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John Browett has submitted this newspaper clipping of Metheringham Bowls Club members taken sometime during the early 1960s. John has asked for help in identifying the faces in the photo.

Can you help? Are you in the photo or do you know someone who is?

Please add any comments below.

Thanks

The Web Team.

PO JG Magee died in a flying accident on December 13th 1941. I make no apologies for reproducing this article in honour of his memory, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of his death

Ed.

Article first published on this website in March 2007.
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Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, the author of the most inspirational poem of aviation literature, "High Flight", is buried in the graveyard of Holy Cross, Scopwick. We are indebted to his brother, the Rev. Hugh Magee, for his recollections which are reprinted with his permission below.

We also owe a debt of gratitude to Barbara Hodgson of Coleby. Mrs Hodgson had gone to Scopwick to view the graves of fallen airmen following a previous article which had appeared in the MACLA magazine. Here, totally unexpected at the graveside of John Gillespie Magee Jnr's, was his younger brother and friends. She got into conversation with the Rev Magee explaining why she was there and told him of our magazine article which she then sent to him. This he thoroughly enjoyed, and subsequently he has written back giving his "Memories of a "Famous Brother". Apparently Rev Hugh has also been interviewed by the BBC regarding his "famous" brother.

Osbert Sitwell, later to become Sir Osbert Sitwell, famous poet, art critic, writer and journalist was born in London in December 1892. He was the son of Sir George Reresby Sitwell and Lady Ida Emily Augusta (nee Denison). His mother was the daughter of the 1st Earl of Londesborough, William Henry Forester Denison. As a young boy, Osbert, for many years regularly spent Christmas, with his parents and his extended family, at Blankney Hall.

In his book 'The Scarlet Tree' he relates some fascinating insights about life in the Hall in the early 1900s. In November 1903, at the age of 10, whilst in his third term at Ludgrove school, he wrote a letter to his mother, who was in Naples at the time. In it he asked if they would be spending Christmas at Blankney. The family did spend the holidays at Blankney and heavy snow ensured it was a white Christmas.

John Cartwright was a remarkable man. He was born on the family farm at Blankney Fen in 1862. Shortly before he died in 1944 he made some notes about his life from the age of 12, leaving behind a wonderful snapshot of life in and around Blankney spanning the last half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. Here is John's story retold in his own words.

"At the age of twelve I was packed off to school at Sleaford, but only stayed there six months: could not relish the cabbages being cooked in the copper where they washed the clothes. After Sleaford, I was sent to the City of Lincoln to the Rev, John Swift's school, opposite the "Adam and Eve". The above gentleman was no relation to the celebrated John Swift of Linwood Hall. I only stayed another six months opposite the "Adam and Eve", a duel with pistols having taken place between two boys - George Seagrave and John Burns. Seagrave got a bullet in his leg, and had to be carried all the way from Washingborough Station on the river bank, to Lincoln. They dared not take him to the school, so put him down at his aunt's who of course was greatly alarmed. On breaking the news to the Rev. John Swift he fell ill, went to bed, and died, which broke the school up. The three boys taking part in the duel were locked up in prison and were all tried at Lincoln Assizes, but all got off. The bullet in Seagrave's shin bone could not be got all out, and he died from that bullet nine months after. All who took part in the above appeared in the penny peep show at Lincoln Fair. John Burns was supposed to have shot himself, and Walter Green, one of the seconds who took my place, died in the Asylum.

It is with great sadness that we report that Frank has died. This is the eulogy given by Bryan, his oldest son.

'On behalf of my mother and family I would like to thank everyone for the love and support over the last few weeks and for joining us today at Dunston St Peters church for this service to celebrate father's life. A few years ago when my niece Nicola was at school she decided she would like to do a biography of her Granddad and so she sat with him and let him talk about his life and some of this I will be sharing with you.

A life which began on 21 July 1917 when he was born at Tattershall Bridge, the eldest of four children, to Albert and Evelyn Lamyman. He was christened at Tattershall Bridge Methodist Church, and as he grew up he enjoyed many happy days and trips out with their Sunday school. His father Albert worked in the family bakery and post office and father, along with his younger brother Roy, helped sell their hot cross buns and deliver telegrams.

Father attended Dogdyke school and in his own words he didn't particularly enjoy his primary school years, much preferring the outdoors. He loved to tell his grandchildren the story of a time when he had been kept in school for misbehaviour and it was a nice sunny day and the window next to his desk was open so he thought "I have had enough of this", saw his chance, climbed out of the window and ran off. He also told of the time when he and some of his friends burnt the teacher's cane in the classroom stove.

This article is reproduced by kind permission of lead guitarist Kenny Spencer who asks that people take a look at his website on http://www.my-music.mine.nu/fenlanderz.htm

The FenlanderZ (also known as "The Fenlanders") were a popular music group of the early 1960s. The original members of the group were Kenneth Spencer and Brian Garrill, who met in the Youth Club in Metheringham village in Lincolnshire when they were both aged about 16. They started playing together in 1961-62 - Kenneth had started to learn the guitar when he was eleven years old: his father's 1928 Dobro, which Kenneth learned on, is shown on the Guitars page of his website.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king, and so it fell to Kenneth, with his smattering of musical knowledge, to spend time helping Brian with the chords of such melodies as "Winter Wonderland" and "Return to Me". The person who ran the youth club then arranged for the two of them to enter a local talent contest - which they did but didn't achieve any great prizes!

Peter Byers is a regular contributor to this website. He's started writing the story of his life, entitled 'I've never been seventy before!!'.

The first chapter - "Early Life in Meg" was published a few days ago. You can see a preview here.

The first chapter is available for purchase at £11 for the paper version or £1 for the pdf version from publishers, LULU.

