Herald - Issue 416

Page 10 • The HERALD • 9th December 2021 v F @ heraldpublishing v All aspects of Plastering & General Decorating Covered Free Quotations Fully Insured Mobile 07941 255335 Phone: 023 8089 8324 parkesij@yahoo.co.uk www.ijs4plastering.co.uk • Digital Aerial & Satellite Installations • Repairs & Servicing • TV Distribution Points • TVWall Mounting & Installations • Freesat HD/Freeview HD • Sky, Sky+, Sky HD • SMATV & IRS Systems • DAB/FMAerial Installations CAI Company of the Year 2014 Humphries Digital Aerials Keith Humphries & Son All Areas Covered Tel: 023 8066 7362 Email: humphriesaerials@btconnect.com • Website: www.humphriesdigitalaerials.co.uk A Family Firm Est 1971 FLAT ROOFING SPECIALISTS All Roof Repairs Tel: 023 8184 5632 Mobile: 07880 508415 Email: steve@braithwaiteroo ng.co.uk THE FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST HANNAH’S ELECTRICS Your Local Female Electrician NEED AN ELECTRICIAN? From simple upgrades to complete house re-wiring - and everything in-between, Hannah’s Electrics is the perfect choice. A trusted tradeswoman with sensible rates covering Southampton, New Forest & Waterside areas CONTACT HANNAH 07585 778136 W: www.hannahs-electrics.co.uk • E: hannahelectrics@gmail.com Like us on Fac ebook Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH or email editor@herald-publishing.co.uk George Spedding and Baron Forster of Lepe by Robin Somes, Fawley & Blackfield Memories In previous articles, we have learned how the Spedding family arrived in Exbury in the early 19th century, and a little about life in the village. It’s time now to look at the life of my great-grandfather, George Spedding. One of the greatest mysteries about George is when he was actually born. Many sources quote 1827 and we do know he was baptised in October that year. His age recorded in censuses gives a wide range of possible birth years, from 1821 onwards; to compound matters his death certi cate and gravestone clearly state that he was 67 when he died in 1897, suggesting he was born in 1830. Clearly wrong, but it’s unlikely we will ever know his real age. George was, like many, a farm labourer on the Lepe and Exbury estates, and worked both as a carter and a ploughman. His ploughing was done with horses, and with the steam plough, invented by John Fowler in the 1850s; George seems to have got the reputation as a highly-skilled steam ploughman, much in demand. In 1852, at Fawley, he married Charlotte Kitcher (1829 – 1914), joining one of the most proli c and widespread Forest families. e couple had a total of 12 children; their sons George Jr and William became mariners, while David, my grandfather, later became a coachman and chau eur for Henry, 1st Baron Forster of Lepe. e other boys were agricultural labourers, while the girls went into service, some locally and others around Southampton, Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight. George’s work as a ploughman eventually led to his Fowler’s Steam Plough in use; Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1893 death; in late January 1897 he was kicked by a horse, su ering a ruptured spleen among other injuries. He was operated upon at the Royal South Hants In rmary, but died on February 3rd. He was buried in Black eld Cemetery. His widow, Charlotte, later lived with their son David, near Bromley, who worked for Henry Forster, until her own death in 1914. Henry Forster had married the Honourable Rachel Douglas-Scott-Montagu, daughter of the 1st Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, in 1890. Forster served as MP for Sevenoaks and Bromley and as Financial Secretary to the War O ce during the Great War. Subsequently raised to the peerage in 1919, he was then appointed Governor-General of Australia for a ve-year term, before retiring back to Lepe, where he lived quietly passing away in 1936. His two sons had both died in the Great War, and so the Barony of Lepe became extinct on his death. Free Parking Days in December in NFDC Car Parks Four days of free parking in town and village centre car parks have been announced by New Forest District Council (NFDC) to encourage residents to continue to shop locally in the approach to Christmas. To support Small Business Saturday on Saturday 4th December parking was free in all NFDC owned town and village car parks www.newforest.gov.uk/ article/1234/Town-and-village-parking As well as 4th December, parking in NFDC’s car parks will be free on the last weekend before Christmas - Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th December - plus an additional day where town and parish councils may request free parking in support of their Christmas events. Cllr Michael Harris OBE, New Forest District Council, Portfolio Holder for Business, High Streets and Tourism said; “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a change in shopping habits, with consumers rediscovering their high streets and the advantages of shopping locally. We want to build on this as we see our High Street’s as the heart of our towns and villages and an important part of our local economy. We hope the four days of free parking will encourage people who already shop nearby to carry on, and also for people who haven’t been to their local shops recently to go and take a look at what is available right on their doorstep.” FOREST MILITARIA e next New Forest Militaria Fair will be on Wednesday 5th January from 7pm to 9.30pm in the Colbury Church Rooms, Deerleap Lane, Colbury (near Ashurst) SO40 7EH. ere are stalls o ering a variety of militaria items, and these events are an ideal venue for dealers, collectors and enthusiasts to get together to buy, sell, swop, exhibit and talk about all aspects of militaria. All are welcome and admission is £1. Anyone who would like to pre-book a table at £6, should call Dave Curtis on: 07903 600865 or: 023 8178 1324. New Forest Scaffolding All aspects of scaffolding undertaken • Extensions • Chimneys • Re-Roofing • New Builds etc For a friendly, local, reliable service and a free quotation Telephone: 07734 476855 www.newforestscaffolding.co.uk Full Liability Insurance Lychette Cottage, Roughdown, Blackfield SO45 1XG