We are one year old with a pictorial cake!

The 1st of August!
One year old today.
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Yes, it all began a year ago, I knew that I had started it somewhere around this date but it was not until I checked back that I discovered the actual date. It has been a very interesting time searching through the historical files. Also I wish to thank those good people who have given me quite a lot of help together with old photographs and have been able to supply the facts when required. A great many are like myself found our lives took us away to many of the Commonwealth Country's and even the United States of America. Anyway we will still carry on as I still have a lot more to cover and looking for those who used to live in the Village during the war years.

More yet to come on the Volunteer Fire Brigade.

"Sir Roger" The Type 'N' Dennis Fire Engine.

A copy of "Sir Roger."
A Dennis Type 'N' Ladder Pumper unit.

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There are no records available at this time as to the whereabouts of this wonderful fire engine today, which served the village of Cookham for so many years. Maybe that someone reading this Blog will have knowledge of this fact. The licence number of YM 9050 I would think would still be with it. I will go into its technical details in another section of this at a later date.

From details that I have been able to glean from other sources the purchace price was somewhere in the region of £875-0-0. It came with three sections of suction hose and filter basket. There was 1000 feet of delivery hose with quick disconnect couplings.

With this unit the members used to do regular practice at various points in the Cookham's. They had a plan worked out on how they would tackle a fire in any of the village buildings should it arise, nothing was left to maybe or chance. The main problem was where they could get their closest water supply, if there was no stand pipe or water main. From all this pre-planning and practice the Cookham Volunteer Fire Brigade entered many competitions and carried off many a shield and cups. They would show off their skills at the annual village Flower Show every year up until the war.

Not only did they serve the village, during the war saw service in both the London and Southampton Blitz. Having solid rubber tyres Sir Roger never suffered from punctures like other units on the scene. Also at harvest time these men during the war turned out to gather in the wheat, oats and barley.

The Cookham Volunteer Fire Brigade.

The Cookham Volunteer Fire Brigade.

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On the 6th of September 2008 I posted a little history on how the Village Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed. As it looks as if the Village Fire Brigade is to be made redundant, due in some part for the lack of volunteer members to join in and help.

In the photo above is seen at the old Fire Station just behind the White Hart in Terry's Lane, on the occasion of the reception of the new Dennis "N" Type Fire Ladder & Pumper unit.

"Sir Roger" was the name given to the new fire engine in honour of the benefactor who presented it to the village. It became the pride and joy of First Officer Fred Robinson, who ran his own local garage business, and it received all the loving care as if it was part of the family.

Back in his Tree Cottage Studio.

Self Portrait at Tree Cottage.

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Gilbert Spencer loved to work in his garden studio at Upper Basildon from articles that have been written about him from various sources. I think that most artists try at least once to paint a self portrait during their life time. In this case he did paint two that I know of, but this one at Tree Cottage is a more mature and finished canvas.

The Village Allotments.

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There is no known location for the painting of the Village Allotments, they could be anywhere or like his painting of a Cotswold Farmyard, be completed from a series of sketches and completed at his garden studio.

This wraps up what I have on an artist that had to live under the shadow of a famous brother. Still his work and output was not wanting, and I am sure that those who studied under his teaching, received great benefit and knowledge.

Progress of Husbandry.

Progress of Husbandry.

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Gilbert painted this picture in 1964 to capture in my belief the passing of some old methods in farming and country ways. The advance in mechinization in farming in the post war period was taking hold very rapidly.

Tree Cottage, Upper Basildon.

Tree Cottage, Upper Basildon.

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In his retiring years, if an artist ever retires? Gilbert Spencer bought a house in Upper Basildon, Berkshire, having moved down from his London home in Hampstead. The house was and is still called "Tree Cottage." It is situated on Bethseda Street.

The Back Garden (a recent photo.)

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The back garden as it can be seen today in a very recent photograph. Then there is Gilbert's painting below of the same view a few years before from his little garden studio, which he enjoyed working in.

The Pencil on Paper.

Pencil on Paper Sketches.

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While Gilbert Spencer was working in and around Oxford on various commissions, he did produce quite a few pencil and paper sketches in preparation for a particular work or mural, as in the case of the one at Holywell Manor.

The pair above I believe to be of two Oxford Don’s of that time, but I can’t be sure of their names.

Tolpuddle Martyrs.

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Another sketch around the same time is his thoughts on the “The Tolpuddle Martyrs.”

“The Tolpuddle Martyrs,” were a group of 19th century British labourers who were arrested for and convicted of swearing a secret oath as members of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers. The rules of the society show it was clearly structured as a friendly society and operated as a trade-specific benefit society. But at the time, friendly societies had strong elements of what we now consider to be the predominant role of trade unions. The Tolpuddle Martyrs were subsequently sentenced to transportation to Australia.