BARRie EASTER INterview 2025
Barrie and Margaret Easter were born in 1943. Barrie was born in Great Canfield. Margaret’s family name is Stock, another name that goes back a long way in village history. The third participant in the conversation is Simon Mainwaring, an Essex boy born the otherside of Chelmsford, also in 1943. Our conversation, in a house in Great Canfield (with occasional noise from passing Stansted traffic) lasted a couple of hours and ranged widely. Here we group selected extracts under four broad headings (positions in the recording according to time in the format MM:SS). The accompanying PDF (opening it will stop the audio playing so you'll need to press 'play' again) provides excellent context to the interview topics discussed. Many thanks to Simon for the huge effort in pulling this all together.
Barrie Easter |
Margaret Easter |
Growing up in Great Canfield
00:00 – The earliest years
Barrie and Margaret’s very first memories of childhood in the village during the 1940s.
00:35 – Houses at Church End
Barrie’s childhood home, old cottages at Church End, and how the buildings looked then compared with later changes.
01:07 – The May Queen
May Day celebrations on the green at Bayle End; village children, May Queens from the Stock family, and post-war festivities.
04:15 – High Roding School
School life, teachers (including Miss Coyle), and memories of education in the area.
06:32 – Hunter’s Bridge
A now-vanished bridge used by hunting parties and loved by local children in the 1950s.
06:52 – The Hermit
Jimmy Mason (“The Hermit”) living reclusively in woodland huts at Wood Mead and the mystery surrounding him.
07:46 – Childhood roaming
Free-range childhood adventures across woods and estates that no longer exist.
09:20 – Darley Dale
Life at Darley Dale in the 1950s and village helpers at family events.
11:29 – Remains of the windmill
Memories of where the demolished village windmill once stood and its long history.
12:24 – Tumble cart
Old farm equipment and rural working life.
13:25 – The motte and bailey (Canfield Castle)
The Norman earthwork, its history, and village open days allowing access.
16:27 – Second World War
Wartime memories and how the war affected village life.
Canfield Characters
18:03 – An errant policeman
A troubling story about a local policeman and unanswered questions.
19:31 – Queenie and the carol singers
Memories of Queenie Hatfield, beloved but eccentric health visitor.
20:49 – George Eland (“Bootsie”)
The historian who documented Great Canfield’s manorial records and village “Ends.”
22:11 – May Maryon Wilson
Recollections of the widow of a former rector.
23:05 – The Rev. Norris
Memories of the rector in the late 1950s.
25:02 – Rosie Sole
Life at Rose Cottage, formerly an almshouse.
26:01 – The Easters and the Stocks
Family histories, farming, football, and long village lineages.
Social Change
27:32 – First World War
Village impacts and a note correcting the timing of conscription.
29:14 – The role of the Church
How central the church once was to daily life.
31:38 – Church officers and choir
1958 church choir, including American boys from a USAF family.
32:31 – Acceptance in local society
How newcomers became part of village life.
32:43 – Societal changes
Community spirit at weddings, fetes, and events in the 1950s.
33:02 – A vicar’s careless hand
An anecdote involving clergy and unintended consequences.
35:03 – High Roding display of records
Local history preservation efforts.
35:23 – Cricket
Village cricket culture and the old pavilion.
38:47 – Church records destroyed
Loss of historical records in the late 1960s.
Recent Memory
39:13 – Queen’s Silver Jubilee (1977)
Village celebration in a farm barn.
40:00 – The Great Storm (1987)
Storm damage and community recovery.
40:23 – Village Hall extension (1987)
Fundraising, building work (by B & M Easter), and opening ceremony.
41:44 – Fox hunting
The Hunt’s presence in the 1970s and changing attitudes.
46:44 – The Icehouse
Discovery, clearing, and open day tours of the historic icehouse.
48:17 – Replacing the stocks
Village stocks rebuilt using timber from storm-felled trees.
48:37 – Great Canfield Pageant (1990)
Village pageant, Coldstream Guards parade, and a flypast by a Lancaster and Spitfire.
00:00 – The earliest years
Barrie and Margaret’s very first memories of childhood in the village during the 1940s.
00:35 – Houses at Church End
Barrie’s childhood home, old cottages at Church End, and how the buildings looked then compared with later changes.
01:07 – The May Queen
May Day celebrations on the green at Bayle End; village children, May Queens from the Stock family, and post-war festivities.
04:15 – High Roding School
School life, teachers (including Miss Coyle), and memories of education in the area.
06:32 – Hunter’s Bridge
A now-vanished bridge used by hunting parties and loved by local children in the 1950s.
06:52 – The Hermit
Jimmy Mason (“The Hermit”) living reclusively in woodland huts at Wood Mead and the mystery surrounding him.
07:46 – Childhood roaming
Free-range childhood adventures across woods and estates that no longer exist.
09:20 – Darley Dale
Life at Darley Dale in the 1950s and village helpers at family events.
11:29 – Remains of the windmill
Memories of where the demolished village windmill once stood and its long history.
12:24 – Tumble cart
Old farm equipment and rural working life.
13:25 – The motte and bailey (Canfield Castle)
The Norman earthwork, its history, and village open days allowing access.
16:27 – Second World War
Wartime memories and how the war affected village life.
Canfield Characters
18:03 – An errant policeman
A troubling story about a local policeman and unanswered questions.
19:31 – Queenie and the carol singers
Memories of Queenie Hatfield, beloved but eccentric health visitor.
20:49 – George Eland (“Bootsie”)
The historian who documented Great Canfield’s manorial records and village “Ends.”
22:11 – May Maryon Wilson
Recollections of the widow of a former rector.
23:05 – The Rev. Norris
Memories of the rector in the late 1950s.
25:02 – Rosie Sole
Life at Rose Cottage, formerly an almshouse.
26:01 – The Easters and the Stocks
Family histories, farming, football, and long village lineages.
Social Change
27:32 – First World War
Village impacts and a note correcting the timing of conscription.
29:14 – The role of the Church
How central the church once was to daily life.
31:38 – Church officers and choir
1958 church choir, including American boys from a USAF family.
32:31 – Acceptance in local society
How newcomers became part of village life.
32:43 – Societal changes
Community spirit at weddings, fetes, and events in the 1950s.
33:02 – A vicar’s careless hand
An anecdote involving clergy and unintended consequences.
35:03 – High Roding display of records
Local history preservation efforts.
35:23 – Cricket
Village cricket culture and the old pavilion.
38:47 – Church records destroyed
Loss of historical records in the late 1960s.
Recent Memory
39:13 – Queen’s Silver Jubilee (1977)
Village celebration in a farm barn.
40:00 – The Great Storm (1987)
Storm damage and community recovery.
40:23 – Village Hall extension (1987)
Fundraising, building work (by B & M Easter), and opening ceremony.
41:44 – Fox hunting
The Hunt’s presence in the 1970s and changing attitudes.
46:44 – The Icehouse
Discovery, clearing, and open day tours of the historic icehouse.
48:17 – Replacing the stocks
Village stocks rebuilt using timber from storm-felled trees.
48:37 – Great Canfield Pageant (1990)
Village pageant, Coldstream Guards parade, and a flypast by a Lancaster and Spitfire.