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Mrs Mildred Hale

Mrs Hale was born at Oakenholt, where her father was coachman. When she was seven years old they moved to the 'Chequers' at Bablockhythe and she lived there until her marriage in 1928. The 'Chequers' was run as a hotel with a few rooms from 1911-1928 and then her parents built and moved into a bungalow on the other side of the river. Her family also ran the ferry service.

She attended school at Northmoor and walked there with her sister - one and a half miles - when the weather was fine. If it were wet her father took them in a trailer behind a bicycle. There were 2 teachers and 19 pupils and Mrs Hale was 'top girl'. She could have gone to Grammar School at Witney but her parents would not allow this because of the distance and so she helped at home after her 14th birthday. In the First World War she had a lot of time off school to help with the house, the ferry and the feeding of the calves and chickens. She also did a considerable amount of cooking (for many years she was Cook at Cumnor school until she retired.

Mrs Hale had a bicycle when she was 12 years old, then she learned to drive the pony and cart. At 16 she took the trap and shopped in Witney, driving the 7 miles via Stanton Harcourt. She stabled the horse at the 'Fleece inn' while doing the shopping.

She went to church at Northmoor and to Sunday School too. She was confirmed there. She went on holiday to relations in Shropshire and travelled by train, but her father would cycle there. She did not see the sea until she was 17 years old.

Recorded by Betty Boyce January 1981

 

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