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Remembering... John James Jessett
John James Jessett was born in Helmdon on 11 August 1902. Shortly after his birth his father took a position as bailiff of a farm in Bedfordshire. He attended school in Turvey – daily riding his pony “Stodger” several miles each way. At the age of 12 he left school and the family returned to the family farm in Helmdon and he started working on the farm in 1914 as there was a shortage of men at that time. In 1928 he married Phyllis Church who had been teaching at Helmdon School. They had a family of three boys.
During WW2 he was in charge of the Helmdon Home Guard and helped train up a very active group of men. One of their main tasks was to guard the Helmdon viaduct as the railway was then a vital transport link. He also spent many weekends away on coast watch in East Anglia.
He became secretary to the Helmdon Parish Council and held that position for many years. All the minutes and correspondence were written up in his very legible handwriting.
He was very active in several committees including “The Old People’s Welfare”.* Funds were raised at Christmas and all the old folks in the village were given a sack of coal.
In 1967 the farm was sold and he moved to Church Street. He passed away in December 1994.
Roy Jessett (born in Helmdon 1940)
Roy adds: My father was not an educated man but he had a lot of acquired wisdom and a good sense of justice and fair play. I am not sure of the period, but he pushed a handcart around Helmdon selling fresh milk. I still have his pint measure with its certified seal. He gained quite a reputation as a weather prophet.
*Later called The Fellowship of Retired People, and then The Fellowship. |