The Old Vicarage B&B, Little Ouse

This page deals with events around the hamlets of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank and up as far as the Mildenhall Road and Lynn roads. If there are any notable events/pictures or corrections that you would like, please get in touch. I have posed many questions within the text of this page, I hope can be answered.

1638, June

•  In June 1638 the Justice of the Peace for the Isle reported that ’40 or 50 men gathered in a fen called Whelpmore, near Littleport…… and that their assembly was appointed to throw down ditches which the drainers had made for enclosing their fen ground from the common, which was left to the inhabitants… In the same month Sir Miles Sandys of Wilburton was writing to his son at Court describing the tumults and disturbances, and declaring that ‘If order not be taken it will turn out to be a general rebellion in the fen towns ‘. There was for example ‘ A great riot made at Wickham whilst writing word is brought to me by my Lord of Bedford’s workmen, that the country rose up against him both in Coveney and Littleport, by example of the Wickham men ‘
  • _{https://www.blunham.com/big/eng/CAM/Littleport/index.html}
  • _{See the map in the 1803 section. Whelpmore (Whelp Moor) is the fen where Little Ouse now stands.}

• The greater part of the parish is fen land, and north and east from the village stretches an expanse that is one of the loneliest pieces of country within a hundred miles of London. It includes Burnt Fen (said to be so called from having been burnt by Hereward the Wake) on the Cambridgeshire, and Feltwell Fens on the Norfolk side of the Little Ouse. There are no made roads between the one from Littleport to Shippea Hill and Mildenhall and the one from Southery to Feltwell nearly 6 miles away north-east, except the by-road to the remote village of Little Ouse on the county boundary. Much of this potentially fertile land lay derelict from lack of drainage and sheer inaccessibility until the Second World War. ‘A desolate country except in harvest time under blazing sun, and quite without interest except to the farmer who gets his living there.

• In 1638 the local justices had information of a gathering of 600 men who were to meet in Whelpmore (now Wheltmore) Fen at ‘a foot ball play or camp, which camp should be called Anderson’s camp, who should bring an hundred strong with him’. Rain prevented this assembly, but 200 men, including some from Lakenheath across the Suffolk border, met the following day and threw down the Undertakers’ drainage dikes. They did not hurt any man’s person or goods. Six men in all were committed to jail as a result of these disturbances. Whelpmore was at that time common to Littleport, Ely, and Downham, and as late as 1782 there was considerable doubt as to where the boundary ran. One of the witnesses before an Exchequer commission, who was then 64 years of age, stated that as a child he had been rowed to a house called Lees Hill in a gunning boat. Farther east, the former extra-parochial place of Redmere, originally on the Norfolk but now on the Cambridgeshire side of the Little Ouse, was transferred in 1895 from the former to the latter county. It had at various times in its history been associated with Methwold and Hockwold in Norfolk and Lakenheath in Suffolk. In 1933 Redmere was abolished as a civil parish and absorbed into Littleport. Another change involving county boundaries took place in 1885, when a detached part of Hilgay (Norf.) was added to Littleport or to Southery according as it lay on the left or right bank of the Little Ouse.
  • _{https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol4/pp95-102}
  • _{The accounts above both refer to the disturbances on Whelpmore in 1638. One states between 40 and 50 and the other 600 men?}

1803

1824

1830

• Nearer the mouth of the river, the Brandon Engine was the main outlet for the drainage of the northern half of Burnt Fen from 1830 until 1958. The original steam engine was replaced in 1892, by a new engine that could pump 75 tons per minute. That engine was replaced by a 250 horse power oil engine in late 1925, supplied by Blackstone and Company, which drove a 42-inch (110 cm) Gwynne rotary pump. The pump could discharge 150 tons per minute against a head of 18 feet (5.5 m), and lasted for 30 years. When a replacement was considered in the 1950s, the Commissioners of the Burnt Fen were faced with the problem that the White House Drain which supplied it had become bigger and more unstable as the ground surface had shrunk, and the engine sat at the top of a hill, rather than at the lowest point on the northern Fen. Consequently, a new electric pumping station was constructed at Whitehall on the River Great Ouse, the flow in the drain reversed, and the pumping station decommissioned.
  • _{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Little_Ouse#CITEREFBeckett1983}
  • _{If the above wiki page is referring to the Pumping Station and Engine House at Little Ouse, then this would probably indicate that the Engine House may be one of the oldest buildings in Little Ouse. The Engine house is a residential residence the Pumping Station itself has been demolished. There are one or two photographs at the Littleport society that show a large building behind The Engine House with a chimney stack many metres in height above the building.}

1860, December

• The earliest entry in the baptism register is 2nd December 1860. Any baptisms pre 1869, will have taken place in the old iron church, see later entries/map for location.
  • https://www.engcam.org/index.php/ancestors/34-barritts-of-the-fenlands/12-st-john-little-ouse-and-brandon-bank
  • _{A single standard 800-entry register covers the period of this transcript, the register is deposited with Cambridgeshire archives}
  • _{The Tinstaafl Transcripts project has recorded the baptisms register for Little Ouse St John’s, from 1860 to 1880.}
  • _{http://tinstaafl.co.uk/nbp/Church_Pages/ouse_lt.htm#1860}

1866

• LITTLE OUSE, 6 miles north-north-east from Littleport station and 10½ south-east from Downham, is an ecclesiastical parish, formed from detached and outlying portions of the parishes of Hilgay, Feltwell St. Mary and St. Nicholas, Littleport (Cambridge) and the entire parishes of Feltwell Anchor and Redmore, both formerly extraparochial, by Order in Council, in 1866. It is in the rural deanery and diocese of Ely and the peculiar arch-deaconal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Ely. 
  • Little Ouse is about 17 miles S. of King’s Lynn. It was formed in 1866, from Feltwell Anchor, Feltwell Fen Farms and Redmere, and detached and outlying parts of Feltwell and Hilgay in Norfolk, and part of Littleport in Cambridgeshire. Redmere may also be spelled Redmore and Redmoor. It was transferred to Cambridgeshire between 1892 and 1896.
  • It was founded in 1866. It closed in 1976 and Replaced South Hilgay Iron Church.

1868

• The church of St. John is in the Early English style, of flint, with stone dressings, having chancel, nave, vestry, organ chamber and tower with bells and clock, and was built at the sole expense of the late Rev. Canon E. B. Sparke: it is situated on the south bank of the Little Ouse river, about 2 miles above its confluence with the Great Ouse. The register dates from the year 1868. The living is a vicarage, value about £300 yearly, in the gift of the Bishop of Ely.
  • _{There seems to be confusion of the dates of the Register, depending on which publication you read, either 1867 or 1868.}

1869

• The Church of St John the Evangelist and The Vicarage, Little Ouse built.
  • _{Pre the building of the new flint dressed church and vicarage in 1869, the Anglican Mission and School iron hut was used}.
  • _{The following pictures are in the Littleport Society Archive. They would have been taken several years after the Church and Vicarage were built as there are already several gravestones appearing at the front of the Church. In the second picture you can see the Vicarage in the background on the left. There is a covered area/canopy at first floor level. This no longer exists. However, there is a infill of cement that now runs the length of the building , which is presumably where the lead flashing for this once was. On the picture it appears to extend at the side of the Vicarage. The old infill mark of the cement also turns at the corners of the Viccarage and runs as far as the Chimney stacks at the gable ends.}

• Also see Kelly’s directory which shows that – “Wall Letter Box (Vicarage), cleared at 5p.m. ; no collections on Sundays.”
• _{Not sure where this would have been located at the Vicarage. At some point the Post Box was moved to be in front of the Council Houses.The current one is on a black pole and the Post Box is of the Vintage Elizabeth II.}

• _{There is now a reproduction VR (Victorian era) Post Box at The Old Vicarage. This is a Wall Letter Box and has been placed on a pillar in the newly created front entrance wall. It is only for receiving mail to The Old Vicarage. We imagine that the original would have been in a brick pillar, probably near the start of the shared pathway between the Vicarage and the Church. We have not found any evidence to support its actual location.}

1870

• Louisa Biggs – Born 1870, Died 1870, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Baptisms,Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• Hannah Elizabeth Blazer – Born 1867, Died 1870, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1870, April

• 4th, Monday – Cambridge University Library Special Collections – The Little Ouse School was the last of three new Littleport schools established by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education between 1869 and 1870, serving the dual purpose of school and Anglican mission church. On it’s opening day, 4 April 1870, forty-one children were admitted with more arriving later in the week. In 1885 the Littleport School Board assumed control over the administration of the school. The building itself was cold, uncomfortable and poorly ventilated, consisting of an iron hut measuring 43 feet 6 inches by 16 feet 3 inches. While it was considered unsuitable from the outset it was not replaced until 1927.
  • The name of the 1870 school was – The St John Little Ouse National School. It served as both a School and an Anglican mission.
    • https://specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk/?p=25045#:~:text=By%20Kevin%20Roberts%2C%20Archivist%20(Department,by%2016%20feet%203%20inches.
    • https://archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk/repositories/2/resources/14323

1872

• 6th, January 1872 – Baptism Record – Alice Maud Harris, Father – Charles Sumpter Harris (Vicar), Mother’s given name – Emily.
  • _{It looks as if the Rev.d Charles Sumpter Harris may have been the first vicar of the new church at St John’s Little Ouse.}

• Martha Brooks – Born 1871, Died 1872, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• Martha Brown – Born 1871, Died 1872, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• John Henry Carter – Born 1871/1872, Died 1872, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales – birth years different in sources}

1873

• Charles Ashman – Born 1872/1873, Died 1873, Little Ouse.
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Baptisms shows birth year as 1872}
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, shows birth year as 1873 – Died 1873}
  • _{National Burial Index For England & Wales – shows birth year as 1872 – Died 1873}
• Henry Robert Bell – Born 1866, Died 1873, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Baptisms, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1874

• Ann Jones Barber – Born 1838, Died 1874, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Baptisms, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• William Burage – Born 1830, Died 1874, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Baptisms, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• William Burridge – Born 1830, Died 1874, Little Ouse.

1875

• Martha Barrett – Born 1823, Died 1875, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Baptisms, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1877

• 15th April 1877 – Baptism Record – Isobel Kirkwood Brown, Father – Henry Brown (Clerk in Holy Orders). Mother’s given name – Sarah Susannah
  • _{http://tinstaafl.co.uk/nbp/Church_Pages/ouse_lt.htm#:~:text=A%20single%20standard%20800%2Dentry%20register,it%20was%20viewed%20as%20is.}
• Samuel Ash – Born 1877, Died 1877, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Baptisms (haven’t seen the detail, but believe it is for Samuel, we can conclude that he was also born in Little Ouse). Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales.}
• Robert Barritt – Born 1811, Died 1877, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Baptisms, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1878

• Walter Boughen – Born 1823, Died 1878, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Baptisms, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1879

• Joseph Barnes – Born 1879, Died 1879, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Baptisms, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• Harriet Barritt – Born 1864, Died 1879, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Baptisms, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1880

• James Ash – Born 1813, Died 1880, Little Ouse
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• Ann Bonnett – Born 1847, Died 1880, Little Ouse.
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1881

• Population in 1881 was 921.” [Kelly’s Directory for Cambridgeshire, Norfolk & Suffolk (1883) – Transcription copyright © E.C. “Paddy” Apling]
• John Luddington Peacock was born on 7 June 1881 at Little Ouse, Cambridgeshire, and he was the youngest son of John Luddington Peacock and Mary Griffin Peacock (nee Gillett) who lived in Southery Manor, Downham Market, Norfolk. John Luddington Peacock (a farmer aged 26) and Mary Griffin Gillett (aged 22) were married on 8 July 1868 in Littleport Parish Church of England Church, Cambridgeshire, and they had eleven children
  • _{See later entries 1st July 1916 for Lieutenant John Luddington Peacock and also after the Great War for the Memorial window in Little Ouse Church that his father, who was church warden had installed}.
• Elizabeth Barnes – Born 1813, Died 1881, Little Ouse.
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales.}
• Alice Bowd – Born 1857, Died 1881, Little Ouse.
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1882

• Susan Ash – Born 1816, Died 1882, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}.
• Philip Cawthorne – Born 1836, Died 1882, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}.

1883

• Mary Ayres – Born 1799, Died 1883, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}.
• Edward Bonnnett – Born 1860, Died 1883, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}.
• Harriet Cock – Born 1883, Died 1883, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Baptisms, Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1884

• Ebenezer Barrett – Born 1882, Died 1884, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}.

1885

• The Littleport School Board assumed control over the administration of the Little Ouse school.
  • _{National school; transferred to school board 1885; seniors transferred to the Martin School, Littleport 1952. Village College from 1970.}
  • _{https://calm.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=KCES%2f109E&pos=46}

• William Ash – Born 1883/1884, Died 1885, Little Ouse.
  • _{The National and Cambridgeshire burial records show a years difference but same death year for the same name. Presume this is the same person.}
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}
• Caroline Canham – Born 1885, Died 1885, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}.

1886

• Hannah Brown – Born 1869, Died 1886, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}.

1887

• Susan Brown – Born 1807, Died 1887, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}.

1887, March

• 4th, Friday – Letter to the vicar St George’s, Littleport from the vicar of Little Ouse, mentioning publication of banns and discouragement of civil marriages.
• _{https://calm.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=KP109%2f1%2f40&pos=59}
• _{CalmRefNo KP109/1/40 – Reference number P109/1/40 – Repository. Cambridgeshire Archives}

1888

• Sarah Frances Barber – Born 1887/1888 – Died 1888, Little Ouse.
  • _{National Burial Index For England & Wales – shows 1887 as year of birth}.
  • _{Cambridgeshire Burials – shows 1888 as year of birth}.
• Mary Ann Chapman – Born 1854, Died 1888, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}.

