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Oral Reminiscences - Mary Turnham
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| Recollections Of "Field View" In Pre-war Days
Christmas for us was an extra busy period with poultry to be killed, plucked and drawn. The poultry, turkeys, geese, cockerels and ducks were bought from the local farms, and from the yearly Banbury Market Poultry Show at Christmas where my grandfather was a judge. They were all housed in various sheds until the fateful hour. Many birds were bought at the local show which was organised by Flick and Locke of Banbury. At the Christmas period we employed many local folk to help with the killing, picking and dressing of the birds. I can visualise it now - Jack Keep, Jack Gamble and Jack Seckington sitting knee deep in feathers picking the poultry, assisted by Hedley Owen and Will Duncombe who would catch and kill the birds, a gruesome job. In the old cottage across the yard I would be carrying cans of steaming hot cocoa to them - across a hard frozen yard. Women from the village were employed to help with the drawing of the poultry, the kitchen being taken over for the event. Mrs Jack Gibbons, Mrs Alf Rush and Mrs Joe Ayres would come to assist my grandmother. Also, Mrs Humphrey and her two daughters Mrs Nell Duncombe and Mrs Will Owen of Lois Weedon. My grandfather and I were usually weighing and labelling the birds before taking them into the cool cellar to await delivery. Here were no fridges and cold stores in those days. Many of the birds were supplied to shoe factories and clubs in Northampton as well as shops and hotels. Local birds were usually delivered by me on my bicycle - often getting a cup of tea and slice of cake for my trouble. After all the work everyone was ready to go home. They would all assemble in the kitchen for the traditional Port and mince pies. All the feathers would be gathered up and put into a huge stack to be dispatched to Horace Friend of Wisbech from the L.M.S railway station. Just after Christmas the front room would be opened up for the yearly arranged visit of the hand bell ringers. Everyone would assemble to hear the ringers - the highlight of the Christmas Festival. Turkey sandwiches, mince pies, cake, etc., would be on offer with plenty of liquid refreshment. Alf Humphry, Mont Saunders and Harry Batchelor would be amongst the ringers. Another event we had in the New Year would be a whist drive in the front room or sitting room. Maybe 6 or 7 tables. A turkey was always kept back for the occasion, usually a very large one, so folk would feast on cold turnkey and all its trimmings. Mary Turnham, December 1999. Article from the Helmdon W.I Millennium Scrapbook, reproduced with their permission. |
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