Sidney & Florence Janes

Sydney Henry Janes born 1904 was the son of Hezekiah & Caroline Janes

Florence May Saunders born 1906 was the daughter of Emily Elizabeth Saunders.

Sid married Florrie in 1927.

In 1935, Sidney Janes was nominated to serve as one of the Parish Constables for the ensuing year.   click Parish Council for more information.

Sid and Florrie had 2 children as follows :-

Mollie Nancy Janes born married Dennis Burrows

Pamela Florence Janes born married Peter Armstrong

Pamela Armstrong wrote memories from her childhood at The Bakery for Hallmark as follows :-

MY HOME I was born in 1938 at the bake-house, Main Road, Lacey Green.   My father Sidney Henry Janes (Sid), was a master baker.   I have some wonderful memories of the Bakehouse.   My dad would rise very early every morning of the week and started his working day at 5am.

PROVED OVERNIGHT He would take the risen dough from the prover, a large wooden trough with a lid about eight feet long, three feet wide and about two feet deep, where it had been placed the evening before.   Large pieces would be cut off and placed on the workbench.  From this, with a sharp knife, smaller pieces were cut off.   Charlie Claydon worked with my dad and I have memories of them both kneading the dough and then placing each piece on the scales to ensure each loaf was the correct weight.   The “Weights and Measures” would call without appointment to weigh the finished product from time to time.

CRUSTY LOAVES The dough was then placed in a tin.   These were then placed in the oven, a coal fire having been started earlier, ensuring that sufficient heat was available to produce the good crusty loaf dearly loved by the residents of Lacey Green and Loosley Row.  Upon removal of the bread, it was brush coated to give a glossy finish and I shall always remember the smell of the freshly baked bread straight out of the oven.   The bread was then ready for delivery.

BREAD ROLLS for AUSTIN HOY & LARDY CAKES Bread rolls were baked daily and each morning dad would deliver these to the canteen ladies at Austin Hoy, (where the old tennis court used to be), who would butter and fill these for the men working in the factory.  Sometimes he would produce lardy cakes – there was always a big demand for these.

ROASTING DINNERS On Christmas morning the villagers would bring their turkey and geese, etc. for baking in the oven and what a lovely sight they were when they came out.

HARVEST LOAVES Another memory is of the Harvest Loaf for both the Church, Methodist and Baptist chapels.    The harvest services would be on different weekends so it would be passed from one to the other.   These were always plaited.

EVENING WORK After the delivery round was completed, the dough mixing machine had to be filled to start the whole cycle all over again.  Work was a six-day week, with bookwork and a dough mix on Sunday evenings.   There were no holidays for bakers in those days.

ANIMAL FEED He also sold animal feeds, these being kept in the loft with the flour.   Each sack was carried up and down the ladder on his back, a very hard job

DELIVERING Dad kept a horse to pull the bread cart.    He delivered every day and respected all his customers

I would go with him on the cart to help deliver the bread at a very young age and when we took bread up to Green Hailey, me sitting on top of the cart, Dad often said “It is too cold for you up here in these biting winds” and made me lie on the floor in the back under the cover.   I used to ask him “Where are we now?”

DELIVERY LADS We were always very fortunate, having some really good lads who helped him at different times with his deliveries, when they were not at school. Dudley Stevens, Norman Watson, Roger Janes and Geoff Gomme spring to mind.   They used a bicycle with a big basket on the front.

THE BLACKSMITH’S My other memory is of taking the horse to the blacksmith in Princes Risborough.   I can still remember the nice smell in the smithy and then a bun from the cake shop.

RELAXATION Work was very hard for Dad and Charlie as life was very different in those days.   Dad’s only relaxation was to go to the Sunday service at the Methodist Chapel and sometimes at the Baptist Chapel at Loosley Row.   This he loved since he was a man of great faith and always did his best for everybody.

PS When the bake-house closed it became a café for a few years, then was pulled down.   On a brighter note I have managed to obtain the original bread bicycle lovingly restored by Sid Attridge.   The cart has recently been discovered dumped in a hedge in Highwood Bottom.   This was a big highlight but, unfortunately, very much weathered, this now awaits possible restoration.

PS. by Joan West. One example of Sid's consideration - Dick West at Stocken Farm liked his bread cooked so the crust was almost black. Sid cooked his loaf just that bit longer.

Pamela Armstrong, nee Janes described Lacey Green School in a questionnaire at a school reunion organised by Lacey Green History Group

I started school in 1943 and finished in 1949 aged 15. The headmistress was Mrs Guerny with teachers Miss Jarvis and Miss Janes. 20 - 30 in class. Stars given for good work. A cane for punishment.

Pamela added extra detailed information. For this click 1949 School memories by Pamela Armstrong.

click Janes for others in this family.