1888, February

• 20th, Monday – Cambridge University Library Special Collections, entry on Little Ouse School from the logbook – The work of the Infants’ of the last fortnight has come to a standstill. One half are away owing to the bitterly cold and snowy weather, and unfortunately this half is composed mostly of dunces.
  • https://specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk/?p=25045#:~:text=By%20Kevin%20Roberts%2C%20Archivist%20(Department,by%2016%20feet%203%20inches.
  • https://archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk/repositories/2/resources/14323

1889

• Also in Little Ouse village, on the Norfolk side of the river, is Feltwell Fen School, known until 1929 as Feltwell Anchor School. This was built by Feltwell School Board in 1889 for 60 children at a cost of £650, and was enlarged by a classroom for 27 infants in 1914, after a merger with the Little Ouse (Isle) School had been rejected. In the great floods of 1915, 1916, and 1917 the buildings were used as a refuge for homeless families.
  • _{https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol4/pp95-102#:~:text=Also%20in%20Little%20Ouse%20village%2C,cost%20of%20%C2%A3650%2C%20and%20was}

• Susan Elizabeth Ash – Born 1888, Died 1889, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• Eliza Ann Brown – Born 1879, Died 1889, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• Robert Brown – Born 1889, Died 1889, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales – shows year of birth as 1888?}
• Sophia Brown – Born 1887/1888, Died 1889, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales – shows different birth years.}

1891

• Hannah Boughen – Born 1829, Died 1891, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1892

• Samuel Ash – Born 1842, Died 1892, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}

1893

• Mary Ann Boyce – Born 1851, Died 1893.
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}

1894

• Emma Jane Barnes – Born 1884, Died 1894, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}
• Martha Canham – Born 1851, Died 1894, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}

1895

• Cambridge University Library Special Collections, entry on Little Ouse School from the logbook – report on Little Ouse School – Mixed School: The tone and discipline of the School continue very good, and the attainments have improved, although spelling in the second standard, and mental work throughout the School require further attention. Grammar is now good on the whole, but note singing fails to reach the level required for the higher Grant. In view of the improvements effected under unusually difficult circumstances, a Grant may this year be recommended under Article 105 of the Code.
  • https://specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk/?p=25045#:~:text=By%20Kevin%20Roberts%2C%20Archivist%20(Department,by%2016%20feet%203%20inches.
  • https://archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk/repositories/2/resources/14323
• Arthur Frederick Baker – Born 1895, Died 1895, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}
  • _{There is also a baptism record in Cambridgeshire Baptisms for 1895, which gives a date of birth for the same name as 1894. Is this the same child?}
  • _{See entry for 1870 – The school at this time was the Iron hut Where probably the New from Old workshop is now.}

1896

• Sidney George Brown – Born 1894, Died 1896, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}
• Thomas William Butcher – Born 1896, Died 1896, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}

1896, March

20th, Friday – Headmaster Log Book, Little Ouse School – Owing to Wednesday being a wet day more than half the scholars were absent.

1897

• Susan Jones Barber – Born 1827, Died 1897, Little Ouse.
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1898

• Susannah Clingo – Born 1842, Died 1898, Little Ouse
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1898, October

• 18th, – Acts of cultivation and tenants covenants at Whelpmoor Farm, White Horse Drove, Littleport, from the executors of Cole Ambrose to H.T. Luddington, 18 Oct 1898.
  • https://calm.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=K515%2FB%2F83
  • _{Can’t find A Whelpmoor farm. However, see the early 1800 maps. This when the area around Little Ouse was named Whelpmoor. Needs further investigation.}

1900

• Rosetta Barnes – Born 1887, Died 1900, Little Ouse.
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• William Butcher – Born 1900, Died 1900, Little Ouse
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1900, October

• 26th, Friday – Littleport scrapbook – In considering a supply of water to Littleport the Inspector said the population would require 50,000 gallons per day. The available rivers ran for a considerable length through the fens and were used as main outfall drains for the pumping engines which pumped water from the adjoining fen lands. It was obvious that any water would be subject to pollution by peaty water from the pumping stations. The waters of the Little Ouse, if taken at the end of White Hall Drove, would prove the most suitable but would still be of doubtful quality. Whatever source was chosen there should be a service reservoir near the main road to Ely.
  • https://archive.org/stream/LittleportScrapbook18971990/Littleport%20Scrapbook%201897-1990_djvu.txt
  • _{White Hall Drove – Where was this? There is a “White Hall Farm House, White House Road, Little Ouse, Ely, East Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4TG}“.

1901

• Elizabeth Barnes – Born 1863, Died 1901, Little Ouse.
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1901, January,

• _{22nd, Tuesday – Queen Victoria died at Osborne House age 81, on Tuesday 22nd January 1901, at half past six in the evening. Her son and successor Kind Edward VII, and her eldest grandson, Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, were at her deathbed.}

1902

• George Henry Barrett – Born 1901, Died 1902, Little Ouse.
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1902, June

• _{26th, Thursday – Coronation of Edward VII. This was rescheduled to the 9th August 1902, when he developed appendicitis. It appears that the celebrations went ahead in much of the country.}

1903

• Annie Arnold – Born 1868, Died 1903, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• Elizabeth Ann Clarke – Born 1902, Died 1903, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1906

• George Harold Cock – Born 1892, Died 1906, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1908

• Elliott Cooper, Born 1907/1908, Died 1908, Little Ouse
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales – difference in birth year between sources}, _{though there is a baptism record for 1907}

1908, April

• 14th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac – Concert at Little Ouse Primitive Methodist Chapel by members of Salvation Army from Littleport.

1909

• Ebenezer Barrett – Born 1855, Died 1909, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1908, May

• 12th, – Barbers Almanac – Fire at Letter F Farm, near Mildenhall Road.
  • _{If you turn left out of White House Road (going towards Mildenhall), this is one mile down the road on the left.}

1908, July

• _{1st, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac – “The Man with the Iron Mask,” who is travelling round the world for a supposed wager of 100,000 dollars, passed through Littleport (see December).}
  • _{Included this article, as I imagine it was a topic of conversation in the area.}

1908, December

• _{Barbers Almanac – “The man in the Iron Mask” is an astounding Fraud. He is an ex­-convict, and has made a full confession in “Answers”, dated December 19th, 1908. Copies of which can be obtained at Barber’s Stationer, the printer and publisher of the Littleport Directory.}

1909

• William Jones Barber – Born 1836, Died 1909, Little Ouse.
  • _{Source – Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}.
• Lois Ann Jones Brown – Born 1899, Died 1909, Little Ouse
• _{Source – Cambridgeshire Baptisms}, _{Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}.

1910, June

• 28th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1911 – Appointment of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Smith as Master and Mistress of Little Ouse School.
• _{Picture of Mr Smith on the Littleport historical site date 1910 to 1920 – https://www.littleportsociety.org.uk/catalogue/index.php/Detail/objects/3593}
• _{SEE 1870 and 1927 – in 1910, This would have been in the old iron hut next to the pumping station (Old Engine House) and the school house is believed to be the structure behind it.}

1910, July

• _{2nd, Saturday – The Times – The death of the Rev Edward Bowyer Sparke, Canon of Ely Cathedral, and for nearly half a century rector of Feltwell, Norfolk. The younger son of the Right Rev Dr Bowyer Edward Sparke, Bishop successively of Chester and Ely, he was born about the year 1803, and was educated a Pembroke and St John’s Colleges, Cambridge, and was for some years Fellow of the latter college. He was appointed by his father a Prebendary of Ely in 1829, vicar of Littleport, Cambridgeshire, in 1830, rector of Feltwell in 1831, and Canon Realdentiary of Ely the following year. According to “Crockford”, the income of Feltwell is £1,471 a year and a home, and his canonry £303 and a house. Besides his rectory and canonry, Mr Sparke held also for many years the registrarship of the diocese of Ely. He married in 1833 Miss Catharine Maria Newcome, only daughter of of the Rev William Newcome, of Holkwold, Norfolk.}
  • _{Edward Bowyer Sparke was the eldest surviving son of of Canon Rev John Henry Sparke (the eldest son Henry Ashley Sparke, was killed in the Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854 while serving in the IV Light Dragoons). Both Edward Bowyer Sparke and his only son Henry Bowyer Sparke died within two weeks of each other in 1910 and their Trustees eventually sold the Ely and Mattishall estates to meet death duties.
    Edward Bowyer Sparke also raised a school at Mattishall in 1872}.
  • _{In Ely Cathedral there is a stained glass window (south east): In mem. Hen. Ashley SPARKE qvi cecidit in armis Balaclava October XXV, MDCCCLIV (1854) Lt 4th Queen’s Own Light Dragoons, eldest son of Canon J Henry Sparke of Ely and grandson of Bowyer Edward Sparke, Bishop of Ely 1812-36. Died in the Charge of the Light Brigade.}
  • _{https://www.mattishall-village.co.uk/Sparke%20Family%20Mattishall.htm}
  • _{Rev Edward Bowyer Sparke was the man who paid for the Vicarage and Church at Little Ouse to be built.}

• 19th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1911 – Foundation Stone laid of new Primitive Methodist Chapel at Brandon Bank.

1910, October

• 18th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1911 – Opening of Primitive Methodist Chapel at Brandon Creek.

1910, November

• 14th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1911 – Mission at Primitive Methodist Chapel conducted by Mr. Taylor and “Happy Charlie”.

1910, December

• _{7th, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac 1911 – Suffragette Meeting at the Public Hall addressed by Mrs. Pankhurst.}
  • _{A general point of local historical interest in Littleport.}

1911, June

• 22nd, Thursday – Coronation of His Majesty King George V

1912

• Bedford (no christian name present) – Born 1912, Died 1912, Little Ouse.
  • _{Source: Cambridgeshire Burials}
  • _{Source: National Burial Index For England & Wales – gives the birth year as 1911?}
• George William Brown – Born 1897, Died 1912, Little Ouse
  • _{Source: Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}
• Florence Cole – Born 1911, Died 1912, Little Ouse
  • _{Source: Cambridgeshire Baptisms, Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales}

1912, March

• 14th, Thursday – Postcard of RMS Ivernia to Walter Hills, Little Ouse. Used colour postcard of RMS Ivernia (Cunard) at sea. A handwritten message on the reverse in pencil is from Herbert to his father Walter Hills of Little Ouse. The postcard is stamped and postmarked Queenstown – Herbert Hills (contributor), Walter Hills (subject).
  • _{See link for postcard – https://www.littleportsociety.org.uk/catalogue/index.php/Detail/objects/2097}
  • _{Note the Cunard routes as well as passenger lists and photographs of the ships interior can be found in the following link. The postmark above was from Queenstown in what is now the Republic of Ireland.}

1912, April

• _{20th, Saturday – Barbers Almanac 1913 – Special Sermons preached at Littleport with reference to the Titanic disaster.}
  • _{At 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912, the British ocean liner Titanic sinks into the North Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada. The massive ship, which carried 2,200 passengers and crew, had struck an iceberg two and half hours before.}
  • _{A general point of historical interest. I imagine there would have been a reference in the services at Little Ouse that week.}

1913

• Lizzie Day Anness – Born 1886, Died 1913

• William Brown – Born 1889, Died 1913, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}
• Alfred Cock – Born 1853, Died 1913, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}

1913, December

• 29th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1915 – Inquest in New Beading Room, White House Drove, on the body of Mr. Alfred Cock, of Little Ouse, who was found drowned in a drain on Boxing Day.
  • _{Good to find original report. I expect that Beading Room is a typo and should be Reading Room. Were would it be in Whote House Drove? I have only ever encountered Reading Rooms in libraries. Years ago it would usually be a room near the entrance of a library and have the latest newspapers and periodicals for people to take and read at large desks. I remember in the North of England people would go to keep warm or peruse through the job advertisements. You would see people asking “are you nearly finished with that”. The last time I was in Canterbury, the reading room at the Beaney institute had been cleared and turned into an art area. The only thing left was the Victorian etched glass in the door. I see that in 20206, most libraries are now terming a Reading Room to be a study room.}

1914

• Alfred Barber – Born 1852, Died 1914, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}

1914, March

• 16th, Monday – Board of Education form 146a (1) – Labour Certificate for exemption to education after 13 years of age.

1914, August

• _{4th, Tuesday – England declared war on Germany}

1914, November

• 19th, Thursday – Barbers Almanac 1915 – Inquest on William Dennis, roadman, who was accidentally drowned in drain by side of Mildenhall Road
• 27th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1915 – Collections by ladies at Little Ouse in aid of Belgian sufferers amounted to £10.
• 27th, Friday – Littleport Scrapbook – William Dennis, roadman drowned in drain on Mildenhall Road, Littleport; had visited Rising Sun where had three pints.
  • _{https://archive.org/stream/LittleportScrapbook18971990/Littleport%20Scrapbook%201897-1990_djvu.txt}
  • _{The Rising Sun, is now a private dwelling, 51 Midenhall Road. Turn left out of White House Road and the house is on your right after a couple of hundred metres}

1915

• George Cole – Born 1899, Died 1915, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}

1915, January

• 3rd, Saturday – Barbers Almanac 1916 – Bursting of Brandon River bank at Feltwell Fen. About 30,000 acres under water, average depth about 6ft.
• 11th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1916 – In consequence of the flood at Little Ouse, out of 76 houses in the northern part of the parish, 69 were under water from 3 to 9 feet in depth. 67 families were compelled to remove.

1915, July

• 4th, Sunday – Field Service Postcard to Miss Maudie Hills, Little Ouse. – 1x used field service postcard from “W. Hills” (Walter Hills) to Miss Maudie Hills of The Red Cottage, Little Ouse. The handwriting is in pencil and is dated 3rd July 1915. It is postmarked Field Post Office 4th July 1915.
  • _{https://www.littleportsociety.org.uk/catalogue/index.php/Detail/objects/2103}

1915, August

• 4th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1916 – War Intercession Services at all local churches.
• 15th, Sunday – Field Service Postcard to Mrs Hills, Little Ouse – 1x used field service postcard from “W. Hills” (Walter Hills) to Mrs Hills of The Red Cottage, Little Ouse. The handwriting is in pencil and is dated “August”. It is postmarked Field Post Office 15th August 1915.
  • _{https://www.littleportsociety.org.uk/catalogue/index.php/Detail/objects/2104}
  • Postcard of children to Master George Hills of Little Ouse – 1x used colourised postcard depicting a girl being photographed by a boy with the quote “If you’ll keep still my little miss, I’ll make a fine success of this”. A handwritten message on the reverse in ink wishes George Hills of The Red Cottage at Little Ouse, a happy birthday. The sender is unidentified. The postcard is stamped and postmarked, but the date and location is illegible.
  • _{https://www.littleportsociety.org.uk/catalogue/index.php/Detail/objects/2102}

1916

• William Albert Cock – Born 1915, Died 1916, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources – National Burial Index For England & Wales, Cambridgeshire Burials}

1916, July

• _{1st, Saturday, The first day of the Battle of the Somme.}
• 1st, Saturday – Lieutenant John Luddington Peacock (World War I): Royal Engineers, 150th Field Company. Died 1st July 1916, age 35 years old, Buried at Commaught Cemetery, Thiepval, XI. L, 3, France. Son of John Luddington Peacock and Mary Peacock, of Southery Manor, Downham Market, Norfolk.

1917, May

• In the May 1917 issue of the Southery Parish Magazine it was reported that a stained glass window in memory of John Luddington Peacock had been unveiled in the Church of England Church at Little Ouse, Littleport (the Church where his father was a churchwarden).  The window comprised two lights with St Michael on the right side and St George on the left side.  The window bore the inscription: ‘To the Glory of God and in loving memory of John Luddington Peacock, Lieutenant RE, the youngest son of John Luddington and Mary G. Peacock who laid down his life for his country in France on 1 July 1916.  RIP’.

