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This video is the tip of the iceberg regards the life and work of Judy Fryd CBE, her legacy, family and also her husband the late John Fryd Esq, former Town Mayor (formerly known as Chairman) and Town Clerk. Harpenden residents 1941 to 2000 (Judy) and 1981 (John died).
In 1963 I joined the the youth club at Batford Community Hall. Roger Bracey and Dave Ward were the 2 leaders. Table tennis and Darts were popular with the records of the then pop music being played on a record player. Dave Richardson was a keen audio person who updated the sound system. After a few years a Bedford CA van with side windows and room for 10 or so people was purchased which enabled trips to various places at weekends. Night Hikes were another pastime and in the Summer months evening country rambles which usually had a Public House somewhere on the route.
More anecdotes from Mrs Tattersfield’s “Notes on Harpenden”: “R.A. Fisher was a brilliant scientist but apt to be absent-minded over mundane affairs. On one occasion Mrs Fisher had to go out in the evening. She asked him to see that the children went to bed at the correct time. On her return he reported that everything was in order – the children were all in bed but he had had an awful lot of trouble with that red-headed one. Somewhat puzzled Mrs Fisher went up to the nursery. One of the little girls had had a visitor and in spite of understandable protests she had been put to bed with the rest.” Does anyone know what family she came from?
Sir John Russell’s secretary, Mrs Tattersfield recalled many anecdotes about R A Fisher, including his interest in twins. “He had a large bohemian family of his own, but no twins. When his eldest son George was 5 he knew exactly what he wanted for his birthday [white mice]. The birthday came and went but there were no white mice. George smothered his disappointment and when his father had a birthday shortly afterwards he gave his father some white mice. Poor George still did not get his mice. “There were plenty of brown mice in the attic so R.A. crossed them with the white mice and preserved the skins with their different markings. Consternation arose when the library of mouse skins was attacked by mites. R.A. appealed to the Insecticides Dept. for a remedy. There was a remedy available but it was something with a terrible smell. It was decided that the smell in that house must be so bad already that a bit more or less would make no difference. The evil smelling stuff was provided and R.A, was delighted. “The next door neighbour in Milton Road was Dr Fraser who thought that something had gone wrong with the drains. The plumber could find nothing wrong. Then it was noticed that the smell was always worst when the wind was in a certain direction. It was the smell blowing from R.A. Fisher’s mousery. “Rothamsted wives were always glad when their husbands kept their experiments in the lab.”
St Andrew’s Lodge, 7 Southdown Road, was built in 1910 for Mr Bernard Laporte, a German chemist and founder in 1888 of Laporte Industries in Luton, a supplier of peroxide used for beaching straw for the hat industry (as listed in https://www.stalbanshistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Percival-Blow-list-of-works-updated-SAHAAS-November-2022.pdf). Mr Laporte had become a wheel-chair user, so this house was a substantial bungalow, expanded in 1913, with no expense spared to provide special features and comfort until his death in the early 1920s. This was noted by Mr James Wibberley in a letter to the Society in October 1982 in response to a query in Newsletter 29 about whether Sir Edwin Lutyens might have built any houses in Harpenden. Searching for listings of Lutyens’ legacy would indicate that by this date he was working on substantial projects throughout Britain before his major projects in India and in designing war memorials in the 1920s. However, there remains a suggestion that Lutyens may have designed houses in Harpenden – a subject for continued investigation?
At the age of 84 in October 1982, James Wibberley wrote to add his memories of the Busby family, who were to feature at the Society’s November meeting (see Newletter 29, Sept. 1982). He remembered “old Mr Busby and his skullcap” – a rather thick-set, stocky man in a dark suit. His shop next to West’s bakery was entered down two stone steps from the road. “He may have been a homeopathic apothecary, since I recollect that I was sent whenever my sister or myself had a cold or the like for a bottle of his own prescription which comprised X minims of Oil of Almonds, X minims of Syrup of Violets and a third ingredient which I think was Tincture of Myrrh.” This would have been in the early 1900s.
In an airletter dated 22 June 1975, recently discovered in a file of miscellaneous correpondence, Anthony Robinson pointed out that his father was not ‘vicar’, but ‘priest-in-charge’ of the recently built St John’s Church, which was a ‘parochial district’. But he was delighted that his memories had been published in the Newsletter, and hoped they would produce reactions. Now they have another airing!
Looking afresh at the choice of images for this composite panorama, I wonder why the choice was so incongruous. More suitable choice would be part of HC71 and B1.32. Is anyone up to the challenge of creating a panorama of Church Green in the 1980s?
How poignantly written! Rita you have written this as the brave child you had to be with no moaning or selfishness but the pathos comes through the writing and the reader aches for the stolen childhood what a wonderful resource!
Trevor Armstrong from Melbourne, Australia has contacted us:
“I’ve just read your article on the above with interest as the Rev. John Taylor is my great great great grandfather. I can see how people confused the two Taylor reverends. I have seen the Harpenden Church but also have a photograph of the original Dutch Reformed Church in Cradock if you would like a copy.”
Trevor has sent the photograph of the original Dutch Reformed Church in Cradock, dating from c1817, which is mentioned in the article. The note on the reverse states that Taylor not only baptised Paul Kruger at this church (mentioned in the article) but had also married his parents.
The photograph predates 1868 as the original Dutch Reformed Church was demolished and replaced by the current church in that year. It also raises the possibility that the design of the ‘Harpenden Chapel’ was based on the original Dutch Reformed Church, given the general similarity of both ‘as built’.
These images have been added at the foot of the page above.
