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Bread for the village was delivered on Tuesday and Thursday by Ted Eady who rode a tradesman's bicycle supplied by dad. It had a frame in front of the handle bars that held a cane basket in which bread and groceries could be put for delivery, he also did deliveries in the village of groceries on other days as well as helping in the bakehouse. On Saturdays my brother and I shared the bread delivery using trade bicycles, he delivered down Water Lane to the ford, and I had the task of delivering to Caldecott. I felt a millionaire because dad paid me 2s / 6d (12.5p) pocket money for the week, but I had to work for it.
The old Austin van needed a lot of tender care during winter months, there was no such thing as anti-freeze for motor engines in those days and the radiator had to be drained every night otherwise the water would freeze and burst the radiator core and hoses. Dad bought a shallow oil burner that he placed under the sump and radiator at night to keep the engine warm enough so that there was no need to drain the water off, he also put sacking over the engine to keep the warmth in. Even the village pump would freeze during the winter and dad would drain off hot water from the tank above the oven fire, take it out and pour down the pump to clear the ice.
One afternoon I was in the back garden of the bakery when I heard an airplane approaching which was most unusual. The engines didn't sound right; it didn't take long for it to come straight over the bakery. It was a bomber from the base really in trouble, the two outer engines were stopped and the inner port engine was coughing and spluttering sounding as if it was going to stop any moment. I have never seen a plane so full of holes, it was like a sieve. Pieces were hanging off the rudder and there were great chunks missing from the wings and fuselage, how it was still flying I don't know. Dad found out a few days later that it had been attacked by several German fighters whilst on a bombing mission, every member of the crew including the pilot were badly injured. Despite his terrible injuries the pilot was able to land the plane, none of the crew were fit enough to get out of the plane themselves, all had to be helped by the medics.
The photograph of the Allan family was taken in the summer of 1948 at the back of the bakery — Alice and William (Bill) are sitting in the chairs, with Robert (Bobby) and Ken (Kenny) standing behind.
The Austin van used on the village bread rounds and a view of the bakehouse from Water Lane.
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A Baker’s Tale (part 3) |
