Holy Trinity, Penn, Burials and Memorials

Donald Maclean – Interview with Rev Oscar Muspratt.

MACLEAN:THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD

THE VICAR of Penn . who held a torchlight burial service last week at his churchyard for traitor Donald Mac­lean expects to be criticised for his action.
But the Rev Oscar Mus­pratt told the Examiner this week that he stood by his decision to provide the final resting place for the noto­rious spy who defected and died in Russia.
He said: “No priest in the country can just bury the goodies and leave the baddies'” adding that he had taken into account the wishes of the family.
Maclean’s son, Fergus, deliberately gave the Press” the slip to avoid publicity when he brought his father’s ashes into Britain from Moscow last Tuesday.
Rapid arrangements were made for a small, simple funeral to begin at 6 pm on the following evening at the family grave with its moss ­covered Celtic cross next to the 13th century flint church, but heavy traffic had delayed the arrival of Maclean’s brother, Alan, a director of the Macmillan publishing firm, and his wife.
By the time they arrived — ­Fergus was already present — ­darkness had begun to fail and Mr Muspratt had to use a battery torch for the service. The verger was also present.
Mr Muspratt denied that anyone had deliberately chosen to hold the funeral in the dark: “We were forced to do so because of the brother and his wife arriving late.”
The Vicar said he was aware of bad feelings arising from Maclean’s burial in the country he betrayed. After passing on unknown quantities of top secret information to the Russians, he defected to the USSR in 1951.
Mr Muspratt told the Examiner that he had heard that one local resident had said the burial of Maclean was a desecration of the churchyard, and that the casket containing his ashes should be thrown in a pond.
In a prepared statement. Mr Muspratt contended: “Some would argue that discrimination should be shown in some circum­stances, but my reply is only that even on a battlefield, a chaplain buries the fallen, whether friend or foe, with the simple dignity that any death demands.
‘AII alike, great and small, have to stand before the judgement seat of Christ. We should not presume to usurp the role of the Almighty, but rather commend each and everyone to the mercv of God,
“On the merely human level, Donald Maclean certainly paid extremely dearly for his actions. which cost him the loss or all that we treasure most in life.”
Mr Muspratt continued: “One vital point: before I consented to take the burial service, I checked to make sure that no hammer and sickle emblem was emblazoned on the casket: I would have insisted on its removal.”
“I shall always prize the letter of gratitude from his son Fergus in which he expresses his gratitude so movingly and sincerely.”
“My lasting impression is that the Christian faith did indeed have the final say, for in fact it was the message of Christ’s Cross, and not that of the hammer and sickle, which had the last word.”
“This is the heart of the Easter message. not just for the select few, but for all faltering, failing mankind.”
Mr Muspratt returned from duty overseas in the last war as an army chaplain to become the Vicar of Penn 1n 1944.
Although the Vicar cannot re­call having met Maclean, he did know the family. Whenever they could, the Macleans would stay at Elm Cottage at Beacon Hill. near to his church, he said.
Mr Muspratt recalls introducing the famous wartime reporter, Chester Wilmot, to the Macleans, who allowed the journalist to write his book, ‘The Struggle for Europe’, at the cottage.
Thirty years ago. the Vicar was asked to conduct a marriage ser­vice between Maclean’s sister, Nancy, and a divorcee, but the Bishop of Oxford instructed that only a simplified service could be held at the parish church, The family declined to hold the wedding there.
Mr. Muspratt felt that by burying Maclean at the churchyard. he was helping to “redress the balance”. The family grave is also the resting place of his distinguished father, Sir Donald Maclean, a Liberal MP and Minister in the 1931 National Government: his mother, and brother Ian.
Ian Maclean was a pilot during the last war, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after being shot down over Denmark in 1942.
Mr. Muspratt remembers that during the funeral of Donald’s mother in 1962 plain clothes police’ officers were in waiting in case the spy should put in a daring secret appearance to pay his last re­spects.
“When I heard that Maclean had died, my first thought was this is going to put me in a bit of a spot if the ashes were returned for burial at the church, I knew it was highly unlikely that the body would he brought back” the Vicar said.
He said that Fergus wanted the burial service carried out quickly after the ashes were brought into the country to keep it as private as possible. But Alan, said Mr Mus­pratt, wanted to wait a year “until the dust had settled”.
“I agreed with Fergus, and Alan agreed” Mr Muspratt said. “I was dealing as a Vicar with a family in trouble.”
During his Examiner interview, Mr Muspratt made it clear that in no way did he condone Maclean’s treachery.

Bucks Examiner, March 26 1983, by Ian Paterson..

This entry was first published by .

Humphrey Cook (1893-1978)

Humphrey Wyndham Cook, born in Chelsea 16 March 1893, lived at The Old Park, Hammersley Lane, Tylers Green from 1941 and later at The Orchard, Beacon Hill, Penn. He also had a flat at 38 Upper Brook Street, London W1, and was educated at Harrow and Oxford University.

David Weguelin, who interviewed Humphrey Cook at his flat in Chelsea in 1976, described him as “a large, shy and very modest person” who had “inherited a large fortune at the age of twelve when his father died leaving him the thriving family wholesale drapery firm – Cook Son & Co. of St. Paul’s Churchyard. However, an early visit to his father’s business convinced the young Humphrey that he did not wish to pursue a career in drapery or anything else for that matter.”

Humphrey Cook at the wheel of “Rouge et Noir II” the 1922 Tourist Trophy Race Vauxhall

He began motor-racing in 1914 at Brooklands motor circuit, Weybridge, with a 10.6 litre Isotta Fraschini painted in black and red stripes. Red and black became his racing colours and in 1921 raced a Vauxhall 30/98 known as “Rouge et Noir”.

Humphrey Cook in his 1919 5 litre Indianapolis Ballot at Brooklands in 1922.

In 1922 he raced one of the powerful 5-litre, 8-cylinder Ballot cars built for the 1919 Indianapolis race (incidentally this car, No. 1003, was based in Penn from 1937 when it was acquired by Anthony Heal and was looked after for several years by Len Gibbs of Slades Garage). For 1923 Cook had one of the 1922 TT Vauxhalls “Rouge et Noir II” with which competed frequently for the next couple of years and which was subsequently supercharged, becoming the Vauxhall-Villiers and famously raced by Raymond Mays. This was followed by a twin-cam 16-valve Aston Martin and then Humphrey Cook joined the “Bentley Boys” notably finishing third in the 1929 Six-Hour Race at Brooklands with Leslie Callingham at the wheel of a 4 ½ litre Bentley. He was a member of the Aston Martin team that raced at Le Mans in 1931 but after about  eighteen hours a front wing fell off and they had to retire.

Humphrey Cook competing with E.R.A. R1 at Syston Park in 1935.

Cook’s most notable motor-racing achievement has to be the setting up of the E.R.A. (English Racing Automobiles) team in 1933 with Raymond Mays and Peter Berthon. Cook not only financed the operation but was Managing Director and one of the racing drivers. He also introduced British Racing Green to the world of motorsport. These iconic voiturette racing cars won numerous prizes in their class through the nineteen-thirties when Grand Prix racing was dominated by the state-sponsored German teams. They continue to be raced today as an active memorial to Cook and his colleagues. In 1949 Earl Howe wrote, ‘I often wonder if those who guide the destinies of the Motor Industry… have any conception whatever of how much they owe to Humphrey Cook and what he has done for National prestige.’

