THE YOBS OF SAWTRY

As a long time resident of Sawtry, it has been suggested to me to write a letter to be included in the Sawtry Eye. I remember Sawtry as a pleasant village which is sadly no more due to all the damage I and others have had. Recently I have had five large windows broken. One on 11th October about 8.15am by someone who threw a piece of wood 27” long. On Saturday 5th November another large window was broken by a stone all at a cost of £131 per window.

Hallowe'en was again very frightening with eggs & blue sticky stuff at the door making a dreadful mess. The youngsters even said “We will break your windows again”. During the summer holidays children were constantly banging at my door. Stoning of my house has even taken place from lads attempting to break more of my garage windows. They have been seen by the police, some admitted to being there when it took place. The parents said they were unaware of their children’s behaviour and were sorry, which does not pay for all the damage.

Last Friday I was in the garden when a tomato was thrown at me, hitting me in the face. I’ve had enough, as I know have many others, but I expect there will be more to come.

Where are the parents?

A Sawtry Resident

EVACUEES IN SAWTRY

The evacuee [Connie Chick nee McPherson] mentioned in the Sawtry Eye [Dec 06 – Jan 07 issue] lived with my parents Len & Daisy Turnill at No1 Burton Villa, Primrose Lane, which is now Green End Road, when she was twelve. She was pleased to receive the Sawtry cards that I sent her recently and hopes to come and see what Sawtry looks like now after 69 years.

Connie was from Hornsey High School. She then moved from Sawtry to Ramsey. After Connie came Christine and lastly Dorothy who was seven. Dorothy came from Shepherds Bush and made a lot of friends in Sawtry. We still write to each other. Her Mother & Dad often visited, getting the bus from Huntingdon to the Royal Oak and having a cup of tea in Mrs. Chapman’s cafe over the road from the Oak. We loved having the evacuees here as we only had to go to school for half days, the Chapel Sunday School was used for all the extra children, one week mornings, the next afternoons. We made many new friends, some still visit the people who looked after them during the war.

They loved the green fields but not the cold winds that seemed to come from Gidding Road. They also loved going to the woods to pick primroses which were taken to decorate the Church at Eastertime. I shall look forward to meeting Connie next year.

Joyce Edwards

Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal 2007

I would like to say a very big Thank You from the Legion and the Branch, to the people of Sawtry, The Giddings, Winwick, Old Weston, Hammerton, Wood Walton and Connington, Holme and Glatton, these last three being ably looked after by Bill Ayres, for being so very generous with their donations. Thanks are also due to all of the people of these villages who took on the task of Collectors and went out on cold, dark and wet evenings, with their boxes of Poppies etc to receive all of those donations and offer Poppies, in Remembrance, to all of those who donated. Thanks also to all of the shops and businesses that allowed boxes of Poppies on their premises.

I will slip a slight sadness in here that amongst all of that generosity, there were a very small number of people who, albeit rightfully, exercised their right not to make a donation and I defend that wholeheartedly, but chose to do so in a very unpleasant manner. This happened to myself and some of the other collectors. My answer to that is and I couldn't give it at the time, as the door was closed on me, that they should remember who we are donating to and for and the fact that it was then and still is now, they, who have maintained our freedom, to be able to exercise that right.

I tried to promote Gift Aid this year but there seemed to be some confusion, in that, I received back numerous envelopes but the slip had not been completed, which was meant to inform the Tax office of your basic details and your wish to make a Gift Aid donation, that having been said, the ones that were completed gave us some £247 to which the Tax office will return another 28% of that figure making it worth a further £69.

I cannot give you any other figures at this time but suffice to say that we have to-date exceeded last year’s overall total. If anyone has any ideas about how we might improve the business of carrying out these Poppy Appeal Collections or what we offer you the public in our Poppy Trays, I would be interested to hear from you.

I would like to remember two longstanding members of the British Legion who have recently departed, Derrick Allen and Joe Mason.

Once again many thanks

Allan Fowler
Poppy Appeal Organiser for Sawtry & District Branch, Royal British Legion
01487 830806