To all who remember,
George and Lil Goodman lived at The Bury from 1961-1982. George (my maternal grandfather) was responsible for building one of the porches on the old farmhouse in 1969 (yes, I know it says 1967 on one and 1677 on the other, there's a story there - who remembers the porch party 1977?), turning the house pink and decorating the outside rendering with bell reliefs!
My brother Neil and I grew up there - when we weren't at school - and have many fond memories of the people, the village and surrounding area. The last white Christmas that I remember was at Brent Pelham!
Some may know that sadly George died in 2001 just short of his 91st birthday. Lil soon after had a stroke and endured until 2004 when she succombed while staying with my uncle in Australia (some may remember his double decker bus, Albert, parked at the top of the Bury's drive when it wasn't being driven to India or Oz!).
I've just reminded myself of the story of Shonks via this website and, as I recall, the late Captain Barclay named two of his dogs Shonks and Dragon, back in the 60's/70's. There may even be a couple of kneeling cushions in St Mary's, embroidered by my mother Judy, depicting Shonks ahorse and the Dragon in defensive posture! Hope they are being put to good use if so.
Having imparted sad news, may I leave on a better note of wishing all in the villages (including Anstey and Meesden, particularly those who remember us) an early merry Christmas!
Yours
Mark

I remember George and Lil Goodman very well indeed. He was amongst other things the brains behind the bellringers and if I remember rightly largely responsible for increasing the number of bells to 6. The bell ringers largely faded away when the Goodmans left the village but are now reformed and back in business. Didn`t the Post Office bellringers ring a peel at Brent Pelham to celebrate Georges 90th birthday?
I also remember Albert the double decker bus. I think it was painted green and decorated with kangaroos for its trips to Australia. It got stuck in Turkey the wrong side of a low railway bridge. It was a very long way to the next bridge with no guarantee that that would be tall enough. As it happened a Turkish engineer battalion chanced to pass by. They couldn`t highten the bridge but kindly used their bulldozers to lower the road. Problem solved. I think Albert`s previous owners were the Sydney Bus Corporation.
My Father did have two dogs Called "Shonkes" and "Dragon" both based on Scottish Deerhounds. When clearing out Brent Pelham Hall prior to its sale we found an old staircase in the roof of an outbuilding. It seems to have once been the main stairs before the new one was put in in 1690. It is carved with the dragon breathing fire, much like the one on Shonkes`s tomb. It was in a poor state but it is now repaired and incorporated in a new staircase at Beaches.
Best wishes for Christmas.
Ted Barclay.