January

Neville Tuck 1933 - 2009

Neville - a true gentleman; quiet, honest, kind, thoughtful but with a mischievous twinkle in his eye!

Neville was born at Belle vue. Bere Heath on 22nd October 1933. the only son of Neville and Beatrice Tuck who perhaps surprisingly were not farmers. He grew up on Bere Heath and attended Bere Regis School until the age of 15, where he first met Vol. He then moved to Higher Stockley Form where he worked with his Uncle Harold and Aunts Ethel and Elsie running a dairy herd. It woo during this time that his courtship with Valerie began as Valerie was by then the housekeeper.

Neville loved to tell a good story, especially humorous ones involving Vol, two of which were during their courtship: One of the tasks Valerie was set by Harold was to clean his car from top to bottom. Thinking that there must be a special reason for this to be done Vol
took extra care and spent ages cleaning and polishing it but was surprised to find out that evening that the car had disappeared and that Harold was still at home. On asking where the car was. Harold told her that Neville had borrowed his car to take out a young lady!

Another of his favourites was when his Uncle told him' that he had a new pointer at his other dairy at Seven Borrows and that Neville should come over and take a look as they were due a dairy inspection and he needed to check up on the work. On arriving at the dairy he found that the new pointer was Valerie covered in block bitumen point!' Obviously not put off by what he saw they became engaged not long afterwards.

In 1960 Neville lost both his father suddenly in the February after a heart attack and in July his Uncle Harold. This brought an enormous change to his life as the farm was token back by the estate and he had to find new work. It was then that he joined Maidments at Poole, a civil engineering company where he started as a labourer.

in March 1962 Neville and Valerie were married at Bere Regis Church. True to form the honeymoon token in Cornwall was eventful! There had been terrible storms across the country and two days into the holiday they were woken at 5.30 and asked to evacuate the hotel as it was flooded! Neville went to fetch the car leaving Valerie to grab up all
their cases. As Valerie come out of the hotel with their cases a gust of wind took her and the cases towards the sea railings and if it wasn't for the local Postman and grabbing hold of her. she would have been washed out to sea!

Luckily things settled down and they moved into Belle Vue and had their first son Andrew in 1963 followed by Barry in 1967. Neville continued working for the same company, who were eventually taken over by Tilbury Construction and he worked his way up to a foreman until he was finally mode redundant. He soon found more work with H Y Arnolds of Holton
Heath until his early retirement due to ill health at the age of 58.

Neville had many passions one being for sport that he was proud to share with Andrew, taking him to watch the Saints play at the Dell on Saturdays and also taking him to school football and cricket matches all over the county.

His other passion remained forming which he was able to share with Barry. Harry's interest in vintage tractors soon became Neville's and they went to their first steam rally in 1985. Neville bought his first vintage tractor with Barry. a Massey Harris which was like the one that he had used when he worked at Higher Stockley. The rallies became a big port of Neville's fife and he bought a caravan so that he and Valerie could stay together. He also enjoyed going to farm sales with Barry where he frequently come home with a bargain - even if they didn't really need it!

In July 1992 Neville was delighted to hear that he was a grandfather to Alex. Throughout Neville's retirement he kept active helping Barry with his Aberdeen Angus cattle. They went to the markets to buy the calves and Neville helped to rear them on at the Haven. He would drive miles going to check them through the day. He kept up his interest in farming, often bringing in the cattle for Barry and Brenda - he always knew what to look for to ensure the cattle were well and content.

In 1999 Neville become ill and had to have a kidney removed, but he still continued to work although not so much in the tractor now! He had also lived with diabetes for 20 years and although often in trouble for not keeping to the diet he could often be caught sneaking a pudding!

Neville was also an active part of the Bere Heath Chapel, where his father had been a lay preacher and his mother played the organ. His support of the annual Harvest Auction never went unnOticed as his generous outbidding always gained him the largest bunch of flowers to toke home to Valerie. He was a true countryman with a marvelous even wicked sense of humour.

Neville's heart and soul were very much here in Purbeck and it is good to know that he has been laid to rest within view of the Church and the community he loved and content in his countryside.

Fred Pitfield 1931-2008

Fred was born on 21st March 1931 at Manor Farm Cottages, the only child of Louisa and Perce Pitfield. He attended the village school until the age of 13 when he was transferred to Dorchester Grammar School. As a young boy, he joined the church choir, became a boy scout and explored the countryside with his friend Ron Ricketts. Fred was taught how to draw by a serviceman billeted with the family during the war.