Cooks personal appearances as a driver included:

1934 R2A (H.C.’s 1100cc car) Brooklands (one 1st place plus standing start record attempts), Donington (5th place).

1935 R1A Brooklands (two 1st places, one 2nd place). R2A Nurburgring (5th 1500cc race), Dieppe (4th place).

1937 R12B Albi GP (3rd place)

In 1939 Mays and Berthon left ERA to become independent, and Cook announced he was closing down the works but was prepared to hand over the cars to the British Motor Racing Fund to be run as a national organisation. It soon emerged that the B.M.R.F. had insufficient funds and so Cook continued to run the team until everything was closed down by war. In 1945 he reestablished E.R.A. Ltd with a workshop in Dunstable, but finally disposed of his interest in the company at the end of 1947. Cook’s link with Earl Howe extended beyond the race track as they were both deeply involved in the running of the British Racing Drivers Club of which Howe was President and Cook was Honorary Treasurer from 1931 to 1947. Cook then became Vice President of the Club.


Humphrey Wyndham Cook died 3rd August 1978 aged 85, and is buried in the lower graveyard extension, on the left-hand-side, as you enter through the arch, about halfway down (plot no.30). The graveyard extension was completed through a donation he gave in memory of his wife Anne, who is buried with him, and her two sons John and David, and her daughter Maureen.

Sources:
David Weguelin, The History of English Racing Automobiles Ltd, White Mouse Editions, 1980.William Boddy, The History of Brooklands Motor Course,

© Oliver Heal, September 2021

This entry was first published by .

Old Churchyard Burials

In 1947 the Revd Oscar Muspratt commissioned a survey of the old churchyard to identify and map all existing burials.  The objective was to find space for more burials and planning for the New Churchyard extension into the old Vineyard south of the existing churchyard began soon afterwards.  The first burial in the new churchyard was in 1952.

The 1947 survey was updated in 2014 to try and identify all burials which could still be located.

 The PDF links below take you to printable PDF files which show the 2014 revision of the 1947 survey.

Old Churchyard Burials, sorted by Name, opens as a PDF in new window
Old Churchyard Burials, 1947 Plan, PDF opens in new window.

