The Heritage project has been contacted by Brian Lee who grew up in and around Adderley. Brian is 86 this year (2024) and has really enjoyed reminiscing about the place he knew and loved as a child and young man. He now lives in Oakengates.
Brian’s father Bob Lee farmed at Wood Farm between Adderley and Audlem and Brian was born there. Wood farm has since been demolished but after the Lees left members of the Butter family lived there for a time. Brian and his parents subsequently moved to the Old Laundry in Adderley and then to 14 Adderley and Brian moved to Shrewsbury to work when he was 16.
Reminiscences brought to mind by Brian Lee when he looked at the attached picture of the Fancy Dress Competition at one of the Adderley Village Fetes in early 1950’s
My father Robert ( Bob) Lee, was the Vicar’s Warden at Adderley Church during the time that Grenville Morgan was vicar. He was, in my view, a wonderful man and very much the people’s vicar. At that time there were two wardens, one was called the Vicar’s warden and the other the Church Warden. The wardens carried a 5ft cane, one with a crown and the other a mitre on the end, and the vicar had the right to choose one warden and the parochial church council chose the other. Dad was always very involved in the organisation of the village fete and was treasurer of the church too. I was assistant treasurer for the Fete. Even after Sir John Corbet left the village Dad always made sure he was invited back to the fete as he always gave Dad a cheque and also cash, anonymously, as a donation towards the funds.
Tug of War
The ‘highlight’ of every fete was the tug of war competition when teams from surrounding villages came and also brought in friends and families as additional customers. This all added to atmosphere and their financial contributions were very welcome on the stalls.
It was all friendly rivalry and whoever won the Tug o’ War shared the prize – usually a barrel of beer. This was until the RAF from Tern Hill entered a team in all the village competitions. Being young and fit and well trained, and with special footwear, depending upon the surface, they always won and never shared the prize, they just took it away with them. This caused a lot of resentment especially as they never spent any money which was the main purpose of the events.
That particular year I recall, the fete was held at Pool House and the Tug o’ War in the field just behind on the left of the lane to the canal. The RAF team, of course, got to the final as did the Adderley village team of which my Dad was the ‘anchor man’.
For the final Dad arranged that the Village Team would be backed up to the fence and for all the supporters to crowd round close. Unnoticed by the opposition Dad tied the end of the rope to a tree or a fence post in the hedge. The RAF team went through their usual professional performance and the village team just appeared to lean back and take the strain. After some time the RAF Team wore themselves out and the village team just pulled them over. Dad quietly undid the rope from the tree. I remember the RAF coach went crazy and berated their team in language such that the Vicar – Grenville Morgan remonstrated with him.
Dad went to their coach, explained what had happened and that it was all a bit of fun and apologised and offered to share the beer but I think they just stormed off. As far as I am aware they did not enter any more village competitions.
