Monday, October 01, 2007
6th September Telscombe Village and Cousin Bill
We visited Telscombe Village (not to be confused with Telscombe Cliffs), which can be reached up a narrow winding road reaching up to a little valley in The South Downs.
It seems quite remote, even today.
Bill's Aunty Emily and her husband Syd Puttock lived there after their marriage. He worked for Mr Gorham, a retired bookmaker and race horse trainer - he owned a Grand National winning horse (1902). He used his wealth to benefit the villagers and installed a water supply in 1909; it was the water works which employed young Syd Puttock. Electricity came to the village in 1930, also installed by Mr Gorham.
There were 3 children of the marriage, William, Reginald and Daphne.
We have met Daphne, who now lives in Aylsbury.
On the day we were there we intended to understand a little more about Bill's cousin Bill, who is buried in the churchyard. He died during the evacuation of Dunkirk.
Here is baby William with his parents, Emily and Syd.
This was taken in September 2007 - a very similar angle to the previous picture with the funeral flowers. 
Bill was pleased to have visited this grave.
I am glad too that we felt closer to cousin Bill. It is so sad that he, like so many millions, lost their adult lives.
The view from the narrow winding road taking us back down to The Ouse Valley.
It seems quite remote, even today.
Bill's Aunty Emily and her husband Syd Puttock lived there after their marriage. He worked for Mr Gorham, a retired bookmaker and race horse trainer - he owned a Grand National winning horse (1902). He used his wealth to benefit the villagers and installed a water supply in 1909; it was the water works which employed young Syd Puttock. Electricity came to the village in 1930, also installed by Mr Gorham.
There were 3 children of the marriage, William, Reginald and Daphne.
We have met Daphne, who now lives in Aylsbury.
On the day we were there we intended to understand a little more about Bill's cousin Bill, who is buried in the churchyard. He died during the evacuation of Dunkirk.
Here is baby William with his parents, Emily and Syd.
On leaving school, Bill got a job on the boats which plied back and forth between Newhaven and Dieppe.
His last boat was the SS Paris.
The SS Paris fitted out as a hospital ship. I presume it is in the harbour at Newhaven.
Details of Cousin Bill's death.
Cousin Daphne laid her wedding bouquet on her brother's grave in 1946.
Cousin Daphne laid her wedding bouquet on her brother's grave in 1946.
This picture was taken shortly after Cousin Bill's funeral.
This was taken in September 2007 - a very similar angle to the previous picture with the funeral flowers.
I don't know when the War Graves Commission stone was erected.
This young cousin died (aged 18) just 13 days after Bill was born and so these 2 cousins never met.
But Bill always felt sort of proud to have had a cousin who had been at Dunkirk.
You can see the remains of a poppy wreath, which I presume had been laid by The British legion last November.
Bill was pleased to have visited this grave.
I am glad too that we felt closer to cousin Bill. It is so sad that he, like so many millions, lost their adult lives.
The view from the narrow winding road taking us back down to The Ouse Valley.
We must return to Telscombe Village one day. We would enjoy the walk from the remote village over the South Downs to the bustling small town on the cliffs, known as Telsombe Cliffs. Perhaps next time we will take some flowers for cousin Bill.
