Wingrave's Home Page

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

CHARLES RICKARD

Joined Parish Council 1937

Charles Rickard was born in Wingrave in 1894, the son of John, a butcher and his wife Elizabeth who lived in Aylesbury Road, Wingrave.

He served in World War I as a dispatch rider in the Machine Gun Corps and was a member of the local contingent of the Home Guard in the last War. He was a member of Wingrave Branch of the British Legion and in his younger days was a member of the church choir at SS Peter & Paul Parish Church.

He also ran a garage at Wendover and with his wife had the grocery and greengrocery business in Wingrave. On a Saturday evening he fried and sold fish and chips from his premises in Nup End. Charles was well known in the district for his cheerful personality. He was a very keen gardener and in fact his garden was admired by all who went to the shop. He was also a Parish Constable.

Charles Rickard died in 1955 aged 61.

Joined Parish Council 1937

Albert Malin served in the Army in First World War. He was wounded very badly in the head and taken prisoner-of-war. He was awarded a Campaign Medal. Albert lived with his wife in Winslow Road and was a very keen gardener.

FRANCIS STUART

Joined Parish Council 1937

Chairman l939 to 1946.

The Reverend Francis Stuart studied at Wells Theological College and was ordained deacon in 1928 and priest in 193O. For a short time after ordination he officiated in the Parish of Simpson near Bletchley. He was then appointed Senior Curate at High Wycombe, a position he held for about two years. Prior to ordination he had worked for some time in the Sudan Civil Service. He was married with one daughter.

Francis Stuart lived with his wife in the Vicarage while he was Vicar of the Parish Church of SS Peter and Paul from 1933 - 1948. He took a lively interest in all projects relating to village life particularly the welfare of the school children and ran the Scout Troop for many years.

RALPH PAUL HIGGINS

Joined Parish Council 1937

Ralph was born in Wingrave in 1889, the son of Annie and George Higgins, a publican and butcher who lived in the Village Square, Wingrave.

After his marriage Ralph lived with his wife Dorothy and son Michael at Windmill Farm, Wingrave. He was closely associated with the local football and cricket clubs and other sporting organisations. He was a Sunday School scholar, a boy chorister, a member of the Parochial Church Council and People's Warden of the Parish Church. He was also a Church School Manager.In the First World War he served with the Bucks Yeomanry in Egypt and Palestine. He was Treasurer and for 13 years Secretary of the local Branch of the British Legion. A few days prior to his death in January 1947, he was presented (whilst in bed) with the Czechoslovak Medal of Merit (First Class). This was conferred upon him by the President of the Czechoslovak Republic in recognition of the valuable assistance and services rendered in protecting his personal security. Ralph was in command of the Wingrave Platoon of the Home Guard during the last war.

Comrades who fought in the first and second wars acted as bearers and contingents of the British Legion, Home Guard and National Fire Service formed a guard of honour at his funeral. The coffin was draped in a Union Jack. Ralph Higgins is buried in Wingrave Churchyard.

JOHN HENRY STUBBS

Clerk to the Council 1939 to 1946

John Henry Stubbs was born in 189O at Raunds, Northants. He attended the local school and Huntingdon Grammar School before going on to teacher training at St Mark's College, Chelsea. After qualifying he taught at Kingston-on-Thames and at Higham Ferrers and Rushden in Northants before returning to his home town of Raunds as an assistant teacher at the Church School. He served in the 1Oth Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (T.A.) in the First World War.

In 1919 he came to Wingrave as Headmaster of the Church of England school and immersed himself completely in works of all kind for the village. A staunch churchman he was organist from 1919 until 1946, a member of the Parochial Church Council from its inception in 1922 and Secretary from 1933. His musical ability was apparent when he formed a highly successful concert party "The Scarlet Ramblers" which gave much pleasure in the district. He was Secretary of the Allotment Society and organised the first Flower Show and Sports Fete. He played a large part in starting the Tennis and Bowls Clubs and also a Branch of the British Legion of which he was Chairman for 5 years. He was Secretary of the Recreation Ground Committee from 1939 until 1946. A keen sportsman and talented football player, he was Secretary of the local Football Club from 1919 until 1927 and had previously played for Kingstonians and Aylesbury United. He regularly played for the village football team and coached his school team through some very successful seasons.

