Dennis Claydon

A document copied for me by Dennis

click Families for other local families

click Claydon for others in this family

Research by Joan West.

Dennis and I did a lot of research at the Bucks Record Office as far back as 1972. Dennis was an old hand and I was a beginner. We then met up at home to share our discoveries. Dennis's work was meticulous, he was a very good artist and could accuratly draw maps. To illustrate his neat writing here is an example >

Dennis Claydon born in 1942 was the son of Joe & Criscilla Claydon

Dennis’ mother died in 1947 when he was just five years old.

In 1952 his father remarried Evangeline Harber when Dennis was 10.

Dennis fllled in a questionnaire on his schooldays at a Lacey Green School reunion. click Lacey Green School Reunion 2000. Dennis is listed among the dates 1949-1958

Dennis remained single. dying in 2016.

For research and writings by Dennis, click: --

Methodist Chapel, Lacey Green

Turnip End. Dennis researched the place name of Turnip End.

Absentee Landlords. Dennis researched 2nd half of the first article 'Lords of the Manor'.

1905 Auction. Sale of properties at Up Green, Documents found by Dennis

1910 The Cows Head Feast. Request by Dennis for more about this event.

1915 Sale of Estate of Thomas Dell documents found by Dennis

Saunderton Station Research by Dennis. First printed in Hallmark, February 1990.

Tarmac and Beyond. Booklet recording Dennis's research about Kiln Lane, Lacey Green.

Dennis Claydon - "The Bard of Lacey Green", chaired by Mosh Saunders on the left, Harry Church on the right.For Dennis's winning poem click 1968 The Bard of Lacey Green

Dennis Claydon 1st Tribute and obituary by Rosemary Mortham on behalf of The Local History Group, and 2nd Tribute by Roger Craft, on behalf of the Councillors Parish Council, beneath. Below, the articles written by Dennis.

1st Tribute and Obituary by Rosemary Mortham

Dennis was born on 28^th October 1942 in the Royal Bucks Hospital, Aylesbury, so he always said that meant he was ‘not Lacey Green born and bred’, but he was certainly a Lacey Green man at heart.

Dennis's mother, Criscilla Hickman was from Turnip End and his father, William Joseph Claydon (‘Joe’) was one of six brothers, George Claydon (father of John), Frank, Albert (who emigrated to Canada), Charlie, Joe and Harry. They lived in Kiln Cottage (now known as Kiln Barn), and the boys slept in the shed outside. click William & Lily Ruth Claydon for this family

Dennis’ parents were Sunday School teachers at the Primitive Methodist Church, Lacey Green and Dennis had recently completed a book on the History of Methodism in Lacey Green, see Methodist Chapel, Lacey Green, for details extracted from Dennis's research into Methodism, which can be found on the History Group website. Joan West was told by Alan Luxford, who as a boy, also attended the Methodist Church, that Dennis had to sit with his parents, facing the congregation, and the other boys made it uncomfortable for him by making faces at him.

Dennis said that his interest in history was sparked by talking to Miss Mabel Janes, a teacher at Lacey Green School - and a near neighbour who lived at Sunnybank.

Dennis’ mother died in 1947 when he was just five years old and in 1952 his father married Evangeline Harber when he was 10.

At Hatters Lane School, Dennis suffered a bad accident in the playground and dislocated his hip: this was treated at Oxford, where he was in traction for a long time, and was then pushed around in a bath chair for some time.

Dennis was in The Scouts and Lacey Green vicarage garage served as a scout hut. Here he would have met one of his life-long friends, Gordon May (click Gordon & Vera May).  Later, interested in cricket, but unable to actively participate because of the earlier injury, he became a score keeper for the local cricket club.

Dennis’ career was spent entirely at Whiteleaf Furniture, Princes Risborough, finally as a 'progressor', supervising and checking orders. Like many young people in Lacey Green, he never had the opportunity to reach his full potential, since the family were not wealthy enough to put him through higher education. His career came to an end when he suffered Deep Vein Thrombosis, and he had to retire early.

All his life, Dennis attended Lacey Green Methodist Chapel. In his early years, children were expected to go to services three times on Sundays.   He was taught to play the organ there by Mrs Kathleen Church and when the Methodist Church closed he often played at Naphill.  Dennis was an accomplished organist.

A highlight of his life was in 1968 when he became ‘Bard of Lacey Green’ on winning a poetry competition. Click 1968 The Bard of Lacey Green to read Dennis's winning poem.

Dennis was a very talented artist and several of his drawings appeared on the covers of Hallmark.

Dennis also served on the Parish Council for over 25 years, much of the time as Deputy Chairman. See Councillors Parish Council

It is believed he was one of the founder members of the Princes Risborough Heritage Society.