As soon as he was old enough he acquired a motor bike but, unfortunately, he Soon had a misunderstanding with a bus and found himself in hospital with a broken leg. Convalescence was long and boring until his life- long friend and next-door-neighbour Jim Hann took him along to join his Particular friends in the village. These included Gilbert Griffin and Gordon Philips. Fred often said in future years that his accident was a blessing in disguise.

Gordon was already o member of the Blandford band and he persuaded Fred to accompany him to band practice along with Gerald Garrett. Fred was given a trumpet and soon become quite proficient. Another member of the band gave Fred a book on composition and he was hooked. His first composition was a march for the band called "Kingsbere".

After mastering the trumpet. Fred turned his sights to the cello. He attended classes which were being run by the Dorset Rural Music School in Briantspuddle Village Hall. When the hour-long classes ended, the Briantspuddle Singers would come into the hall for an hour and this was followed by country dancing for another hour. Fred joined in both the singing and the dancing becoming quite an expert in both activities. Country dances were regularly taking place in various parts of Dorset at that time and Brenda was invited along to one of them. She found the music, the dancing and the company very agreeable so didn't take much persuading to come along again. Quite soon, she and Fred became regular dancing partners and became friends as well.

Their first date was on 1st December 1951 when they attended the first concert given by the newly formed Dorset County Orchestra. Little did Brenda realise at the time that that would be one of the very few occasions when they would actually sit together at a concert. Fred was quickly snapped up to play trumpet in the Dorset County Orchestra and went on to play with the Dorset Chamber Orchestra and the Tarrant Brass group. He also played in orchestras for the Bach Cantata Club, Milton Abbey Music Festival and Dorchester Choral Society as well as being a member of the Durnovoria (Dorchester) Silver Bond where he played solo cornet. Over the years. Brenda often referred to herself as a brass widow).

Several people in the benefice have recalled Fred playing the Last Post and Reveille at Briantspuddle war memorial and from the top of the church tower of Bere Regis church. In the early days of their friendship. Brenda's mother was not happy with the situation. She did not like her barely-out-of school daughter keeping company with, as she saw it, a much older man. Then Brenda discovered that Fred's birthday was on the same day as her mother's. When told this, her mother said. somewhat reluctantly "Well I suppose he'd better come to tea: Fred managed to charm his future mother-in-law and after that, they always spent part of their birthday together.

Fred had left school at 18, and had become articled to Jackson & Steel, a firm of architects in Dorchester. On completing his articles, he worked for Rex Thome and Alan Sharpe in Wimborne, then returned to Dorchester to work for Magnus Austin. In about 1960 he joined the County Architect's team at County Hall, working there until his retirement. He had studied architecture the hard way, through correspondence course and part time studies at Bournemouth College of Art, eventually qualifying in 1966.

Fred & Brenda were married in 1955 and began their married life at 78 West Street. Just after Mark was born in 1957, they moved to the top of Butt Lane, remaining there for the the next 51 years. John was born in 1960 and as the boys grew up, their friends would
visit very regularly and there would often be several friends in the house and garden. Fred was always welcoming and even reasonably relaxed on the many occasions when windows were broken by boys playing football on the lawn.

With his studies behind him. Fred began doing the things he really wonted to do. He had always had a passionate interest in the village and the church and he set Out to find as much information as possible about both. This culminated in his Book of Bere Regis which was published in 1978. His architectural studies had heightened his interest in church architecture and this resulted in a very ambitious project where he hoped to draw every church in Dorset and research their histories. As yet, the project has not been published in its entirety but Purbeck Parish Churches and Dorset Parish Churches A-D caused considerable interest when published. He was an acknowledged expert in the field of church architecture and was employed by the WEA to give lectures on the subject in many parts of the County. Fred's abiding passion for the works of Thomas Hardy, plus the perceived family Connection, resulted in the publication of Hardy's Wessex Locations. The research involved much detective work, discovering exactly which parts of Dorset and beyond) Hardy was referring to in his books, then photographing them as they are today.