He lived in the Schoolhouse with his wife and three children. John Stubbs organised Fetes and various activities helping to raise funds for improvements to the School premises, notably the school playground and water supply for the school. He was a respected, highly esteemed schoolmaster and work in the school reached a high standard of efficiency with John Henry Stubbs as the Head. He contributed greatly to the welfare and happiness of the whole Community. On Whit-Monday afternoon in 1944 a representative company of villagers assembled in Wingrave School to pay tribute to John Stubbs. It was exactly 25 years since he and his wife had arrived in Wingrave and they met to mark that occasion. John was presented with an illuminated testimonial from Wingrave Church Council and the School Managers. A personal appreciation from the Diocesan General Inspector was also read and a cheque for £25 from the village inhabitants was handed over. He retired from the Headmastership in 1950.

John Stubbs died on 13th June 1964

PERCY HIGGS

Joined Parish Council 1946

Percy Higgs was born in Rowsham in 1909. He married Freda Mary Brandon of Aylesbury in 1933. In 1937 Percy became publican of The Red Lion in Rowsham. He had very bad eyesight which precluded him from active service during the War but he served in the Home Guard for the duration and kept the pub open. All the people of Rowsham gathered in the Red Lion on VE Night.. In January 1958 he left the Red Lion and it was regrettably demolished shortly afterwards. This saddened the village as the pub was one of their main meeting places - apart from the Church.

The Red Lion was a l6th Century building. Percy wanted to buy it but his offer was refused. No other building has since been built on the site. Percy Higgs enjoyed many things. As a young man he played cornet in Rowsham Brass Band. He was a keen member of Aylesbury Boxing Club and enjoyed playing cricket and football for Wingrave. He was also a keen gardener.

His trade was that of bricklayer and he specialised in painting and decorating. He was a very popular member of the community. Percy Higgs died in September 1978 aged 69.

CHARLES HORWOOD

Joined Parish Council 1946

Charles Horwood was born in Wingrave and lived as a young boy with his family in Nup End, Wingrave. When he was 16 he walked to Bedford to enlist. He served in France in the First World War and was badly wounded in the shoulder. He saw several of his comrades killed and after the war returned to France to find their graves, particularly those killed from neighbouring villages. He walked the length and breadth of France and, it is said, eventually wrote a book about his war experiences and the French countryside.

He was a hard working farmer and used to walk through the village at dawn to look after the animals and chickens in the fields beyond London Hill, Wingrave. He was married to Maud and they lived in Winslow Road, Wingrave. Charles was an avid reader from his early days and had a great love of books and a thirst for knowledge.

His wife, Maud, predeceased him and he remarried. Charles died in May 1975 and on 3rd June, 1975 a memorial service was held in the Parish Church of SS Peter & Paul, Wingrave.

(His brother Thomas joined the Parish Council in 1934)

DICK KIRBY

Joined Parish Council 1946

Dick Kirby was born in 1897 in Wingrave. He left school at 13 to become a milkman but in 1915 joined the Royal Field Artillery (He falsified his age). Dick saw service on the Somme and elsewhere in France and Italy. Home again he married a Wingrave girl, Ada King and in 1925 they had twin sons, Fred and Jim.

After working on a local farm Dick joined his Uncle Tom as a plasterer in 1921 and eventually retired in 1966. He was a keen gardener taking a particular interest in growing chrysanthemums. He was a founder member of the Wingrave Allotment Association and helped to revive it after the war. He played football and won medals. During the Second World War he served in the Auxiliary Fire Service travelling around the Home Counties repairing bomb damaged buildings. He was a founder member of the Royal British Legion.

His wife Ada predeceased him. Dick Kirby died on 13th July l989 at the age of 92 and his funeral was held at the United Reformed Church.

