Page 24 - Frittenden Parish Mag - July - 2021

Village News Village News

Gosbee’s Cambridge another 21 year old, having graduated On 23rd July, Hazel and I celebrate our Silver Wedding I attended the Trinity outdoor church service in the
from Homerton College as a Maths and Physical
Anniversary. We married in 1996, but Hazel and
Paddock on 30th May . It was also our Rector Pete
Education Secondary School teacher was embarking
Deaves’s birthday. It was a great atmosphere, and lovely
Richard (who was 3 then) moved into Manor Farm
on her teaching journey. This Kentish Maid, taking on 11th April 1987 to enrich my life. Our wedding to see everyone and to sing together.
what was meant to be a ‘ holiday’ job, applied day started with a violent thunder storm, but luckily The delayed Olympics will start in Tokyo on 23rd July.
Gossip for a Managerial position at the newly created it cleared up by late morning, which was lucky Tokyo is 8 hours ahead of London, another chance
International Students’ Hostel run by Lee Abbey.
because Hazel and her dad were making their way
And so the journey began...The Lord moves in to Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone in an old open to watch sport with your favourite tipple at the Bell
mysterious ways and the likelihood of the two of us top car that was kindly lent to us by Lawrence and and Jorrocks
Lester Gosbee ever meeting is so remote that we can but wonder at Sharon Price, and was driven by Hazel’s brother George The Government is allowing landowners to let people
God’s plan. As we look back over the past 50 years Collins. Richard, who was 12 by then, was my Best camp/ caravan on their land for 56 days of the year, so
(not all of them golden!) we give thanks for all the Man. It was a very hot, humid day and I remember if you fancy a cheap holiday in the countryside, your
We were all very shocked and saddened to hear of the blessings we have received along the way,5 beautiful struggling to get the ring on Hazel’s finger. We both had luck is in. We have a small Caravan Club certificated
sudden and untimely loss of Simon Triggs. Simon children, 5 wonderful sons or daughters’ in laws.11 a fit of the giggles. Our reception was held in Frittenden Location (CL) on Manor Farm, charging the cost of
was always very chatty and often asked me what the fabulous grandchildren We are blessed indeed. Memorial Hall, and my Best Man (Richard) did a great a pint to stay for a night. Wishing everyone a safe
weather was going to be like if they were going away. speech that was written by Uncle George. Ron Lobeck, summer, even if it is a staycation.
Hazel used to look after Mila and Thomas when Judy Staples sent me the following about how she and who was the weatherman on Meridian TV came to
they were younger. We send our love and heartfelt Tony met... the reception. He used to get me to do the odd cameo And in memory of Ian Michael Gladders.
sympathy to Jules, Tom and Mila. Judy and Tony met at university in 1967. Both role on his weather reports a couple of times. He had Ian was born in Loose, Maidstone on the 16th
On a happier note, congratulations to Judy and came from state grammar schools, and felt very a weather chart of our wedding day framed as a March 1936 son of Arthur and Sisi and brother to
Tony Staples and Isobel and Mack Mehrabian who fortunate and (in Judy’s case at least) surprised present. He is now 85 years old and I am still in contact Peter. He was educated at Sutton Valance School
celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversaries on to be accepted by Oxford. Just read Modern with him. and then on to Seale Hayne agricultural collage
the same day 10th July. Languages at Somerville, while Tony studies I have still got my long locks of blond hair. I plan to to pursue a career in farming. He met Gillian
Biochemistry at St Peter’s.
Isobel told me that on 10th July 1971, temperatures have it dyed the seven colours of the rainbow to try to Barling at Staplehurst cricket club, daughter of
reached 31 c/ 87.80 f. That July, the Central Their paths crossed alphabetically: rooms at raise some money for Dementia UK, a cruel disease Len who farmed Maplehurst farm, Frittenden.
that affects so many families.
England Temperature was 16.9 c/ 62.61 f, the highest Somerville were allocated in alphabetical order, so He chaperoned them on their first date to the Bell
CET for any month since August 1959 when it was 17.2 Judy (maiden name Bennett) found herself next I saw a quote from David Attenborough, which I and Jorrocks (known as the Bell in those days).
c/ 62.96f. door to a friendly biochemist with a “B” surname. thought that was very relevant to life now: They were married at Staplehurst church in 1960
Somerville and St Peter’s had adjacent benches and then went to live and farm at Lake farm in
Isobel sent me the following about how she and in the Inorganic Chemistry lab, again because of If you collect 100 black ants and 100 fire ants and put Chart Sutton where they had two children Robert
Mack met... alphabetical allocation – and socialising began. them in a glass jar, nothing will happen. If you shake and Sarah. Ian had a small dairy heard and grew a
In the summer of 1969 an English lecturer from a They found they had various things in common: the jar violently and leave it on a table, the ants will variety of crops and soft fruit and bought fruit from
London University was standing in a multi million church allegiance, music, reading, a love of gardening start killing each other. Red believes that black is the the trees which was sent to the market via Hazel
enemy and while black believes that red is the enemy,
pound factory the outskirts of Tehran, Iran. He was and the countryside – and both became enthusiastic Gosbees father Peter Collins . Ian was a keen rugby
there as an expert, helping to set up new production if not proficient on the river in the college punts. when the real enemy is the person who shook the jar. player in his youth representing his school, college
lines. This company was owned by the brother in Judy introduced Tony to choral music and art The same is true in society. and Cranbrook Rugby Club, but later on took up
law of Empress Farah Diba, wife of the Shah of Iran. appreciation, and both enjoyed the developing early Men vs Women his wife Gills passion for horses in particular racing
The factory exported goods throughout the Near music scene in Oxford (James Bowman, Emma Black vs White and was a major part in the families achievements
and Middle East, India, Greece and Turkey. His Kirkby and others). Faith vs Science and rode successfully himself in point to points.
interpreter was a 21 year old Armenian employee. Young vs Old Etc Alongside farming he ventured into renovating
Before returning to the UK, the lecturer spoke to After Finals in 1969 Judy went to Germany for a and restoring country properties until 1997 when
the owner of the factory suggesting that he should year as a language assistant, while Tony completed Before we fight each other, we must ask ourselves...Who the family came to live at Hammerstream farm,
sponsor the interpreter to study at his University. his four-year course. Following Judy’s PGCE course shook the jar? then known as Little Hungerden. Ian and Gill
So that September Megerdoon Mehrabian was in Bristol, they marries in 1971, at St Andrew’s I do hope to watch some of the Euro football, maybe due to their origins felt that moving back to the
enrolled at the National Bakery School, now a part Church in Burgess Hill, Sussex (and in fact the England can win? I also enjoy Wimbledon tennis village was like coming home and fully enjoyed
of the University of the South Bank. He was housed two Somerville biochemists married two other St (28th June – 11th July) more than football, but that living their later years there. Ian and Gill had a
in an International Students Hostel, serving 180 Peter’s men). After two years in Dunton Green near is for just 2 weeks of the year. Of course, all will be charmed marriage of over 60 years together and he
overseas and Commonwealth students, in Lancaster Sevenoaks they moved to Frittenden – and here available to watch at the Bell and Jorrocks with a pint or will be sadly missed by Robert and Sarah and his
Gate W2 and run by Lee Abbey. Meanwhile in they stayed! glass of wine. grandchildren Charlie, Mary, Herbert and Edward.

24 Frittenden Parish Magazine July/August 2021 Frittenden Parish Magazine July/August 2021 25