He was a life-long part of the worshipping community in Bere Regis church, having been a member of the choir for 70 years. He became a member of the PCC at the age of 21 and was a very prominent member of the fabric Committee. As such, he probably knew every stone in the church as well as every window, arch and monument. He shared his knowledge with the church guides who now do an excellent job informing visitors of the special features of this magnificent building.

His own faith was very strong but of the traditional nature. Sometimes we could catch a glimpse of his true feelings through his church music. In recognition of his contribution to church music, he was recently elected a Fellow of the Faculty of Liturgical Musicians.

In his spare time he was a crossword addict, particularly enjoying The Times crossword. In fact. John said that Dad could complete the crossword quicker then he could cut them out for him. Not content with just solving crosswords, he also compiled them for the Dorset County magazine and the Exmoor Magazine. Health-wise, Fred had been quite fit until 1998 when he suffered a stroke. He made a good recovery but was no longer able to play his trumpet. Although he made light of that we knew that he missed all his former friends in the orchestras he had played with in the past.

He was a somewhat reluctant gardener, loOking after it because it was there rather than having on overriding interest. Nevertheless, the results were a credit to him every year despite the on-going battles with cabbage white butterflies and the like. He loved the wildlife in the garden, especially the many birds who found pickings in the compost heap, and in particular, several generations of robins who would make their presence felt when he came out into the garden.

Fred's latest project has involved much research both in local libraries and the British Library in London. If completed, the work would include a record of every published illustration of Dorset from 1650 to 1900 Latterly, some of his more active interests have been curtailed but he made up for it by enjoying his family, the grandchildren in particular having given him enormous pleasure.

When the time come for him to meet his maker, the end came quickly. For Fred. life was for living and he would have hated to have had to endure a long drawn-out
illness. We can imagine him checking out all those measurements in heaven as recorded in the book of Revelation and we love the idea expressed in one of the letters of sympathy we received. A friend wrote "I am sure Fred is joining in already in rehearsals for the Last Trump, and perhaps providing a new arrangement for it."

Yes, that's the man we all knew and loved and we give thanks that he used to the full, all the talents that God had given him.

Olive Sheppard 1930 - 2009

Olive died peaCefully of heart failure in her sleep at sometime in the small hours of the morning on Monday 8, December. It was as if she just faded away, having at first seemed to recover well from a fall she had two weeks beforehand. Physically there had seemed to be less and less of her in the last few years, such were her Problems with eating. This disorder had affected her since the age of 18, but it had become noticeably worse due to her unhappiness since her beloved husband. Duncan, died seven years ago.

Olive was born in Surrey in 1930, the second daughter of Peter and Winifred Birchall. Her father was a headmaster who taught Music and English, and played the organ. He chose names for his family from literature, and so she was christened "Olivia" after the character in "Twelfth Night". To get further away from London in the Second World War, Peter Birchall moved jobs and his family to Dorset, first to Litton Cheney and then to Winfrith Newburgh. As Olive grew up, she learnt to play the piano and acquired a great love of reading.

When she started her working life she had various office jobs. One of the early ones was at Lee Motors in Dorchester .Clearly her traveling to work and elsewhere would be eased if she could drive, and a young man at the garage by the name of Duncan Sheppard kindly offered to give her driving lessons - such effective lessons, in fact, that she passed her test first time. They kept in touch after Duncan changed jobs. and in due course, in 1965, they got married.

They always enjoyed joint activities, and started in a big way by building their own house together - Tweeds, in School Lane. Briantspuddle, on a site where previously concrete blocks had been manufactured for the Debenham estate. Those who have only known Olive in later life may have difficulty in imagining her up on the roof with Duncan in cold weather, nailing down the roof tiles, and on one occasion getting her coat nailed down with the tiles!

In due course their daughter Leonora ("Lee" to many of us) was born. Olive continued to develop her interests through her adult life, and encouraged Leonora in many of these, particularly drawing and reading. With Duncan she loved visiting old Dorset churches, and they were both very keen on their garden. They were keen readers; passing books they had read to each other to reed - Charles Dickens being a particular love; the mobile library was always in demand. They worked hard also of welcoming newcomers, generating Community spirit and smoothing out any difficulties among the other residents in and around School Lane. Knitting, embroidery, papier-mache masks. Photography, wine making were other examples of her skills and interests. She made wine not only from the grapes of her own vine but out of almost anything that grew. As recently as this autumn she started to try her hand at digital photography. She joined in with the big Parish project some years ago to make new kneelers for Affpuddle church, and only this year she offered to make one of the last few that were required. Although her deteriorating eyesight limited her Progress.

