‘20 Players and a strip of aspro, please.’ The Post Office
Leslie Ford was born in the village in 1916 and took over the running of the
general store and post office from his father in 1947. His father, William Ford,
ran the store from 1921-1947. His uncle, Ted Thorpe, the estate carpenter and
wheel wright, probably took over the running of the shop, with his wife, from
Joseph Ransdales in the 1910’s.
Recollections
When William Ford died, Leslie returned to take care of the family business
delivering a wide range of goods to Lackford, Higham, Flempton, Tuddenham and
Cavenham. His stock included groceries, medicines, clothing, blankets and
kitchenware. Leslie as the last shopkeeper in Cavenham recalls memories of the
business:
“In those days supplies came from Ridleys in Bury St Edmunds or from
travellers knocking on your door every day of the week though certain items were
delivered direct....tea was hand delivered by Brook Bond and BP/ Shell petrol
was delivered and sold in 2 gallon cans.... The shop sold carbide (gas fuel) in
small tins for bicycle lamps and medical pills in twists of 4......One customer
used to come in everyday for 20 players and a strip of 5 aspro.. every day....
Chewing tobacco was sold in long sticks which they often worked in the palms of
the hands to put in their pipes”
Other
items were collected on a weekly basis from Bury St Edmunds, with a charge of 6d
for any specific items. Deliveries were made in a model T ford and later a
Morris ‘ton’ van with drop down seats which doubled as both a delivery van
and taxi service. This vehicle was requisitioned by the war department,
converted to an ambulance and never seen again.
The taxi service and Post Office continued. Leslie remembers locals would
send presents of unwrapped pheasant strung together to form a brace or rabbit
with the minimum of wrapping, head and feet dangling visibly.
The general store had the first telephone in the village, Leslie recalls; “The
number of our telephone was Cavenham 1. There was a little sign on the chestnut
tree a blue and white sign saying you may telephone from here.”It wasn't a
novelty because thats how you were brought up. We were the only car and
telephone in the village and that was the norm. There were no tarmac roads, they
were pure and simply flint and sand. The kids were playing in the streets. Tops
and hoops up and down the street. All the dogs were running about free. It was
mainly horse and cart then.”
Due to diminishing sales the shop was closed in the 1950’s though Leslie
has kept many of the remaining items including some from the 2nd World War. The
taxi service continued to run from both Cavenham and Lakenheath with The Post
Office finally closing in 1999.
You were awarded an MBE
I didn't believe it. They notify you in November for
the New Years Honours list and this letter came with P.M. office on the bottom
of it and you look at it 3 times to make sure what it is. It says this is the
only correspondence you will have so you never know. It also says strictly
confidential so I didn't even tell the wife - this was in November and I didn't
tell her. I had to keep it secret. Once you start it goes on and on so I thought
I'd better say nothing, and I didn't say nothing until the day before when I
said you've got to watch the news and things a bit.
“My
father was the first person to have a car in the village other than the hall
where General Brigadier Hume had one.
It was an open touring Singer. Celluloid screens on the side to keep out the
wind. He started with a model T Ford van and before we had a bigger van it was
converted so that he could do his grocery rounds. Then of course he transported
people about - the cricket team.
The seats would drop down at the side and he'd take 10/12 people in it. Then
war came and it was taken by the government as an ambulance. I don't know where
it went after it left here.
to transcribe of full interview.
