Frank & Elsie Chilton
From Lacey Green History
click Families for other local families
click Chilton for others in this family
Francis 'Frank' Abbott Chilton (nckname 'Butch', born 1904 was the son of Walter & Mary Chilton
Elsie May Rixon born 1908 was the daughter of Rupert & Beatrice May Rixon
Frank and Elsie married in 1925
Frank and Elsie had 1 child as follows :-
Joan Beatrice Chilton born January 1926 married Ivor Kelloway in January 1947 (click Ivor & Joan Kelloway for their life story)
A Tribute to Elsie Chilton 1907 – 1993 by Ian Kelloway. (click Ian & Sue Kelloway)
I have been asked to write a bit about my Grandmother Elsie Chilton, for many years one of the Lacey Green post ladies.
Elsie had a wonderful upbringing, growing up on Green Hailey Farm and various houses around Redland End, as her father Rupert Rixon started his working life as a bodger, farm labourer then tenant farmer before moving back into working the woods finally finishing as head woodsman for the Hampden Estate. click Rupert & Beatrice May Rixon for more about Elsie's parents
On reaching school age whilst living at Green Hailey her parents were granted permission by the Lacey Green School governors to delay her start date for one year so that her and her sister Gladys who was one year younger could walk to school together. Can you imagine children today walking that far to school.
Elsie was a Red Cross first aider and was present and gave first aid at The Kop Hill Climb accident, this resulted in the hill climbs being banned and the formation of the Grand Prix as we know it today.
During the war she used to cook for “Bomber” Harris (Air Chief Marshall Arthur Harris) and she said he used to compliment her on her wonderful pancakes.
As for the post round she had to take this job as her husband Frank Chilton died quite young and she needed an income. It was a job she loved even in all weathers. She delivered to all of the west side of Lacey Green, Speen Farm, Hollybush Farm which was demolished to make way for The RAF Bunker and Smalldean Farm. I would quite often meet her on my bike to deliver to these three places, but getting back up Smalldean Lane was quite an effort.
As with many young children at that time I collected stamps and Nan was an excellent source. She would ask customers who received letters from abroad to save the stamps for me.
She loved the outdoors and wildlife and every day she would stop at the cattle grid at the end of Grymsdyke to check to see if any hedgehogs had fallen in overnight. If so, she would get down on her hands and knees and scoop them out. But equally she had no problem with dispensing rabbits with mixamotosis which was prevalent at the time.
Elsie and her husband Frank moved to Belle Vue Cottage no 2, Lacey Green shortly after the birth of their daughter Joan in 1926 and where she lived until she died.
Tribute to Frank Abbott Chilton 1904 -1962, nickname 'Butch'. Frank was born in Bryants Bottom, probably at Denner Hill - he was certainly brought up at Denner Hill. In his teenage years he played cricket for Hampden Cricket Club. After marrying Elsie Rixon and moving to Belle Vue Cottage no 2, Lacey Green he was secretary for many years for The Cricket Club and an integral part of securing the playing fields for the village. He was also a member of High Wycombe Cricket League Council, one of the Parish Councillors (click Councillors Parish Council) and also a member of The Black Horse darts team. He was employed by Horden & Richmond at Haddenham making aeroplane propellers. His only form of transport was a bicycle. At the same time he seved part time in the local fire brigade from 1938 to 1941 when it became The National Fire Service which he served from 1941 till 1945 during which time they saw action in the blitz. When Horden& Richmond moved he found work at Jefferson and Somerville in Princes Risborugh making caravans.
In August 1965 a clock was unveiled in memory of Frank Chilton in the Sports Club Pavilion. Elsie Chilton watched as Mrs Bateman did the honours.
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