Old Graveyard – Burials by Name – revised 2014

Area Plot Names Ages Family Name Dates Description of Grave 1947 Description of Memorial
F 10 Jessie Rose Allen 29 April 1926 aged 38 years; George Arthur Allen 25 September 1959 aged 69 years; Albert Edward Allen 1921-1996; Doris Ethel Allen 1922-2000 Allen 1926; 1959; 1996; 2000 planted soil within curb granite headstone and curb; curbs no longer survive (2014)
F 73 Ellen Allen March 26 1946 aged 80 years; husband George Arthur Allen Jan 6 1957; son Francis Samuel Allen 1892-1966 Allen 1946; 1957; 1966 soil mound headstone
 F Walter and Sarah Allen Allen wooden cross
G 139 Emma Allen 1890 Allen 1890 turf mound old wood rail
F 37 Edmond Allison 1944 Allison 1944 flat soil; planted (raised) granite headstone and curb
F 38 Edmond Cecil Allison 1938 Allison 1938 turf mound; planted
 F next to 80 Victor Gordon Ashurst 16 IV 1960 – 8 VIII 1962 Ashurst 1962 small headstone (close to horse chestnut)
D 12 Arthur Charles Atkins 1901 Atkins 1901 level turf standard headstone
D 13 William Atkins 1888;  Elizabeth Atkins 1901 Atkins 1888; 1901 turf mound old wood rail
F 5 Fanny Alice Atkins 19 January 1957 aged 97; and daughterAnnie Florence Atkins 12 April 1923aged 36 Atkins 1923 planted soil mound headstone
F 25 Theophilus George Ayres 1935; wife Eliza Ayres Dec 16th 1969 aged 94 years Ayres 1935 granite chippings granite headstone and curb – no curbs surviving by 2014
F 69 Edith Mary Baker 1935 aged 58 years; Arthur Claude Bake August 30th 1963 aged 62 years; Arthur and Claude Baker Baker 1935; 1963 slab overall polished pyramidal granite slab overall 18 inches high
B 11 Elizabeth Baly 1862; Charles Baly 1866 Baly 1862; 1866 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 28 Louisa Barnes 1884; Ann Horwood 1886; Richard Barnes 1895 Barnes; Horwood 1884; 1895 level turf small headstone and footstone
 F Sarah & Joseph Bates Bates wooden cross
F 7 Albert Beale 1925 Beale 1925 turf mound
F 28 William Edwin Beale 1937; Esther Beale 1947 Beale 1937; 1947 plain soil mound
F 32 Thomas Ivor Field Beckley 1940 Beckley 1940 flat soil; planted granite headstone and curb
E Revd John Bennet 1913 Bennet 1913
F 65 Jeanie Berry 1943 Berry 1943 flat soil and bird bath stone slab curb
F 81 Albert Ernest Charles Bird 1931; Florence Bird 1945 Bird 1931; 1945 flat soil; planted granite cross and curb
F 50 James Blackmore August 3rd 1942; Lydia Blackmore August 12th 1963 Blackmore 1942; 1963 flat soil; planted granite headstone and curb
D 20 William Bovingdon 1718 Bovingdon 1718 level turf stone headstone and footstone
G 89 Mary Bovingdon 1830 Bovingdon 1830 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 90 Thomas Bowler Bovingdon 1831 Bovingdon 1831 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 91 Thomas Bovingdon 1878 Bovingdon 1878 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 92 Delhia Bovingdon 1883 Bovingdon 1883 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 125 Henrietta Brackley 1778 and another undecipherable Brackley 1778 level turf stone headstone and footstone
 F front row Albert Brocklesby 1862-1948 and Elsie Brocklesby 1873-1974 Brocklesby 1948 stone cross on stone base
F 53 Horace Browning 1943; memorials to Ethel Kate Browning and Peggy Grace Browning Browning 1943 flat soil planted stone slab curb only
F 23 Sarah Anne Burgess 1934 Burgess 1934 flat soil; planted granite cross and curb
B 2 Ernest Arthur Busby (child) Busby level turf small stone headstone
G 167 Charles Busby 1916; Annia Wise 1922 Busby; Wise 1916; 1922 level turf marble headstone and curb
G 169 Emma Busby; Alfred Busby 1945 (verger for 50 years) Busby; Wise 1945 open soil bed; planted
A 7 Arthur W Cannon Cannon 1900 level turf standard headstone
A 8 Thomas Cannon 1882; Ellen Cannon 1917; Arthur William Cannon 1900 Cannon 1882; 1900; 1917 plants within curb white headstone and curb
F 4 Lois Martha Canvin 1920 Canvin 1920 level turf within white marble curb white marble cross and curb
A 5 MEC (Margaret Emily Carden) Carden 1936 level turf standard headstone
F 46 Henry Carden 1942 Carden 1942 turf mound
G 22 Ruth Carter 1886 Carter 1886 turf mound old wood rail
G 31 Jane Carter 1923; George Carter 1939 Carter 1923; 1939 turf with curb white marble curb
F 24 John William Drury Cartwright-Taylor 1935 Cartwright-Taylor 1935 raised flat soil; planted granite cross and curb
G 113 Thomas Catling 1835 Catling 1835 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
F 40 Joseph Edward Channer 1936; Mary Channer (2½ days) 21/2 days Channer 1936 raised soil; flat; planted red granite headstone and curb
F 55 John Channer 1944 Channer 1944 turf mound
G Arthur Edmund Webster Charsley 1864-1951 Charsley 1951 Alongside path to Vineyard headstone
G 88 Grace Christmas 1806; Thomas Christmas 1825 Christmas 1806; 1825 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
F 49 Thomas Church 1942 Warrant Officer RAF 18 June 1942 age 44; his wife Violet May 29th May 1983 age 79 Church 1942; 1983 turf mound now a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone (2014)
G 165 Alice Church Church turf mound
G 166 Mrs Church; Frederick Church Church turf mound
B 13 John Clarke 1861; Penelope Clarke 1865 Clarke 1861; 1865 level turf stone headstone and footstone
G 126 Shelometh Clarke 1858; Caroline Clarke 1797 Clarke 1858; 1797 slab overall flat slabe and 4 feet iron railings
G 127 William Clarke 1781 and others undecipherable Clarke 1781 slab overall flat slab on brick walls
G 129 Charles Clarke 1821; Shelometh Clarke 1828 Clarke 1821; 1828 slab overall flat slab on brick walls
G 130 Wiliam Clarke 1817; Mary Clarke Clarke 1817 slab overall flat slab on brick walls
A 45 Mary Coleman 1884; Mary Ann Fladgate 1893 Coleman; Fladgate level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 39 Penelope Warner Cook 1848 Cook 1848 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 50 Elizabeth Cook 1826 Cook 1826 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 24 Thomas Cooper Cooper 1906 turf mound metal headplate (white)
A 25 Emma Florence Cooper 1895; Sarah Elizabeth Cooper 1895 Cooper 1895 turf mound old wood rail
G 5 Evelyn Molyneux Cooper 1918 Cooper 1918 level turf white marble cross and curb
D 7 Catherine Copestake 1844; William Copestake 1844; Elizabeth Copestake 1873 Copestake 1844; 1873 level turf stone headstone only
D 8 C Copestake; W Copestake 1844 Copestake 1844 level turf stone headstone only
D 10 William Copestake 1846; Catherine Copestake 1846 Copestake 1846 level turf stone headstone only
A 18 George Cox 1874; Betsey Cox 1894 Cox 1874; 1894 stone slab overall stone cross and slab over grave
G 17 Cox and son Hedley 1890-1900 Cox 1900 turf mound
G 16A Cox and son Hedley 1890-1900 Cox 1890-1900 turf mound
G 49 Thomas Craft 1811 Craft 1811 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
F 30 Rachel Fanny Cripps 1940 Cripps 1940 green chippings white marble headstone; curb and central vase
G 162 Henry Cruickshank 1877 Cruickshank turf mound small stone cross
 F Allie; wife of William Cruikshank Nov 12 1945 aged 82 years Cruikshank 1945 headstone
G 34 Martha Cunningham 1883; William Cunningham Cunningham 1883 plain soil level stone cross and curb
G 36 Annabella Margaret Currey 1886 Currey 1886 plain soil level red granite cross and curb
D 19 Major the Honourable William Henry Curzon 1914; Emily Curzon 1924 Curzon 1914; 1924 planted rose trees white marble cross and curb
F 64 Dorothy Lois Dayrell 1934 Dayrell 1934 flat soil planted roses granite cross and curb
A 4 Joseph Dean; Agnes Dean Dean 1919 crazy paving granite curb
A 63 Ann Dennis 1889 Dennis 1889 level turf Stone headstone and footstone to each grave; and whole of these surrounded by stone curb 7ft x 18ft in all
A 65 William Free Dennis Dennis level turf Stone headstone and footstone to each grave; and whole of these surrounded by stone curb 7ft x 18ft in all
F 6 Christopher Dennis 1923 Dennis 1923 level turf small stone scroll headstone only
F 61 Maurice Thomas Dilworth 1946; Elsie Alice Dilworth 1903-1991 Dilworth 1946; 1991 large headstone
A 52 Josephine Dimock 1876 Dimock 1876 level turf stone headstone and footstone
F 36 Francis Drewitt 1936 Drewitt 1936 flat soil; planted stone curb
A 20 John Druce Druce 1935 turf mound
A 30 Druce Druce turf mound
A 31 A Druce  Royal Warwickshire Regiment 29 November1916 Druce 1916 turf mound Commonwealth War Grave Commission headstone – war type stone headstone with crest
 F Gertrude Earle 25th April and Frederick Earle 1st August 1945; Margery Maud Earle 4th April 1974 Earle 1945; 1974 Almost opposite to no 69 Wood memorial mounted a sheltered cross and bronze crucifix
F 3 Archibald Tennent Eastman 1921 Eastman 1921 level turf; small rose bed and two small juniper trees granite cross only
 F Edith Hall died 26th Jan 1946 aged 86; widow of the Reverened Federick Hall; and her daughter Edith Gladys Hall died 14th January 1982 aged 94 Edith Hall 1946; 1982 large headstone with scroll shaping
F 15 Eleanor Mary Edmunds 1929; Edith Octavia Taylor 1933 Edmunds; Taylor 1929; 1933 plain soil within curb granite cross and curb
F 77 Alice Joan Etches 1943 Etches 1924 flat soil planted wood crucifix and curb (stone)
E 2 Major James Eyles; Anne Eyles 1850 Eyles 1850 covered by memorial white marble monument with iron railings
A 46 Elizabeth Fladgate 1865; Robert Fladgate 1877 Fladgate level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 47 William Fladgate 1830 Fladgate 1830 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 48 Elizabeth Fladgate 1837 Fladgate 1837 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 49 Robert Leak Fladgate 1818 Fladgate 1818 level turf stone headstone and footstone
G 25 Evelyn May Foote 1937 Foote 1937 crazy paving wood crucifix and curb
G 72* Martha Foster November 13th 1886 – April 27th 1951 Foster 1951 near no 72 headstone
? 71* Maude Fraser 6 September 1948; Wiliam Fraser 11 February 1949 Fraser 1948; 1949 right of no 71 large headstone
G 72 Mary Frost May 25th 1922 Frost 1922 slab over grave rough granite slab overall; overgrown in 2014 and eroded
A 29 Miriam (Fryer) and infant son 1906; Kate Fryer 1940 Fryer 1906; 1940 open soil stone cross at head
A 32 Harriet Fryer 1943 Fryer 1943 open soil
A 58 Ann Fryer 1881 Fryer 1881 level turf standard headstone
A 59 Ellen Fryer 1871 Fryer 1871 level turf standard headstone
A 60 William Fryer 1853 Fryer 1853 level turf standard headstone
D 21 Owen Fryer 1942 Fryer 1942 turf mound stone heastone and footstone
D 23 William Fryer 1921 Fryer 1921 turf mound standard headstone
D 24 Lydia Fryer 1912; Thomas Fryer 1914 Fryer 1912; 1914 turf mound standard headstone
G 37 William Free Fryer 1910; Harriet Free Fryer 1912; Agnes Fryer 1941 Fryer 1910; 1912; 1941 level turf white stone cross and curb
G near no 72 Ellen Fryer 1871-1955; Ruth Fryer (dates illegible) Fryer 1955 headstone
A 6 Ernest Garland Garland 1916 level turf standard headstone
A 11 Walter J Garland 1898; Mary Ann Garland 1935 Garland 1898; 1935 level turf standard headstone
A 12 Charlie Garland Garland 1895 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 13 S Garland Garland 1874 level turf standard headstone
A 14 J Garland Garland 1851 level turf standard headstone
F 80 Elizabeth Brewer Geach 1924 Geach 1924 ivy covered soil; flat granite headstone and curb
A 9 F J Gibbs driver RASC 7 January 1919 aged 27 Gibbs level turf Commonwealth War Memorial Commission headstone – crest
G 108 Richard Gibbs 1824; John Gibbs 1832 Gibbs 1824; 1832 turf mound old wood rail
? 68* Mary Gibbs Jan 28 1948 aged 89 years Gibbs to right of no. 68 headstone
B 5 Mrs Ann Gilchrist 1841 Gilchrist 1841 level turf small grey marble headstone
F 41 Annie Goodwin 1935 Goodwin 1935 covered by memorial flat granite memorial overall
G 72* Henrietta Winifred Gorton 21 February 1965 Gorton 1965 near no 72 headstone
G 77 John Graveney 1892 Graveney 1892 level (under yew tree) old wood grave rail complete
A 36 Richard Green Green turf mound
 F John Stanley Phillips Griffith-Jones 12 November 1875-7 July 1949 and Eveline Louisa Griffith-Jones 1875-16 December 1966 Griffiths-Jones 1949; 1966 front row; by wall large headstone (and planter with flowers Sept 2014)
G 102 Mary Grimsdale 1739 Grimsdale 1739 plain turf; level stone headstone and footstone
G 57 Edmund Grove 1708; Esther Grove 1731 Grove 1708; 1731 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 58 Edmund Grove 1761; Sarah Grove 1761 Grove 1761;

