Winter 2010 - Ascott-under-Wychwood

Burford Grammar School, the first in
is family to do so. He obtained a good
level of education and achieved good
marks in his exams before leaving to
work full time on the family farm.
Farm life in those days was very
different and Cyril spent many hours in
all weathers walking behind a pair of
horses doing all the things that would
later be done by tractor. He would also
remember the time when the family
had cows that were hand milked and
delivering milk to the local people with
a churn on a handcart. People would
come out and buy fresh milk by the
jug, no bottles or pasteurisation in
those days. There was a pig
sty in the garden of the cottage
where there were always
pigs being reared for
the table.
During the Second
World War, Cyril served in
the Home Guard. He tested
to become a rear
gunner/radio operator with
the RAF but could not take
it up as he was in a reserved
occupation.
Cyril played football
for the village as a young
man and also was a regular
in the cricket team for many
years. He continued to play
various sports for the village
throughout his life, playing
cribbage and dominoes until
recent years.
In 1956, Cyril married Kathleen
Holloway from Chadlington and they
went on to have two children, a daughter
Valerie and a son Peter who continues
to live in the village.
Cyril had many memories of life in
the village including playing football
by moonlight on the village green, no
street lights in those days, and a van
calling by giving away samples of tobacco
which would halt the football as
the lads all left to try their free samples.
Cyril died in Ascott on the 16 th
September 2009, aged 86 years.
Valerie Weedon
Peter Edginton
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