This is Findon Village - Alf Pelling of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

...... My stepfather was a Turner from the family that owned the original Kingswood (the one you show is a replacement for the old demolished one).

I visit Findon occasionally and because my father was also a woodman I look for some of the old trees that used to exist. I wonder what happened for example to the very very old walnut tree that very few people knew was behind the village hall. It was worth a fortune for its furniture wood.....

The plays were the only source of entertainment in those days and were eagerly awaited by us all. I went to Findon Village School when the Headmistress was Frances Alexander, a tyrant who used to beat the orphans from Myrtle Grove unmercifully. However I remember almost every word of the stuff she taught us !

One of the most wonderful characters of the village was Alf Pelling. He was the Gamekeeper/Woodsman for the Windlesham House School Estate and the neighbouring farm.

I used to work with him in my school holidays. We used to cycle up from Findon in the early morning and clear trees, build fences and the like. (In fact one of the fences still stands on the south boundary of the school). He was a true son of the country, although he carried a shotgun he rarely used it. He could hit a rabbit on the run or a bird in flight with a stone nine times out of ten. He was not allowed to shy for coconuts when the fair visited as he would win one every throw.

He was very deaf and not normally a big talker. However his occupation and reserve hid a very intelligent mind and over our lunch he could be encouraged to philosophise on many surprising subjects.

I understand he passed away only relatively recently. How I regret not ever having recorded some of his thoughts on living in the country, wars, the class structure and others. I wonder how many other perceptive intellects were hidden in those days of fee paying advanced education ?

Of course there will be many relatives of Alf's still around the village who would probably know more about Alf than me, although spending several months working in such remote places as Seven Beeches (we rarely ever saw anybody else all day) I think I got to know him remarkably well.

Lawrie.

Lawrence May, Antigua, West Indies. .

1st May 2006

He had rabbit wires set round Cissbury and he used to watch Nancy Price go round with her stick and hook them out, he then followed her and reset them. One day he had 49 and wanted 50 so he picked up a stone and laid another one to rest (quite true) the butchers were delighted.

When Harris's fair came they use to play for 5 Woodbines as coconuts were not available, they asked Alf to stop as they were running out of prizes

Needless to say he played cricket for Findon at Washington recreation ground. He once took all 10 wickets while the double decker bus for Pulborough stayed on and watched.

John Pelling, Worthing, West Sussex.

2nd May 2006

Dear Valerie,

Alf Pelling

I was so pleased to see John’s e-mail about Alf’s throwing abilities. I very rarely tell people about them for fear of being accused of exaggeration !

When I used to work with Alf around Windlesham he would quite regularly get a rabbit for dinner with a flint picked from the ground. His aim and power was just phenomenal.

When I last went to Windlesham I saw that some of his fences are still standing after 45 years – a testimony to his craftsmanship and care with everything he did.

When we used to fell trees way over towards Storrington he would think nothing of getting on his tradesbike and cycling over to Tolemare and then down to Findon for petrol from Goatchers for the chain saw. Of course he was gone for hours but Alf lived in a wonderful calm world all of his own – a true countryman.

Lawrie May

Lawrence May, Antigua, West Indies.