1761

 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 60 John Grove 1848 Grove 1848; turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 61 Elizabeth Grove 1870; George Grove 1875 Grove 1870;

1875

 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 62 Mary Grove 1874 Grove 1874 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
H 3 Grove Grove turf mound
G 79 Elizabeth Jane Grove 1802;

and one of same names 1805

 Grove 1802;

 

1805

 over grave flat stone slab over grave; stone headstone and footstone
G 80 Grace Grove 1779 Grove 1779 over grave flat stone slab over grave; stone headstone and footstone
G 81 George Grove 1843; Elizabeth Grove 1844 Grove 1843; 1844 level turf stone headstone and footstone
G 82 Edmund Grove 1825 Grove 1835 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 83 Elizabeth Grove 1838 Grove 1838 slab over grave stone headstone; footstone and slab
G 84 John Grove 1868 Grove 1868 slab over grave stone headstone; footstone and slab
G 85 Thomas Blades Grove 1897 Grove 1897 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
H 1 Edith Mary Grove 1913; William Grove Eckersley 1931;
Julius Charles Grove 1935		 Grove; Eckersley 1913;

 

1931;

1935

 crazy paving granite cross and curb
H 2 Walter Morris Grove 1931 Grove; 1931 crazy paving
F 20 Edward Kirkpatrick Hall 1923;

Marion Louisa Hall 1931

 Hall 1923;

 

1931

 soil; planted granite cross and curb
F 60 Edith Hall (cremation) Hall flat turf
A 42 Revd Edmund Hancock 1883 (chapel minister); Kitty Hancock 1901 Hancock 1883;

1901

 stone slab on grave stone headstone; footstone and slab overall
A 43 William Hancock 1875; Kezia Hancock 1865; Mary Hancock 1871; Charles Hancock 1886 Hancock 1875;

1865;

1871;

1886

 level turf stone headstone and footstone
B 7 Maria Hancock 1886; Robert Hancock Hancock 1886 level turf stone headstone and footstone
B 9 Edmund Grove Hancock 1906 Hancock 1906 level turf stone headstone and footstone
B 12 Henry Hancock; Charlotte Hancock (old);
Maria Wingrave 1863		 Hancock; Wingrave 1862;

 

1863

 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 33 Thomas Harley 1892; Emma Harley 1934 Harley 1892;

1934

 granite chippings granite curb with permanent vase
F 68 Tom Harley 10th January 1890 – 19th April 1947; and Phyllis May Harley née Beale 8th May 1897- 18th December 1949 Harley 1947

 

 

1949

 large headstone
G 97 Robert Harrison 1816 Harrison 1816 partial turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 78 George Harton 1896;

Eliza Harton 1878

 Harton 1896;

1878

 level (under yew tree) stone headstone and footstone
 F Edith Florence Digby Heal 4 Sept 1880-15 Sept 1946; and Ambrose Heal KT 3 Sept – 15 Nov 1950 Heal 1946;

 

1950

 large war memorial with heraldic eagle and bench
 F John Christopher Heal 1911-1985 designer Heal 1985 oval slate wall memorial
 F Theodora Heal; Sculptor
Baylins Farm Knotty Grn;Anthony Standerwick Heal Hon FCSD Hon FCGLI ;		 Heal 9 Sept 1906-14 Jan 1992;

 

23 Feb 1907-25 Mar 1995

 Wall memorial on wall into New Churchyard
 F 85 Mary Higham;
Mr B Burnell 1833 ??		 Higham; Burnell 1933 level turf stone headstone and footstone
F 2 Lt Col Hugh Hill (memorial only);
Katherine Shepperson; Gerald William Shepperson (cremated)		 Hill;

 

 

 

Shepperson

 —

 

—

 

1938

 paved; flat 6ft square granite cross; curb and small cental plaque – cross broken and lying on grave (Sept 2014)
G  74* Emma Hine 1875-1950 Hine 1950 near no 74 headstone
 F front row Charles Hughes 21 July 1950 aged 54 Hughes 1950 front row large headstone with lily motif
A William Hunnings Hunnings 1969-1989 stone marker and camellia border
D 6 Robert Huntley
(London merchant)		 Huntley 1789 slab overall stone headstone and footstone
A 35 Caroline James 1879 James 1879 turf mound old wood rail
F 26 Ernest John James 1935 James 1935 turf; flat;
slightly raised
F 31 William Alfred James 1940 James 1940 turf mound
G 43 John James 1909;
Phoebe James 1916		 James 1909;

1916

 flat soil planted white marble headstone and curb
A 51 James Jarvis 1826; Martha Jarvis 1823 Jarvis 1826;

1823

 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 53 Benjamin Jarvis 1869 Jarvis 1869 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 54 Francis Jarvis 1859;

Sarah Jarvis 1865

 Jarvis 1859;

1865

 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 55 Sarah Jarvis 1839;

James Jarvis 1860

 Jarvis 1839;

1860

 level turf stone headstone and footstone
F 11 Margaret Jefkins 1929; John Jefkins 1936 Jefkins 1929; 1936 granite chippings white marble headstone and curb
G Rinah Mary Jowitt (widow of John H Jowitt) Nov 16 1869-Nov 20 1949; daughter Moya Jowitt
Jan 10 1901 – Oct 25 1987		 Jowitt 1949;

 

1987

 alongside path to the Vineyard headstone
E 3 Katherine Anne Keays 1880 Keays 1880 covered by memorial white marble slab overall; with iron railings rasied to 2ft
F 22 Revd Benjamin John Short Kerby L.Th
(vicar 1898-1922)		 Kerby 1922 marble chippings white marble cross and curb
G 4 Florence Mabel King 1917 King 1917 level turf
G 9 Fannie Louise Kitchen 1931 Kitchen 1931 crazy paving; planted granite cross and curb
G 73 Frederick Knights
June 17th 1891 45 years		 Knights 1891 level turf stone headstone
G 28 Revd James Knollis BD 1860 (vicar 40 years); Frances Knollis 1879 Knollis 1860;

1879

 granite chippings white marble cross and curb 10 feet x 8 feet
G 103 Mary Lansdale 1730 Lansdale 1730 plain turf; level stone headstone and footstone
A 21 John Larkin              Georgina Elizabeth Larkin  61

 

 Larkin 1899;

1920;

 level turf with curb white marble cross and curb
A 22 John Larkin 1889 Larkin 1889 level turf red granite cross only
B 15 Frederick John Larkin Larkin 1903 level turf Cornish granite cross
 F front row Frederick George Larkin (of Wooburn Green)            and his wife Cicely Larkin 82 Larkin 4 March 1949
21st Feb1951		 front row stone cross on stone base
F 14 John Peter Leslie Little 1925;
Rothes Beatrix Little 1939		 Little 1925;

