By James Cuming
After being deprived of any entertainment in Bucks, having come rather suddenly from London in 1940 [after the family home was destroyed in the Blitz – Ed], I was encouraged to attend Sunday School each Sunday, which with other local children I enjoyed.
The Sunday School teacher was Bessie Austin, who lived in the Crossroad Cottage at Swan Bottom. She was a very large lady and travelled to church on a large black cycle, which had cords on the back mudguards to prevent her skirts being caught up in the rear wheel. The cycle seemed to have a flat tyre most of the time! She was in fact a very nice person.
Adjoining the Old Church was a small meadow, which in spring bloomed with wild daffodils. We were allowed to pick small bunches of these, the payment being a small donation to a local charity which was collected by Mrs Piddington of Church Farm.
The Reverend Carter was the Vicar at The Lee during the War. He and his wife had two sons, Peter and Paul, who were in the R.A.F. University Air Squadron. We were asked to include them in our prayers whenever the Reverend Carter visited Lee Common School, which I attended, as they, along with other servicemen, were thought to be in great danger.
After moving to accommodation at Kings Ash I attended Swan Bottom Chapel – three times a day on some Sundays. The Chapel Sunday School was very well-attended and we sang our hearts out; one hymn, “I am HAPPY” appealed to me because the second verse was: “I am SAVED”. This was appropriate as I and my family had survived the bombs in London.
On several occasions an elderly lady, Mrs Adams, would invite me back to her home for tea after the service. She lived in a small cottage behind The Swan public house. I enjoyed these treats very much because she would lay a table with an attractive cloth and pretty, dainty cups and saucers. She would serve delicious plain cakes (no dried fruit being available during wartime). Mrs Adams’ daughter Joan was at that time in the Land Army and was away from home working for a farmer in Slough.
After the War, Joan told me the reason why her mother had invited me back to the cottage. She explained her mother gave birth to twin sons in the 1920s. One twin had died at the age of 13. Apparently I resembled that particular son. Tragically her remaining son was killed during the latter part of the Second World War. Joan (who was known as ‘Blondie’) carried on living in the cottage for many years and will be remembered by some for her appearances around the village in her Del-Boy-style three-wheeled vehicle. I last saw her at Winterton House, sheltered accommodation in Wendover, where she was happy and settled. She reminded me again of this story shortly before she died.
Ed’s note: James has lived in Bucks ever since. His younger brother Peter will also be well-known to many readers as the proprietor of an excellent electrical shop in Great Missenden for many years.