Where Are They Now?
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We know the Brightwell website has a long reach, because people have written in to tell us. Here you can read some of their letters. Contact sally.dugan@gmail.com if you would like to be put in touch with anyone - or to send us your own news and pictures.
NEWS FROM THE NORTH
Posted Wednesday 11 August 2010
Penny Kane writes from her home in Northern Scotland, 60 miles from John o’Groats: “It is wonderful up here and I love it. I was back in Brightwell cum Sotwell in May and caught up with a lot of people, as I was there for the church fete. I was so thrilled to see everyone again but I was pleased to get home. I just wish it would stop raining!”
After living first in a caravan, then in a mobile home on a beach, she is now settled in a house and has a part-time job as a ‘café slave’.
She says: “It is very different up here. The village, which has its own website, is a lot smaller than Brightwell, it has two grocery shops, two pubs, a hotel with restaurant, a hardware shop a shop that sells all sorts of things, a shoe shop which sells cards and Halloween costumes and plastic flowers(!), an antique shop, a museum, a cafe which also sells antiques and a Post Office all within about 400 yards. Ten miles away there are similar but a bit bigger, and 16 miles away a butcher and fresh fish shop and a "Chinese" (not very good, sadly.). However if you want a length of wood you have to drive 35 miles. The nearest Tesco is 35 miles. Inverness is 70 miles away, so you really have to think up your needs well in advance, as it is a real pain if you get home having forgotten something vital.”
She loves the wildlife, the flowers, and the “laid back” people, and would be happy to hear from any of her friends in Brightwell. You can contact her on pnnykane@yahoo.com
ROBIN ARNFIELD
Posted Monday 14 June 2010
Happy memories from Robin Arnfield, who wrote: "Back in the early 1980s my wife and I lived in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, renting a cottage from Mrs Sheard. We loved the village. We emigrated to Canada a while ago. We were members of Ridgeway Christian Fellowship while living in Brightwell."
THE FISHWICKS LEARN HOW TO SAW…
Posted Tuesday 25th May 2010
News from Jane and Brian Fishwick, who left the village to try a bit of hands-on DIY in Norfolk.
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Surprisingly we were not held up by the dreadful weather, as we just managed to get the windows in and roof tiled literally days before the snow came. We have tried where possible to use local people and suppliers and have obtained some very good contacts in our local pub, always the best way.
Burston village is a lot smaller than B-c-S but thriving non the less. It has a very active primary school and church and a very good pub, The Burston Crown, run by two 30/40 something couples with fine food, good beer and live music every week. I think that we have fitted in reasonably well and will be glad when we finally move and can actually walk to the pub. The MOVE, we hope will happen at the end of June and we are getting very impatient now for it to happen. Then there is still all of the garden to do which is mostly covered in concrete. Nothing new there then, just like Dairy Well House.
Will inform Sally of our new contact details when we move.
Jane & Brian Fishwick
ANYONE IN TOUCH WITH DICK THOMAS?
Posted Monday 31st August 2009
Malcolm Harvey from Melbourne, Australia, used to work with ex-Brightwellian Dick Thomas, and would like to be put in touch. He writes: "It's been 20 years since I saw Dick, and he was in his 50's then - just wondering what had become of him. I used to visit him in his home and your web images of the village reminded me what a very special place it is."
If you can help, Malcolm's email is malcolm@storm.com.au
BRIGHTWELL BROWNIES IN 1970
Posted Thursday 2nd July 2009
Jane Luton (Charlton) has sent us this photograph of the Brightwell Brownie pack, taken – she thinks – when they were gathered for the St George’s day parade in Wallingford in 1970.
Jane – who has written elsewhere on this page, with memories of her father, Fred Charlton – has lived in New Zealand for seven years, but still visits the village. She wonders whether anyone can remember other names in the picture?
She writes: “The Brown Owl at right of picture is Mrs Lay, whose husband ran the lay orchards, strawberry farm – Five Acres? I think the helper at left of picture is Mrs Lay's sister in law or sister who used to live in a large house at the corner of Bakers lane at the bottom of Bell Lane.