1939

 covered by memorial grey polished granite slab overall and large horizontal cross
D 3 John Long 1696
London merchant)		 Long 1696 slab overall stone slab overall with coat of arms
D 5 Henry Long 1778; Elizabeth Long 1775 Long 1775;

1778

 stone slab in church wall
G 10 Maria Caroline Lord 1930 Lord 1930 crazy paving; planted granite cross and curb
F 16 Donald Maclean KBE PC; president of the Board of Education;
Gwendolen Margaret
wife  of Donald McleanEldest son Ian Mclean DFC born Oct 26 1908 killed in action Esbjerg Denmark; Sept 15 1943Donald  Maclean third son		 Maclean Jan 9 1864 – June 15 1932;

 

July 7 1880 – 25 July 1962;

 

 

Oct 26 1908 Sept 15 1943

 

May 25 1913                   March 6 1983

 Memorial re-lettered to include Donald Mclean Celtic style granite cross on large octagonal pedestal and curb
F 43 Elizabeth Annie Maltby 1933; Alfred Percy Maltby 1940 Maltby 1933; 1940 crazy paving; planted granite headstone and curb
G Toni Martin 1966 Martin 1966 wooden cross
G Joseph Willet McCulloch 8 Sept 1877-5 Feb 1951; son Captain John Hedworth McCulloch Sealand Highlanders 5 Jul 1916 – 2 Nov 1942 buried at El Alamein; Ethel Russell McCulloch 1877-1966; Jean Margaret Hedworth McCulloch 1909-1995 McCulloch 1951; 1942; 1966; 1995 alongside path to the Vineyard large stone slab
F 82 Elizabeth McDowall McDowall 1931 flat soil; planted granite curb
F 21 Katherine Anne Lilly Mellish 1919 (churchwarden) Mellish 1919 marble chippings white marble cross and curb
F 42 Herbert Metcalfe 1940 Metcalfe 1940 turf mound
E 1 Revd John Middleton (vicar) 1808; Mary Miiddleton 1812 Middleton 1808; 1812 covered by memorial large brick vault and stoen monument on slabs
 F Emma Catherine Mitchell 1869-1945; Tomas James Mitchell 1874-1950 Mitchell 1945; 1950 headstone
 F 95 Mary Morten 1888 Morten 1888 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
F 19 Flora Murray CBE MD DPH 1923; Louisa Garrett Anderson CBE MD BS (memorial only) 1943 Murray; Anderson 1943 covered by memorial flat granite slab overall
G 72* Elsie Jane Nesmyth 1951 and her sister Adeline Frances Nesmyth 1962 Nesmyth 1951; 1962 near no 72 headstone
 F Margaret O’Connor 1909-1986 O’Connor 1986 sandstone headstone (by fence)
D 22 Frances Diana Orpen 1923 Orpen 1923 plain soil in curb (bulbs) white marble cross and curb
F 33 George Henry Owen 1940 Owen 1940 turf mound
 F 88 Ellen Dunlap (Payne) Parshall 1917 Parshall 1917 covered by memorial but with small area of flat turf large red granite tombstone overall; 3 feet 6 inches and surrounded by red granite curb. Area of memorial reduced in 1947 by moving inwards the curb, an arrangement concluded by Revd. O.Muspratt with the family.
G 148 Joseph Patrickson Patrickson slab overall white stone slab overall
G 149 William Patrickson 1869 Patrickson 1869 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 150 Ann Patrickson 1879 Patrickson 1879 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
F 1 Derek Pawle (memorial only); Angelina Pawle 1930; Lewis Shepheard Pawle 1947; also daughter Pawle 1930; 1947 paved and planted; flat; 10ft x 8 ft granite cross and curb; memorial overgrown in 2014
 F 83 Arthur Clark Peal 1930 Peal 1930 crazy paving planted granite curb
A 64 George Tomas Pearce 1882 Pearce 1882 level turf Stone headstone and footstone to each grave; and whole of these surrounded by stone curb 7ft x 18ft in all
D 15 Elizabeth Pearman (Uxbridge) 1858 Pearman 1858 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 41 John Peevor 1845 Peevor 1845 level turf stone headstone and footstone
D 18 William Penn 1693 and wife Sarah 1698                 (The Penn Family; not the Quaker family) Penn 1693; 1698 flat slab over grave flat stone overall on brick wall
A 37 Ellen Perfect Perfect turf mound
G 123 Emma Perfect 1928; George Perfect 1928 Perfect 1928; 1928 turf mound stone headstone only
F 29 Mary Jane Perkins 1939 Perkins 1939 slight turf mound
G Molly Preston 1949 wife of Arthur Sansome Preston; Cairo; Egypt; and son Martin Sansome Preston killed Hazebrouerk 1940 Preston 1949; 1940 alongide path to the Vineyard headstone
A 38 John Priest 1882; Susannah Priest 1876 Priest 1882; 1876 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 1 George Pusey Pusey 1910 planted mound standard headstone
A 2 Flossie Pusey 5 years Pusey 1883 level turf standard headstone
F 48 Emily Pusey 1942 Pusey 1942 flat soil; planted stone headstone and curb
G 29 Frances Reed 1872 Reed 1872 plain soil; level stone cross and curb and iron railings
F 39 Bernard Lias Reynolds1935; Cecile Frances Reynolds 1945 Reynolds 1935; 1945 crazy paving granite cross and curb
 F Tom Lionel Richardson 1882-1951 Richardson 1951 headstone
F 17 Mary Isobella Roberts Roberts 1933 planted and crazy paved granite curb only
F 52 Sgt Ronald J Roberts      RAFVR Roberts 27-Mar-43 raised flat turf wood cross and curb – since replaced with a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone
A 56 Henry Rolfe 1851; Maria Rolfe 1833 Rolfe 1851; 1833 level turf stone headstone and footstone
A 57 George Rolfe 1867; Sarah Rolfe 1861 Rolfe 1867; 1861 level turf stone headstone and footstone
G 151 Hannah Routledge 1881 Routledge 1881 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
F 66 George Ashworth Royle 1946; and his wife Leonora Lavinia 1870-1954 Royle 1946 flat soil (un-made) headstone
G 13 Clara Hannah Royle 1929 Royle 1929 flat turf white marble curb only
D 11 John and James Salter 1870 Salter 1870 level turf stone headstone and footstone with very fine lettering
 F 89 Vice Admiral Herbert Whitmore Savory 1918; Kate Worthington Savory 1944 Savory 1918; 1944 flat soil with reclining cross white marble curb and reclining cross
F 9 Alfred Scott 1930 Scott 1930 turf mound short wooden cross
F 45 JRSS (James Rodney Somerville Scott – 2 months) 2 months Scott 1941 small turf mound small polished granite headstone
G William George Setter

 

daughter
Dorothy Ellen Joyce

 

Eric George Setter

 Setter 1894-1973;

 

1922-1984;

 