1918

• John Bassett – Born 1878, Died 1918, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources: Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales.}
• John William Bassett – Born 1913, Died 1918, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources: Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales.}
• John Cole – Born 1897, Died 1918, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources: Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales.}

1918, August

• 8th, Thursday – (died) 24 years old – Private Frederick Key, Suffolk Regiment 11th Battalion. son of David and Louisa Key of Little Ouse, died in August 1918 and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium. 
• 30th, I Friday – (died) Corporal Sidney Herbert Ford (World War I): Of Little Ouse, he served with the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, and died on August 30, 1918. He is buried at the Écoust-St. Mein British Cemetery in France.

1918, November

_{11th, Monday 11 a.m. – World War I ended with the signing of the Armistice.}

1920

• Annie Elizabeth Amanda Bartrum – Born 1919, Died 1920, Little Ouse.
  • _{Sources: Cambridgeshire Burials, National Burial Index For England & Wales.}

• Little Ouse Church – A brass tablet was erected in 1920 under the chancel arch to the memory of the men of the parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18.
  • _{https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/NFK/Ouse_Little/Kelly1933#:~:text=LITTLE%20OUSE.,Brandon%20crk%20*%20Clarke%20Fredk.}
  • _{This tablet was removed when the church was decommissioned in 1976 and moved to St George’s, Littleport.}

• The following are the names of the war dead on the Little Ouse Memorial (WMR 72549) now held at the Littleport Parish Church:
  • Annis, W
    • Name does not appear on the Ely Cathedral memorial for Little Ouse.
  • Brooks, C
    • Brookes C is the name shown on the Ely Cathedral memorial for Little Ouse.
      • _{Sergeant Claud Brooks, D.C.M., Service Number 29211 (World War I): 1st/4th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, died 12/8/1918, age 24, buried: Sandpits British Cemetery, IV. B.10. Fouquereuil, Pas de Calais, France. Personal Inscription WE LOVED HIM IN LIFE HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR FREEDOM MAY HE REST IN PEACE.}
      • _{Son of William George and Rosina Brooks, of Black Horse Drove, Littleport, Cambs.}
      • _{DCM London Gazette 3/10/1918.}
      • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/492859/c-brooks/}
      • _{https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Littleport.html}
  • Clift, J C
    • Shown on the Ely Cathedral memorial.
      • _{Private Charles Jacob Clift, Service Number 202063 (World War I): 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, died 26/12/1917, age 24, buried: A. 243. Littleport New Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.}
      • _{Son of Ann Elizabeth Clift of Black Horse Drove, Littleport, Cambs.}
      • _{The Commonwealth War Graves site lists him as Charles Clift.}
        • It would be good to identify if he is CJ or JC Clift. Check to be made.
      • _{https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Littleport.html}
      • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2828807/charles-clift/}
  • Crabb, A E
  • Shown on the Ely Cathedral memorial.
    • _{Private Albert Edward Crabb, Service Number 18067 (World War I): Royal Sussex Regiment, 7th Battalion. Died 17th May 1917, age 20 years old. Buried at Etaples Military Cemetery XVIII. N. 24. France – Personal Inscription LO’ THE PAIN OF LIFE IS PAST ALL HIS WARFARE O’ER AT LAST- Son of William and Eliza Crabb, of Black Horse Drove, Littleport, Cambs. Native of Littleport.}
    • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/500257/albert-edward-crabb/}
    • _{https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Littleport.html}
  • Ford, S
  • Shown on the Ely Cathedral Memorial.
    • _{Corporal Sidney Herbert Ford (World War I): Of Little Ouse, he served with the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, and died on August 30, 1918. He is buried at the Écoust-St. Mein British Cemetery in France.}
  • Frost, A E
  • Name does not appear on the Ely Cathedral memorial for Little Ouse.
  • Frost, G T
  • Name does not appear on the Ely Cathedral memorial for Little Ouse.
    • _{Private George Thomas Frost, Service Number 16252 (World War I) of the 11th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. He enlisted in Ely. Killed in action 1st July 1916, age 22 years. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A, France.}
    • _{Born 1894, Brandon Creek, son of Arthur and Rebecca Frost, of Ely Road, Littleport, Cambridgeshire.}
    • _{In 1911 aged 17 , he was a farm labourer living with his parents and siblings at Plantation Farm, Burnt End Soham.}
    • _{https://great-war.ccan.co.uk/content/catalogue_item/frost-george-thomas-regiment-number-11th-battalion-suffoled-1st-july-1916}
  • Hodson, W
  • Shown on the Ely Cathedral Memorial.
  • Key, D
  • Name does not appear on the Ely Cathedral memorial for Little Ouse.
    • _{Private David Key, Service Number: 40050 (World War I): Son of David and Louisa Key, of Brandon Banks, Southery, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Leicestershire Regiment 7th Battalion. Died 24th September 1916, age 38 years old. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 2 C and 3 A. France}
    • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/798136/david-key/}
    • _{https://media.geograph.org.uk/files/fe9fc289c3ff0af142b6d3bead98a923/Southery_War_Memorial.pdf}
    • _{https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Littleport.html}
  • Key, F
  • Name does not appear on the Ely Cathedral memorial for Little Ouse.
    • _{Private Frederick Key, Service Number: 16576 (World War I): Son of David and Louisa Key, of Little Ouse, Downham, Norfolk. He served with the 11th Bn. Suffolk Regiment and was 24 years old when he died on August 8, 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial Panel 3 in Belgium.}
    • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/869222/frederick-key/}
  • Key, J
  • Name does not appear on the Ely Cathedral memorial for Little Ouse.
    • _{Private Jacob Key, Service Number: 8108 (World War I): Son of David and Louisa Key, of Brandon Banks, Southery, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Suffolk Regiment 1st Battalion. Died 08 May 1915, age 30 years old. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 21, Belgium.}
    • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1617480/jacob-key/}
    • _{https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Littleport.html}
  • Nicholas, C H
  • Shown on the Ely Cathedral Memorial.
    • _{Private Charles Henry Nicholas, Service Number: 23949 (World War I): Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion. Died 3rd July 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A in France.}
    • _{Lived Brandon Creek.}
    • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1547558/charles-henry-nicholas/}
    • _{https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Littleport.html}
  • Palmer, W
  • Shown on the Ely Cathedral Memorial as J W Palmer.
  • Payne, G
  • Shown on the Ely Cathedral Memorial.
  • Peacock, J L
  • Name does not appear on the Ely Cathedral memorial for Little Ouse.
    • _{THE LONDON GAZETTE, 5 MARCH, 1915, PAGE 2247 – Divisional Engineers. John Luddington Peacock to be temporary Lieutenant. Dated 20th January, 1915.}
    • _{Lieutenant John Luddington Peacock (World War I): Royal Engineers, 150th Field Company. Died 1st July 1916, age 35 years old, Buried at Commaught Cemetery, Thiepval, XI. L, 3, France. Son of John Luddington Peacock and Mary Peacock, of Southery Manor, Downham Market, Norfolk.}
    • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/526891/john-luddington-peacock/}
    • _{John Luddington Peacock was the youngest son of John Luddington Peacock and Mary G. Peacock who lived in Southery Manor, Downham Market, Norfolk.  He came to Newtownards in 1910 to take up the duties of clerk of works and resident engineer on behalf of the Urban Council in connection with the town’s sewerage scheme; prior to that he had been in charge of similar schemes in England.  When the vacancy occurred for the post of Town Surveyor in Newtownards he was elected to the position in December 1912.  In January 1915 he ‘offered his services to his King and country’ and joined the Ulster Division.  He served with the 150^th Field Company (formerly with the 224^th Field Company) Royal Engineers and he came home to Newtownards for a short period of leave in early June 1916.}
    • _{Lieutenant John Luddington Peacock was 35 when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and he was buried in Connaught Cemetery, France.  There is an inscription on his CWGC headstone: JESU MERCY}
    • ^{_{Lieutenant John Luddington Peacock is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s).}}
    • _{In the May 1917 issue of the Southery Parish Magazine it was reported that a stained glass window in memory of John Luddington Peacock had been unveiled in the Church of England Church at Little Ouse, Littleport (the Church where his father was a churchwarden).  The window comprised two lights with St Michael on the right side and St George on the left side.  The window bore the inscription: ‘To the Glory of God and in loving memory of John Luddington Peacock, Lieutenant RE, the youngest son of John Luddington and Mary G. Peacock who laid down his life for his country in France on 1 July 1916.  RIP’.}
  • _{Lieutenant Peacock is also commemorated on Southery War Memorial.}
  • _{Source: https://barryniblock.co.uk/world-war-one-list-of-dead/names-listed-alphabetically-by-surname/paden-to-pegg/peacock-john-luddington/}
• Richardson, A
• Shown on the Ely Cathedral Memorial.
• Rodwell, G
• Shown on the Ely Cathedral Memorial.
• Rudderham, H
• Shown on the Ely Cathedral Memorial.
  • _{Believed to be – Private Horace Edward Rudderham, Service Number: 201349 (World War 1): Bedfordshire Regiment, 1st/5th Battalion. Died 7th February 1917, age 24 years old. Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, D. 28. Egypt. Personal Inscription -DEAR IS THE SPOT WHERE OUR DADDY IS LAID FROM HIS WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN.}
  • _{Born Feltwell [Norfolk], resided Little Downham [Cambridgeshire], son of Henry and Edith Rudderham, husband of Florence Minnie Rudderham of Pymoor Lane, Pymoor, Ely [Cambridgeshire]} 
  • _{https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Roll-of-Honour/February-1917.aspx}
  • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/475374/h-e-rudderham/}
• Rudderham, J W
• Name does not appear on the Ely Cathedral memorial for Little Ouse.
  • _{Believed to be – Private John William Rudderham, Service Number: G/24559 (World War I): Middlesex Regiment, 4th Battalion. Died 23rd April 1917. No known grave, commemorated at Arras Memorial, Bay 7, France.}
  • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1637874/john-william-rudderham/}
  • _{https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/LittleDownham.html}
• Rutterford, C
• Name does not appear on the Ely Cathedral memorial for Little Ouse.
  • _{Private Connor Rutterford, Service Number: 9175 (World War I): Norfolk Regiment, 7th Battalion. Died 13th October 1915, age 18 years old. No known grave, Loos Memorial Panel 30 and 31, France.}
  • _{Son of James Rutterford of Little Ouse, Southery, Downham Market, Norfolk.}
  • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1768325/connor-rutterford/}
  • _{https://media.geograph.org.uk/files/fe9fc289c3ff0af142b6d3bead98a923/Southery_War_Memorial.pdf}
• Taylor, J
• Shown on the Ely Cathedral Memorial.
  • _{Lance Corporal John William Taylor, Service Number: 326415 (World War I): Cambridgeshire Regiment, 1st Battalion. Died 15th August 1917, age 25 years old. Dozinghem Military Cemetery III. F. 5. Belgium. Personal Inscription – GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.}
  • _{Son of John and Ellen Taylor, of White House Drove, Mildenhall Rd., Littleport, Ely.}
  • _{https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Littleport.html}
  • _{https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/154215/j-taylor/}
• Thomson, H
• Shown on the Ely Cathedral Memorial as H Thompson.

1922,

• Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Horticultural and Sports Society Trophy (1922) – 1x brass cup trophy engraved with ‘Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Horticultural and Sports Society, 1922. Cup presented to winner of most prizes – H. Thompson Esq. Won by Matthew B Carter.
  • _{See Littleport society page for picture – https://www.littleportsociety.org.uk/catalogue/index.php/Detail/objects/301}

1922, May

• 11th, The Great War Memorial Chapel (St. George’s Chapel) in Ely Cathedral, commemorating Cambridgeshire’s fallen soldiers, was officially unveiled and dedicated with a ceremony attended by General Lord Horne and the Bishop of Ely, creating a significant county war memorial within the Cathedral.

1924, March

• 11th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1925 – Motor­cycle accident to Mr. Fred Collins and Mr. Charles Turner near the “Rising Sun,” on the Mildenhall Road.

1924, July

• 11th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1925 – Accident at S. John Little Ouse to Mr. Sidney Fuller who was seriously injured by truck falling on him. Death resulted later.

1924, November

• 7th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1925 – Appointment by the Bishop of Ely of the Rev. F. Halliwell, of Rapid City Ruperts Land, Manitoba, as Vicar of Little Ouse.

1924, December

• 15th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1925 – Presentation by School children to Rev. H. J. Hall on his retirement as Vicar of S. John, Little Ouse

1925, May

• 4th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Messrs. E. M. Rose and P. Clarke re­elected churchwardens for Little Ouse.
• 8th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – The Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute held an open meeting.
• 10th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Little Ouse for the first time celebrates Hospital Sunday. This was in conjunction with the Prickwillow arrangements. Altogether over £92 was raised.

1925, June

• 7th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Egg Service at St. John’s, Little Ouse, and collection in aid of the British Legion.
• 15th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Little Ouse School contributes £2 10s. to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

• 18th, Thursday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Signpost erected on Mildenhall Road indicating way to Little Ouse.
  • _{As I can’t locate any period pictures of Little Ouse signposts. I have attached a few that I took in January 2026. The larger ones are at the Mildenhall and White House Road T junction. The other are within 100 metres of the turn on each side of the Mildenhall Road. You’ll see crown Villa in the background of some and also a corner of the Wesleyan Farm Bungalow in another. As the signposts are in an exposed position, it is not unusual for the ones at the junction on the single poles to sometimes get blown to the left or right and end up pointing to Burnt Fen rather than the junction.}
  • _{White House Road signs. In the Barbers Almanacs, White House Road is referred in most part as White House Drove until 1940, when the Council Housing seems to have been built. From that point on White House Drove is called White House Road. Was the road upgraded at that time?}

• 29th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Little Ouse Mothers’ Union outing to Cambridge.

1925, July

• 6th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Tennis Tournament at Plantation House, in aid of S. John’s Church, Little Ouse. This was organized by Mr. E. M. Rose.
  • _{Note – E. M. Rose is E Mortimer Rose. There are several errors, including on the Littleport War Memorial when his son is listed as Rose and not Mortimer Rose. See the 1943 entry.}
  • _{Note – Some publications show mr & Mrs Mortimer-Rose being at Plantation House and some at Plantation Farm.}
• 18th, Saturday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Garden Fete at Plantation House in aid of Little Ouse Parish Church Funds. The total proceeds amounted to about £100.

