Wingrave's Home Page

A Rothschild Village in the Vale of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, U.K.

Joined Parish Council 1913

Parish Clerk 1927 to 1932

George Fleet became tenant of Windmill Farm and Mitchell Leys Farm in 1912 on the death of his father who died after falling out of a pear tree in his garden. In 1916 he bought Windmill House and Farm. Later he became Collector of Taxes and Clerk to the Parish Council which appealed to him more than farming.

His wife was a founder of the village Women's Institute and his daughters Isa, Hilda and Joan were involved in every part of village life. For some time they lived at 'San Remo' in Winslow Road before moving to 'Ivy Dene', the cottage on Nup End Corner. They had many friends and helped the village in many ways.

WILLIAM HERBERT NORMAN

Joined Parish Council 1916

William Norman was born in Yetminster, Dorset and lived for a time in West Wycombe. In the 1920's he moved to Mercers Farm (now Manor Farm), Rowsham; this imposing farmhouse and farm are known throughout Buckinghamshire. When he joined the Parish Council in 1916 to represent Rowsham his farming knowledge was greatly appreciated for they were difficult war years. When the Wingrave Women's Institute was started his wife became one of the first members and both Wingrave and Rowsham Churches had their support.

When old enough their son Geoffrey did farm work and their daughter Marjory became the Wingrave Guide's Captain; she married Harold Grace from Tring. Phyllis was her father's housekeeper after her mother's death and is still faithful to Rowsham living in a house built on the edge of the farm. The family graves are in Wingrave churchyard.

Joined Parish Council 1918

John Henry Pargeter was born in 1867. Whilst living in Wingrave he was the tenant of Glebe Farm and a well respected farmer in the district. He was married with five sons and a daughter.

John Pargeter died on 6th December 1923 and is buried in Wingrave churchyard.

ALMER HART

Joined Parish Council 1922

Almer Hart was born in Wingrave in 1885 and attended Wingrave School. He became landlord of the Anchor public house in Wingrave and frequently helped out in the milking of cows at Glebe Farm. On leaving the Anchor he went to live in a cottage on The Green (a room of which was used for the doctor's surgery).

He was a trustee of Lucas' and Pratt's Charities.

WILLIAM ALCOCK

Joined Parish Council 1926

William Alcock was born in Lower End, Wingrave and married Julia Abrahams from Aylesbury. They lived in Cat Street with their young family before moving to Maltings Lane (now Manor Road), Rowsham. William was in the building trade, a very keen gardener and a member of the Allotment Society. He was a dedicated member and organist of Rowsham Chapel and a Deacon of the Wingrave Congregational (Union) Church. He and all his family were talented musicians.

William & Julia are buried in the Congregational Church yard.

WILLIAM H. MAYNE

Clerk to the Council 1921 to 1927

William Mayne was the rating and valuation officer for Aylesbury Vale District Council. He was appointed as Assistant Overseer and Clerk to the Wingrave Parish Council in 1921. After being proposed by W. Griffin and seconded by W.H. Norman he took up office on 20th September 1921. However, according to the Council Minutes of September 1926 he sent a letter of resigning from his position as Clerk and this was received with regret. The entry reads:

"The question of filling the vacancy of clerk was discussed and it was decided to ask Mr. Mayne to continue in office at a salary of £5. The Clerk informed members that the amount was inadequate and therefore he must decline the offer. The Clerk was requested to consider the matter and let the Vice-Chairman have his decision within a week."

William Mayne resigned in March 1927.

WILLIAM FLEET

Joined Parish Council 1922

William Fleet was born in Wingrave in July l875 in a Rothschild Cottage on the Recreation Ground. After his marriage to Polly Hannah he moved to 'Ivy Bank' and then to 'Sunny Bank' which housed the Wingrave Post Office where he lived with his wife, three daughters (Sybil,Christine and Joyce) and Mrs Jones (his mother-in-law) who was the Postmistress. In l935 he moved to the Moat House, Winslow Road, which he built.

He entered into partnership with his life long friend William Roberts forming the building firm of Fleet & Roberts of New Street, Aylesbury.

William was always prominent in village affairs and among his many interests he was a Trustee of Pratts Charities, School Manager, Vice-President of the Tennis Club, Past President and Captain of the Bowls Club. He was also actively connected with the Wingrave Methodist Church where he was Steward Trustee, Sunday School teacher and local preacher.

