The year was 1929. Gladys had been Headmistress of Sheinton and then Broseley Infants’ School for seven years. For six of those years she had been courted by Don Yates and in 1926 they had become officially engaged. Getting married would mean that Gladys would have to give up teaching and her independence, something she valued greatly! Don was a farmer like her parents and she had lived with the unpredictability of the farming life.But, finally in the Spring of 1929, they decided to marry at the end of the school year. The wedding date was set for 11 am on Sat Aug 3rd. This would be one week after school closed for the summer and fit between the hay and grain harvest. This time was chosen to fit between morning and evening milking; most of the guests would be farmers too!
The young couple’s new home would be the Brook House Farm, where Don had been born, although the family had moved to The George Inn after Don’s Grandmother’s death. However, the farm remained part of their family business and the Brook House itself had been divided into two separate dwellings for Don’s Aunt Edith and Uncle Harry.
The front half had been vacant since the death of Aunt Edith in 1922 and was still partially furnished.
The young couple’s only big purchase was a mahogany bedroom suite and a magnificent Victorian wardrobe. Of course, these were all bought from estate sales! The wardrobe was Gladys’ pride and joy though totally out of fashion at the time!In May Gladys handed in her notice! Her own father still felt they were rushing things and was concerned about her giving up such a good well-paying steady job! But Don and Gladys felt they had waited long enough! The marriage would take place in Tuck Hill Church, short walk from Gladys’ family home at Cherry Orchard Farm where the reception would be held. It was a busy week for the whole family preparing for the big day.
Cherry Orchard had three bedrooms and the three sisters shared the one room whilst Harry had a room to himself! On that fateful Friday evening Harry had hurtled off on his beloved motorbike immediately after supper as usual. Everyone else was glad to crawl into bed and were soon sleeping soundly.
Only Agnes, who doted on her brother, lay awake listening for the sound of Harry’s bike as he roared home from Bridgnorth on his motorcycle. It was a familiar ritual and Agnes knew the sound of Harry’s bike very well in the silence of a sleeping world where even the sounds of a horse and buggy travelled for miles!
About 12.30am Gladys and Suzy were roughly shaken awake by a terrified Agnes screeching that Harry must have had an accident! She had heard him come around the bend at the bottom of Broad Oak bank but then suddenly everything went silent and he had not arrived home! Susy and Gladys were sure she must be mistaken but Agnes was so frantic they all rushed out to look for him.
Agnes was right, Harry lay unconscious in the ditch at the bottom of Broad Oak with his motorbike some distance away. Susy ran to six Ashes Police Station to phone for an ambulance and Gladys ran to get their Mum and Dad. The latter had heard the noise they were making – sound travels far in the quiet of the countryside and was already dressed and harnessing the horses.
By the time the ambulance arrived all the family were by Harry’s side but could do nothing to help. He was taken to Bridgnorth hospital and Agnes and Gladys went with him in the ambulance still in their night clothes under a light coat. By now it was nearly milking time! Granny got up to milk at 4.45am so she and Grandad stayed home to see to the animals before following them to the hospital.
Harry was to remain unconscious for 5 full days!
On her planned wedding day morning Gladys phoned Wenlock Police Station from the hospital pay phone to ask them to go to the George and explain that the wedding was cancelled!
For the next 2 weeks Harry was never left alone. The girls took it in turns to stay with him night and day and Joseph and/or Susannah travelled in each morning and evening to visit their son and switch over the sisters so that he was never left alone.
On the Thursday following the accident, Agnes and Gladys were sitting with Harry on a beautiful bright summer day with the windows wide open and a dog started barking outside the hospital! Suddenly a voice from the bed said,
“Tell Mick to stop barking!”
Harry had finally started to regain consciousness. Ever dramatic, Agnes screamed and ran for the nurse, whilst Mum grabbed Harry’s hand and was rewarded with slight squeeze. From this point on Harry’s progress was steady and he was able to come home about 3 weeks later.
Don and Gladys rescheduled their wedding for Sept 12th. This would be after the grain harvest and they would be able to take their planned honeymoon to Weston-Super-Mare. After so much angst the wedding went off successfully!
They travelled by train to Weston-Super-Mare, a resort which Don knew very well for his Grandmother and Grandfather had retired there along with many of his Bodenham relatives. Apart from some of the war years his father and mother had visited the town for at least a week every year until his Grandmother’s death in 1924 and he had often accompanied them when he was younger.
It was a wonderful week, sea bathing (despite it being mid- September), sitting on the beach and strolling along the promenade or out along the pier. Every evening was spent at one of the Variety Shows or dancing in the Pier Ballroom, rare luxuries for country folk!
Altogether a lovely end to a frenetic summer!
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- Enjoying the beach
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- and the sea bathing!