Apart from her family, cats were a lifelong love. Any written communication from Olive always had a picture of a cat on it somewhere. The most recent cat in her life was Caspar, belonging to neighbours but forcing his way daily into Tweeds whenever he could and taking up prime position in the most comfortable spot in the house; amazingly he seems to know she has died and has not come bock since.

In her working life Olive worked in various offices in the area and, after two earlier spells at the Atomic Energy Establishment at Winfrith, eventually came there to work for UKAEA full time. She was the secretary for various senior members of the staff, and had many friends among her fellow secretaries and other colleagues. She continued to organise a periodic lunch gathering at the East Dorset Golf Club for her secretarial friends until as recently as October, and was due to meet one of these friends for lunch in the week she died; some soup (it had to be really hot) and a glass of red wine was all she had on these occasions. She also met Brenda Pitfield for a meal from time to time, having done secretarial work for Brenda who was then working for the Church Army.

So although Olive had her eating disorder, and was unhappy following the deaths of her beloved Duncan and other close family members in recent years, as you have heard she did not give up on life as others might have done. She kept up with her friends, with her reading and her creative interests and, though regretting she could not keep the garden in the way she always had, she still managed to create a display of plants in pots and baskets. Not a frequent worshipper in Affpuddle church, she was nevertheless always interested in and ready to support its projects and events. A lot of us who knew Olive are the better for it, having experienced her friendship and enjoyed the results of her creativity. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Leonora and Roger and to all Olive's wider family.

The love she bestowed on others, her work of reconciliation and the creativity she exhibited are all reflections of the character of God - our God who loves his own creation so much that in the person of Jesus Christ he lived on earth, died and rose again, to show us what he is like and to give us a way back to him despite our sins, our weakness and failings. That's for Olive and for all Of us.

 

March

Rene Dashwood 1915 - 2009

Rene Doshwood was born 93 years ago on 30t. September 1915 - a year into the First World War. in Fleetwood, Lancashire. Her father - Frederick Dixon was a salesman and her mother to whom she was much attached was a Cumbrian farmers daughter. Rene went to school in Portsmouth. and when her family moved across Spithead to the Isle of Wight she went over on the ferry to her school - she must have got 0 lot of sea.time in. She once told Sybil that she had twin elder brothers who died when they were seven. She was a small child and her mother only once referred to their death.

When she was 18 or so she had a severe rheumatic illness and having inherited some money she traveled for some months visiting friends in the United States, She then traveled to Africa, and met Dash on the boat. Incidentally I've only just learnt from Debbie that Dash's real name was Harold Norman Ernest but everybody called him 'Dash'. - They were soon mowed. Dash tried forming in Africa but then went into the poke force and Rene worked for the government. They were in Tanganyika - now Tanzania and Northern Rhodesia now Zambia where Dash become on Assistant Inspector of Police - and they were in Africa for more than 30 years.

Rene and Dash returned from the Empire to the Surrey Hills in Godalming and then subsequently in 1973 to Bere Regis. Holidays were spent in Devon Cornwall and Scotland. Dash was o cheerful, friendly man and for many years was Sidesman of Evensong here in our Church. It's thought that Rene probably never come to Church and she was somewhat of a recluse when it came to Village and Community life. Sybil says she got to know Dash a little when. having developed macular degeneration, he could no longer drive she kindlY drove lam to Waitrose in Dorchester for his and Rene's shopping. Dash's great joy was talking to his friend Gilbert Griffin on their drives to inspect old buildings

Sybil visited Rene. then in St Anne's Hospital and did so at Rene's request on several later occasions. Rene loved flowers and gardens and reading especially politics and history and
biographies. When she too developed macular degeneration and could not read she became very frustrated and lonely. Her books were her companions as she found it hard to make friends. Over her blind years as it were she listened to BBC Radio Four and the World Service for many hours - no doubt the latter a habit for all ex-patriots - and thus she was well informed and she could discuss Gordon Brown and Barrak Obama and refugees in Darfur. Rene really appreciated her carers - though she may not have told them so! She liked being brought flowers though never ever Pink flowers. She was so pleased that Ginette
carefully chose blue and white flowers. She loved hearing about Joan Moclikn's trips abroad. My faith tells me that God loves us even if we don't know it - and he loved and loves Rene for all her independence and welcomes her into his presence.

