and a Young Famers Group met regularly.
These are just a few thoughts and memories.