“The girl second from right on the back row I think is Dianna Eggleton? Next to her on our left, tall blonde is Laura Brown whose mother was my mother's best friend. Along the row third from left (of faces that can be seen) is Janet Large whose father kindly did the organ for my father's funeral in 2005. I think I may be the unseen face at the back. I recognise other faces but cannot remember names.”
If you can fill in other names, please let us know. E-mail sally.dugan@gmail.com.
BRIGHTWELL IN THE 1960S
Posted Friday 25th January 2008
We have been contacted by Amanda Doster (née Lane), with some memories of Brightwell in the 1960s and 1970s. She writes:
"I was sorting through items from the attic and fell upon class photos at Brightwell School from the 60s. I spent a very happy childhood in Bell Lane, Brightwell until 1971 when I moved to Wantage Road, Wallingford - my father still lives there. I still cycled to Brightwell to see friends and attend Guides. Although I now live in Cheltenham, Glos I still remember so much about our lives in 1960's Brightwell as being wonderful.
"I read through Mr Heyworth's account of Brightwell with interest and remember him so well - smoking his pipe in the school grounds! Did any one mention that the Kews used to make little bread rolls called Tommy loaves that we used to race down to the bakery to queue up for? If there were none, left Mrs Kew usually found a bag of broken biscuits.
"All this seems like sentimental reminiscing but as I approach 50 I realise when I tell these things to my children that these memories form part of our social history. How about a 'Down Memory Lane' web page that residents and former residents could post snippets on?"
DOES ANYONE REMEMBER JIM POWRIE?
Posted Sunday 10th June 2007
Linda and Barry Eastlake have just returned from a two week holiday in Umbria, Italy, where they got talking to an estate agent.
"As he spoke perfect English, we talked about home," recalls Barry. "'Where do you come from?' he asked. ' A small village in Oxfordshire', we said. 'Near where?' 'Near Wallingford,' we said. 'Not Brightwell-cum-Sotwell....?'
"Well, it turns out he used to live in the cottage on the corner of Church Lane and The Street. He said that he left B-c-S over 25 years ago. As always, it is a surprise to see just how small the world really is. Went 2,000 miles to find someone who used to live 100 yards from my door!
"He asked to be remembered to anyone he would have known, and would love to hear from them."
Jim Powrie can be contacted at j.powrie@netemedia.net. or Via della
Barca, 06010 Montecastelli (PG) Italy.
OF MILLS AND SINGING...
Posted Saturday 24 March 2007
News has reached the website from Janet and Mike Clayton, who are happily settled in an old mill in Cumbria, when they are not stomping up Machu Picchu, or singing in Latvia…
Janet is still very much involved in music-making, and now Mike has finally managed to retire – at the second attempt – so is he. The picture shows them taking a break during a week’s tour of Latvia and Lithuania with the Wordsworth Singers.
To celebrate Mike’s retirement last summer, they both embarked on a serious programme of travelling.
“We went via Madrid to Rio de Janeiro which we found quite intimidating, though spectacular too. Next stop were the Iguassu Falls – very spectacular, especially from the Argentine side which we popped across to, as you do. This was one of the great highlights of all time for us. Then it was a bus trek half way across Paraguay to Asuncion for one night. Interesting to see but hardly the scenic highlight of the trip. And it was just as well we left when we did as Paraguay were playing England in the World Cup the next day!
“Bolivia next, to Santa Cruz, then up (literally) into the Andes to Sucre and much further up to La Paz where any physical activity was a major challenge. What a place! Noise, fumes, frantic activity by thousands of people. And all in the most spectacular setting in a hollow below the High Plain and in the shadow of snow capped volcanoes.
“Then it was across the Altiplano to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. The visit to a small island called Suriqui was another highlight, in which local children followed us wherever we went. A supply of sweets was very useful! And on to Peru, first Puno (not recommended!), then on to Cuzco via the highest point of the whole trip at 14,500ft! Cuzco was magnificent, wonderful scenery and full of highly colourful people in endless carnival mood. (Though the seemingly hundreds of street vendors did sometimes get up the nose, especially the ones trying to sell you something through restaurant windows!). Visits to spectacular Inca and pre-Inca sites were made culminating in a crack of dawn train journey to the famous Machu Picchu. What a sight! Everything it is renowned to be.