For Rene, Dash was the love of her life: she was strong minded, she didn't suffer fools gladly, she was determined, clever, and after Dash died sadly lonely but with wonderful stories. In a sense she was after her time. But we can be assured that she was and is loved by God and she is now at peace and with her beloved Dash joined in Spirit.

 

April

Bill Slade

It was sadly only two or so years ago that many of Bill's family and friends were gathered to give thank for the life of Maureen, Bills wife, and here we all are again gathered to give thanks for Bill himself - here in their parish church where they were married 53 years ago.

Bill was born in Wareham and his family lived on the Wareham Road, with his two sisters and he went to school initially in Wareham before moving with his family to Southampton. But the family were clearly missing Dorset as they moved back from Hampshire to Bere Regis when Bill was 12 and he went to school in the Village for a couple of years until leaving to take up his first job with the Crockers at their farm at Lane End., and the family were living close by.

He subsequently moved out of farming and worked firstly and for some considerable time for Jarvis Garage in Bere Regis where he developed natural mechanical gifts and later for BlakeweII's Engineering where he learnt welding and fabrication and paint spraying. On one occasion he was working for Blakewells in the Ford motor car factory in Dagenham in Essex, and it was in the days when the car industry was heavily influenced by the Trades Unions but Bill was not a Union member and declined so to be and so he was not permitted to install the fabrication in the Ford factory. instead he had to sit in his von and give instructions to the fitters as to how to assemble the installation and everybody was happy - but Bill stuck to his guns and showed he was clearly a mon of some principles.

As many of you know the Bere Regis Bus Company was to ploy an important port in Bill's and Moureen's futures; Maureen was a clippie on the buses and after getting to know Maureen a little, having first met at a dance in Wool Bill traveled all the way to Poole and back to Bore Regis on that night's lost service and culminated in Bill asking Maureen to marry her. She did agree - and Bill proudly said he didn't have to pay for his fare on that trip. Bill and Maureen were duly married here in 1956 and settled down in North Street in Bere Regis. Pauline come along in 1957 and they all later moved to West Street and subsequently to Green Close.

It was here that Bill established himself as a self employed motor mechanic of some repute - so many people had him service their motor cars from all over the area - Wool and Briantspuddle and elsewhere, indeed it was apparently rare for Bill not to look after one's motor car. He was naturally gifted with his hands and all things mechanical. But Bill also loved his garden and especially growing vegetables. Family life included Cottage holidays in Devon and Wales and then Caravan holidays in Wales and Yorkshire, taking their bikes and dog with them, in particular their dog 'Bungy'. They were inveterate caravaners for more than 30 years and Maureen would insist on cooking a full supper on the caravan stove.

Later, holidays were taken by Coach to Scotland and into Europe. The birth of their grandchild Shannon in 1996 gave Maureen and Bill enormous pride and joy. As Shannon's mum Says she was indeed the 'apple of Bill's eye.' As we know when Maureen's health deteriorated and she was unable to climb stairs in Green Close they had to move to a single story home and thus they settled in Crossways.

After Maureen died in 2006 and Bill had more time he went to neatly all of Shannon's gymkhanas and shows and competitions to see his granddaughter perform - and Pauline says he became quite knowledgeable of things equestrian. Sadly Bill's independence was all too short and about a year ago he become increasingly ill and eventually as his cancer become worse he had to move to Summedy Court in Dorchester where he was well cored for until the end.

Bill was greatly loved and valued and respected by so many - he will be sadly missed.

 

May

Ethel Ricketts 1910 - 2009

J Ethel was born on 1 September 1910 in West Dorset near Winterbourne Abbas and lived in Dorset all her life. She was one of five children and with her brothers and sisters attended Winterbourne Abbas Village School (she was always known as the fragile one of the family!!)

When she left school she went "into service", as they did in those days, at a big house in nearby Winterbourne Steepleton. She would not have liked to live there now as the house has now become a nursing home and one of her fears towards the end of her life was to end up in a nursing home. Luckily she was able to stay in her own home to the end, thanks to the many friends and helpers and her own strong determination. Ron and Valerie would like to say how much they appreciate all the help and kindness that everyone has shown to Ethel over very many years.