1946-1997

 alongside path to the Vineyard headstone
B 10 Florence May Sherwin. Also child in 1946 Sherwin 1946 open soil square white marble cross only
G 131 George Shrimpton 1782; Elizabeth Shrimpton 1822 Shrimpton 1782; 1822 level turf stone headstone and footstone
F 54 Herbert Simpson 1943 Simpson 1943 raised crazy paving; planted stone slab curb with bird baths
A 34 John Siret 1885 Siret 1885 turf mound old wood rail
A 10 Hannah Smith (servant of vicar; 1869) Smith level turf stone headstone and footstone
F 47 John Smith 1942 Smith 1942 turf mound
G 72* Percy William Smith OBE 30 March 1954 Smith near to no.72 headstone
? 49* Robert Henry Smith 1902-1988 and his wife Gwendoline Hieda Smith 1907-1987 Smith 1988; 1987 to right of no. 49 large headstone
C 1 Walter George Songhurst 1944 CREMATION Songhurst 1944 covered by stone slab with small permanent vase flat slab with case 20inchx 20 inch. (Removed under faculty and transferred to another burial ground.)
A 44 Stpehen Spicer 1839; Jane Spicer 1859 Spicer 1839; 1859 slab overall stone slabs 6ft x 5ft
 F Harold Steel; born Yorkshire July 17th 1875; died Beaconsfield Feb 19th 1950; and his wife Kathleen Steel died October 6th 1972 Steel 1950; 1972 headstone
G 15 Henry Stevens 1894 Stevens 1894 flat turf old wood rail
G 59 Elizabeth Stone 1794; Sarah Gee 1808 Stone; Gee 1794; 1808 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 124 Elizabeth Stratford 1825; Henry Stratford 1826 Stratford 1825; 1826 level turf stone headstone and footstone
B 8 un-named infant son of Gordon and Olive Sutrton Sutton level turf white marble cross and curb
 F Frederick Alexander Szarvvasy 1875-1948; Kate Muriel Phona Szarvasy 1895-1947 Szarvasy 1948; 1947 headstone (close to horse chestnut)
G 35 Frederick William Tappenden
(Tulse Hill; London)		 Tappenden covered by memorial reclining stone overall and iron rails and chain
F 35 Michael Christopher Taylor 22 mth Taylor 1941 turf mound small stone headstone
G 27 Coralie Louise Thomson 1918; George Wm Thomson1928; May Thomson 1931 Thomson 1918; 1928; 1931 crazy paving and bushes white marble cross and curb
? 73* George Henry Thomson 1881-1943; Clara Anne Thomson 1882-1971; and their daughter Mary Thomson 1913-1971 Thomson 1943; 1971; 1971 left of no 73 headstone (by horse chestnut)
A 61 Jane Tilbury 1884 Tilbury 1884 level turf standard headstone
A 62 Joseph Tilbury 1883 Tilbury 1883 level turf Stone headstone and footstone to each grave; and whole of these surrounded by stone curb 7ft x 18ft in all
A 37A MT (Martha Tilbury 1826) 2 years Tilbury 1826 small flat stone small flat stone at turf level
E 5 Mary Tilbury 1782 Tilbury 1782 level turf stone headstone and footstone
E 6 Elizabeth Tilbury Tilbury level turf stone headstone and footstone
G 172 Rachel Tilbury 1887 Tilbury turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 177 Ann Tilbury 1836; Joseph Tilbury 1877; Joseph Tilbury 1865 Tilbury turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 8 Clara  Augusta Tilley 1924 Tilley 1924 flat turf stone head cross
G 26 Charles George Tizard 1916; Florence Eveline Tizard 1946 Tizard 1916; 1946 cemented crazy paving white marble cross and curb
F 74 Derek Traythorne (2 months) 1947 2 months Traythorne 1947 soil mound
F 44 Bertha Maria Twig 1940 Twig 1940 crazy paving; planted stone headstone and curb
G 42 John Vear 1873;
Mary Ann Vear 1827; Sarah Vear 1853;
James Vear 1849		 Vear 1873;

1827;

1853;

1849

 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
F 8 Mary Anne Wadley 1925 Wadley 1925 turf mound
 F Reginald Percy Wailes; 9 Sept 1871 – 14 Jan 1952; Rex Wailes; 1901-1986; and on reverse side Enid Wailes nee Berridge wife of Rex Wailes 18 Mar 1907-8 Oct 1997 Wailes 1952; 1986; 1997 right of wall; second row large stone memorial with windmill engraved at base and symbol at top; inscription on reverse and violin
 F Donald Mowbray Waite 1887-1950 architect; and wife Annette Elizabeth 1905-1992 Waite 1950; 1992 front row; second right from wall large headstone
F 71 Arthur Seagar Warman born at Richmond Yorkshire 29 June 1870 died at Knotty Green 6 October 1946; and wife Rosalind Anna Louise born at Hessle Yorkshire 10 June 1887 died at Harrow 16 December 1973 Warman 1946 turf mound large headstone
F 13 Amanda Hazel Warrand (1 day) 1934 1 day Warrand 1934 open soil; small small white marble headstone
D 9 William Wayman 1870 Wayman 1870 level turf stone headstone and footstone
F 62 Alice May Weatherall 1934 Weatherall 1934 crazy paving stone slab curb and small headstone
F 34 Harry Luca Webb 1940 Webb 1940 flat slabs; planted. Four small fir trees at corners granite headstone and curb
G 168 John Webster 1835 Webster 1835 level turf stone headstone and footstone
G 47 Mary Welch 1836; Ann Craft 1837; Catherine Craft 1826; Ann Wright 1837; Mary Ann Craft 1837 Welch; Craft; Wright 1836; 1837; 1826; 1837; 1837 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 138 Edward Weller 1826 Weller 1826 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 147 Thomas Weller 1823; Charlotte Weller 1843; Elizabeth Prendible (Islington) 1857;
Mary Treacher 1830		 Weller; Prendible; Treacher 1823; 1843; 1857; 1830 turf mound stone headstone and slab
G 74 Emily Anne Weston March 15 1908 26 years Weston 1908 marble chippings tall white marble headstone and curb
D 14 Susannah Wethered 1718; Edward Wethered 1719 (of Marlow) Wethered 1718; 1719 covered by stome monument large stone monument 7ft x 3ft x 3ft under east window
 F Michael White
infant 26 April 1954; Margaret Joy 1925-1977; Oliver ‘Paddy’ White
1921-2008		 White 1954; 1977; 2008 large headstone and separate small plaque on grave to Oliver Joseph White died 6th October 2008 aged 87 years (by horse chestnut)
G 72* Carinthia Heigh Whiteman Whiteman 03-Sep-71 near no 72 headstone
F 67 Trevor Whitley-Jones;

Ernest Whitely-Jones 1890-1965;

Beatrice Eva Whitely-Jones 1895-1982

  

8 years

 

 

 

 Whitley-Jones raised soil; planted white marble slab curb and bird bath; in 2014 the memorial is a large slab and kerbs; and Trevor’s name is on bird bath
G 152 Wilkins Wilkins turf mound
G 16 Harriet Wilks 1894 Wilks 1894 turf mound old wood rail
F 72 Mrs Vaughan Williams Williams soil mound
G 64 Thomas Williamson1890; Catherine Williamson 1913 Williamson 1890; 1913 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
G 50 Elizabeth Williamson 1887; Michael Cutler 1909; Francis Williamson 1913 Williamson; Cutler 1887; 1909; 1913 turf mound stone headstone and footstone
A 40 Stephen Wingrave 1877 Wingrave 1877 turf mound old wood rail
G 55 Charles Wingrove 1912; Emily Wingrove 1915 Wingrove 1912; 1915 level turf white marble headtsone and curb
G 98 Elizabeth Winter 1728; John Winter 1728 Winter 1728; 1728 plain turf; level stone headstone and footstone
G 99 John Winter 1773; Mary Winter 1761 Winter 1773; 1761 plain turf; level stone headstone and footstone
G 100 Elzabeth Winter 1804 Winter 1804 plain turf; level stone headstone and footstone
G 101 William Winter 1807 Winter 1807 plain turf; level stone headstone and footstone
F 70 Horace Wise 1947 Wise 1947 soil mound
G 159 James Witney 1871 Witney 1871 level turf old wood rail
A 3 Richard Edward Woodhouse 6 years Woodhouse 1887 level turf stone cross and footstone
F 27 Major Edward George Wynyard 1936; wife Sarah Louise Wynyard 24 November 1972 Wynyard 1936 crazy paving and planted granite cross and curb; curbs no longer survive in 2014
F 51 Frances Young 1942 Young 1942 raised soil; planted stone headstone and curb

 The PDF links below take you to printable PDF files which show the 2014 revision of the 1947 survey.

