Phyllis Matthews nee Janes

Report by Joan West of conversations with Phyllis

Phyllis Lilian Janes was born in 1944, at 'Homefield', The Bitfield, (later renamed Westlands Road), Lacey Green. She spoke warmly of her parents and grandparents.

Her great grandfather was Abel 'George' Janes, who was a sawyer. He was born in Speen in 1841. He married about 1875 to Ellen Stallwood from Saunderton. They had 7 children. The eldest Leonard Janes, Phyllis's grandfather, was born in 1877.

Leonard Janes 1877-1954, was born in Lacey Green. In 1906 he married Annie Harman, born in 1879 in Loosley Row. They lived in no. 3 Portabello Cottages. Main Road, Lacey Green, where their two children - Harold William and Ivy Ellen were born.

Leonard was at first an agricultural labourer, later he worked for a builder and worked on the building of the T.B. Sanitorium on the Saunderton side of the hill. Ironically he was to die there.

Harold William Janes, Phyllis's father, married Clara Eliza Williams, born 1913, from Owlswick. They lived at 'Homefield' in Westlands Road, which was built about 1932. They had three children, Ron, Phyllis and Keith.

Harold William Janes at first worked in a furniture factory but he left that to work for J.Smith and Sons, road contractors at Naphill. He was forced to leave that when the Welsh marched to Westminster to protest about lack of work and the Government compelled companies to give work to the men from Wales.

Bomber Command at Walters Ash had a stand-by generator plant (in a building which has subsequently been removed), and Harold got a new position in charge of the generators there.

Clara Eliza, Phyllis's mother, was the daughter of Ebeneza Williams, who was born in Meadle, and Rachel, nee Keen. They lived in Owlswick. There they reared their children :- Jack Keen, (not Ebeneza's) Molly, twins Amelia (Pop) and Florence, Clara and Oswald.

Ebeneza worked as a farm labourer but had an accident when a young man and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He could just get around a little on crutches. He lived to be 99 years old.

Their daughter Amelia, known as 'Pop', because she just popped out when she was born, married Harry Parslow, son of Peter "Baggy" Parslow and Martha, nee Bowler, who lived in one of the three cottages which later became one house, called Well Cottage, in Church Lane, Lacey Green. They lived in the one furthest from the lane. There was a pond in the field which the children called "Baggy's Pond, "Baggy" being Mr. Parslow's nickname. The children used to go there looking for newts.

Amelia 'Pop' and Harry Parslow married in 1937 and then lived in one of the three cottages called 'The Bunch'. These were on the bank opposite Loosley House. They were pulled down when the narrow road was improved. They belonged to Mr. Hickman. the builder.

Ron Janes, Phyllis's older brother, married Ann Goodchild from Ilmer and moved to Princes Risborough.

Keith Janes, Phyllis's younger brother married Veronica Beecham from Bushey. He worked at Promised Land Farm

Phyllis Janes born in 1944, stayed in Homefield, the family home. She went to Lacey Green School. Mrs Guerney was the headmistress and Phyllis was happy there.

Phyllis married Colin Radley In 1962. They had three daughters.

In the night the police came to her door to say Colin had been killed in an accident in his lorry. It was July 1972. It was a most terrible shock.

Phyllis remarried in October 1973 to Martin G Matthews, born in North Yorkshire.

Comment.

Phyllis is a pleasure to listen to. She seems to have had the ability to make the best of wherever life took her.

For 13 years she was the caretaker of Lacey Green School.

She enjoyed working with the horses at the Home of Rest for Horses, only leaving when she felt she was needed more at home.

She then became 'Mum' to the firemen in Aylesbury Fire Station, where the men were often to be found in the kitchen with Phyllis rather than in their own sitting room. She was very happy there - just her usual self !