Ethel met Raymond who came from the Long Bredy area and they started courting. They sometimes went for long bike rides and Ethel remembered how they once collided and both finished up in the road going down a steep hill, fortunately without serious injury! Having survived that they got married and moved to a little place called Hollow Oak, Doddings near Bere Regis where Raymond was employed at the watercress beds.

Ron was born in 1932 and Valerie a few years later. The war came and it couldn't have been easy bringing up a family on the wages in those days. Ethel helped out when she could by working at bunching up the bundles of watercress. Raymond joined the Home Guard and Ethel spent many nights alone when he was on duly. They then moved to a Council house and living conditions were much better. Raymond had a large garden of which he was very proud, winning cups at many flower shows. They would spend many hours of night before these shows gathering, washing and matching the veg - a job she didn't like very much! 23 Sitterton Close looked like Covent Garden, but she would always back Raymond up, whatever he put his hand to.

By this time Raymond had got a job working for Griffin the building firm and sometimes was able to get home for lunch - this once gave rise to a rather embarrassing moment: Ethel answered the door one morning to find a Jehovah's Witness standing there. She was never rude but when she had finished talking to him he was left in no doubt about her Christian beliefs! When Raymond come home he said "Oh, Elk. I want you to meet an old school pal of mine who I've just met in the village and invited home for lunch"!! Ethel loved her church where Raymond was a bell ringer for over 50 years and she was disappointed when she could no longer attend due to her walking difficulties.

She was a long standing member of the Mothers Union. She looked forward to the times she received Communion from the vicar in her own home. She did many other things, including a very happy time working for the family at Hyde House. Ethel and Raymond celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary with a party with family and friends and a telegram from the Queen. Ethel nursed Raymond when he become unwell until he passed away. She then picked herself up again and over the next 15 years enjoyed visits to and from her family - children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

This last year Ethel had some falls which resulted in long stays in hospital and she had said many times that she did not wont to be hospitalised again. Now she is at last reunited with her beloved Raymond.

Les Lewis 1930 - 2009

Whether you knew Leslie Lewis as Les. Leso. Louie or Cokey, he was the some man.

He was o true man of Dorset. born on the 29th December 1930 in the Old Post Office, North Street, Bere Regis the 5th child of seven born to Jack and Ethel Lewis. They moved frequently, living variously at The Old Mill in West street. Woodbury Hill and Green Close.

Les schooling was at Bere Regis School, and one his nicknames *Cakey' was earned there, according to his old school chum and now organist at our, Church at Affpuddle. Ivor Mullins, because he always had some of his Mum's homemade cake in his lunch box.

Les spent many evenings as a boy playing football and cricket with Ns mates and he told many tales of hijinks during theses times. Les left school at 14 and started work for Bedford and Jetty at Doddings farm where he joined o happy cheerful gang who often played pranks on anyone who encroached on their patch. Les was keen on all sports and very good at most of them. He played for the very successful Village football team for many years and although light in stature he could hold his own with the best of them.

From the mid fifties onwards. Les was o member and captain during some seasons of a very successful village cricket team who won the Dorset Cup on four occasions and many evening league trophies. Les was a very accomplished and attractive batsman, stylish with all the shots and strokes. His fielding in particular was second to none, often running out batsmen with tot deadly fiat throw, It was at one match that Les and Clifford Barnes were approached by Dorchester Wanderers with a view to joining them. This was agreed and the two of them played for the Wanderers for over twenty Years, sharing some wonderful times including cricket tours of Devon. Les made a brief comeback to the cricket field for Winterbourne Kingston in the 90's .but decided enough was enough after being dismissed in his last game. Les said - my head knows what to do but it takes too long to tell my feet.- graciousness indeed.

Les' sporting prowess didn't end there. He was also o member of a very successful Royal Oak Darts tea. winning many trophies. These were enjoyable times with his motes often ending with 0 pub sing-along with Les' Party piece being the Blackbird song.

It was whilst living at Green Close and working as gamekeeper at Woodbury Hill in the mid 60's that Les met Mary, and on 8th September 1973 they were married in Bere Regis Church. It was year later that Garry was born and they all shored some fantastic times, Les particularly enjoyed teaching Garry about the countryside and country life. best summer holidays always coincided with horse racing at Salisbury and at Newbury. Les loved his racing and was a keen student of form and a very sucessful punter. Only recently, just days before being taken ill, he enjoyed a wonderful day out with his family at the Cheltenham Festival. Les often recalled the 510(1' of a trip to the races at Newbury in 1969 with Mary and their friends when the horse 'Spanish Steps' won the Hennessy Gold Cup on the coldest day he could ever remember, and that must have been cold for Les was used to working outside in all weathers.