Old Churchyard Burials, sorted by Name, opens as a PDF in new window

Old Churchyard Burials, 1947 Plan, PDF opens in new window.

This entry was first published by .

Herbert Druce 1915 – 2024

Herbie Druce was born and lived in Penn and died 7th May 2024 aged 109, the fifth oldest man in England. His funeral was held at Holy Trinity, Penn 3rd June 2024, followed by burial in the churchyard with his late wife Gwen.

His grandson, Jonathan Farnsworth and his nephews, Miles Collinge and Paul, spoke at his funeral, and their tributes are printed below.

Tribute by grandson, Jonathan Farnsworth

Family and friends, We gather today, not only to say farewell to a remarkable man, but also to celebrate a life of love, laughter and generosity. Today, we remember and honour my Grandad, Herbert, or Drum, as he was known to many.

He was born at Meadowcroft Cottage, Beacon Hill, Penn, not very far from here, on January the 6th 1915. He passed away on May the 7th this year at 109 and 122 days. This not only made him the oldest person in Leicestershire but the fifth oldest man in the UK. He was getting quite tired of all the birthday cards from the Royal Family!

Growing up, Grandad had a younger brother, Ernie, along with two half-brothers, Harry and Albert Greaves. His father, a general carrier, rented the 2 ½ acre meadow behind their cottage where he grew all kinds of fruit for Covent Garden Market.

Shortly after his fifth birthday, he started his education at Penn School across the road. At the time the only heating they had was a coal fire in each room; it was still the same when he left. For years, there was no connection to the water mains, and the toilets were outside. Hot dinners could be had for tuppence-halfpenny a day.

When he was about 7 he was moved up to spend the rest of his school days with the headteacher, a very strict but very fair teacher, who he liked very much. He was always happy to go to school. Reverend Mumford, his scripture examiner, later became the Vicar of Penn.

Apart from the three Rs, Grandad also studied history, geography, nature, hygiene, art, leatherwork, country dancing and poetry. He could still recite Longfellow from memory one hundred years after he first learned it. All in all, it was a varied education and happy years spent at Penn Church of England School.

As a youngster, Grandad did errands for the villagers, going to High Wycombe, shopping for them and going on his father’s horse and cart to Beaconsfield to collect packages from the station. He would often sit on the wall of the Crown Inn (right across the street from where we are now) looking after the horses while the carrier was inside. His father died when he was 11, and although two of the local gentry offered to pay his fees to the grammar school, his mother needed him to go to work, and so he left school at age 14.

He started work at the blacksmith’s forge opposite his home in Beacon Hill before the introduction of the motor car. He looked after the horses and mended saucepans and kettles, put tyres on prams, charged radio batteries, replaced oil lamp wicks and even stood in on the milk round on several occasions. At one time he used to know everybody in Penn and Tylers Green.

After a few years the forge became Slade’s Garage. He spent time in the garage side of the building, eventually working on cars, vans and motorcycles. At that time, George Slade, the owner, took part in long distance trials, riding a motorcycle and sidecar. On one occasion he rode from Slough to Land’s End with his 15-year-old apprentice. That apprentice was Grandad.

He worked in the garage until 1940 when the government appealed for men for the aircraft industry to help the war effort. He volunteered for the RAF but was turned down. So, as a mechanic, he went to work at Heston Aircraft factory in Slough. After 2 years he was transferred to their High Wycombe disposal factory, where he remained until the Wellington bomber was phased out. The government then directed him into transport at one of the major operators in High Wycombe eventually taking charge of the workshop. He stayed there for some years until one day he received a letter from Mr Slade asking if he would consider going back to the garage. He accepted the offer and stayed at Slade’s as head mechanic; serving residents with petrol and repairing their cars until his retirement.

Grandad was caring and thoughtful. Rosemary remembers once when they had a heavy snowfall, and without hesitation or prompting, he went straight to the houses of the local doctors and fitted snow chains on their tyres so that they were able to get to their patients.

He met his wife Gwen at the local Saturday dance in Tylers Green. They were married here at Penn Church in 1945 and were the first couple to be married by the vicar – Reverend Muspratt. After marrying Gwen, he moved from Beacon Hill to Coppice Farm to live with Gwen’s parents. There, they had two daughters, Rosemary in 1948 and Sue in 1950. Then in 1952 they bought their own house, Thanet, on Penn Road, where he stayed for 70 years.

His daughter Rosemary has many happy memories of him when she was growing up. She cherishes memories of the happy Sunday afternoons where the family would go on picnics at Christmas Common with her cousins Miles, Paul and Gina. She remembers how her Dad would come home from work and say he’d had “a good day”. That meant he’d had some good tips from very appreciative customers.

He loved his garden, growing flowers and lots of vegetables. He was particularly fond of his sweet-peas and whenever we visited during school holidays there were always fresh vegetables. I’ve eaten enough of his home grown carrots that I’ve still got 20/20 vision in my 40s. He continued with a bit of gardening into his hundreds; I was still receiving my tomato saplings from him at 107. In his later years he took up darning, made pastry for his mince pies, and got his chicken casserole down to a tee.

He spent many holidays with his family at Weymouth enjoying the beach and walks along the front and sometimes a game of pitch and putt with the girls after their evening meal. He and Gwen loved to walk along the Thames at Marlow on a Sunday afternoon meeting up with family.
The only time he went abroad was to go to Keukonhof Gardens in Amsterdam to see the tulip fields. They both enjoyed holidays with mountains and scenery and as they aged would join us on our holidays to the Lake District and Snowdonia. Squeezing 6 of us in the same car with all the luggage was quite a feat. He always enjoyed a good laugh, good food, being with family and friends and to reminisce about Penn and its villagers.

This church, where we are all gathered today, was an essential piece of Grandad’s life. He was a member of the choir here for 60 years, from the time he was 7 years old. Besides being a chorister, he started as a candle boy and later became a crucifer carrying the cross at the head of the procession. At 14 he started bell ringing, becoming a life member of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers and tower captain.

One day in 1965 he came back from bell ringing and told his daughter Rosemary that a nice young man had started bell ringing at the tower. In 1974 that nice young man became his son-in-law, and someone whose Mini van would provide endless hours of mechanical tinkering opportunities.

After 50 years of bell-ringing he had to retire due to arthritis in his hands. In honour of his 100th birthday the bell ringers rang a special quarter-peal. After the quarter peal, he tolled the treble (his bell) with Alison Bailey.

At 107, it was unfortunately time for him to leave Penn and move to a care home near his family in Leicestershire. This enabled me to spend many a Sunday afternoon with him. My last visit with him was a typical one; we finished the nature documentary he was watching and then I showed him pictures of a walk I’d just been on through some bluebell woods. We got into talking about food and then he came out with his usual catchphrase “you’d better get the board down so we can have a game”. We both enjoyed a game of Scrabble and at 109 he was still as sharp as anything.

Over the course of such a remarkably long life, there have been many people who have had an impact on Grandad’s life and deserve a mention in his eulogy. I am unfortunately unable to name everyone who meant a great deal to him. Most notably, Grandad was predeceased by his beloved daughter Sue who was killed in 1989 in a school coach crash and by his cherished
wife Gwen, who passed away in 2005 just before her 90th birthday and their diamond wedding anniversary.

