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Maisie and Charlie Baker Part 3

This is the third and final 'Times Remembered' of Charlie and Maisie Baker. Last month we concentrated on Charlie and, therefore, it is now Maisie's turn.

In 1945 Maisie gave birth to David and became the Secretary of the WI, a post she held for several years. Meetings used to be held in the old Police House in Wilton Road. In 1951 Ann was born and Maisie was a Divisional Officer in the St. Johns. They used to meet at the old school where Dr Burgess did the teaching. Exams were held twice a year at Feltwell RAF camp hospital. Supplies had to be purchased by fundraising.

Maisie was on the Parish Council for two years when Mr Porter Snr. was in the Chair. She remembers that it was decided to put a penny on the rates for one year. "I can't remember what it was for, anyway Mr Tom Spencer stopped me in the street one day and shouted at me "Do you know how much it is going to cost me?" I declined to answer. "It is going to cost me over £6.00 extra," he said."

Maisie was one of the founder members of the Archaeological and Historical Society with 'Pip' Orange. During this time she recalls that she decided to get rid of the rubbish dump at the cemetery. "This consisted of old wire, broken glass and two-foot high nettles. This dump was set alight now and then by Mr E. Vine to try and reduce the amount of rubbish. I borrowed a wheelbarrow from the farm and set about the task. The rubbish was bagged up and then soil was put onto the sunken graves. I levelled the site and seeded it. The site is now being used for ashes. The Parish Council bought dustbins to put the rubbish in but these had to be emptied into sacks every week and put out to the dustcart. Finding enough sacks was always a problem. I asked Mr Porter if he had any and he invited me to go to the farm and take as many yellow manure sacks as I wished. I then decided to ask the Council to have a skip placed there to save all the work with the bins. This suggestion was soon turned down saying it would cost too much. What happened to the bins? When a skip was eventually put there they were put in it!" She was responsible for putting a seat up there and the Society put up a second one.

A highlight of her life came when she was asked to represent the WI when the war graves cross was dedicated. Maisie has always been an active voluntary worker having helped the Salvation Army, the WVS and currently the St Nicholas Hospice in Bury and manages to squeeze in playing bowls at County level.

Since our interview Maisie and Charlie have recalled some additional incidents which I reproduce here in chronological order, Maisie first. Paul.

Maisie's first job was with Caleys Chocolate factory in Norwich during the war on shifts 6am-2pm, 2pm-10pm alternative weeks. "One minute late and ¼ hour would be taken off your pay packet, clocking in early wouldn't get any benefit. And all for a weekly wage of 10/- (50p). I first wrapped Rolos by hand then went on to the Rolo wrapping machine. We where allowed to eat as many as we liked (I still like them). I then operated a wrapping machine dealing with chocolate for the forces. These bars could not be bought in the shops.

Whilst in the Land Army Maisie recalls that "During the winter the cows where fed frozen kale stalks. These I would cut with a long hook, load them onto the trailer and then take them to the meadow where the cows where. The tractor would go on its own whilst I jumped on the trailer and forked the frozen kale out to the cows, and then got onto the tractor again. I drove an Allis Chalmers tractor that was started on petrol then switched over to paraffin. There was nothing in the way of safety for the driver in those days."

And Maisie's final thought. "I wonder if anyone still has any of the National Savings Stamps. People mostly bought the 2/6d ones and stuck them onto a card. I used to go round Western Close every Friday night selling these saving stamps."

Charlie remembers that "to try and stop the fen blow willow trees where planted along the dykes and poplar trees where planted near the huts. Meals could not be eaten until late as the tables in the canteen where covered in fen dust. The main meal consisted of meat and plenty of potatoes. Porridge for breakfast. Sometimes I cycled to the village fish and chip shop and collected 15 lots and carried them on my back in a haversack. Francis Secker, Eric's sister, served in the shop owned by Mr and Mrs Wortley. Fish and chips cost about 6d (2 ½ p)."

Having joined the Specials in 1951 Charlie recalls one particular incident whilst on duty in St Mary's Street at the wedding of Mr Jones, the farmer. "I was told to keep the street clear of traffic, but nobody seemed to own the rusty van which stood there. I asked the local shopkeepers and people standing nearby but they did not know its owner. After the wedding the owner did appear, it was the Rector from Methwold who had performed the ceremony."

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