1925, August

• 5th, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Brandon Bank Primitive Methodist Motor Outing to Hunstanton.

1925, September

• 18th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Demonstration in the making of papier­mâché articles at Little Ouse Women’s Institute.

1925, November

• 3rd, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Rev. F. Halliwell addresses Mothers’ Union at the Vicarage.
• _{20th – Death of the Empress Alexandra, our beloved Queen­Mother, at Sandringham.}

1926, April

• 16th, Friday – Barbers Almanac – 1927 – The Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute spend a jolly evening Meeting at Constitutional Hall to form Branch of National Deposit Friendly Society

1926, May

• 23rd, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1927 – Special Sermons for S.P.G. at the (Littleport) Parish Church. Rev. Halliwell preached.

1927

• The Little Ouse School was rebuilt. this year. Further information required.
  • _{It appears that the new School Master’s house was built pre the Great War. However, it took till 1927 to rebuild the school.}
  • _{The Little Ouse School was housed in very poor premises-an iron hut used also as a mission room, which still exists. Shortly before the First World War a new site was bought and a teacher’s house erected, but the school itself was not furnished with new buildings until 1927. They are an attractive example of semi-permanent timber construction.} 
    • _{See comments for 1870 – The Old School house and Anglican mission, this is believed to be what is now the New from Old workshop next to the pumping station.}
  • _{https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol4/pp95-102}

1927, May

• 8th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1928 – Third annual celebration of Hospital Sunday at Little Ouse. effort in conjunction with Prickwillow realised over £150.

1927, December

• 25th, Sunday, Christmas Day – Barbers Almanac 1929 – Heavy Snowstorms throughout the country.

1928, May

• 13th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1929 – Little Ouse Annual Hospital Parade.

1928, July

• 15th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1929 – Death of Mr. W. W. Benstead, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Benstead, of Little Ouse, at the Queen’s Hospital, Sidcup.

1928, October

• 7th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1929 – Harvest Festival at St. John’s, Little Ouse.

1930, January

• 13th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1931 – Tragic death of Mr. George Henry Hills, of Little Ouse, who was killed in collision with motor car on Lynn Road.
  • _{George Henry Hills and his wife Sarah are they related to the Walter and Maude Hills of Red Cottage who have a son George Hills of Red Cottage, (see 1915 postcard entries)?}
  • _{George Henry Hills is shown as Licensee of the Feltwell Anchor and Mole Catcher 1908-1919 and aged 38 in 1911.}
  • _{George Henry Hills is shown as taking over as Licensee of the Feltwell Anchor for the second time on the 04/02/1924, until his death. Died March 1930, aged 58. After which his wife appears to become licensee – Sarah Emma Hills, 03/02/1930.}
    • _{https://www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/norfolkf/feltwell/feltwan.htm}
    • _{Needs corroborating – I would want to confirm the death date shown on the Norfolk pub website. The Ely Standard (Barbers Almanac) shows a George Henry Hills of Little Ouse dying in January, whereas the Norfolk pub site shows a George Henry Hills dying in March. It is also intriguing that they show. Sarah Hills taking over as Licensee a month before he dies in the February. if these are the same person the timeline of either the Barbers Almanac or the Norfolk Pub site needs checking?}

1930, February

• 14th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1931 – New Year’s Social of Brandon Bank and Little Ouse Women’s Institute. A presentation was made to Miss Denmark, hon. sec.

1930, May

• 11th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1931 – Little Ouse Annual Hospital Sunday.

1930, July

• 19th, Saturday – Barbers Almanac 1931 – Members of Brandon Bank Women’s Institute had a successful ‘bus run to Warwick Pageant

1930, August

• 27th, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac 1931 – Outing of St. John’s, Little Ouse, Sunday School.

1930, September

• 28th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1931 – Harvest Festival at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

1930, October

• _{5th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1931 – The giant airship, R101, crashed at Beauvais, France.}
• 31st, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1931 – Concert in connection with Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute in Brandon Bank Schoolroom. The proceeds were divided between Addenbrooke’s Hospital and Institute Funds

1931, April

• 5th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1932 – The number of eggs collected at Little Ouse on behalf of Addenbrooke’s Hospital was over 1,800. This surpassed all previous efforts.

1931, June

• 23rd, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1932 – Members of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute spent an enjoyable evening in the garden of Mrs. L. V. Daniels, of Ely.

1931, July

• 12th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1932 – Hospital Sunday at Little Ouse. This was the first effort independent of any other place ever held there. The amount collected during the day was £13 5s. 7d.
• 23rd, Thursday – Barbers Almanac 1932 – Mr. F. H. Nunn, of Little Ouse, was thrown with his car into a ditch by the side of the Mildenhall Road when trying to avoid an approaching motor cycle. Happily, his injuries were of a minor character.

1931, September

• 13th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1932 – Rev F. Halliwell, M.A., Vicar of Little Ouse, preached at Parish Church (Littleport).
• 17th, Thursday & 20th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1932 – Harvest Thanksgiving Services held at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.
• 30th Wednesday – Barbers Almanac 1932 – The first annual effort of the people of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank on behalf of Addenbrooke’s Hospital and West Norfolk & Lynn Hospital realised £77 14s. 7d.

1931, October

• 10th, Saturday – Barbers Almanac 1932 – Mr. P. H. Smith, of White House Drove, Littleport, was seriously injured when he collided with two pedestrians while motor cycling along the Ely­ Stretham Road.

1932, March

• 27th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Toaster Day­ 2,160 eggs collected at Little Ouse on behalf of Addenbrooke’s Hospital. The previous year’s record was beaten by 360.

1932, June

• 24th, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Monthly meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute. Mrs. L. V. Daniels and Miss L. Crouch, both of Ely, gave demonstrations of wool embroidery and pewter work.

1932, July

• 1st, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Sunday School outing of scholars of St. John’s, Little Ouse.
• 11th, Monday – Barbers Almanac – Members of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute entertained to tea by Mrs. L. V. Daniels (the President), at the beautiful gardens of Orchard House, Ely.

1932, August

• 5th, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Death, at Little Ouse, of Mr. Elijah Wilding, at the age of 64 years.

1932, September

• 9th, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Death of Mr. Elijah Wilding at Addenbrooke’s Hospital after only a few day’s illness. Mr. Wilding, who was only 28 years of age, lived at Crouchmoor Farm.
  • _{Crouchmoor Farm, Littleport is quite close to Little Ouse. It would be interesting to know if the Elijah Wilding that died on the 5th of August 1932 in Little Ouse, was related to the Elijah Wilding who died at Crouchmoor Farm.}
• 29th, Thursday – Barbers Almanac – Harvest Festival Services commenced at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

1932, October

• 2nd, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Harvest Festival Services continued at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

1932, November

• 8th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac – Public Hospital Meeting held at Little Ouse. It was reported that the amount collected under the Contributory Scheme during the year amounted to £74 3s. 6d.

1932, December

• 16th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Annual Christmas entertainment of the Brandon Bank (Feltwell) school children.

1933, February

• 1st, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Hospital Contributory Scheme Committee met to make arrangements for the Hospital Sunday Parade to be held on May 7th.
• 20th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Cricket Club formed at Little Ouse.
  • _{Requires corroboration – The information given by an elderly resident of Little Ouse was that the Little Ouse Cricket ground was situated in the field between The Old Vicarage and the Church Farm Bungalows, the land belonging to Church Farm. This was returned to a ploughed field, some years before 2015. I cannot find any mention of when the Little Ouse Cricket Club was disbanded.}

1933, April

• 14th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Lantern service held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

1933, May

• 7th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Little Ouse Parade marred by wet weather.

1933, July

• 9th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Death, at Thetford, Norfolk, of Mr. Joseph Hicks, a former resident of Little Ouse. He was 96 years of age.
• 21st, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Outing of Little Ouse Sunday School children to Hunstanton.

1933, August

• _{21st, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Electricity at last available in Littleport.}
  • _{When did Little Ouse get Electricity in that case? I found a news paper for the Radio Times dated 1929 stuffed behind a repair in the Old Vicarage. I always presumed that electricity was available in Little Ouse pre that date.}

1933, September

• 22­nd, Friday and 29th­­, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Harvest Festival Services held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

1933, October

• 5th, Thursday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Public Hospital Meeting held at Little Ouse.

1933, November

• 28th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Death, at Soham, of Mr. George Simpson Galley. Mr. Galley, who was a native of Southery, spent 40 years of his life at Little Ouse. He was 85 years of age.

1933, December

• 15th, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Meeting of Brandon Bank and Little Ouse Women’s Institute. Miss Mary Covell gave a demonstration on Cake Icing

1934, February

• 28th, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac – Annual meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Cricket Club

1934, March

• 30th, Good Friday – Barbers Almanac – Lantern Service at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. The Vicar (Rev. F. Halliwell) conducted the Service

1934, April

• 1st, Easter Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Another grand egg collection for Addenbrooke’s Hospital at Little Ouse. The total number collected was 2,520
• 13th, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Twenty­-first annual spring conference of the Ely group of Women’s Institutes held at Little Ouse.
• 19th, Thursday – Barbers Almanac – Death, at Letter F Farm, Little Ouse, of Mrs. Eliza Ward. She was 85 years of age.
• 29th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – The Sunday evening service at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, took the form of a memorial service to the late Mrs. E. Ward

1934, May

• 1st, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac – Seven hen’s eggs, three pheasant’s eggs, three French and six English partridges’ eggs found in one nest on Mr. J.L Luddington’s White House Farm.

• 11th, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Death, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, of Mr. Violet Feltwell, of Brandon Bank, at the early age of 24 years.
• 20th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Rev. F. Halliwell, M.A., Vicar of Little Ouse, preached at Littleport Parish Church His subject was “The work of the S.P.G. in Canada.”

1934, August

• 26th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Rev. N. W. Shelton, Vicar of Littleport, took evening service at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, and the Rev. F. Halliwell, Vicar of Little Ouse, preached at the evening service at Littleport Parish Church.

1934, September

• 21st, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Harvest Festival Services commenced at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.
• 23rd, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Harvest Festival Service continued at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

1934, December

• 20th, Thursday – Littleport Scrapbook – Traffic Commissioners considered bus services between Ely and Littleport, Little Ouse and Shippea Hill. The LNER said that railway traffic to Littleport had showed a marked decrease with 4,000 passengers being lost to road competition in the last few years. But Mr Bert Washington said his bus services were practically identical with those he operated in 1930, though there were some unauthorised journeys not at the agreed times.
  • _{https://archive.org/stream/LittleportScrapbook18971990/Littleport%20Scrapbook%201897-1990_djvu.txt}

1935, April

• 3rd, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac – 3,360 eggs collected in the Little Ouse district for Addenbrooke’s Hospital. The previous year’s record was surpassed

1935, May

• _{6th, Monday – Barbers Almanac – Silver Jubilee of the accession to the throne of Their Majesties, King George V. and Queen Mary celebrated in Littleport and throughout the British Empire}.
• 24th, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Sudden death, at Charing Cross Hospital, London, of Mr. George Theodore Halliwell, at the age of 19 years. He was the only remaining son of the Vicar of Little Ouse (Rev. P. Halliwell) and Mrs. Halliwell.
• 26th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Sunday School anniversary services, held in the Methodist Church, Brandon Bank, conducted by Mr. H. E. Kisby, of Little Thetford

1935, October

• 4th, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Harvest festival services held at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. The Vicar (Rev. F. Halliwell) conducted all services.
• 21st, Monday – Barbers Almanac – Members of the Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Cricket Club made a presentation to one of their colleagues, Mr. G. Hensby, on the occasion of his marriage to Miss N. Bell

1935, November

• 5th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac – Rev. P. Halliwell, Vicar of Little Ouse, appointed as Rector of Broughton with King’s Ripton, Hunts.

1935, December

• Barbers Almanac – Parting presentation at Little Ouse to Rev. F. Halliwell, M.A., who had been appointed Rector of Broughton and King’s Ripton, Hunts., after eleven years’ splendid work in the Little Ouse Parish.

1936, January

• 15th, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac – Presentation made to Mrs. Halliwell at St. John’s Vicarage, Little Ouse, by members of the local branch of the Mothers’ Union, who was presiding over them for the last time.
• _{20th, Monday – Death of His Majesty King George V.}
• _{22nd, Wednesday – Accession of King Edward VIII. to the Throne proclaimed.}
• _{23rd, Wednesday – Royal Funeral Train passed through Littleport Station.}
• 26th Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Farewell Service preached by Rev . F. Halliwell at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

1936, March

• 7th, Saturday – Barbers Almanac – Institution and induction of the Rev. Thomas Walter Coombe, M.A. as Vicar of Little Ouse, at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. The institution was performed by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese (Dr. B. O. F. Heywood), while the Archdeacon of Wisbech (Rev. G. Ward), carried out the induction ceremony.
• _{7th Saturday – German troops occupy the Rhineland}

1936, April

• _{18th, Saturday – The first Ordnance Survey trig point was erected on 18 April 1936 near Cold Ashby, Northamptonshire. This marked the beginning of the retriangulation of Great Britain, which involved the construction of over 6,500 trig pillars to improve the accuracy of mapping. See 30th May 1953, for the Little Ouse Trig Point.}

1936, May

• 7th, Thursday – Barbers Almanac – Cricket­, Little Ouse defeated local Butchers
• 18th, Monday – Barbers Almanac – Cricket­, Little Ouse versus Littleport Butchers ­ Drawn game

1936, June

• 29th, Monday – Barbers Almanac – Monster pike, weighing 15 lbs., taken from the Engine Drain at Little Ouse by Mr. Walter Hills, engineer in charge of the Burnt Fen Pumping Station.

1936, August

• 9th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Induction of Rev. F. Halliwell at King’s Ripton Church, Hunts. The Archdeacon of Huntingdon (the Ven. K. D. Knowles), conducted the ceremony.