Les and Mary and Garry moved to Southbrook in 1976 and this was where they stayed. Les never lost touch with his game-keeping. always helping out on one shoot or another, and it was in 1989 that a likeminded group of friends got together and formed the 'Warren Shoot Syndicate' which Les ran to this day. enjoying many successful and fun filled days. And it is perhaps appropriate in this context to soy how very sad Les would have been to hear of the death of his friend Dennis Watts in such tragic circumstances. It points us all to how important a right sense of community is and in which we are fortunate to shore here in Bere Regis.

Les was not always the best organiser and on one occasion on the Warren Shoot he had one group walking in one direction, another group in another direction and Les himself walking in completely the opposite direction. But Les more than made up for this by his dedication and deep knowledge of the Countryside and its workings. He was never more happy walking down the Warren and attending to his birds and various duties.

Les enjoyed the company of both young and old and often gave the 'boys' as he referred to them, a lift to and from nights out. This became affectionately known as Leso's Taxis'. He would always be laughing about the antics of one or other of his passengers.

Les was a quiet, unassuming man & was never happier than when out in the countryside with his dog. He was a true Bere Regis villager - born and bred: a true countryman of dorset through and through. He will be sadly missed by mary and garry and the wider family, and friends alike.

 

August

Eileen Frances Hewitt 1934 - 2009

Eileen was born on 6th July 1934 in Spetisbury – the elder child of Frank and Maggie Mace. They lived at the Priory in Spetisbury with, in due time, Eileen’s younger brother David. The house backed down to the river Stour where Eileen loved to swim. She was at the Village school until she was 15 and she took her first job at a chemist shop in Blandford – cycling to and from the town each day – it must have kept her fit. Subsequently she moved into domestic service on a farm in Sturminster Marshall, where she was reputed to have taught a pair of magpies to talk. In due course she met Ian Hewitt, a miller who lived in Bere Regis and they were married in Eileen’s parish church in Spetisbury in July 1954 and they set up home with Leo, Ian’s sister, and her husband Desmond in Green Close in Bere Regis.

Russell came along in 1956 when 77 West Street was by now the family home and Kevin followed in 1959. Ian was a countryman to his roots. Russell says there were always gun dogs around the house – especially spaniels and life was made up of animals and sport. Eileen continued to work providing domestic help and in the café in West Street when that street was still the A35 so business was busy. Later she worked as a dinner lady in the Village school. Eileen loved gardening and cake making and the family’s deep commitment to football and cricket meant that she much time making cakes and the sports club became something of a second home or so it seemed. However there were two family rules: firstly that ‘the women were not allowed to interfere with sport’ and secondly ‘that they must provide the burgers and teas for the teams’, though her favourite meal was fish and chips. Family holidays were mainly day trips but later to Cornwall and subsequently to Portugal.

Eileen was a great friend to many people and she enjoyed their company – at Bingo or the Tuesday Club or the Pop-in Place and the Royal British Legion.

Eileen loved animals – dogs and rabbits especially and at times she seemed to be a part time vet to the dogs and neighbours animals too. Whenever she went away she struggled to find enough people to feed the animals she was caring for including injured birds. Visits to her home in Old Barn Road would see the model birds and elephants and the many teddy bears too – but banned from the house were robins of any sort – and especially on Christmas cards.

Eileen was very practical too – gardening and painting fences and decorating the home and always helpful to anyone in need. She never seemed to have a bad word for anyone.

Over the past five years Eileen has shown tremendous courage as her facial cancer developed and she was determined not to let it beat her. In some ways she had more tragedy than many with Ian’s death in 1988 and before that her brother David who was killed in a motor accident on his way back from a test match in the 1970’s.

Eileen had and extensive family with four grandchildren – Shane and Tom, Jemma and Ryan. They all enjoyed a wonderful and memorable day together in July to mark Eileen’s 75th birthday and Peggy’s 50th.

Whenever I saw Eileen she was always so immaculately turned out, even when I saw her in hospital after her so many operations. She was so grateful for the amazing skill and dedication of all the staff at Poole hospital and especially the ICU and HDU specialists.