Joined Parish Council 1946

Frank Hows was a farmer who lived at Straws Hadley Farm, Wingrave. He was from a farming family who worked in the Long Marston and Cheddington areas. Frank was on the committees of several charities and was keenly interested in many aspects of the community. He left Wingrave to live in Somerset where he opened a trout farm.

CHARLES HOWARD TIGHE

Clerk to the Council 1946 to 1956

Charles Howard Tighe was born on 25th February 1981 at Herne Hill, London. He was educated at Sevenoaks public school. On leaving school he joined his father in business in London as a tailor. Dissatisfied with this he went to Malaya to make his fortune on a rubber plantation. When World War I broke out he joined the Malaya States Volunteer Rifles serving from 1914 to 192O and reached the rank of Sergeant working on prison ships escorting prisoners of war to Australia. After the war Howard returned to England and was employed in the management of greyhound racing tracks. He married Irene Winifred Bateson at Hampstead in 1932 and had a son (George Charles Tighe) in 1933.

A month before the outbreak of World War II the family moved to Wingrave and Howard became the licensee of the "Rose & Crown". During the war he travelled regularly to Soho in the West End to run his brother's wine and spirit business.

In 1946 he was appointed Clerk to the Parish Council and gave up the "Rose & Crown" to move into "Windyridge" in Mill Lane. Subsequently he was employed in a nursery garden in Linslade; selling ex-WD property on Wing Airfield; and working at the Rocket Research Establishment at Westcott. He retired in 1956 aged 65.

When Howard resigned as Parish Clerk tributes to his work were paid by the Parish Council and parishioners of Wingrave. Howard & Irene took a keen interest in village affairs. Irene Tighe was Secretary of the W.I. and they both were members of the Debating Society set up at the "Rose & Crown".

The family retired to Christchurch near Bournemouth. Howard died in 1968 aged 77 and Irene died in 1974 at the age of 81. Their son George is still living in Christchurch.

GEOFFREY NORMAN

Joined Parish Council 1948

Chairman 1950 to 1957

Geoffrey Norman, following in the Manor Farm (Rowsham) tradition joined the Parish Council in 1948 bringing to it the "young farmer" outlook. Geoffrey represented Rowsham and his farming knowledge was appreciated. He knew most of the fields of Wingrave and Rowsham and with other Parish Councillors walked the local footpaths to keep them open. In 1938 he married Bessie Rawle from another farming family in Linslade. Both were pupils at Cedar School and their interests were far reaching.

After retiring from farming Geoffrey left Rowsham to live in Aylesbury and became a very efficient groundsman for the Grange Sportsfield. He was a keen cricketer and played for Wingrave, never missing a match. He was also a Special Constable in the Police Force. Now in his 8O's he lives an active life with Bessie in Dorset.

WILLIAM L. HOLLAND

Joined Parish Council 1949

William Holland was born in London. His parents had a public house in the Kentish Town Road, London NW1.

He served in the 1914-18 War and was gassed at Mons; he suffered the after-effects all his life especially as he grew older. He married Louie Stone in Linslade where they lived until they took the Rose & Crown from 1930 to 1932. He also had an engineering business in Kentish Town. They moved from the Rose & Crown to "San Remo" in Winslow Road for a few years, and from there to Tudor Cottage where he lived while he served on the Council. Affectionately known as Bill or Billy Holland he became almost a legend in his own lifetime.

JOAN WHITFIELD

First Woman Parish Councillor

Joined Parish Council 195O

Chairman 1957 to 1966

Joan Whitfield was born near Bentley Heath near Solihull, Birmingham. She met her husband whilst sharing a taxi to go for an interview for a teaching post in the Falkland Islands and that was that so far as her teaching career in the Falklands was concerned ! After she married she continued her teaching career at schools in the Hemel Hempstead area for many years. When Joan came to live in Wingrave she and her husband "Whitty" lodged at Church Farm with Mrs Horwood before moving to a cottage on The Green. She was keenly interested in the Wingrave cricket and tennis clubs and the Scouts and gave financial support to all. She was also a supporter of Northampton Cricket Club. She was a loyal and interested member of the local Women's Institute. Joan was a great friend to old and young alike and always willing to put others before herself.