1936, November

• 26th, Thursday – Barbers Almanac – Mr. E. R. Watkin, County Organiser, gave an address at Little Ouse and Brandon Bank hospital meeting. It was revealed that £57 12s. 8d. had been collected for the Maintenance Fund in the past year

1936, December

• _{10th, Thursday – Abdication of His Majesty King Edward VIII.}
• _{12th, Saturday – Proclamation of His Majesty King George VI.}

1937, March

• Barbers Almanac – Concert, arranged by the Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute, held in the Brandon Bank Schoolroom. The Pymoor Ten Sisters supplied the entertainment.
  • _{Needs corroborating – There are several references to the Pymoor WI performing shows. See as an example – https://pymoor.ccan.co.uk/content/catalogue_item/pymoor-wi-minstral-show-at-the-wi-hall-in-main-street-pymoor#:~:text=The%20full%20cast%20of%20the,1962 – were the Pymoor Ten part of the Pymoor WI?}

1937, April

• 4th, Sunday – Somersaulting Car – Fen Times 9th April 1937 – Mrs. E. Mortimer Rose of Plantation Farm, Littleport had a miraculous escape from death in a somersaulting car on Sunday afternoon. She was driving the small saloon from Littleport to Ely and when negotiating the bend in the road on the Chettisham side of the Oakery housing estate, the car somersaulted four times and when it came to rest, it was facing towards Littleport and was upside down. Mrs Rose received cuts and suffered from shock, but her son was unhurt. The car was extensively damaged.
  • The story was published in the Ely Standard on 9th April 1937
  • Read more stories from 1937 https://photos.app.goo.gl/JPcwAtiFr21WLmfJ7
  • You can read the full paper at the Cambridgeshire Collection and on microfilm at Ely and March Libraries
  • Read thousands more stories in A Cambridgeshire Scrapbook 1897 to 1990. 2020. https://archive.org/…/a-cambridgeshire-scrapbook-1897…

1937, May

• Barbers Almanac – Coronation celebrations at Little Ouse included a tea for children and an adults’ supper. The sports programme had to be abandoned owing to rain until the following Monday

1937, August

• Barbers Almanac – Three stacks destroyed by fire on White House Farm, White House Drove.
  • _{Note, There was an account that mentioned that White House Drove was the common name used for White House Road by locals, in the early part of the last century. See map from 1824.}

1937, September

• Barbers Almanac – Harvest festival services began at (Littleport) Parish Church. Rev. T. W. Coombe (Vicar of Little Ouse) preached.

1937, December

• 31st, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1939 – Successful concert in aid of the Church Repair Fund held at Little Ouse.

1938

• Little Ouse School – Site plan, plan, roof plan, elevation and section, 1938?. Sketch plan, 1950. General drawing, 1955. House – general drawing. – Creator, Cambridgeshire County Council: Architectural Drawings – Repository, Cambridgeshire Archives.
  • _{https://calm.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=KCC7%2fD4%2fARCH%2fE25%2f2&pos=38}

CalmRefNo	KCC7/D4/ARCH/E25/2
Reference number	ArchitectsPlans/Bundle.E25b

1938, February

• 23rd, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac 1939 – Annual meeting of Little Ouse Cricket Club.
• 24th, Thursday – Barbers Almanac 1939 – Successful concert held at Little Ouse, organised by the Church entertainment committee.

1938, June

• 5th, Whit Monday – Barbers Almanac 1939 – Enjoyable dance held in the Church Room, Little Ouse.

1938, July

• 7th, Thursday – Cambridgeshire County Council Archive, K283/SP/172 – Sale Particulars for, Church Farm, St Johns, Little Ouse, Ely, comprising 506a 1r 30p (with plan). By Evans and Sons, High Street Passage, Ely.
  • _{https://calm.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=K283%2fSP%2f172}

• 8th, Friday – Cambridgeshire Scrapbook – Little Ouse Bridge reconstruction – Little Ouse Catchment Board have authorised their Engineer to prepare plans for the reconstruction of the bridge at Feltwell Anchor, with concrete piers. The Board never had any liability with regard to the bridge but might find it necessary to take steps under the Land Drainage Act to secure that the interests of land drainage were not deleteriously affected. They would write to Norfolk and Isle of Ely County Councils suggesting the bridge should be taken over by them.
  • _{https://www.facebook.com/groups/1026849820769556/posts/4010784565709385/}

• 8th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1939 – Presentation made by members of the Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute to Miss Denmark, their Secretary, as a parting gift.
• 19th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1939 – Water sports held in connection with Little Ouse Swimming Club highly successful.

1938, August

• 5th, Friday – Ely RDC receives tenders for houses at Coveney, West End & Duck Lane Haddenham, Witchford, Downham, Littleport & Lt Ouse. Wilburton school & ditch Carpond Lane.
  • _{https://archive.org/details/LittleportScrapbook18971990/page/n19/mode/2up}
  • _{Note – in the 1940 Barbers Almanac, at the back, it breaks down people and location. For the first time it mentions the Council Houses, Little Ouse. As the release date of the Almanac is the year after the events. Were the first batch of council house erected in 1938/1939?}
  • _{Note – The oldest council houses in Little Ouse have a date stone inserted on the front at first floor level with a build date of 1938.}

1939, January

• Barbers Almanac – Death of Mrs. Ann Lizzie Benstead, of Little Ouse, in Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

1939, June

• 1939, June – Barbers Almanac – Monthly meeting of Little Ouse Women’s Institute. The delegate, Mrs. Brand, gave a report of the annual meeting held recently in the Empress Hall, Earl’s Court.

1939, July

• 1939, July – Barbers Almanac – Monthly meeting of Little Ouse & Brandon Bank Women’s Institute. Mrs. W. Hills gave a demonstration on the making of scones.

1939, August

• 1939, August – Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse water sports. Much of the entertainment was provided by the Littleport Swimming Club.

1939, September

• _{Britain and France, bound by an alliance with Poland, declared war on Germany, officially bringing major European powers into the conflict.} 

1939, December

• 1939, December – Barbers Almanac – Marriage, at St. John’s Church, Balby, Doncaster of Dr W H James to Miss B. C. Bolton, of Doncaster. Dr. James is the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. James, of School House, Little Ouse.

1940

1940, February

• 18th, Sunday – 266 Squadron,  Sutton Bridge – Spitfire I  N3120.  Aircraft broke up during an engine test flight to altitude after going into a steep turn, believed through excessive force applied by the pilot on the elevator tab.  Crashed across the Little Ouse river, near Littleport (Cambridgeshire) at 2.40 p.m.  37800 Acting Flight Lieutenant Ian Richard Gleed thrown out and parachuted to safety, but injured.  Aircraft a write-off. Sources:  266 Sqn. ORB (AIR 27/1558,  p. 14;  F.540 only,  no F.541 for February 1940),  F.1180,  F.78,  AVIA 5/19 Court of Inquiry crash report (W-731),  Flying Log Book of I.R. Gleed (RAF Museum),  March 1940 Air Force List.

1941, November

4th, Tuesday – Looks like someone scratched some graffiti on The Vicarage! I’ll need to try and identify if the miscreant was a local or a evacuee.

1943, January

• Edward Brian Mortimer-Rose DFC & Bar was born at Littleport, Cambridgeshire in the last quarter of 1920, the son of Edward (1890-1960) and Eelinn Mortimer-Rose (nee Wilkinson 1890-??) of Troon, Ayrshire. He was educated at Haileybury.
  • Mortimer-Rose joined the RAF on a short service commission in February 1939 and, after completing his training, he was posted to 234 Squadron at Leconfield on 6th November 1939, soon after it reformed. He was killed on 28th January 1943 when his Spitfire Vb ER591 collided with W/Cdr.G K Gilroy in ER144 over Khemis. Gilroy was unhurt.
  • Mortimer-Rose was 22. He is buried in Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia.
  • Note: He is commemorated on the London Monument as E B M Rose as he appeared as such in squadron records and also on Littleport War Memorial. But his headstone bears the name Mortimer-Rose and it would seem that this must be recognised as correct.
  • https://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Mortimer-Rose.htm All photos taken from this website.
  • _{There are several records of the Mortimer Rose family as living at Plantation Farm. Lynne Road, see entries for 1937, 1953, 1961, 1962. His mother was president of the Little Ouse and Brandon Bank WI. There is also a Mortimer Rose, cup presented at cricket by his mother. Was this a memorial cup?}
  • Also see:
    • _{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Mortimer-Rose}
    • _{https://acesofww2.com/UK/aces/mortimer-rose/}
    • _{https://allspitfirepilots.org/pilots/4123-edward-mortimer-rose}
    • _{The news report pictured of from the Cambridgeshire News}
      • _{https://www.facebook.com/groups/rollofhonour/posts/10162687522098789/}

1943, November

• 9th, Tuesday – Historic England Research Records – Grid Ref : TL6420084800 – Summary : Aircraft KW800 was a British Hurricane fighter, which crashed at Plantation Farm during the Second World War. It belonged to the Air Fighting Development Unit based at Newmarket. On the 9th of November 1943, it crashed as the result of a mid air collision with Short Stirling LK380 during an “affiliation” exercise. The Hurricane pilot survived the crash, and also narrowly avoided being killed by a train as his parachute brought him down on to railway lines. The Hurricane aircraft was excavated in 1983-4, the Stirling had already excavated in 1975 (see TL 68 SW 13). More information : Aircraft KW800 was a British Hurricane fighter, which crashed at Plantation Farm during the Second World War. It belonged to the Air Fighting Development Unit based at Newmarket. On the 9th of November 1943, it crashed as the result of a mid air collision with a Short Stirling LK380 during an “affiliation” exercise. The Hurricane pilot survived the crash, also narrowly avoiding being killed by a train as his parachute brought him down on to railway lines. The Hurricane aircraft was excavated in 1983-4, the Stirling had already excavated in 1975. (1)
  • Stirling LK380 “collided with Hurricane KW800 on flight affiliation and crashed, Shippea Hill, Suffolk 9.11.43”. (2)
  • The excavation took place at Plantation Farm, Sedge Fen, which according to administrative area maps, is not in Suffolk as sources 1-2 might suggest, but just over the county border in Littleport parish, Cambridgeshire. (3)
  • Plantation Farm is located at TL 642848. (4) – shown below

1945

1945, May

• _{8th, Friday – End of Second World War in Europe (VE Day})_{, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signed the German Instrument of Surrender, an unconditional surrender to the Allies, in Karlshorst, Berlin. This is celebrated as Victory in Europe Day,}

1945, September

• _{2nd, Sunday – End of Second World War in the Pacific (VJ Day).}

1946, August

• Barbers Almanac – Engagement announced between Frederick Charles, the sixth son of Mr, and Mrs. R. Scarff, Little Ouse, and Joan Mary, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Beer, Manningtree, Essex

1946, October

• Barbers Almanac – Mr. Garwood, of Church Farm Cottages, Little Ouse, plunged into the river to rescue little Queenie Crofts who had fallen from the diving board and drifted into deep water. Four years ago Mr. Garwood was instrumental in rescuing a child from the same spot. He is a non­-swimmer.
  • At Church Farm there are two bungalows

1946, November

• Barbers Almanac – Mr. and Mrs, H. W. Travis, of 46, Silver Street, Ely, celebrated their golden wedding. Mrs, Travis was formerly Miss H. Hatley, of Lynn Road, Littleport. They were married at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse

1947, April

• Barbers Almanac – Coming of age party of Mr Charlie Fincham, of Little Ouse. Fifty guests attended.

1947, August

• Barbers Almanac – Kathleen Hensby and Doreen Pendle, scholars of Feltwell Fen School, Anchor Drove, Little Ouse, gained scholarships to Thetford Girls’ Grammar School.

1947, October

• Barbers Almanac – Recent harvest thanksgiving sale held at St. John, Little Ouse, realised over £15 for the fund for paying for repairs to the church roof.

1947, October

• Barbers Almanac – members of the Prickwillow branch of the Mothers’ Union made a pilgrimage to the Church of St. John, Little Ouse.

1948, January

• Barbers Almanac – In the course of ploughing operations on land adjoining Whitehouse Road (part of the Luddington Estates) a skeleton was unearthed. It is believed to be the remains of a man of the Bronze Age.

1948, March

• Barbers Almanac – Rev. I. A. Reynolds (Vicar of Little Ouse), cycled the 29 miles to Wisbech to attend the funeral of a former Vicar of Little Ouse, the Rev. M. P. Shipman, M.A.

• Barbers Almanac – A resolution urging the Minister of Health to sanction the building of more houses in Littleport was passed at the annual assembly of the parish in the Town Hall. Following a strong appeal by the Vicar of Little Ouse (Rev. I. A. Reynolds) a further resolution was carried asking Ely R.D.C, to include that parish in their building programme.

1948, July

• Barbers Almanac – The following pupils of the Town Schools were successful in passing the Entrance Examination to Ely High school for Girls and Soham Grammar School : — Girls, Jean Atkinson, Mary Butcher, Doreen Clarke, Norma Clarke, Dorothy Crane, Beryl Easy, Jean Gotobed, Maureen Handley, Margaret Harwood, Mary Lofts, Sylvia Neve, Marilyn Rutterford, Grace Strafford, Barbara Taylor. Boys, Robin Baumber, Lionel Criddle, Brian Easy, Ronald Sallis, Peter South, Terence Stevens, Frederick Thurling, William Norman (Little Ouse)

1948, September

• Barbers Almanac – Meeting of Little Ouse Women’s Institute. Mrs. Morton was elected as President and Mrs. Daniels and Mrs. James as Vice­ Presidents.

1948, October

• Barbers Almanac – Engagement announced between Mr. H. Gipp, of Little Ouse, and Miss E. R. Bonnett, of Burnt Fen

1949, April

• Barbers Almanac – Marriage, at March, of Mr. Edwin Thomas Rutterford, eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Rutterford, of Little Ouse, and Mrs. Phyllis Joan Funeral, of March

1949, June

• Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse Women’s Institute monthly meeting. The guest of the evening was Mrs. Blackwell.
• Barbers Almanac – A party was held in the Old Church School, Little Ouse, to celebrate the 21st birthday of Miss Mary Fincham, of the Bungalow, Whitehouse Road.
  • _{The Old Church School appears to be a reference to the original tin school building in Little Ouse. This it appears may have been used as a hall to host events such as WI meetings, after the new school was built in 1927. It is presumed to have stood in the grounds of the School. Needs corroborating. It}

1949, July

• Barbers Almanac – Women’s Institute meeting. Mrs. J. Gilbert gave a report on the annual general meeting of the W.I. held at the Albert Hall, which she had attended as delegate for Little Ouse and Littleport.

1949, September

• Barbers Almanac – Women’s Institute meeting at Little Ouse. Mrs. W. Pendle won a competition by cramming l89 articles into a match box.

1949, October

• Barbers Almanac – First trials of the “Peter Standen” beet harvester held at Little Ouse.
  • _{Mr Standen opened a premises in Ely in the 1950s and got to work on a sugar beet harvester machine that worked, but also affordable, later producing the Standen Beet Master. The machinery, which aimed to lift one acre of sugar beet in a day, aimed to move from sugar beet being lifted and topped by hand to a more mechanical process, and consists of pointed discs held at the top of each sugar beet plant so it can be cut. It is believed to be the most preferred method of topping sugar beet today.}
  • _{https://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/22645462.engineering-firm-celebrates-175-years-trading/}

• Barbers Almanac – Services of harvest thanksgiving were held at the Church of St. John, Little Ouse.

