Bell-tents and Bugles
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Bell-tents and Bugles
Barwicker No. 23
September 1991
I was pleased to see in 'The Barwicker' No.20 another
contribution from the late Bert Howlett. As one of Bert's
contemporaries (we called him Albert) I have read his memoirs with
much interest and pleasure, I'm sure everyone reading them will
have been impressed by his amazing memory, his ability to describe
such a wide range of events in so much detail and his penetrating
observations on life in Barwick in the early part of the century.
Bert's reminiscences brought back many memories for me. To
mention one or two - there is the account of the fox going to
ground in the Hall Tower Field; then there is the reference to the
forced landing of the plane in the field off Aberford Road in World
War I. Both of these events, which I witnessed, created quite a
stir in the village at the time.
Bert has referred more than once to camping out in Reed's field
near the footpath leading up from the bottom of the Boyle, over
Rake Beck and on to the Flying Horse Farm on the York Road. We
knew this path as 'The Frying Pan Start'. He has described how he
and others used a tent left over from the scout group to sleep in
during the summer months. I have a rather faded snapshot of the
group concerned which included Bert, Roland Lovett, Harold Wilson,
Bob and Jack Woodwark and myself.
Like Bert I remember we all enjoyed the open air, the peace of
the valley with its sounds and scents as well as the companionship
of the group. The photo. was taken in the field on a Sunday
morning in 1926, the year Bert left for Australia. At the end of
that year the tent was called in by the scouting authorities and as
a result the group camping activities ceased.
The following year however Roly Lovett and I bought a second-
hand bell-tent which we were given permission to pitch in a field
in Potterton Lane. The field is opposite the saw-mills and to the
north of what then was the footpath leading to the Banks and
Wendel Hill. It falls steeply into the valley of Potter ton Beck.
Since then there has been some building development near the road.
Roly and I slept out in the tent for three years starting at
Easter and finishing in September. In those days the valley here
also was full of wild life and I well remember the pleasure of
waking up in the mornings to the sound of the lovely 'dawn chorus'.
I remember too the eclipse of the Sun in the summer of 1927. It
was I think total by about 7.30 to 8.0 am. As it progressed and
the light faded the bird song died away and a hushed silence fell
over the valley. It seemed quite uncanny at the time and was an
experience I shall always remember.
Bert also referred to the scout troop in the village. In fact
this was quite active during its brief life of three years or so.
It was started around 1921/2 with the support of Mr T H Prater,
land agent to the Gascoigne family, who was scouting District
Commissioner at the time. The Rector, Rev R H Harvey, also helped
by making the old Reading Room in the school yard available for
the troop's HQ. In addition he took an interest in the general
activities.
The scoutmaster Joe Burden was assisted by Herbert Free. I
was one of the two dozen or so members of the troop. Indoor
activities in the Reading Room together with field work: outdoors
provided training for the various proficiency tests. Several
members obtained their First Class badges.
Outdoor activities also included a couple of 'camps' in the
then almost derelict Parlington Hall. This was by permission of Kr
Prater who also allowed the other troops from the Leads area
similar facilities. We slept on palliasses in what had been one of
the principal rooms of the Hall in its hey-day. We washed at the
pump in the stable yard. For the scouts the park: was ideal for
nature study, with its abundant wild-life, including a herd of deer,
and its wide variety of shrubs and trees.
I remember Mr Prater presenting the troop with its scout flag.
This was carried out with due ceremony in the garden of his home,
Hicklam House, Aberford. The troop marched from Barwick through
Parlington Park: to Aberford for the presentation and marched back
again with the flag flying proudly at the head of the column. We
thought it very fine with its '1st. Barwick: 'Scout Group'
embroidered in gold letters.
We also had a 'band' which played at the more formal meetings
such as the occasional church parade when we marched to All
Saints' Church. George Kirk and Bill Lumb were the drummers and
Jack Birch and I were two of the buglers. I remember we made a
good deal of noise but I don't think: our technique was quite equal
to the effort put in. This might explain reports that some people
in the village were not too pleased to have the peace of their
Sunday mornings disturbed. On reflection I think perhaps they had
a point.
There is no doubt the scout troop provided some interest and
benefit for the youth of Barwick: at the time. Looking back it
seems a pity it had such a brief existence.
GEOFF HARTLEY
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