Knowing Peter, he'll have some fascinating stories to recount of his times in Meg.

Metheringham is one of only a few villages left in Lincolnshire to still retain its traditional Annual Feast. Held each October it has perhaps been in existence since mediaeval times. It is almost certainly associated with celebrating the gathering of the harvest and possibly connected with St Wilfrid, Patron Saint of the parish church, whose feast day is on 10 October. Nearly every village in the County used to hold an annual feast, but the majority had disappeared by the turn of the twentieth century with only the strongest surviving.

Today, almost all have now gone, leaving only Metheringham, Billinghay and Wroot (North Lincs) to carry on the tradition, although one or two other villages have attempted to revive their feasts in recent years. Up until the Second World War the Feast Day in Metheringham was always held on a Tuesday, when the farm labourers and school children were given the day-off to enjoy the celebrations. Along with the rides and sideshows presented by travelling showmen, attractions such as show jumping and donkey derbies down the High Street, were also organised and family and friends would travel long distances to be together around the tea table to enjoy traditional Lincolnshire delicacies, such as stuffed chine and plum loaves.

Below is a news letter of August 1944, sent out to our War Heroes during WWII via the Metheringham Comforts League - it came to us via John Chapman of Scopwick (ex of Metheringham) from the belongings of his late father, Donaghue Chapman.

Cheerio and all the best to all of you. Once more we are able to send you the enclosed Postal Order with the best wishes of all the village. Thanks once again for all the interesting letters received. Sorry we could not manage the bulletin last time to let you know where all your pals are doing their bit. We are trying to make up for it this time. It's a bit of a job sorting you all out these days so if you do not find yourself mentioned you will know you are not forgotten, otherwise you would not be reading this. Tell us next time you write from overseas if you have run across any of the lads of the village. We'll send you any one or two addresses if you ask for them. You will understand we cannot send you a list. Don't criticize our order of mentioning you. You are all in the news and what a fine job you are all doing.

Guess you will all want to know about Normandy first. These are the lads with the B.L.A., L/Cpl. H Morris, Cpl. C. Harrison, Pte J.A.Walton, Roland Newton, Arthur Russell, Josh Dawson with the Gunners; George Cucksey with his tank; Geoff Thorpe driving with a Field Ambulance; Cpl. Bert Gillings, Pte. Harold Chaloner, L/Cpl E. Graham, Pte. Eric King (still baking for you) are with the R.A.S.C. as well as Charlie Harrison; L/Cpl. Jack Richardson, Sappers Jack Peet and Bill Mallett are with the R.E.'s; L/Cpl. Hardesty, Pte. Joseph Wright and Pte. John Goodwin have jobs out there; Cpl. Billy Gash and Leslie Cook are with the R.A.F. and Cpl. George Marston is doing his bit with SHAEF. Bill Hicks, Roland Smith and G.W. Wilson have been wounded. All three are getting on very well. We regret to tell you that Donald Watson (Station Road) was killed in action about the middle of July.

And now the lads who have been away so long with the C.M.F. etc; Pte. Nipper Wright,
Rfn. F. Gray, Pte Chris Gray, Gunner Bob Tye, Pte. Tommy Atkin, Fus. Ron Goodwin, Driver G. Boughen, Cpl. G. Wheaton (with his tank); Pte. Reg Scott, L/Cpl. Gates, S/Sgt. Probert and C.S.M. Joe Holt (All R.A.S.C. lads) and F/Sgt. Hall. Wish we could tell the lads of all your varied jobs. We guess each one would fill a book. The letters B.N.A.F. still find Sgt. Bertie Wells and L.A.C. Tich Auckland. H. Swift is home on leave from M.E.F. Flying Officer Brookes-Armitage is still with his squadron out there, and L/Cpl. (ATS) Dorothy Garland got married out there (name Cunnington). "Balkans appears in her address. We never know where Ron Chaloner will turn up next - he is now with the P.A.I. Force. Good luck Ron. You have travelled some. John Punton is in the Azores. Tommy Tye is still in an Isolation Hospital in Canada and Cpl. Fred Daniels (Minnie Browett's husband) is with SEAC.

Leslie Garton, J.W. Bell, John Currie, George Keenan, Henry Morris, W.R.L. Wilson and Bob Golding are with the Navy, and still buying beer at 3/- a pint in India are Cpl. Neville Bates, Cpl. Norman Wright, Cpl. A. L. Cox, F/Sgt. F. Howes and Sgt. Tommy Lintin and L.A.C. C.W. Fox. Jolly Good Luck to everybody.
Special Greetings to all in the UK
Cheerio - Hon Sec.

(including extracts - with kind permission - from local publication by Peter Baumber on Kirkby Green and Scopwick)

While some 40 men from Kirkby Green and Scopwick were away at the front in France and elsewhere in WWI (including 14 who failed to return), the war in a sense also came to Scopwick. In 1917 some pasture land west of Scopwick, owned by the Earl of Londesborough and farmed by Henry Wright of Kirkby Green, was requisitioned as an airfield. Gangs of men built aircraft hangars, workshops and domestic accommodation which was used by the Royal Naval Air Service training school at Cranwell as an overflow for the aircraft and cadets.

The aerodrome began its independent life on 28 March 1918 and three days later, on the foundation of the Royal Air Force, it became known as RAF Scopwick. Although the Camp is wholly within the Scopwick parish, in July 1920 the name was changed to RAF Digby to avoid confusion with RAF Shotwick, in Flintshire, Wales, which too was renamed, to RAF Sealand. These changes were prompted by the fact that machinery ordered by the workshops officers at Scopwick was wrongly sent to Shotwick, where it lay for seven months baffling the workshop officers there, who had no use for it.