1949, November

• Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute monthly meeting. A special guest was Mrs. L. Daniels, of Ely, who was president of the Branch for many years

1949, November

• Barbers Almanac – Marriage, at the Methodist Church, Clapham, of Bertram Wilson, of Little Ouse, to Nancy Edwards, of Soham

1950, February

• Barbers Almanac – Candlemass services held at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. At the main service candles were blessed and distributed to all present.

1950, December

• Barbers Almanac – Marriage, at Chatteris, of Miss Lilian Patricia Lee, only daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W. Lee, of Little Ouse, and Mr, A, L. Heading, of Chatteris.

1952, February

• Barbers Almanac – Death, at her home, Engine House, Little Ouse, of Mrs. Louisa Hills aged 79, wife of Mr. Walter Hills. A native of Yorkshire Mrs Hills had resided at Little Ouse for some 40 years.

1952, April

• Barbers Almanac – Engagement announced between Miss Margaret Saunders, only daughter of Mr. & Mrs. G. Saunders, of Little Ouse, and Mr. William Rolph, of Little Wilbraham.

1952, June

• Barbers Almanac – Third birthday party of the Black Horse Drove Women’s Institute. The guest of honour was Mrs. E. H. James, of Little Ouse.

1952, July

29th, Tuesday – Death on duty of Fireman Frederick Charles Scarff, Manningtree, Essex. Son of Mr. & Mrs. R. Scarff, of Little Ouse.

1952, August

• Barbers Almanac – Report received from Manningtree, Essex, of the funeral of Mr. Frederick C. Scarff, son of Mr. & Mrs. R. Scarff, of Little Ouse. His tragic death took place while he was on duty as a fireman.

1952, October

• Barbers Almanac – Mr. W. P. Register, of Littleport, appointed headmaster of the Little Ouse School. Mrs. Register was appointed assistant mistress at the same school.

1952, December

• Barbers Almanac – Presentation made, on the occasion of their retirement, to Mr. & Mrs. E. H. James who, for the past 33 years, had held the positions of schoolmaster and mistress at Little Ouse school. The presentation was made by Mr. E. Mortimer Rose on behalf of the local residents.
  • _{The James’ would have been the school masters that started off their tenure in the Old Iron hut School and house and moved to the New School House and School when they were built after the Great War and 1927. See previous year comments.}

1953, March

• Barbers Almanac – Marriage of Corporal A. Scarff, of Little Ouse, and Miss B. Hudson, of Littleport.

1953, April

• Barbers Almanac – Children of Little Ouse School subscribed £3 to the Lord Mayor of London’s Flood Relief Fund.

1953, May

• 30th, Saturday – The date that the Little Ouse trig point was built was 30th May 1953 and it cost £31.10s.3d. Its computing date was 1st June 1953. It was levelled the 1st of August 1961 and it was maintained in August 1976.
• _{https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/cimif1ts1xeat4jn9968i/PillarHistory2025.xlsx?rlkey=8jrsh2fw20ragsvv1cje5zri0&e=1&dl=0}
• _{For location see – https://trigpointing.uk/trigs/4449}.
• _{The trig point is on the Brandon Bank, Norfolk side of the river, walking from the iron bridge towards Brandon Creek, it is about half a mile.}
• _{The first trig point was erected on 18 April 1936 near Cold Ashby, Northamptonshire.}

1953, June

• Barbers Almanac – School children from Black Horse Drove and Little Ouse toured the Coronation route in London.

1953, July

• Barbers Almanac – Littleport County Primary School Scholarship winners. Girls:­­ Barbara Cole, Mary Firby, Ann Fendick, Barbara Register, Jean Firby, Mary Rudderkam, Christine Butcher, Adrienne Neilson. Boys :­­Bernard Burling, David Feltell, Michael Levett, Michael Lister, John Starling, John Thorpe, Terence Simper, Edwin Whitehouse. A. W. Register (Little Ouse).
• Barbers Almanac – Children of the Littleport and Little Ouse schools saw the Coronation film “Elizabeth is Queen” at the Regal Cinema.
• Barbers Almanac – Coronation sports held at Little Ouse.

1953, September

• Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s institute garden fete held in the grounds of Plantation House. The financial result was £96/14/4.
• Barbers Almanac – A collection at Little Ouse School in aid of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes amounted to £3/9/4.

1953, October

• Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse & Brandon Bank Women’s Institute monthly meeting. Mrs. T. B. James, of Black Horse Drove, gave a talk and demonstration on felt work.

1953, October

• Barbers Almanac – Tragic death of the Rev. I. A. Reynolds, Vicar of Little Ouse. He was killed when his motor­cycle collided with an American seven­ ton truck at the junction of the Mildenhall and White House Roads.

1953, December

• Barbers Almanac – Members of the Little Ouse County Primary School held their Christmas Party in the school.

1954, January

• Barbers Almanac – Engagement announced between Mr. Brian Hodson, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Hodson, of Wisbech Road, Littleport, and Miss Jean Burton, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Burton, of Little Ouse.
• Barbers Almanac – Visit paid by the school children of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank to the pantomime “Puss in Boots” at the Embassy Theatre, Peterborough.
• Barbers Almanac – Engagement announced between Mr. Terence Anthony Scarff, son of Mr. and Mrs. K. Scarff, of Council Houses, Little Ouse, and Miss Mary Green, youngest daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. A. Green, of Parson’s Lane, Littleport.

1954, April

• Barbers Almanac – Mrs Reynolds, wife of the late Vicar of Little Ouse, the Rev I.A.Reynolds, and her daughter Kathleen, left Little Ouse to take up residence in Ipswich.
• Barbers Almanac – Marriage, at St. John’s Church, Stamford, between Miss Beryl Greaves, of Stamford, and Mr. Keith Garwood, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Garwood, of Council Houses, Little Ouse.

1954, June

• Barbers Almanac – Outing of the children of Little Ouse County Primary School to Whipsnade Park. They were accompanied by their Head Master Mr W P. Register, Mrs. Register and several parents.

1954, July

• Barbers Almanac – Formation of the “Waterman’s Arms” Angling Society at Little Ouse.

1954, November

• Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse school children collected £3 12s. 9d. for Dr. Barnardo’s Homes.

1955, January

• Barbers Almanac – Death, at the Clarkson Hospital, Wisbech, at the age of 77, of the Rev. Fred Halliwell, Vicar of St. John the Baptist Church, Parson Drove. He was Vicar of Little Ouse from 1924 until 1936.

1955, March

• Barbers Almanac – Plans for an additional classroom, etc., at Little Ouse C.P. School, together with the provision of central heating for the existing school and the new classroom, were approved at a meeting of the Isle of Ely Education Committee. The total estimated cost was £3,275.
• Barbers Almanac – Monthly meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute, A set of table mats was presented to Mrs. R. Thompson of Littleport as a token of appreciation for the help she had given to the Institute.
• Barbers Almanac – Women’s Institutes of the Littleport area held their group meeting at the Constitutional Hall. Gifts were presented to the oldest member present, Mrs. S. E. Hills, of Little Ouse; to the youngest member present, Miss Joan Perry, of Black Horse Drove; and to the member whose birthday fell on the day of the meeting, Mrs. Nicholas, of Littleport.

1955, June

• Barbers Almanac – Pageant of the Fens presented by the Isle of Ely Federation of Women’s Institutes at Chatteris. Members of the Littleport, Black Horse Drove, Prickwillow and Little Ouse Institutes, performed the episode entitled “The Littleport Riots”.
• Barbers Almanac – An outbreak of fire caused the total destruction of a bungalow at White House Road, Little Ouse. It was the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Fincham.

1955, July

• Barbers Almanac – Local Primary School scholarship winners. Littleport­­ Sherry Everett, Margaret Fletcher, Anne Kitchen, Christine Howe, Janice Brown, Hazel Smith, Clive Taylor, David Clarke, John Lee, William Duffin, Peter Green, Brian Kerridge, Stephen Missin, Peter Wilderspin. Black Horse Drove­­Heather James, Patricia Gaul, Hazel Smith. Little Ouse­­ David Register.

1955, September

• Barbers Almanac – At a special service held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, Captain G. H. Robbins, of the Church Army, was licensed by the Bishop of Ely as evangelist­-in-charge of that parish.

1955, October

• Barbers Almanac – Captain Robbins, evangelist­-in-­charge at Little Ouse, took his first service at Black Horse Drove. It was held in the Community Centre.

1955, November

• Barbers Almanac – Mr. Harold Willett, fishing in the river at Little Ouse, hooked and landed a monster Pike weighing 20 lbs.

1956, March

• Barbers Almanac – The following pupils of local schools were successful in passing the entrance examination to Ely High School for Girls and Soham Grammar School:—Littleport County Primary—Eileen Bell, Jean Chapman, Janis Lincoln, Frances Davies, Meryl Wilderspin, Linda Sewell, Rhodene Carter, Monica Turner, Shane Gordon, Robert Powell, David Baumber, John King, Ashley Tassell, Peter Gorham. Black Horse Drove Coronation—Mary Smith, Linda Cullen, Avis Langley, Robin Butcher. Little Ouse County Primary—Richard Register.

1956, April

• Barbers Almanac – Following a fall from his auto­cycle, Captain G. H. Robbins, Evangelist­ in­ charge at St. John’s, Little Ouse, was admitted to the R.A.F. Hospital, Ely. The accident occurred on the Black Horse Drove Road.

1956, September

• Barbers Almanac – A successful sale of work in aid of the Church lighting fund was held in the Vicarage garden, St. John, Little Ouse. It was opened by Mrs. Flanders Morton.

1956, October

• Barbers Almanac – A collection by children of Little Ouse School for Dr. Barnardo’s Homes amounted to £2 10s. 4 1/2d.
• Barbers Almanac – While driving his car on the White House Road in dense fog, Mr. F. Howe, of New River Bank, collided with a cycle ridden by Mr. Robert Simpson, of Shepherds Drove. Mr. Simpson sustained a hand injury.

1956, November

• Barbers Almanac – Cycling home after spending the evening with a friend, Mr. Robert Simpson, of Shepherds Drove, White House Road, misjudged the approach to a bridge, rode down a steep ten­ foot bank into a drain, and was drowned. The accident occurred on the White House Road.
• Barbers Almanac – Remembrance Day—A large congregation of all denominations filled the Parish Church to capacity. The special preacher was the Rev R E. Tosteven, Bishop’s Chaplain and padre to the R A F Hospital, Ely. Services were also held at Black Horse Drove, Little Ouse, and St. Matthew’s.

1957, March

• Barbers Almanac – Members of the Little Ouse Women’s Institute were the guests at a meeting of the Littleport Women’s Fellowship.

1957, May

• Barbers Almanac – Bishop Walsh preached at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. Severe thunderstorms cut off part of Littleport’s electric supply for most of the night. About 40 telephones were put out of order.
• Barbers Almanac – Mr. and Mrs. H. Hodson, of Burnt Chimney Road, announced the engagement of their youngest daughter Wendy, to Peter, eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. L. Strawson, of White House Road, Little Ouse.

1957, June

• Barbers Almanac – Engagement announced between Mr. Eric Underdown, eldest son of Mrs. H. Underdown, of Black Horse Drove, and Miss Wendy Scarff, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R, H. Scarff, of Little Ouse.
• Barbers Almanac – A garden fete at Little Ouse realised £80 for St. John’s Church.

1957, July

• Barbers Almanac – Cricket ­­Black Horse Drove Invitation Cup, Final­­ Little Ouse defeated Ouse Bridge by 3 wickets.
  • _{Note – The Little Ouse cricket ground was in the field between the Vicarage and Church Farm. By all accounts it had a pavilion made of wood. This was demolished and the field returned to farming some time in the last fifty years.}

1957, September

• Barbers Almanac – Members of the Littleport Women’s Fellowship were the guests at the monthly meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute.
• Barbers Almanac – To mark the end of the second year of the ministry of the evangelist in charge (Capt. G. H. Robbins) a special family service was held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

1957, October

• Barbers Almanac – Mr. W. P. Register, of School House, Little Ouse, fishing in the river there, landed a fine 27 Ib. 4 oz. pike. It was 43 1/2 inches long and 21 inches round its girth.

1957, November

• Barbers Almanac – Funeral at Littleport of Mrs. H. J. Halliwell, wife of the late Rev. F. Halliwell, a former vicar of Little Ouse.

1958, January

• 7th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Monthly meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute. On behalf of the members Mrs. F. Key presented a television lamp to Mrs. E. Mortimer Rose as a token of appreciation of her past services as President of the Institute.

1958, February

• 8th, Saturday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Marriage, at St. Mary’s Church, Ely, between Miss Lily Ward, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Ward, of Letter F Farm, Mildenhall Road, Littleport, and Mr. Arthur Thorpe

1958, March

• 7th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Engagement announced between Mr. Bernard Constable, only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Constable, of Letter “F” Farm, and Miss Thelma Turner, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Turner, of Burnt Fen.

1958, May

• 11th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – The Lord Bishop of Ely preached at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

1958, July

• 5th, Saturday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Marriage at St. Mary’s Church, Ely, between Miss Mary Oakey, of Ely, and Mr. Colin Garwood, son of Mr. and Mrs. K. Garwood, of Little Ouse.
• 24th, Thursday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Cricket — Little Ouse won the Black Horse Drove Invitation Cup for the second successive year by beating Black Horse Drove in the final.

1958, August

30th, Saturday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Marriage at St. Mary’s Church, Ely, between Miss Miriam Scarffe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scarffe, of Little Ouse, and Mr. Alan Cross, of Ely.

1958, September

• 6th, Saturday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Annual garden party of St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. Proceeds exceeded £70.
• 9th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Monthly meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute. The President, Mrs. E. Mortimer Rose, tendered her resignation owing to the illness of her husband.
• 10th, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Official opening of the new electrically­ driven Whitehall Pumping Station. Built by the Burnt Fen Commissioners, the station stands on Whitehall Farm and drains into the Ten Mile River a mile beyond Littleport. The total cost was over £60,000.

1958, October

• 12th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Harvest thanksgiving services were held at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. The preacher was the Rev. Gale, chaplain of the R.A.F. Hospital, Ely.
• 15th, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Captain G. H. Robbins, of Little Ouse, conducted Burnt Fen Women’s Institute’s harvest festival.

1958, November

• 15th, Saturday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – Miss Shirley Page, of Ely, was married to Mr. William Thompson, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Thompson, of Little Ouse. The marriage was solemnised at St. Mary’s Church, Ely.
• 28th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1959 – News received of the meeting in Canada between Mrs. David Bell, formerly Miss May Brown, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. H. Brown, of Bridge House, Littleport, and Mr. Horace Brown, formerly of the “Rising Sun,” Mildenhall Road. Mrs. Bell and Mr. Brown are cousins. Previously Mrs. Bell had paid a visit to Mrs. Keith Williams (formerly Miss Margaret Law), daughter of the late Mr.and Mrs. R. T. Law, of Victoria Street. Mrs. Williams’ present home is at Heaslip, Ontario.

