Jim Checkley
Snailing Lane is at the extreme corner of the Parish of Hawkley. The actual borderline between the Parishes of Hawkley and Greatham, is the River Rother, which is a few hundred yards from the junction with the A3006, the road between Liss and Empshott.
When I, accompanied by my younger brother Bill, arrived there late on the 1st. September 1939 the only houses in the lane were all on the right hand side, coming from the 3006. First was Maidley's Cottage, just on the Hawkley side of the river, (Tony Maidley still lives in Hawkley across the Green from the Old School). Then came Ivy Cottages, a small Terrace of houses, Mr. Legge’s Yard and house was next. (Mr. Legge was the local builder). D.G.Lewis stayed with the Legge for a short while. A little further on was Parklands, (Tom Cowell and Mike Bryant were billeted there with the Potters), another Terrace house that had been built by Mr. Legge to keep his men in work during the recession. His Foreman was Len Waghorn who lived in the next house called ‘Avoca’ (circled red above) with his wife, Henrietta, (later called Uncle Len & Auntie Ette).
It was in this bungalow that my Brother and I were to be billeted. I until 1943, my brother until the end of the war. Next, set well back from the lane, was the home of Mr. & Mrs. Howard and their son Horace. A field away was the home of Mrs. Tigge, (Walpole Cottage), an eccentric elderly lady, kind, friendly, but none too clean, it was always best to keep up-wind of her.
There were no other houses until you got to the sharp right-hand bend that led to Scotland Farm (old Farmhouse much improved with conservatory shown left in 2002, the farm is up for sale) at the foot of ‘Tiddler’s Hill’, just below ‘Slip Cottage’. On this bend on the left was a derelict cottage, which became known to us as the ‘Haunted House’, (now renovated and called Primmers). There was one other empty house nestling in the Hanger, which could be seen from the lane.
Just imagine our feelings. We had come from 20 Battersea Park Road at the junction with, as it is now called Queenstown Road, where the 44 and 34 Trams crossed, making quite a din, as you can imagine or remember, depending on your age. No 20 was the local Post Office, Newsagents, Tobacconists etc. and was quite busy. We had all ‘mod cons’ that were available at that time, Gas, Electricity, mains water, sewerage & telephone. Avoca had, no ‘mod cons’ at all. All that was available was a kitchen range, kept lit the whole time, for cooking, hot water, by the kettle for washing, water pumped up every morning from a well under the house to a header tank which provided tap water and flushed the toilet to the cesspit. Oil lamps and candles for lighting, but we did have an up to date Radio, A bit in advance of the old ‘cats whisker’, but the wet batteries, (accumulators), had to be taken each week to Liss for charging. But for all that we were welcomed with open arms and looked after very well, and the meals that were produced on the old kitchen range were marvellous. The fact that Bill and I are so fit now is that we were looked after so well. Although food was rationed I am sure that we did better than those in town, that we had left behind. With the vegetables that were produced in all the local’s gardens, the fresh meat, such as rabbit, hare, pheasant and the odd cuts that were available from the local farms, that Uncle Len came home with from time to time, meant that we lived very well. The locals certainly knew how to look after each other.
The next few days were a bit of a blur. After the weekend when war was declared we gradually got into a regular routine. Monday to Friday being schooldays, we set out on foot along the Lane past ‘Primmers’, through Scotland Farm, up ‘Tiddlers Hill’ to Hawkley for the morning session. Sometimes if Uncle Len had business in Hawkley we got a lift. The main problem was ‘Tiddlers Hill’. Uncle’s little Austin 7 van had great difficulty. The Hill was so steep that we had to get out at the bottom and walk up picking up the van again at the top. This manoeuvre was a safety measure in case the machinery failed. After morning school, we then walked to Empshott, where afternoon classes were held in The Hut. After school walking home to the Lane. The total trip each day was about 7 miles or so. The Empshott Hut was also used, a couple of evenings a week, as a ‘Social Club, for Table Tennis, Chess and other activities.
On those days we covered about twelve miles. This routine continued until we were issued with bicycles. This made the daily journeys much easier, but the local children were a bit miffed. They could not see why we should get bikes and not them as well. The air was soon cleared when we let them have a go.
Footnote
I am Jim Checkley; I used to live at No 20, Battersea Park Road, from the 1920's. The building has been a post office since it was built, about 1877, and my family was sub-postmasters there from that time. My grandfather, my father and then myself until 1987 when I retired. Prior to that my Grandfather had the post office opposite Battersea Park Road Station.
I went to BCS in 1938 and as you know was evacuated to Hawkley with my younger brother, Bill, he came with me because of the policy of not separating siblings. I stayed there until the end of 1943 when I left school prior to going into the services, my brother stayed until the end of the war. Before going to BCS I was in the Infants and then the Seniors at Battersea Park Road School.
We 'old boys' of BCS are always interested in any memories of the old school and also all memories of your earlier years in Battersea. Let me give you a for instance.
In the 1930's most Saturdays when the weather was fine, I and a couple of pals, Jimmy Laxton and Eddie Barber, both lived in Roydon Street, used to go out for the day together, there used to be others who joined us but their names elude me. With a bottle of pop and a couple of sandwiches we set off together, walking through Battersea Park, having a go on the swings and a paddle in the paddling pool. We left the park went over Albert Bridge, Cheyne Walk along the embankment to Beaufort Street. Halfway down Beaufort Street was a Church and playground was we used to stop sometimes, for a go on the swings there and a bit of a breather. Varying the routes we made our way to Exhibition Road where we spent the rest of the day visiting all the Museums in turn. Our favourite was the Science Museum where we spent many happy hours. Eventually we made our way home late in the evening. We walked everywhere; we did not use the trams or buses but saved any cash we had (which was not much), for extra rations from the sweet shops. Remember we did not have all the things that the children of today have, we made our own amusement, and I think we were better for it. There was no thought of possible dangers, but times have changed and it would not be safe today, more is the pity.
You may not have heard the sad news that Jim Checkley died on 30th August 2005 after a massive and sudden heart attack.
Jim was a stalwart of the Hawkley re-union group, he was about 78 according to the details on the web site.
He will be greatly missed as he was a friend to all.
The funeral took place on Thursday 8 th September 2005 and representing the Hawkley "boys" was Arthur Govus, Stan Creed and Bob Blackie who said a few words on our behalf.
Harry Withers could not attend due to poor health (also Charles Sammonds and others) but Harry sent a wreath from all of the re-Union group, while the re-union tea ladies sent flowers.