“Mike was glad to be home for one reason though. Those infernal South American World Cup commentaries interspersed with verbal Coca Cola adverts were unbearable!
“Janet’s singing this year has actually expanded. Apart from the main choirs, The Wordsworth Singers and the Abbey Singers, she is also in The Eden Valley Hospice Choir (being accompanist and sometimes conductor), the Carlisle Cathedral Voluntary Choir (deputises for the Cathedral Choir at times), and there are also the two annual involvements in Renaissance Singers and SAS. If that wasn’t enough, she has now even started her own little ensemble in Ireby. It doesn’t have a name as yet, probably because we are not sure we want anybody to know about it. Yes, we said WE! Cos Mike’s in it. He went as a sense of duty to support the venture and Janet now won’t let him leave. Janet also now has her own clarsach (Celtic Harp) which was one of Mike’s birthday presents to her. The other was a plum-stoner!
“And so to the next trip. Towards the end of July The Wordsworth Singers embarked on a week’s tour to Latvia and Lithuania, and Mike went too, being appointed Programme Manager for the trip! We always knew he had something to offer a choir. After one night in Riga, we trooped across the border to a real backwater in Lithuania, Zagare, to perform at its Cherry Festival. Well at least Mike and two other hangers on contributed to the success by frequenting the beer tent, whilst Janet and their other halves rehearsed. It was a marvellous experience (the trip, not the beer tent) despite spartan accommodation, matched by even more spartan food (the one restaurant in Zagare ran out of both food and drink whilst we were there!) and the music the Choir made was glorious and much appreciated by the locals. Back then to Riga and two concerts there, one, in particular, in the Maza Gilde (Little Guildhall) was exceptional.
“There was plenty of time in Riga to do some sightseeing. We had, of course been before, on the Baltic Cruise in 2001. We had been very impressed then with what we saw on a very short visit. So this time we were able to do it more justice, and that simply reiterated the view that Riga is a stunning place, highly recommended, though a bit overrun at times with English stag parties (go Monday to Friday).
“So home again. Or for Mike at least. We arrived back at Liverpool Airport at near midnight and Mike travelled back with the choir, whilst Janet headed off to her cousin Jane’s in Middlewich as a quick overnight stay en route to join The Renaissance Singers at St David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire. Some trip! And when that was finished 2 days later she belted across country to join the SAS Choir at St George’s Chapel, Windsor for a week. No half measures with Janet’s singing! But she was able to stopover with Nicholas en route home. Mike, meanwhile had arrived home at 3am post Riga, and spent the next week and a bit as chief cook and bottle washer, or, to put it another way, footloose and fancy free.”
MESSAGE FROM BRUSSELS
Posted Sunday 11th February 2007
We have been contacted by an ex villager, now living in Belgium, who runs a guest house named after the house where she grew up in Mackney Lane. Hilda Foster writes:
"I was born in a small cottage called "Rosebank" in Mackney Lane on 11th October 1948 with my twin brother Eric. It gives me great pleasure in seeing your website and brings back lots of memories.
My Father William (Bill) Foster kept open his father's blacksmith garage called "The Bell Forge" on Bell Lane next to "The Bell" pub that was run by his sister and brother-in-law Charlie Wells. Our family imigrated to Belgium in 1962, back to my Mother's birth place. My father died 12 years ago but my Mother who is now going 81 still has contact ( by phone) with Sid Moody still living on High Road.
I have named my home "Rosebank" and we have two rooms for B&B. See our
website www.bedandbreakfastbrussels.be. Success with your website and best
regards
Hilda Foster"
OF SURF, TAPPING AND CABARET
Anne Kennet writes from Oz
Posted Saturday 30th December 2006
We're all well and thriving. Tibby continues to grow
at an alarming rate. She loves her swimming lessons
and now enjoys body surfing in the sea with Matt while
I continue my love affair with surfing in deeper
water. Last week I went out four times, which shows
commitment but is not indicative of significant
progress. I'm still pretty hopeless but I do really
enjoy it and I can even catch the odd small "green
face" now. Kim and Andy are coming for a short visit
early in the New Year and I'm hoping to take Andy out
with the Surf Sisters for a lesson. Sadly I can't
persuade Kim to join us; she prefers to watch from the
beach. Still, hopefully she'll get a few good snaps of
us on (or under!) our boards.