From 1972 Dennis and Joan West worked on local history and together with Rosemary Mortham, formed in 2008 The Local History Group, since then adding more members.

Dennis had already done a good deal of work, and had produced information about local walks, and what could be seen on them. He was helped to put these onto the internet by his friend Peter Goodearl.

Among his history work was a publication on the history of Kiln Lane, and work on the Brick kilns in conjunction with Aylesbury Museum.

A number of exhibitions have been held since, including a large event at the school and with friends, Doug Tilbury and Gordon May, a ‘virtual tour’ of the history of properties and occupants over the years, together with the invaluable technical assistance of Leigh Axe, who produced a history website attached to the Lacey Green & Loosley Row website

More recently, Dennis and Rita Probert researched and documented details of all local men who lost their lives during World War 1 and together, last year, compiled files for the Wedding Exhibition in Lacey Green Church.

In 2000 Dennis hosted the first of a number of big parties for the residents of Kiln Lane, on the field next to his house. He had just completed his booklet entitled "The Tarmac and Beyond". One of the special events of that day was a conducted tour down the lane, which he led.

Dennis spent many hours talking to our oldest resident Connie Baker, (click Fred & Connie Baker), who lived to 105, producing the history of the Forge in Loosley Row.

Around 2012, Dennis developed an untreatable cancer, but carried on with his work as historian and Parish Councillor for as long as he was able. He spent a few weeks in the Sue Ryder Hospice, Nettlebed and later in the Shelburne Nursing Home, High Wycombe, where he passed away on Friday, 13th November 2015.

Dennis was a very private person and few realised just how much he did for the community or how talented he was. We in the History Group feel proud to have worked with Dennis and grateful that we have been able to preserve a great many of his memories and research for future generations. Dennis will be sadly missed by us all.

His family had lived and worked locally for 200 years. I was asked to give a tribute from the History Group, but I must also mention his very grateful neighbours, of whom I am one. It will be strange with no Claydons among us any more.

Dennis helped me in my work on local lacemaking, click Lace Making. Several past lace makers are his ancestors. Living in Kiln Lane, he was also interested in the history of brickmaking. His work on this is now lodged in the Aylesbury Museum.

By Rosemary Mortham on behalf of The History Group. (An edited version of this was published in Hallmark)

2nd Tribute

Tribute to Dennis Claydon by Councillor Roger Craft on behalf of the Parish Council

It was with great sadness that Lacey Green Parish Council heard that Dennis Claydon, the Councillor representing Lacey Green, had sadly passed away on the 13th November 2015 aged 73. click Councillors Parish Council for other members of this Council.

Dennis had been a member of the Parish Council since 1984 and was a valued member until his death. His breadth of knowledge of the villages of Speen, Loosley Row and Lacey Green (the villages forming Lacey Green Parish) was invaluable to the Council. His input will be very much missed at future meetings.

Dennis was a keen walker and was often seen walking the footpaths of all three villages. He was very proud of the footpaths and bridleways in the parish and liked to ensure they were well maintained for others to enjoy.

Dennis was on the planning sub-committee for the council and he knew almost every house and property in the parish. His knowledge was extensive and he could recall at any time relevant facts relating to individual properties.

Dennis put a lot of time, effort and great pride into turning what was formerly the Methodist Cemetery, behind the Chapel, into a non-denominational 'Garden of Rest' for the parish. Following the purchase of the burial ground for the parish, Dennis was instrumental, along with former custodians, in retaining the war memorials which had been built into the entrance gates of the Chapel. They placed them in the new memorial, built to a design idea of his, in the Garden of Rest, as a dedication to all those men from the village who gave their lives during the war.

Drawing, another of his talents, will always serve as a reminder of Dennis because his image of Lacey Green Windmill is on the Chairman's Chain of Office, worn at every Council meeting. . . . By Cllr Roger Craft. Published in Hallmark

Profile of Dennis Claydon as on the Local History Group website.

Dennis Claydon was one of the first 5 writers and researchers for the Lacey Green and Loosley Row History Group. See 2008 The Local History Group

Dennis wouldn't claim to be a true local, since he was not born in Lacey Green. However, he has spent all of his life in the village. He started school at St. John's and later transferred to High Wycombe.

Family. Members of the Claydon family have resided in Lacey Green for well over 200 years. This stimulated in Dennis from a very early age, an interest in local history. From the initial examination of family documents his hobby had led to a far wider study of general village history. His pursuit continue to grow over the years and he had done considerable research whenever time would allow.

Interests. He was a member of Princes Risborough Area Heritage Society, Risborough Countryside Group and Bucks Family History Society. Lately he was a serving member on Lacey Green Parish Council, a position which he held for over 20 years.

Sadly Dennis died on Friday 13th November 2015 aged 73, just after he finished a History of Methodism in Lacey Green.