He is survived by his daughter Rosemary, his son-in-law Martin, his grandsons Daniel and me and his two great-grandsons. He was 95 years old when he became a great-grandfather when Issac was born, with Eli following shortly after. A boy whose great-grandfather is 95 at the time of his birth usually doesn’t expect to have a full 14 years with him, but Grandad delivered.

Grandad also leaves behind many loved ones like his nephews Miles and Paul and their families as well as his much-loved neighbour Julie, whose friendship and support allowed him to stay in his own home for so long.

He was loved by many and we will all miss him and his comforting presence. He will forever be in our hearts and minds. I will have fond memories every time I eat a carrot, attempt to grow a tomato plant, play a game of Scrabble, sneak a cheeky jam sandwich, enjoy lamb shanks or take a walk through the woods. And as we say goodbye, with heavy hearts, we remember the  humour and happiness he brought into our lives. And if you were wondering how that final game of Scrabble played out… He won!

Jonathan Farnsworth, 3rd June 2024

Tribute to Herbert Ephraim Druce by nephew Miles Collinge

My name is Miles Collinge and I am Herbert’s eldest nephew. But I will refer to him as Uncle Drum, as many of us knew him. He was my favourite uncle, confidant and friend. None of us really knew where Uncle Drum’s name came from, but we think that his girlfriend, and later his wife Aunty Gwen, referred to him as her little drummer boy, possibly because he looked, listened, danced and played to her tune!

Uncle Drum was born on January 6th, 1915. He had two half-brothers and a younger brother Ernie. He married my mother’s sister, Aunty Gwen in 1945. I was a page boy, just 3 years old, and I still remember it well.

Drum was born close by in Beacon Hill. He worked at Slades Garage all his working life. He was a regular of this church for more than 70 years. He loved to sing and was a member of the choir and a bell ringer and attended the local church school opposite. He told me it had very few pupils but despite its elementary education, he was successful at passing the entrance exam to the local grammar school. He had a lady sponsor, but unfortunately his mother said she could not afford the cost, and therefore he left school at the age of 14. He started as an apprentice at the local blacksmiths, ‘Slades’. As cars became more popular in the 1920s and 1930s, Slades converted into a garage and Uncle Drum trained as one of its first motor mechanics.

Uncle Drum was a country man at heart who loved to live out of this garden (this no doubt contributed to his long and healthy life). As well as his garden, church, and singing, he also loved cars and this is probably the reason for his love of Buckinghamshire’s countryside. Amazingly he stayed at Slades Garage as the senior mechanic and foreman for over 40 years, although during the war he also worked at Heston Aerodrome which included critical work on the Spitfires. He later moved to a factory in High Wycombe.

I learnt a great deal when growing up from Uncle Drum. Undoubtedly, he was a graduate of the University of Life. A lot of this was due to his upbringing, his intelligence, communication and engineering skills. He helped my grandfather when as an extended family, we lived at Coppice Farm. He was always there for haymaking, fruit picking and the rearing of the livestock including cows, pigs, goats, chickens and rabbits. In those days we all mucked in, as we lived out and off this very small family farm. Sadly my mother’s parents, my grandparents were made homeless when the Council forced through a compulsory purchase of the farm, later to be built for housing, and as a consequence they moved in for a time with Uncle Drum and Aunty Gwen at their house ‘Thanet’ on Penn Road. By then my parents had bought Kenley Kot close by on Hazlemere Road and were able to share the housing of my grandparents. The loss of my grandparents’ farm was a sad chapter, but our two families were very close and Uncle Drum played a leading role in caring for our extended family. These were happy times – lots of fun and laughter, big family parties, fruit picking, games playing. Every now and again however, Uncle Drum had to show his strength of character, keeping an eye on two robust boys. My brother Paul and I were more than capable of causing …. One word for it might be ….. disruption …….. but his two daughters Rosemary and Sue, although perfect by comparison would stop off on a Sunday morning, often full of mischief and laughter, interrupting our Sunday morning lie-ins on their way to church. Uncle Drum would always take charge on bonfire nights, and there were many events where he took a fatherly and leading role.

His love of cars stayed with him throughout his life. Slades Garage was at the centre of the village and because of his willing and helpful nature, not to mention his skills under an open bonnet, Uncle Drum was popular with everyone. ‘Bluebell’ Slade and her husband Len Gibbs were popular racing drivers at Silverstone, and Uncle Drum’s skills were invaluable, not only to them, but to everyone in the village. For me, in his spare time, he would arrive in navy blue dungarees every evening one summer to rebuild my first car (a pre-war Morris eight). He had bought it for me for £30 and no doubt it would be worth a lot more today, but I sadly redesigned it at the crossroads in Penn Bottom.

I know that one of his proudest moments was when the new owners of Slades Garage collected him on his 100th birthday in one of their Bentleys to visit their new showroom and garage. That was a very big deal for my Uncle who had played a key role in the life and evolution of this garage.

As a people person, Uncle Drum was always popular. Those who knew him well will always remember the twinkle in his eye. He was friends with some of the most influential people in the village. One of the most amazing and amusing memories I have was on his 100th birthday. The Church bells were rung for him and a birthday tea held in the parish hall opposite. When I arrived to collect him, he was to be seen proudly striding high, escorted across the road by Dame Mary Berry.

There are so many stories, but Uncle Drum and the entire family had to face tragedy too. The loss of their second daughter Sue in 1989 was traumatic. Sue was a talented artist and teacher. She was leading a school party to the coast and was sitting upfront in the coach when the driver lost control. Sue’s death hit my aunt and uncle very hard. Uncle Drum bore the strain of the inquest with quiet fortitude. Undoubtedly, Sue’s untimely passing brought a deep sadness to Aunty Gwen and Uncle Drum. My Aunt made a good age herself, passing away in hospital at 90 in 2005. My uncle would visit every day. He read his Bible every day, and this seemed to boost his inner strength. He was always a good man who lacked any malice.

As a father, grandfather and uncle he was much respected and loved within the family. His years living alone were long, but he read every day and he thought a lot. He was very lucky in having a lovely lady who lived next door Julie, who would visit him throughout the day providing care and support. Julie’s husband John too was always there in times of need to help. Uncle Drum loved seeing their daughters grow up, get married and he nursed their babies with gentle tenderness.

Rosemary would phone him every day and her support and love was always there. He still managed to see her family frequently, including his grandsons Jonathan and Daniel and their families, during visits to Leicester. Eventually, he decided he needed to move closer and relocated to a local care home near Rosemary and Martin. The staff were kind and very supportive, but I know that he missed his home and the village of Penn. Rosemary visited him frequently and Jonathan his Grandson came to see him most Sundays to play Uncle Drum’s favourite game of Scrabble. Extraordinarily, just over a week before he died he managed to beat Jonathan (no mean feat).

I have tried to give you a glimpse into Uncle Drum’s life. To his family and friends he projected a positive enthusiasm for life. Even my wife Jean, my son and daughter Graeme and Nicola say he never changed and remarkably always seemed to look the same. Even his hair stayed a lighter shade of brown and his face showed little sign of his advanced years. Remarkably, when being interviewed on his 108th birthday, he was asked to provide one word to describe his long life and great age – and he replied ‘Contentment’, with a wink and a twinkle in his eye.

Uncle Drum, as in the days of old, lived a country life, and I tip my hat to him. He made the amazing age of 109, by the time he passed, I believe the 5th oldest in the country, but more than that, he was an extraordinary man of Penn.

Miles Collinge, 3rd June 2024

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