My other current passion is tap dancing with the Joan Rogers Adult Tap Troupe (average age 65), or the Rogettes as we've been billed for the Christmas show. Yesterday saw our first performance of the festive season and my first performance ever. I was so nervous that I went to the loo four times before the show started. I was particularly terrified because the second item on the bill was our little group of five beginners doing a number all on our own. So to the strains of "Chorus line" we stepped out onto the stage in front of about fifty elderly members of the Ladies View Club plus Matt and Tibby and my friend Heidi and Tibby's friend Taylor. We did okay but the stage was really slippery and I did a small skid. Luckily I controlled it avoiding a potentially disastrous five-tapper-pile-up. Matt loyally said he didn't notice. The old ladies were very enthusiastic (I think they liked the sparkly costumes) and Matt and co loyally cheered and whistled.
Our second number was "Caberet" (black bowler hat,
fish net stockings etc as made infamous my Liza
Minelli). This time we were with lots of other "girls"
and despite a few mistakes here and there due to our
loud tapping drowning out the music on the stage, I
was really thrilled because I didn't make any goofs
and so thoroughly enjoyed my three minutes of fame.
By the time we reached the finale of "Sleigh Bells" I could hardly wait for the beginners appearance for the last ten seconds and when it came to the final curtain I was bowing deeply like a pro. Now we only have to survive two more performances, one for the elderly parishioners of the Anglican Church and the other for Coffs Catholic Club, before I can hang up my silver tap shoes.
On the work front I am still working 2 days a week. Matt is still juggling 2 jobs plus some small projects with his dad mostly to do with sewage as far as I can gather. He's enjoying the variety and the chance to get out from behind the computer even if it does mean he's in the poo, so to speak.
Luckily he's been very encouraging about my surfing
and tapping and so, on top of a busy workload the gem
has also been doing a fair bit of babysitting while I
have fun. We've also been camping and canoeing with
friends so there's not much spare time between working
and enjoying the great outdoors.
Well I'm off surfing, so thank you all for your cards
and e-mails. We love to hear news from Blighty. It's
great to hear about old favourites like the Brightwell
village fete and even the quick 2 line e-mails are
very welcome reminders of home.
To view an archive of past contributions from Anne - click here.
MORE NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER
Posted Monday 6th March 2006
This message came from a reader in New Zealand, Jane Charlton.
She wrote : "My father Fred Charlton lived in the village from 1962 until his death earlier this year. He and my mother are both buried in St Agatha's graveyard. He was a great stalwart of the church and I was so pleased to see your website. I shall have a little look at it every so often when I feel a little homesick. Having lived in the village myself through childhood I have many memories of fetes, silver jubilee, the village shops and baker, even the horse drawn vegetable seller."
For those who missed it first time round, an obituary of Fred Charlton appeared in June/July 2005 edition of The Villager - click here to view.
CONTACT FROM MARK WATKIN
Posted Monday 6th March 2006
Meanwhile, a bit nearer home, Mark Watkin sent this e-mail.
"Hello. My name is Mark and I am a former resident of the village.In fact I was born in what was then St George¹s Hospital in Wallingford, back in 1964,and lived in Brightwell until I was 18 before moving away to seek employment in Reading.
I dare say there are others who, like me perhaps, have moved from the village for a variety of reasons, only to find that moving back is now pretty near impossible! I have to rely on rented accomodation, as my income has never allowed me the luxury of home ownership. This and other circumstances, too many to mention, prevents me from moving my family back towards Brightwell, for which I am forever saddened.
Well,back to the point in hand. I enjoy looking on the new website of the village. It is very interesting and I must congratulate all those that have had a hand in its conception and its upkeep!
Could you perhaps enquire if anyone has any "old" photographs of the village. When I say "old" I mean to say of the village at a time that I remember it. For example,when Lynch's shop was in The Street, Kews bakery, The Bell Stores,etc! If any of these could be found, I for one would be most grateful to see them.
The recent article within The Villager about Mr Ron Wood was fantastic to see. Mr Wood taught me,my brothers and my sister and the village is indeed lucky to have him amongst your community. He is one of very few teachers that I can hand on heart say made a big difference to my life. I still think the world of him."