Bert & May Dell

Bert Dell born in 1923 was the son of Cecil James Dell and Louisa, nee Saunders. See Cecil James Dell & Louisa Saunders

Kathleen May Mercer had come from London during WW2 as assistant with a nursery school evacuated to Loosley House, Loosley Row, the home of Arthur and Joyce Waite

Bert Dell married Kathleen May Mercer in July 1956.

Bert had spent much of his childhood with his uncle Harold George Hickman and Aunt Emily. They lived at & ran 'Hickmans Stores'. Harold died 10th July 1946, leaving everything to Emily with provision made for the business to be inherited by Bert. See Shop. Hickmans Stores for history of the stores.

Death. Emily Hickman died 5^th May 1964, aged 84.

17^th March 1965.  Conveyance.   The executors of Emily Hickman conveyed to Bert Ralph George Dell, at the bequest of her late husband ---All the shop and dwelling premises known as ‘The Stores’, now in the occupation of Bert Ralph George Dell.

5th April 1965 Conveyance.   Harry Floyd of Floyds Farm sold to Bert Ralph George Dell for £100.  All that piece of land, part of Floyd Farm, running in a narrow triangle to a point behind ‘The Stores’ and ‘Kia Cottage’. ( this Conveyance is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

1964    Now called "Hickman Stores", the property was altered, extended and modernised. ( The plan of the alterations is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

24^th February 1986   Conveyance.   Bert Ralph George Dell of Lacey Green sold to Brian Thomas and Barbara June Norris of 25 Goviots Green, Gerrards Cross. All that shop and dwelling premises, known as ‘Hickmans Stores’, with no land, for £95,000. (a certified copy of this Conveyance is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall.)

Extract from 1961 Social Snapshot by Joan West (Autobiography)

............"then there were Bert and May Dell at Hickman’s Stores.    They stocked all I needed and I collected my bread from them four times a week.   They also sold petrol and paraffin which we needed for a convector heater that we stood in our hall in the winter.  “ Bert’s” was a wonderful place to get to know people.   At first it seemed that everyone in there knew everybody else.  And they probably did.   But Bert  and May always had a word for everyone and all were included.   They were first class village shopkeepers to my mind and a great help to me in feeling at home here."

May always seemed to be in the shop - often at week-ends with Bert's nephews and nieces helping refill the selves. Bert was a supporter of the Sports Club and sport in general, 'supporter rather than 'player' - he had a business that came first!

Bert and May retired to a house they had had built in Kiln Lane, called "Kiln Lodge"

Death of Bert Dell

1st July 1987. Assent to the vesting of the freehold premises known as Kiln Lodge, Kiln Lane, Lacey Green to Kathleen May Dell. (this Assent document is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

1st July 1987. Assent to the vesting of the block of land, formerly forming part of the premises, Lacey Green, known as "Hickman's Stores to Kathleen May Dell as personal representative of Bert Ralph George Dell. (on this land, adjacent to Hickmans Stores, May Dell had a house built by Dell Bros, Builders, which she called "Honeysuckle Cottage"). (this Assent document is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

1st July 1987. Assent to the vesting of all that piece of land formerly part of Floyds Farm, Lacey Green lying in a triangle behind the site of Honeysuckle Cottage. Hickmans Stores and Kia Cottage. (this Assent document is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

Death. Kathleen May Dell died on 14th May 2011. Her executor was Marion Rosemary Dell of Robmau, Main Road, Lacey Green.