Herald - Issue 405

Page 6 • The HERALD • 22nd April 2021 v PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 26 YEARS v Waterside Furnishings & Re-Upholstery 023 8020 7895 16 Marsh Parade, Hythe (Opposite Hythe Club) Est 2006 RE-UPHOLSTERY NEW AND USED FURNITURE NEW AND USED FURNITURE RE-UPHOLSTERY ALL ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL WORK UNDERTAKEN • Full Rewires • New Circuits • Consumer Unit Replacements • Test and Inspection • Landlord Certification • Smart Homes • Central Heating Controls 023 8089 0932 or 07534 343631 www.alnelectrical.co.uk info@alnelectrical.co.uk SOLENT SKIP HIRE FOR ALL YOUR COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC WASTE MINI ~ MIDI ~ MAXI EXTRA REACH VEHICLES WE COVER YOUR AREA 023 8066 0123 Email: solent.skiphire@btconnect.com • J ewellers • W atchmakers J. COLLINS & SON Proudly Serving the Waterside since 1972 10 Marsh Parade, Hythe, Southampton, Hants Tel: (023) 8084 3074 WE ARE KEEN TO BUY ALL SECONDHAND JEWELLERY, SCRAP GOLD Stockists of large range of gold, silver and gem set jewellery M ain A gents for C itizen , R otary , P ulsar , L orus W atches and S eiko C locks Kit Heath & Hot Diamond Silver Jewellery Stockists Secondhand Jewellery for Sale Our Professional Services include Jewellery & Watch Repairs, Re-Stringing, Ear Piercing Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH A BLAST FROM THE PAST – JOHN PUSEY OF HARDLEY LANE by Robin Somes, Fawley & Blackfield Memories Group John Pusey was born in 1869 at Hardley, son of Albert Pusey and Emily South (both well-known local surnames). Like his father, he became a woodcutter on Cadland Estate, marrying Florence Sainsbury in 1896. Unusually for the time, both were 40 when their daughter, Ruby, was born in 1909. Like many others, the family emigrated to Canada in 1913, settling in Weston, Ontario. John intended to continue working as a woodman there, though he later worked as a labourer in a steel plant. John joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in July 1915. At 45, he was over enlistment age, but was enlisted nonetheless, and sent to serve in France. It’s unlikely he saw much action; a medical in 1916 showed an irregular heartbeat, putting him on permanent light duties. Later that year, further heart problems returned him to base; nally, in 1917 he was discharged, with a note saying: “ This man should never have been enlisted ”. Lilian & John Pusey outside Thatched Cottage in Hardley Lane Returning to Canada, he resumed his previous labouring work, until Florence died in July 1921, aged 51. The following year, he and Ruby returned to Britain; he took up his old woodman’s job at Hardley, living in a tiny cottage on Hardley Lane – the track running from Netley View towards Frost Lane. My Smith ancestors had already known the Puseys’ almost 25 years; all were devout Methodists, and through their churchgoing he formed a relationship with my great aunt, Lilian Smith. Despite her being 20 years younger, they married in 1926. Visits to the Puseys’ cottage were much loved by my mother and her siblings, who rampaged through the Cadland woods, only just overseen by the loving, if somewhat eccentric, Lilian. Tragically, John was killed in a work accident in April 1929. While unloading a cart, his horse bolted; John was thrown from the cart, and broke his neck, dying soon a er. An inquest, held at the Forest Home pub, ruled it was Accidental Death, and the jury donated their fees to the widow. John was buried at Fawley Wesleyan Chapel, and his obituary paid tribute to “ His cheery disposition, his uprightness, his unflinching stand for all that was good and true ”. Lilian remained at “ atched Cottage” until her death in 1950; perhaps her story will be told another day.