From Alan Cox,

3 The Firs, Canvey Island, Essex, SS8 9TW, 01265 473378, alancox@blueyonder.co.uk

 

On researching my wife Valerie Bruns family history it was found that her family was evacuated to Chacombe during WW2.

Would any one have any recollection or possible information regarding the family of Bruns. It appears my wife's parents made several friends whilst in Chacombe as they often spent their summer holidays in Chacombe during the early 1950s.

This family was rather large Possibly as many as eight childred this would include twins Alfred and Jean Bruns.

 

 

During World War II, I was living in London and then Haslemere, but my parents kept the Village Shop at Chacombe, opposite the Grange, where Gladys, divorced Duchess of Marlborough, lived alone. The Bruns family, with young children, were evacuated to a cottage on the Banbury Road.

My mother told me that Mrs Bruns cooked a lunch for the Duchess, every day, and one of her small daughters carried the covered plate, walking past the Shop, to the Grange.

There are people still living in Chacombe who will remember the Bruns family.

 

 

Hello folk

Let me introduce myself: My name is Edward Wylie-Warren, a retired Chartered Surveyor who in retirement gained a Masters in Local History from Maynooth College, a part of the University of Ireland.

I am married to an Irish woman and we live in Ireland almost by accident.

Having spent some time researching things Irish it occurs to me to transfer my interest to my family and a area of England for which I hold great affection. I spent most summer holidays until 1945/6 and a longer period during the war with my great uncles; Ike and Fred Astell on Seals Hill Farm.

It would be great to hear from people with similar interests and I hope that the local association prospers.

The very best of luck.

My e-mail address is ew@webmayo.com ew@webmayo.com

 

 

Hello Edward

I was browsing through the Chacombe website recently and came across your letter in the Far and Wide page.

I was born in Chacombe in 1945 and lived there until around 1964 when I came out to Australia (Sydney) with my parents, but am now living in Melbourne.

One of my very good friends at school during the 50's was Fred Astell (presumably junior). I too spent quite a bit of time at Seals Hil Farm, although I didn't know that was its name at the time. During this period Fred lived with his mother on the farm, I assume his father (Fred?) had died earlier. Fred's mother ran the farm with the help of a labourer from Middleton Cheney. I remember riding down the hill in the horse and cart to take the milk churns to the platform on Long Lane (Banbury Road). It was quite a steep climb up to the farm wasn't it?

Fred and I both went to Chacombe school until we were about 12 and for a while he used to have lunch at my home in Thorpe Road. Unfortunately I lost touch with Fred after leaving school.
Reading your letter brought back many happy memories.

Regards

Trevor Rotton
8 Verbena Street
Mordialloc
Victoria
Australia
lse@unite.com.au