Mabel Janes

MABEL JANES, born 1887. Joan West reports on her conversations with Mabel Janes

Mabel Janes was born at Sunnybank in Highwood Bottom in 1887, she died in 1987. She was a teacher at Lacey Green School from 1904 to 1948. In the census of 1939 Mabel aged 52 is living at Sunnybank with Boaz Janes, her father, aged 78. He died in 1948. She moved from Sunnybank in 1948, when it was sold to Doris Oliver, wife of Andrew Oliver. Mabel lodged in Lacey Green from then on.

MABEL'S PARENTS

was the eldest daughter of and Caroline Ruth Janes, who were distant cousins.    They had 6 children.   See under ‘family’, 1862 JANES Boaz.

GREAT-GRAND and GRAND PARENTS

It was Mabel’s great grandfather Thomas Janes who was the first person recorded in Highwood Bottom as ‘Flint dealer in Highwood Clearing’.  Their only child John, Mabel’s grandfather, purchased the 6 acres where ‘Sunnybank’ was built. (later called White House Farm).    John had married Elizabeth Mary Randall in 1850.   She was the daughter of William Randall, blacksmith from Lacey Green.

MABEL’s MOTHER

Mabel’s mother, Caroline Ruth Janes, born 1858, had an elder brother John Randall Janes, born before his parents married, hence ‘Randall’ added to his name and also a younger sister ‘Eva’ born 1863

MABEL'S MEMORIES

Mabel lived to be just a few days short of 100 years old. Fortunately she had an excellent memory and was able to bring many facts that I was discovering into vivid life with her descriptions. I had many conversations with her, some of which I report below.

MABEL JANES REMEMBERS HER CHILDHOOD

SEE Under Social Snapshots 1800s 1899 Mabel Janes remembers her childhood

MABEL GOES TO SCHOOL

Mabel started at Loosley Row School where the 3 to 7 year olds went.   Quite a walk for a three year old from Highwood Bottom.   At 7 years old they moved up to Lacey Green school.. Mabel and her brothers and sisters walked to school, as did all children, some from much further distances.  They had no other transport.

MABEL JANES STARTS TEACHING

SEE Under Social Snapshots 1900s 1904 Mabel Janes Starts Teaching

EXAMPLES FROM the SCHOOL LOGBOOK

The following excerpts from the school logbook are also indication of attendance in Mabel’s first year---   “There were also many local attractions which the children would attend.

May 30th 1904 many children were absent due to the chapel treat at Loosley Row

July 11^th  a half holiday was given for the anniversary of Speen Chapel

Aug 5^th  In that week attendance had suffered due to several attractions in the neighbourhood

12th August harvest started so attendance low.  13^th August school closed for summer

26^th September tea at Lacey Green Chapel and the Wycombe Fair caused smaller attendance

October 20^th bazaar at Loosley Row Chapel kept children away

May 15^th half holiday given owing to a children’s tea given in connection with the Chapel anniversary

24^th May Empire Day, instead of the timetable, lessons on the history and geography of the British Empire were given, interspersed with patriotic songs

May 29^th Loosley Row Chapel anniversary tea

July 7^th Hay making in full swing

August 1^st School closed in afternoon on account of tea for Sunday School children

The winter of 1904/5 had severe frost and snow and as all children walked to school, some over two miles, attendance was low.

3^rd February as the ordered coal had not been delivered no fires were possible so a holiday was given in the afternoon.   At this time 16 of the infants’ class were away with whooping cough.

All the week of March 17th had been very stormy but attendance was returning to normal

H.M.I REPORT April 1905

The new headmaster Mr Phillips was praised for making a good start, particularly the infants’ class.   However it added “The question of improving the cloakroom and providing lavatory accommodation should receive attention.   The two cloakrooms are still altogether too small and inconvenient.  They should be improved and arrangements should be made for providing lavatory accommodation.

MORE SCHOOL REPORTS

SEE 'Social Snapshots' and add decade, then add Lacey Green School for every year up to and including 1930.

MABEL TOLD ME

Mabel had a prodigious memory telling me many things in our chats Here are a few:--

Minnie Brown, just one year younger was her friend throughout their long lives (See Min Adams).

Edith Crook, who walked with a stick, the daughter of John Crook, a superior type who was farm bailiff at Stocken Farm for Mr. Forrest was a supplimentary teacher at Lacey Green School.

Connie Redding, daughter of another farm bailiff impaled her leg on the iron railings at the school.

She remembered  Mr. Forrest having a pipeline laid from Stocken Farm down to Grymsdyke to take any overflow from the water tanks at Stocken Farm. 

He then had a well dug at Grymsdyke.   She was told it was 303 feet deep,  but when  there was a drought,  possibly 1893,  it was taken down another 48 feet.

During the First world War the Royal Engineers were billeted in the village.

They took the small schoolroom and the Home Meadow at Stocken F arm, next to the school.

The horses were stabled at the farm and exercises were done in the field.

The farm dining room was made into an army hospital and the grain store into their blacksmith`s workshop.

She told of numerous epidemics

How run down the school was after WW1

Her travels to the Isle of White and Switzerland with Miss Hopkins, the headmistress of Speen School.

She recalled parties at Stocken Farm where they played cards.

She played tennis at the Vicarage, having helped make a court

AGE NOT KIND TO HER LOOKS

Mabel could be called handsome to a degree, when in her prime. But the children nicknamed her 'Pout'. She had a deep somewhat gruff voice, as did many locals, but not as broad 'Bucks' as many.

In her old age Mabel lodged in the village and most days, sometimes twice a day, could be seen catching the bus to Risborough or Wycombe to do errands for anyone she was able to.

She died just a few days off her 100^th birthday.

AN INSPIRED TEACHER

Dennis Claydon, well known as a local historian, told me that It was Mabel, as his schoolteacher, that inspired him to have an enquiring mind.