She was born in Cumnor in 1904, in the cottage behind the
farmhouse at Cutts End, Appleton Road. She was then 'Nin' Jeffs, and remembers
that their cottage was very attractive to look at and much admired, although it
had a beaten earth floor.
Her father walked to Oxford every day to work at the Gas Works. He also grew
vegetables in five allotments and his son, aged 13 then, sold them at Botley. He
later bought a pony and cart to transport the vegetables. He died in 1906 of
blood-poisoning contracted at the Gas Works, aged only 36. He left a widow with
five children, who herself had T.B. The Gas Company paid compensation to keep
the children. The youngest girl was not strong and Mrs Jeffs' last wish was that
this child, the youngest, should be cared for. Mrs Haynes who lived at Cutts
End, agreed to look after 'Nin', as she was called; the other children were
brought up by relatives. Another family who moved into the Jeffs' cottage also
contracted T.B., so it was demolished, being designated a health hazard.
Mrs Hicks has happy memories of her life with Mrs Haynes, who did fine
dressmaking. Her husband was a carpenter. She remembers the garden at Cutts End
which had all kinds of trees and flowers in it, also beehives. When it was sold
Mr & Mrs Haynes moved to one of the tall houses (St. John's cottages) in Leys
Road.
Mrs Hicks remembers Mr Cole as headmaster during her schooldays. He was strict
but the children liked him and respected him. It was the three R's plus
Geography, History and Bible knowledge, the latter being very important. Mr Cole
also played the organ on Sundays in Church. She also remembers standing at the
garden gate at Cutts End and seeing Halley's Comet in 1910, which was 'quite
awesome'. In summer time there was a permanent cricket match under the Lion tree
in Leys Road.
Much shopping could be done with visiting tradesmen. Pimms came with the grocery
from Eynsham on Saturday nights. Fish, fruit and vegetables were brought from
door to door once a week. Bread was delivered from Botley by horse and by Mr
Surman. The oil man came once a week. Shopping was done in Oxford once a week by
carrier's cart. 'Nin' would stand at the garden gate and shout to Mrs Haynes
when she saw the cart and then Mrs Haynes would put on her hat and coat and
collect her basket and handbag and be ready by the time it arrived.
There was a blacksmith's forge in the brick building by the 'Vine'. When a
child, Mrs Hicks loved to help take the horses from Leys Farm to be shod there.
The girls wore white starched aprons to school with lace or broderie anglaise,
and also thick boots. Above all 'Nin' would have liked hob-nailed boots like one
of the other girls for then she would be able to slide much better on the ice
and the village pond. She remembered Mrs Haynes' black dress with gold chain and
gold fob watch in a watch pocket.
It was almost compulsory that they went to Chapel or Church on Sundays. She
remembered Mr Wastie keeping his carts in the 'Old Chapel', the farm outbuilding
off Leys Road, and that it was an ideal place to play in on a wet day because it
had a wooden floor.
Village outings were a highlight of village life. The Chapel Sunday School
outing once went in a farm wagon to another farm at Southmoor where they had tea
and played games before riding home. Another time they went by train to
Woodstock, but this was not so successful. A Fete was held in the cricket field
and tea was held at the Chapel for adults. There was always a Christmas Party at
the Chapel with a gorgeous Tree with presents.
Mrs 'Nin' had a bicycle which cost 5/s; also they used to ride Mrs Wastie's
tricycle without her knowledge. The Vicar had a pony and trap, and John Webb,
the builder, as well. It was a great treat to be given a ride back from Chawley
Lane in Mrs Richards' pony and trap (Mrs Richards of Manor Farm). Dr Woodward of
Kingston Bagpuize used to arrive with a motorbike and side-car; he would fill
the room with his bulky weather-proof clothing. Mr Arthur Wastie drove his brand
new Morris car down the High Street so carefully and slowly that a walker could
keep up with him.
She used to deliver the milk for Mr Richards, from Manor Farm round the village.
Once when doing this the pony and tub bolted from Oxford Road for home and did
not stop until it got back to Tumbledown. The pony managed to miss all the cars
parked there for a shooting party without doing any damage, but 'Nin' had to
walk home from Oxford Road with her milk can.
(Mrs Hicks was interviewed by Mrs Iris Wastie in March 1980)