William Fleet died on 8th September 1959 and is buried with his wife in Wingrave Churchyard.

WILLIAM ROBERTS

Joined Parish Council 1922

William Roberts was born in Wingrave in 1878 in Hogs Hole Lane (off Lower End) the son of James and Mary Roberts (née Jarrott). After his marriage to Hilda Mead he lived in Fernleigh, Nup End Lane, with their two sons Harvey and Leslie. He was a foundation member of the Methodist Church and an efficient and conscientious Sunday School teacher. He was a Trustee of the Temperance Hall and an ardent supporter of all sports in the village (specially where children were concerned) and encouraged and assisted the School sports club. In later years he was devoted to the game of bowls and was one of the original members of the Wingrave Club.

After the First World War he entered into partnership with William Fleet forming the building firm of Fleet & Roberts in Aylesbury (the two had been life long friends). As a Parish Councillor he was always keenly interested in any project for the welfare of the village. William was the nephew of John Jarrott (Parish Council 1895) and the father of Leslie Roberts (who was elected to the Parish Council in l952)

William Roberts died on l4th May 1939 and is buried with his wife in the Congregational Churchyard.

ARCHER GEORGE BLISS

Joined Parish Council 1922

Archer Bliss was born at Stewkley in 1880 to parents George and Elizabeth Bliss. George was the village blacksmith, a trade which his son Archer and several grandsons practised for many years.

Archer married Ada May Cater and lived for a time in Aylesbury where he owned the forge. There were other forges in Oving and Bierton also run by the family. Ada subsequently died in the influenza epidemic of 1918 leaving ten children ! It is not surprising that Archer soon remarried, to Ida Phillips, and moved to Parsonage Farm in Wingrave where many of the family, scattered after their mother's death, rejoined him.

During his time in Wingrave, Archer Bliss was a well known figure, driving his big open Vauxhall Tourer, only the second car to arrive in the village. In this 8-seater he ran twice weekly trips to the Wembley Exhibition. He was something of an entrepreneur, delivering milk and coal around the village and turning his hand to anything that required wheels, be it pony trap or new-fangled motor. At the same time he ran a small but busy farm.

Joined Parish Council 1934

Born in Wingrave in 189O, the young Thomas Horwood lived with his parents at Nup End Farm, Wingrave. He was employed as a Prudential Insurance collector covering the villages of Aston Abbotts, Cublington, Rowsham and Wingrave. He worked at Helsthorpe Farm and during the First World War his main job was making cheese for the troops.

After the war, with his brother Charlie, he started a small-holding at Little Windmill Farm on Marston Road. They did all the road haulage work for the district. Thomas lived in Cat (now Castle) Street before moving to Church Farm with his wife Mabel and son Charlie in 1934. Thomas was very well known in the district as a reputable farmer. As well as farming the family ran a milk round and sold eggs and poultry. He was a member of Wingrave Allotments Association and also a Trustee of Wingrave Methodist Church.

Thomas Horwood's funeral was at the Methodist Chapel on 29th December l95O and he is buried in Wingrave Churchyard.

Joined Parish Council 1922

Albert Rickard was born on 15th December 1881 the second son of William & Thursa Rickard.Albert joined the Army in 1899 and fought for three years in the Boer War, followed by two years in the South African Mounted Police. When he returned home he served an apprenticeship with Belsize Motors in London. He then obtained a position as a chauffeur. He married Florence Jane Higgins of Wingrave in 1911 and they lived in London. They had three sons Leslie, Don & Tony.

Albert joined the Royal Army Service Corps in 1914 and served with them until the war ended in 1918. After demobilisation he returned to Wingrave and commenced a car hire, cycle and car repair business at Dean Leys. He became a member of the Parish Council in 1922 and visited Mentmore Towers with other members for discussions with Lord Rosebery leading to the gift of the Recreation Ground to the village. He moved his business to the site of the present garage in 1924 (see photo on page 5) and pioneered a bus service to Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard & Tring. During the Second World War he was a Lieutenant in the Home Guard. In his younger days he played cricket and football but gardening was his hobby in later years. He died at the age of 84 and is buried with his wife in Wingrave churchyard.