ALBERT GEORGE LESLIE RICKARD

Joined Parish Council 1949

Leslie Rickard the eldest son of Albert & Florence Rickard was born on 1st April 1913 and educated at the Wingrave C.of E. School and The Cedars, Leighton Buzzard. Before the Second World War he held various positions including employment at garages in Aylesbury and Wingrave.

Leslie married Freda Ethel Maynard of Wing in 1940 and joined the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers soon afterwards. He landed on D-Day in France but was wounded in 1945 and returned to the U.K. where he was discharged as unfit for further service.

Leslie held the tenancy of The Rose & Crown from 1947 to 1952 and then moved to The Boot in Soulbury. Since 1955 he has lived in Wing. In his youth he was keen on football and cricket, playing for Wingrave and several other teams.

JOHN MASON RAVEN

Joined parish Council 1951

John Mason Raven (Jack, as he was called by family and friends) was born on 4th August 19O6 in Coniston, Cumbria the second son of Frederick and Annie Raven. He was educated at Ulverston Grammar School where he was awarded a bursarship to continue his education for the teaching profession. However, he was diverted from this objective and joined a Merchant Bank in London, later transferring to a Clearing Bank where he was promoted to a responsible position in the Trustee Department.

During the Second World War he spent much time as a fire-watcher during the aerial bombardment of London. In 1948 John Raven bought Manor Farm in Wingrave where he lived with his family. He soon became interested in County affairs and was elected as an Independent to Buckinghamshire County Council where he served for many years.

He was a member of Wing Rural District Council for nearly 3O years and was elected Chairman for two terms. He was also Chairman of the Housing, Planning and Finance Committees. He was specially involved in the management of schools and concerned with the education of young people. For many years he was Chairman of Cedars School in Leighton Buzzard and later Chairman of Wing Secondary Modern School. He was appointed a member of the Governing Board of Aylesbury Grammar School and elected a Life Founder Governor for his outstanding work. Teaching staff of these various schools spoke of John Raven with affection and admiration for he was most reliable and efficient in his work. He also served a long time as a Magistrate on the Aylesbury Bench, sitting at Linslade.

John Raven took a great interest in the affairs and activities of Wingrave. He was Treasurer of several charities and President of Wingrave Tennis Club. He was a good tennis player and golfer as well as a competent horseman. He was President of Buckinghamshire Beekeepers Association and kept beehives at his farm. He was also Hon.Treasurer of the Council for the Britain-Malta Memorial District Nursing Association

He was a devoted Christian, sympathetic and kind towards all in need and completely reliable in everything he undertook. Jack Raven died at his home in Wingrave and was buried in the Parish churchyard on 24th December 199O.

ERNEST ALLEN

Joined Parish Council 1946

Ernest Allen lived with his wife in Winslow Road, Wingrave. He was a retired London Fireman who coached the Wingrave Fire Brigade which used to practice on Sunday mornings. The equipment consisted of a small hand pump on a trailer kept in a shed on the village green.

Joined Parish Council 1946

Chairman 1946 to 1950

Thomas Caesar was born in London and came to Wingrave with his family before the Second World War. He lived at Bellevue, Winslow Road, Wingrave with his wife and two sons.He served in the First World War with the Royal Flying Corps and in the Second World war he was a Lieutenant Commander Engineer in the Royal Naval Reserve. At the same time he ran a firm in London as Managing Director.

Thomas was a member of the Special Constabulary in Aylesbury, for about 22 years. He was well known and respected as a Freemason in the provinces and in London and was President of the Vale of Aylesbury Angling Club.

Thomas Caesar died in 197O and is buried in the churchyard of SS Peter and Paul, Wingrave.

EDWIN CHARLES (TED) WHITE

Joined Parish Council 1950

Ted White lived in Rowsham with his wife Jean (nee Deller) whom he met when stationed at Wing while serving in the Royal Air Force. They had two children; Michael (who sadly died) and David. Ted worked at Cow & Gate and Hazell's in Aylesbury.

Ted has moved to Poole in Dorset and his son David and family live nearby.