So to Russell and Peggy; to Kevin and Tina and all the grandchildren we give our love and support, and grateful thanks for having known Eileen.

 

 

November

Mary Cheeseman 1912 - 2009

Mary was born on the 18th May 1912, daughter to Matthew and Rose Stickley, at Woodbury Hill, a place that throughout her life she loved very much.

She was one of a family of seven children: Alice, Elsie, Arthur, Daisy, Dick, and Ella with Mary being the last of this generation. For Mary and all the family, life at Woodbury Hill was hard, especially by today’s standards, but she enjoyed every second of it. Her father Matthew provided for the family by farming a small holding. Family times were important and for many years as the children grew up Sundays became the day that the family congregated at Woodbury Hill, and this practice continued until the family moved into the Village.

Mary attended school at Shitterton (now a private House where Pat Mills lives) and left school at 14 whereupon she started her first employment going into service in a house in Boscombe. Mary was not at all happy about this – for in those days it was not just 25 minutes or so down the A35, but half a day’s journey and Mary felt dreadfully homesick, missing her family and the intimacy of family life and her beloved Bere Regis.

She soon returned to the village and worked at the then Bedfords water cress company, bunching water cress.

It was during this time that she met and courted Giles Cheeseman who worked as a Roadman for the Dorset County Council, and on the 29th April 1933 they were married (here) in St John the Baptist Parish Church which was to feature continuously in the Cheeseman family. Mary and Giles lived initially at Woodbury Hill, subsequently moving to Philliols at Hyde, where Mary was working as a house maid at Hyde House.

As Peter says these were happy times and they made many friends, in particular Stan and Maud Wickens (Giles met Stan at work) and for many years they enjoyed going to motor cycle meetings and many evenings of card playing at Stan and Maud’s home at Limberlost, near Corfe Mullen.

Mary and Giles returned from Hyde to live at 58 West Street and then subsequently just down the road to no 45 West Street which was to become the family home.

There own family soon came into being with Maureen the first born – but sadly Maureen passed away three years ago. Second born was Jean, then Sylvia, Valerie, and Peter and all were born here in Bere Regis. Subsequently all the children were baptised and married here in our Parish Church, much to Mary’s delight.

But, these were hard times with Mary making camouflage nets at home for the war effort and hand making from clothes for the family; and she had many jobs around the village to help balance the family books. In particular she enjoyed her time working at the Royal Oak in the Village as a waitress and she very often enjoyed recounting the time when she pulled a pint for Harold Wilson, then Prime Minister, who was attending the Tolpuddle Martyrs annual rally just up the road towards Dorchester.

One of the funniest stories during these times was whilst Jean was home from school very poorly Mary had a visit from the schools attendance inspector, he proved to be rather a rude man and after exhausting Mary’s patience he was chased from the house with Mary brandishing a broom – he never came back! It was a sign of how strong willed Mary was. Over time life improved for the family and their first car was purchased and they enjoyed many trips and holidays often going to the West Country with family and friends.

Sadly Giles passed away on 1st October 1974, and this huge loss was such a blow to Mary that she never really got over it.

Being determined to try and live life to the full, she enjoyed bingo and had numerous coach holidays accompanied by her sisters Daisy and Elsie, by now also both widows.

She immersed herself in Village activities and she became a member of the Womens’ Institute, Autumn Leaves, and she worked hard fund raising for the Drax Hall. She was also a member of the Mothers’ Union and she is remembered with much affection by today’s members.

With the loss of Giles, Mary decided to leave the family home and moved to Manor farm Road, where she made many friends and greatly enjoyed her time there. She spent much time with her family and was overjoyed as the grandchildren started arriving – (10 Grandchildren) and four great grandchildren – to date. And she was always available for a spot of baby sitting or as a shoulder to cry on always putting her family before herself .

As Mary’s health deteriorated she eventually moved into a care home initially at Amberwood Lodge at Parkstone and latterly Lilliput House care homes at Sandbanks. Mary was always receiving visitors and someone from her rapidly extending family visited every day .

It was at Lilliput House that Mary was to spend her final days and the family would like to thank Louise, Mark, Katie and their team for the affectionate tender love and care that they gave to both Mary and her family during this difficult time.

Mary: may you rest in peace and rise in glory.

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