1959, January

• Barbers Almanac – Engagement announced between Peter F. Morton of Manor Farm, Norton, Bury St. Edmunds, son of Mr. and Mrs. Flanders Morton, of Little Ouse, and Ann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Richardson, of Ipswich.

1959, March

• Barbers Almanac – Mrs. R. Jones, of Littleport, gave a beauty counsellor demonstration at a meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute
• Barbers Almanac – Members of Little Ouse Women’s Institute were the guests at a meeting of the Littleport Women’s Fellowship.
• Barbers Almanac – Annual meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Creek Cricket Club. A favourable balance of nearly £30 was revealed.

1959, May

• Barbers Almanac – 39th birthday party of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute.

1959, June

• Barbers Almanac – In an exciting cricket match at Little Ouse, Littleport 2nd XI defeated the home club by two runs, knocking them out of the Black Horse Drove Cup.
• Barbers Almanac – Members of Brandon Bank and Little Ouse Women’s Institute made a presentation to Mrs. G. Germany who was leaving the district.

1959, July

• Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse Primary School annual outing. Highlights were a cruise on the Norfolk Broads and a visit to Great Yarmouth.
• Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse School annual sports and country and maypole dancing display.

1959, September

• Barbers Almanac – Annual garden party in aid of St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, was opened by Mrs. Luther Gilbert. About £90 was raised.
• Barbers Almanac – Captain G. H. Robbins, of Little Ouse, conducted a harvest thanks­giving service at a meeting of Burnt Fen Women’s Institute.

1959, November

• Barbers Almanac – Members of Little Ouse Women’s Institute attended the 33rd Birthday party of the Welney W.I.
• Barbers Almanac – Death, at St. Mary’s Lodge, Ely, of Mrs. Eliza Cross, a former resident of Littleport. Aged 85, Mrs. Cross was the widow of the late Mr. A. M. (Dick) Cross, who died nineteen years ago, and the third daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brown of White House Farm.

1959, December

• Barbers Almanac – The choir of St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, wore their new robes for the first time. The occasion was the annual carol service.

1960, February

• Barbers Almanac – Children of Little Ouse County Primary School collected £2 for the Isle of Ely Society for the Blind.

1960, March

• Barbers Almanac – Meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute. A talk on the use of the latest types of spin and warm air driers was given by Mrs. Yates on behalf of the Eastern Electricity Board.

1960, April

• Barbers Almanac – Monthly meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute. Mrs. P. Radcliffe of Littleport, gave a talk and demonstration on corsetry.
• Barbers Almanac – Captain G. H. Robbins of Little Ouse gave the last of his sermons on “The Fruits of the Spirit’· at the Parish Church.

1960, May

• Barbers Almanac – Celebration of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute’s 40th Birthday. Mrs. Mortimer Rose, a former president, was a guest.

1960, August

• Barbers Almanac – Marriage at St. Peter’s Church, Prickwillow, of Miss Joan Ashley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Ashley, of Council Houses, Burnt Fen, and Mr. Aubrey Scarff, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Scarff, of Council Houses, Little Ouse.
  • _{The son appears to be – Aubrey Francis Scarff, DOB 1934, Cambridgeshire Baptisms.}
  • _{The father appears to be – Robert Harry Scarff, DOB ?, 1911 England Marriages 1538-1973 – Hockwold, Norfolk, England.}

1960, October

• Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute’s monthly meeting included a harvest service conducted by Mr. E. Youngs, of Littleport, and Capt. G. H. Robbins.
• Barbers Almanac – Fishing in the Little Ouse River, 14 year old Alan Harrison, of Gilbert Road, Littleport, landed a pike weighing 17 1/2 Ibs. The following members of the Littleport Angling Club were included in the team to represent the lsle of Ely in the inter­counties angling match at Offord Cluny, Hunts.­­R. Angel (captain), J. Calladine, F. Proctor, W. Gilbert, P. Angel, J. Butcher, D. V. Clarke and C. Kitchen.

1960, October

• Barbers Almanac – Death at Hilgay of Mr. Joseph Groom, a former resident of Little Ouse and Littleport. He was aged 81, and until his retirement some 15 years ago was employed at Church Farm, Little Ouse, latterly by Mr. Flanders Morton.

1960, December

• Barbers Almanac – Almost £11 was raised at a Whist Drive held in the school at Little Ouse in aid of the Cricket Club.

1961, March

• Barbers Almanac – The Rev. V. H. E. Ritson, of Ely, preached at a Mothering Sunday Service held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

1961, April

• Barbers Almanac – Captain G. H. Robbins, of Little Ouse, was the speaker at the monthly meeting of the Mothers’ Union (Littleport).

1961, May

• Barbers Almanac – Forty­-first anniversary of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute. Mrs. Mavis Mortimer Rose (former president) attended the party.
• Barbers Almanac – It was revealed that local collections for the Royal National Life­boat institution raised £21 11s. 0d. Mrs P. Morton was the organiser. Collections at Little Ouse, under Mr. Register, yielded £2 0s. 6d.
• Barbers Almanac – A Garden Fete at Little Ouse raised £110 for local School and Women’s Institute funds. It was opened by Mrs. J. H. Martin, of Littleport.

1961, June

• Barbers Almanac – Farewell Party given by members of the Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute to Mrs. E. Hills, who was leaving the village. Mrs. Hills, aged 83, joined the W.I. when it was started.
  • _{It would be interesting to know if this lady is related to Mrs M Hills of the Red Cottage, Little Ouse. See postcard entries in 1915.}
• Barbers Almanac – A boy C. Ward, swam the river at Little Ouse to give warning of an outbreak of fire at Mr. Flanders Morton’s Church Farm.
• Barbers Almanac – Cricket—Little Ouse became the holders of the Mortimer Rose Cup when they gained a comfortable win by six wickets in the final over Black Horse Drove.

1961, August

• Barbers Almanac – Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Scarf, of Council Houses, White House Road Little Ouse celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

1961, September

• Barbers Almanac – Mrs. T. B Gordon opened the Little Ouse Church Garden Fete Over £80 was raised.

1961, October

• Barbers Almanac – Monthly meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute. Mrs. H. Baker was presented with her 6th W.I. spoon for points gained.

1962, January

• Barbers Almanac – A nativity play entitled “On Christmas Day in the Morning” was presented at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. It was produced, by Capt. G. H. Robbins.

1962, February

• Barbers Almanac – Engagement announced between Mr. Ernest Reynolds, only son of the late Rev. I. A. Reynolds and the late Mrs. Reynolds, formerly of the Vicarage, Little Ouse, and Miss Janet Wiggins, of Ipswich.

1962 – May

• Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute’s 42nd birthday party. A guest was Mrs. M. Mortimer Rose, a former president.
  • _{See the June 1961 entry – Barbers Almanac – Cricket—Little Ouse became the holders of the Mortimer Rose Cup when they gained a comfortable win by six wickets in the final over Black Horse Drove. Would the cup and the Mortimer Rose family be linked? Is it in memory of her son Flight Lieutenant Edward Brian Mortimer-Rose?}
  • Also see the 1937 and 1943 entries for Mortimer Rose.
  • _{The Mortimer-Rose family lived at Plantation Farm, Lynn Road.}
• Barbers Almanac – Confirmation service by Bishop Walsh held at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. Mr. Lewis Brooks, of Black Horse Drove, was presented with a long service certificate for his forty years’ work as a local preacher in the Methodist Church.

1962, July

• Barbers Almanac – Tragic death by drowning in the River Little Ouse, of 15 year old Christopher Ward, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Ward, of the Anchor Inn, Brandon Bank.

1962, August

• Barbers Almanac – An evening mystery tour by coach was enjoyed by members of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute.

1962, September

• Barbers Almanac – Annual Church Garden Party at Little Ouse raised £80 The opener was Mrs. Geoffrey Peacock, of Littleport. Mrs. P. Smith, of Woodfen Road, won £605 on the Spastic League Club’s “goals bingo”.

1962, October

• Barbers Almanac – Fishing at Little Ouse, eleven year old Colin Register hooked, a 15 1/2 lb. pike. Colin is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Register of High Street.

1962, November

• Barbers Almanac – Meeting of St. John’s, Little Ouse, Parochial Church Council. A presentation was made to the Rev. Sydney Chambers, now retired. Apart from being Vicar of St. Matthew’s, he was for seven years Priest­ in­ Charge of St. John’s.

1963, February

• Barbers Almanac – St. John’s, Little Ouse, Parochial Church Council Meeting. Captain G. H. Robbins. Evangelist­ in­ Charge gave notice of his impending departure.

1963, March

• Barbers Almanac – Meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute·Nurse Smith, of Littleport, gave an account of the work being done in Nyasaland by Nurse Biart, formerly of Littleport.

1963, June

• Barbers Almanac – Meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute. A presentation was made to Mrs. G. H, Robbins on behalf of members in appreciation of the help she had given to the Institute during her stay at Little Ouse, Captain and Mrs. Robbins were shortly leaving for Nuneaton.
• Barbers Almanac – Captain G. H. Robbins preached his farewell address to the congregation at Black Horse Drove.
• Barbers Almanac – Captain G. H. Robbins, Church Army Evangelist, preached his farewell sermon at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, and thanked his parishioners for their farewell gift of £25. Captain and Mrs. Robbins were leaving for duties at Nuneaton.

1963, August

• Barbers Almanac – Plunging into the River Ouse at Littleport, 15 year old Robert Michael Hutchings, of White House Farm, Little Ouse, saved two children, a boy and a girl, from drowning. The boy though apparently dead, was kept alive by Robert who applied the “kiss­-of-­life” method of artificial respiration.

1963, September

• Barbers Almanac – The Little Ouse and Brandon Bank annual fete was opened by Mr. B. G. Wright, of Littleport. The event realised £133.

1963, December

• Barbers Almanac – Children of Little Ouse Primary School and the Coronation School, Black Horse Drove, provided the background of a Carol Service held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

1964, January

• Barbers Almanac – Two 20 year old Littleport men escaped unhurt, but wet, when the van in which they were travelling left the bumpy, uneven road to Little Ouse and careered into an unfenced roadside drain. They were Mr. Geoffrey Willett, of Willett’s Caravan Site, and Mr. Peter Calladine, of Victoria Street.

1964, February

• Barbers Almanac – 10 year old Sandra Hibble, formerly of Caravan Site, King’s Yard, Victoria Street, now living at Hunstanton, and 15 year old Robert Hutchings, of White House Farm, Little Ouse, were presented with Royal Humane Society awards at Ely. They had rescued a 3 year old boy from drowning in the River Ouse at Sandhill Bridge on August 2nd last year.

1964, May

• Barbers Almanac – P.c. Morton of Littleport visited Little Ouse School to talk to the children on road safety.

1964, August

29th, Saturday – Littleport Scrapbook 1897-1990 by Mike Petty – “The Images”, four youths who formed their own rock group, played in public for the first time at a Littleport charity function. About 300 children gave them a rousing welcome that would not have disgraced Beatle fans. Tony Gipp of Burnt Fen manages the group which includes David Kerridge (lead guitar), John Summers (rhythm guitar), John Drake from Little Ouse (bass) and Michael Taylor from Mildenhall (drums). They are the first rock group to be formed in Littleport.

1964, September

• Barbers Almanac – Garden fete at Little Ouse. The profit of £138 was shared by St. John’s Church, Brandon Bank Methodist Church and the County Primary School.

1964, October

• Barbers Almanac – An egg cracked by Mrs H Wilson, of Council Houses, Little Ouse, contained four yolks.

1965, May

• Barbers Almanac – Cambs. and Isle of Ely County Show. Local winners in the floral arrangement classes were Mrs. E. J. Register (Little Ouse) with two first and two second awards and Mrs, J. Gilbert (Littleport), one first and one second award. In the class for clubs, Littleport Flower Arrangement Club was second.

1965, September

• Barbers Almanac – A fete, held at Little Ouse in aid of St. John’s Church, Brandon Bank Methodist Chapel and Little Ouse School, realised £154.

1965, October

• Barbers Almanac – Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Carter, of Soham, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Mrs. Carter is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. R. Godbold of Little Ouse, and Mr. Carter is the son of the late Mr. & Mrs. A. J. Carter of Little Ouse.

1967

1968

1973, June

• During my time with ECOC and later Cambus I had a while at St Ives outstation and among our duties were these obscure little trips in the Ely area. They did indeed operate on Saturdays and also, if memory serves me correctly, Thursdays. It was Ely market days anyway. By my time the route numbers had changed. St Ives would do a 171 to Ely, a 127 to Little Ouse, a 125 to (I think) Little Downham, a 178 to Pymoor, then all the return journeys and then a 171 back to St Ives. One of those routes, possibly the 178, also incorporated a poor excuse for an Ely local service. St Ives operated the Saturday duty but I can’t remember the other day, possibly that was covered by Ely depot. The St Ives duty was always operated by a VR and occasionally this would be a United Counties vehicle; the UCOC Huntingdon depot would lend St Ives a bus in the event of a breakdown or some other problem. One day on this St Ives duty an amusing thing happened. The area was haunted by an Inspector Hart who was driven around in a white van. On the 171, near Witchford, I saw the van parked ahead and as I approached the door opened and out stepped Inspector Hart. He checked my bus while the van followed, got off again and then vanished. Later while operating one of the Ely routes he ‘jumped’ my bus again, but looked at me rather puzzled. Later on, during the return trip back from Little Ouse, there he was again waiting for me at some godforesaken spot at the side of the road. This time he didn’t board my bus but stood there very red faced. “Oh”, he said, “not you again!”. I said “Ah yes, you’d be surprised where us St Ives drivers get to”. Inspector Hart simply had no idea of which drivers/depots operated which routes. Having assured me, while standing on the windswept verge at the side of the road, that I wasn’t the target of a vendetta he got back in his van and vanished. I didn’t see him again for months after that.

1974, June

• 5th – Barbers Almanac – Timothy Slater of Little Ouse entered a Collage Competition and his picture was chosen for a two week exhibition, of pictures at Euston Station, London.
• 15th, – The last entry in the marriage register for St John’s, Little Ouse, is 15th June 1974.
  • https://www.engcam.org/index.php/ancestors/34-barritts-of-the-fenlands/12-st-john-little-ouse-and-brandon-bank

1974, August

• 8th – Barbers Almanac – The P.T.A. & Headmaster of Little Ouse fear that the village may “die” unless the Littleport Parish Council inject some form of life into it.