The comment from Joy Smith, formerly of Cherry Trees area brought back very happy memories as I bought my first car, Triumph Herald, hard top coupe, from Joy. I still have photo’s of that car, which took me and my future wife, Madeline Geer, many miles. I lived in Marshalls Way and Madeline lived in Marshalls Heath Lane, during the very sad period of the death of Ann Noblett. The murder never solved.
Brian, there is indeed a connection between William Alfred Samwells (1863-94) and the “Samwells Family in Harpenden” on this site. William’s father Joseph Samwells (1825-75) was a younger brother of William Samwells (1823-1901) Licensed Victualler at the George Hotel (Colin’s great grandfather).
I have a Lillian Weston (1877) on my tree who was the second child of Frederick and Sarah nee Giddings. He/frederick was the son of Joseph and Martha ((Hawkins). Not sure of the relationship to my grandfather but I will look further. I can’t find a Cecil Field on my tree but if you think this is useful my tree is on Genes Reunited.
What year was this please? ed: We are trying to find out.
I went to Batford Primary School from my home at 48 Lea View on Lea Valley Estate. I remember the Almond Family. My father was Leslie Smith of Smith Bros (Wheathampstead) Ltd who built the Lea Valley Estate, as well as houses on the old prisoner of war camp. After 10 years in Sweden I returned to Harpenden in 1993, living at 110 Station Road. We had a small dog and often walked past the old shop. I well remember Ernie Almond, but didn’t know he had become somewhat of a celebrity. I used Smartie Artie at my daughter’s 8th birthday party (she’s 40 now!). Didn’t they have a theatrical costume shop in Southdown?
The four paintings which formerly hung in High Street Methodist Church are now on permanent loan to St Albans School. I wonder if these are the 4 referred in your final sentence? see https://www.harpenden-history.org.uk/harpenden-history/people-2/artists/frank-o-salisbury/frank-o-salisburys-prophets. Ed: Yes these are the four paintings, two of which are illustrated in the link within this Comment.
Dor Wilson has contacted the website with extra information and says ‘I have just rediscovered this page – how wonderful. My dear Uncle Jack Brett was this man. He lived in Myrtle Cottage with his second wife Phyllis. The cottage was compulsory purchased and although he never wanted to move he bought the house in Pipers Lane. I remember going with him to view it. Each year I spent school holidays (always August) with him in Myrtle Cottage, going up to bed through a wooden door into a tiny staircase leading to the bedrooms. The first thing we did when I arrived was walk the dogs on the common in the dark with the lights all around us, the Convent lit up, and it felt like freedom. Wonderful times and wonderful man and sadly missed.’
We have a copy of this photograph in our family. We understand that the boy in the picture is my grandfather Cecil Field (1909-1999), who was born in Southdown. His mother was Lilian Weston (1876-1962) who I think must have been a relative of Bertie, but I’m not sure exactly how they were related. Maybe somebody can help?
Hi Mick, this is his grandson. If you or anyone else would like to reach out to me with questions, I’d be happy to ask in the family – you can find me on social media – search my name: Joshua Kassanis
My mum was at the home in the 50s/60s: her name was Pamela Ann Wheeler. Does anyone remember her or have any photos from her time there please?
I was at Harpenden from 1945 till 1951and reading the letter from Brenda Poynton, brought back some fond memories, unfortunately not of her but certainly the Baxter twins Heather and Hillary and their brother Roy, I think the two girls married American G I’s, but don’t know what happened to Roy. I do remember that he caught Diphtheria, I think it was 1948. Sister Grace died from it, but he recovered though greatly weakened. I started out in Wakefield house and was later moved to Clifton where I stayed for most of my time. I now live in Brisbane, Australia
“My name was Rita Wykes. I had been in a number of foster homes before the last one put me in this National Childrens Home, where I arrived aged 7 – the day after Terry Steggle arrived. We were both in the film ‘Such is the kingdom’. I was in Sister Ena’s flat till the age of 15, when the home gave me a suitcase with a few clothes in it, told me to go to this factory where they had got me a job, found lodgings for me. I am sorry to say that Terry died in a motor cycle crash at the age of 18. Sister Ena told me this many years later. She herself died of a stroke I believe after she had retired.
I had a friend called Suzanne Solomito, and we decided to run away, we would have both been about 11 or 12 at the time. Well as we were walking along a road in the village, a car stopped and a man got out and said to Suzanne you are coming with us, and said to me Rita Wykes you go on back to the home, and to this day I never saw my friend again, I am now nearly 80 and still remember and wonder what happened to her.I often wonder what has happened to the other children that were in the house I was in – there was a Beryl Lee, Richard Todd, Terry Steggle of course and others that I can’t recall. Just a final note – I was taken away from my mother at birth due to the fact she was unmarried.
I am now Rita Stephens as I married a wonderful man called Ken Stephens to whom I have been married for 60 years this October 2023. If it wasn’t for him I would not be here today.”
I was a child at Highfield Oval from 1955 till 1965. At the time I hated being there although in fact, we kids have a lot of great memories, which will still share, into our seventies! It still looks very much the same, though the beautiful Elm trees in the middle of the oval succumbed to Dutch Elm disease and were replaced much more recently. The journey across the Oval as a child seemed huge.
In the early to mid 60s I walked on an almost daily basis to the swimming pool from Redbourn cutting through Rothamsted Park. The old threepence I saved on the bus fare was spent on buying a Waggon Wheel from the tuck shop. The first manager at the pool was a Scotsman who ruled it with an iron rod with us youngsters. Against that he was kind and supportive. Indeed he taught me to swim. He left as I can recall in sad circumstances but often wondered what happened to him. Does anyone know? Many years later I would take my daughter then aged 8 for an occasional visit to the pool around 1995. Wonderful old place and so many happy memories from my childhood
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