1974, September

• Little Ouse vehicle bridge built by local farmer(s) 1974. It is local history that a previous bridge (possibly footbridge) was there since the 1800s. There is some discussion as to whether this was in the same location or nearer the old pump house. Though no pictures show the footbridge, those pictures showing a view along the Little Ouse to the old pump house do not have a footbridge in them.
  • It has been stated that the farmer that built the 1974 Little Ouse bridge also built Danzak bungalow in Little Ouse. Danzak bungalow, it is believed started off life as an estate office for the farms and was later converted. This needs corroboration.
  • The only entry that I have found so far is this – Little Ouse Bridge reconstruction – Cambridgeshire Scrapbook July 8th 1938 – Little Ouse Catchment Board have authorised their Engineer to prepare plans for the reconstruction of the bridge at Feltwell Anchor, with concrete piers.

• 19th – Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse raised over £300 from a Fete organised by the P.T.A. The cash is to help bring “life” back to the village. Littleport Parish Council promised to back requests for street lights and a pavement in the hamlet.

1976, February

• The Church of St John’s Little Ouse and the Vicarage are closed (decommissioned) in 1976 and the war memorial moved shortly after to St George’s Littleport.

• 19th – Barbers Almanac – Mr John Rampton has given free potatoes to the children of Little Ouse School. The price of potatoes has made them a luxury!

1976, November

• An assorted collection of articles and newspaper cuttings relating to an article about Little Ouse School by journalist Anne Garvey in 1976, and two versions of an article titled ‘The Fen Tigers’. The articles and letters (which are mostly critical of her article) span November 1976 to September 1977.
  • _{See Littleport society for articles – https://www.littleportsociety.org.uk/catalogue/index.php/Detail/objects/87}
  • _{There is a picture of Mr Jones teaching in the classroom as well as an outside picture of the school.}

1977, September

• 22nd – Barbers Almanac – At Little Ouse a Gala Fete on Saturday was well attended and over £250 is expected as a result. The Fete was organised by the PTA.

1977, December

• 15th – Barbers Almanac – The Bishop of Ely has announced that the Rev. John Hunter Martin, at present Vicar of St. Anne’s, Bermondsey, will become Priest in charge of Littleport St. George, St. Matthews and Little Ouse.

1978, April

• 13th – Barbers Almanac – On Friday 7th, the Rev. John Hunter Martin was welcomed to the diocese, when he was licensed Priest in charge at St. George’s, St. Matthews and St. Johns by the Bishop of Ely at a service in St. George’s Church.

1979, May

• 18th – Barbers Almanac – A Church Party, a completely new venture in Littleport, attracted over one hundred and twenty people of all ages to the Village College on Saturday evening. The occasion came within twenty­-four hours of the institution and induction of the Rev. John Martin as Vicar of St. George’s, Littleport and St. John’s, Little Ouse.

1981, November

• 4th, Wednesday – Shock new proposals to change the face of education in the Ely area have emerged in a secret report. It suggests closure of five more schools at Little Ouse, Stuntney, Prickwillow, Black Horse Drove and St Audrey’s, Ely together with Bedford House further education centre. At Littleport the Village College buildings would become a new county primary school.
  • https://archive.org/details/LittleportScrapbook18971990/page/n29/mode/2up

1984, February

All pictures in this section are taken from Taken from the flickr photostream of David Flett – https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=little+ouse

In the above two pictures you will see a leylandii hedge. My presumption is that this was planted by Danzak Bungalow, as it can be seen not only separating the two properties, but also along the drainage ditch at the back of Danzak Bungalow.

1985,

• Chapel (Anchor Drove, Brandon Bank), Feltwell, Primitive Methodist is decommissioned and becomes a private dwelling.

1992, May

• 14th, Thursday – A new private dwelling to be erected on part of the former Little Ouse School grounds.

1997, December

• 26th, Friday – Arthur Ernest Constable of Little Ouse, dies aged 89.

1998, January

• 22nd, Thursday – Obituary – Arthur Ernest Constable of Little Ouse, who died on 26th December 1997, aged 89. Born in Haddenham. Settling in Little Ouse and working as a tractor driver and lorry driver. It was in Little Ouse that he met and married his late wife Molly. They were married for 59 years until her death 5 years ago. He is survived by 10 of his eleven sons, although Neville the eldest son died three years ago.
  • _{The full obituary can be found on – https://www.littleportsociety.org.uk/catalogue/index.php/Detail/objects/1960}

1998, April

• 27th, Monday – Audio interview with Mr. Leslie Noah Barrett, remembering moving house and schools, working on the harvest, potato picking, riding a motorbike, Christmas, death of first wife, grave digging at Little Ouse, and working for a funeral company.
  • _{The interview can be found at – https://www.littleportsociety.org.uk/catalogue/index.php/Detail/objects/84}

2015, July

• The Old Vicarage which has been boarded up and is in a state of disrepair, is sold at auction as a renovation project.
  • _{Several years work now ensues to renovate and restore the The Old Vicarage, its outbuildings and gardens. More money is spent on the renovation than the price it was purchased for at the auction!}

2015, October

• 21st, Wednesday – A US military jet has crashed near an RAF base in Suffolk, killing the aircraft’s lone pilot. The single-seater F-18 jet came down in fields northwest of RAF Lakenheath shortly after leaving the base on Wednesday morning. Witnesses at Redmere, on the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire border, described seeing a plane flying unusually low followed by a “big plume of smoke and a flash of light”. The F-18 Hornet was reported to be among a number that had just returned to US-operated RAF Lakenheath after a spell of service fighting Isis in Syria, and was believed to be setting off back to the US when the crash occurred. Redmere resident Karen Miles-Holdaway said she was at home when the crash occurred, and felt a change in pressure at the moment she believed the jet impacted the ground. She told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire the pilot had “done very well” to avoid hitting a cluster of around 20 homes near the site of the crash, and said: “He’s a very, very good pilot and I would love to thank his family dearly for him.” Describing the moment of impact, she said: “It was pretty horrendous the noise that you heard. You could feel the ground move so what I think I heard was probably the impact. “My daughter was driving from Littleport and she saw a big plume of smoke go up and a flash of light.”
  • _{https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/us-f18-military-jet-crashes-near-raf-lakenheath-in-suffolk-a6702381.html}
  • _{Talking to the residents of Little Ouse, several reported hearing the plane crash, the smoke plume and the houses in the hamlet shaking with the impact.}

2020, August

During the night a summer storm brought down a one hundred and fifty year old oak trees that stood in The Old Vicarage garden. Although close to the house, this tree had been reviewed by tree surgeons during annual maintenance since 2015 as being safe and was declared “It will last as long as the house”. During the night it nearly proved that true when at least twenty-five tons of oak tree hit the gable end of The Old Vicarage. The engineers declared that it would have gone through a new build house like a cheese wire, there would have been nothing left! However, The Old Vicarage was over-engineered by the Victorian’s, being six bricks thick in places, plus roof beams twice the expected size. As a result the damage looked far worse than it was. One gable end and three two stack chimneys were rebuilt, plus most of the slates were replaced on the roof.

Although, the renovation had been completed on the house, this damage allowed the creation of the original roof line of The Old Vicarage, with every chimney stack and chimney pot being matched and getting rid of some awful 1960’s changes to some of the chimneys, as all the ridge tiles being reproduced to have once again a perfect top of the house. When the job was finished, the look was probably very similar to when it had first been built, one hundred and fifty years before. Most people remark on how amazing it is to see such a perfect looking old house.

The roof and gable end renovation and restoration was undertaken by a large specialised company (Cadman).

2020, October

• 21st, Wednesday – BBC online – Little Ouse and Brandon Bank bridge row over £650 fee – People living in hamlets either side of a river could be asked to pay £650 a year to cross a bridge which has been free to use for decades. The owner of the bridge, which connects Little Ouse in Cambridgeshire and Brandon Bank in Norfolk, said it was “actively seeking a solution to how it is best maintained and repaired”. Residents were “very angry about being asked for this money”. The owners said: “This is very much not a profit-making exercise.” The iron bridge dates from the 1970s and is owned by the South Yorkshire Pensions Authority (SYPA) along with the surrounding Waldersey estate. Debbi-Jayne Challenger, of Little Ouse, estimated there were nearly 200 people in the vicinity who used the bridge, including farmers, who carried out the “odd repair”.
  • _{https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-54620098}

• Retired engineer Mal Ford, who lives next to the bridge, said: “It’s terrible what’s happening.
• Carer Niki Tinsley, 54, lives in the former Anchor Inn by the river. Like her neighbours, she faces a detour of nearly 20 miles, much of it along single-track farm roads to get to Littleport or Ely to shop. “This recent bridge has been here since 1974 but we’ve never been restricted,” she said.
  • _{https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/20717434.villagers-told-pay-780-year-use-bridge/}

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-10-23/new-bridge-charge-for-residents-will-split-the-community?fbclid=IwY2xjawPODA1zcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeGlGqMuoLEql64bDRUgT2SEg-j3GGgt4QLBh8vay1BwDANzO-T3Hy27PIdFQ&brid=E-WwH-n5IfMLw_0wpYVsyA

• 30th, EDWARD FRANK HARDING (TED) died peacefully in Little Ouse on 30 October 2020, aged 82 years. Much missed by his friends, neighbours, colleagues and his family Philip, Emma, Edith, Tugrul, Cagri, Cigdem and his dear cousin Sheila. A denizen of the Fens. Private funeral service at Littleport Cemetery on Wednesday 25 November 2020.
  • _{https://www.elystandard.co.uk/notice/30177326.edward-frank-harding/}
  • The following was taken from the google group – https://groups.google.com/g/MedStats/c/9pIZjqi2nKY?pli=1

_{I’m sorry to have to report that I have recently discovered that Ted Harding died at the end of October last year, after a long period of  deteriorating health. Ted was one of the founding members of MedStats and, until a couple of years ago, was a frequent and valuable contributor to discussions here, as well as in a number of other groups (particularly R-related ones).  For the last couple of years of his life, failing eyesight precluded most such activities, which I am sure will have been extremely frustrating for him.}

_{Ted started academic life as a Mathematician and then ‘moved into Statistics’ in the mid-1960s, and seems to have had a fairly eminent career, including a number of years at the Cambridge Statistical Laboratory, during which period he co-authored (with David Kendall) what may be fairly ‘seminal’ books on Stochastic Analysis and Stochastic Geometry in 1973/4.  He once described his Statistical career as follows:As for my own history in Statistics: I have worked in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Cambridge and Manchester Universities until retirement in 2001, on matters ranging from Probability and Statistical Theory to Medicine, Biology, Fisheries, Whaling, Engineering and Pollution Monitoring.}

_{Ted was a man with a wide range of interests, extending far beyond his areas of professional work, and had a very keen sense of humour.  Speaking personally, for a considerable period of time he provided me with invaluable support in relation to my admittedly limited mathematical skills.  In that role he was not only a very good supporter/teacher, but was never condescending.  Whenever I approached him apologetically with what I usually described as a ‘stupid, simple or basic’ mathematical question, he nearly always started his reply by explaining why my question was not “stupid, simple or basic”!}

_{I will certainly miss Ted, as I’m sure that others who remember him undoubtedly also will.}

_{Kind Regards, Dr John Whittington, Mediscience Services.}    

2023, September

• 16th, Saturday – Summer party held in the gardens of The Old Vicarage. This year’s theme was a Murder Mystery. After lunch guests were formed into teams to solve the murder. After which a cream tea was served on the lawns.

2024, August

• A new chapter for The Old Vicarage. Some rooms are opened for several weekends in the summer as a B&B and consistently holds a very high customer rating. The main points being the attention to detail in the renovation. Customers enjoy taking breakfast outside on the new patios during the summer.

2025, July

• 5-5, 12,-13, 19-20, 26-27th – Cambridge Open Studios 2025 took place over four weekends, allowing visitors to explore artist’s studios. Riverside Arts is a group of artists’ exhibiting annually as part of Cambridge Open Studios at the New from Old furniture workshop in Little Ouse.
  • _{The New from Old furniture workshop, is an old converted agricultural type building that forms one of the outbuildings of the Engine House, White House Road, which is now a private dwelling.}

• 15th – Fire in the open – Little Ouse – East Cambs – At 5.38pm on Tuesday (15) a crew from Ely was called to a fire in the open on White House Road in Little Ouse. Firefighters used a hose reel to extinguish an out of control bonfire. The crew was at the scene until around 6.45pm. The cause of the fire was accidental.
  • https://www.cambsfire.gov.uk/news-and-incidents/incidents/2025/07/2025-07-15-fire-in-the-open-little-ouse

2025, August

• 2nd, 3rd, Saturday and Sunday – Mark and his colleague stayed at The Old Vicarage B&B to setup Moth traps in The Old Vicarage gardens. They recorded the different types of moths resident in the area. All were identified, counted and released each morning and have been added to the national monitoring scheme. The area around the summerhouse proved the ideal place to perform this task.
  • _{https://butterfly-conservation.org/our-work/recording-and-monitoring/national-moth-recording-scheme}
• 23rd, Saturday – Summer party held in the gardens of The Old Vicarage. This year’s theme was Alice in Wonderland.

2025, October

• 28th, Published – The Ely Standard – Bennet Jones, Little Ouse, passed away peacefully on 17th October, 2025, aged 99 years. A much loved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to so many. The funeral service will be held at St George’s Church, Littleport, on Thursday, 6th November at 10 a.m. followed by burial at Parsons Lane Cemetery. Please join us for refreshments afterwards at The Swan, Littleport.
  • _{The last school master of Little Ouse. When the school closed Mr Bennet and his wife remained in the School House.}

2025, December

• 6, 7th – Five Cambridge Drawing Society (CDS) Members will be holding Open Studios/Art Events the weekend, 6-7 December. Sue Law & Marina Yedigaroff (both in Ely), Caroline Forward in Little Ouse, Alice Thomson in Dry Drayton & Rikki Morgan-Tamosunas at St John the Evangelist’s Church, Cambridge. 

2026, January

• 1d White House Road – One of the houses built on the grounds of the Old (1927) School is being adapted to its owners requirements. The work started pre Christmas and hopefully, the builders will finish soon. At least the corrugated roof on the scaffolding will keep the worst of the weather out.

• The Old School House has now been sold and work is underway with its new owner(s). Someone mentioned that the new owners have relations on the Brandon Bank side of the river.

2026, June

• 1st, Monday – From March until the end of May, East Cambridgeshire Council will be delivering a black wheelie bin to each household. Moving from the current black sack collection. In total this will be 40,000 wheelie bins. The new collection scheme will start the week beginning the 1st of June.