大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by volunteer from The Chepstow Society on behalf of Margaret Johnson and has been added to the site with her permission. Margaret Johnson fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

SEDBURY

Sedbury, on looking back, one realises what a sleepy hollow it was before the war. Approaching from Tutshill there was a lone cottage on the left about the point of entrance to the Martins, then the walk along Sedbury flat seemed much further with large open fields on either side. Grahamstown Road was the main built-up area. The current butcher鈥檚 shop was Venn, the grocery store, and next door was Henderson the newsagent.

Tyler鈥檚 Way was a new development with houses on the left hand side only. A tall black pole with a very small light on top stood on the open ground where the supermarket is now. This was the extent of the village lighting, although there was another light down Bunkers hill at the entrance to Sedbury Park Hotel. Where the Chemist is today along to the Post Office was a row of single storey dwellings. The one at Tyler鈥檚 way end had a glass front and was I believe also a barbers shop.

An entrance at the top of the hill lead into the Sergeants鈥� Mess now Bertopac. Opposite was the Yetts property, a long timber building used as dwellings, with extensive grounds the length of the hill to the boundary of the old railway line. The cottages at the bottom of the hill remain to this day.

Back to the top of Bunkers hill and the stone roundabout at the entrance to what is now Ormerod Road; it supported a grand elm tree at that time. The road however lead only to farm gates and fields where cows with long curled horns stood and stared as though daring anyone to enter their domain.

When I started Lydney Grammar School in 1942 our first geography homework was to make a plan of the area where we lived using the ordnance survey symbols. Anyone who was taught by Mr. Barlow will certainly remember him with some trepidation. I was told to stand out at the front of the class and then the inquisition began. 鈥淲here is the post office?鈥� 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 got one Sir.鈥� 鈥淲here is the phone box?鈥� 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 got one Sir.鈥� And then Church and finally Pub. When he learnt that we had no Pub he gave up in despair. 鈥淲hat a Godforsaken hole you live in. Go and sit down.鈥� Thankfully we have all these facilities today.

SEDBURY LAUNDRY LTD

Prior to the war a small laundry operation was set up in the Yetts premises to handle the laundry for 鈥淎鈥� Company. A modest operation, family-run, and employing a few local staff. There were other such operations in the area such as Alvington and elsewhere, serving the other Companies at the Beachley Army Camp i.e. 鈥淏鈥� 鈥淐鈥� and 鈥淒鈥�. In 1940, when it became obvious that the war was more than a nine day wonder which had been forecast to be all over by Christmas 1939, it was decided that all laundry and possibly other contracts had to be organised through Western Command. The laundry for the whole camp, i.e. all four Companies, was put out to tender to one operator, and Sedbury Laundry was allocated the contract. It was a frantic time as the existing work for 鈥淎鈥� Company still had to be processed and buildings and steam equipment had to be found and installed in a very short period of time. I am sure it was my mother鈥檚 determination and pioneering spirit which carried them through.

They also had the benefit of friends in the Royal Engineers with the necessary skills who rallied round to get the job done.

It meant journeys to London to find and purchase the equipment. Steam boiler, presses, washing machines, etc. Mostly from scrap yards. Driving to London was an adventure and I can remember being told about all the lights on the road along Western Avenue. Red, green and white; they were of course cats鈥� eyes which we all take for granted today but were unknown in these parts at that time.

Somehow it all happened and Sedbury Laundry became part of the village, and continued to grow as more military units arrived in the area. It became a significant employer in the area and some of the original staff saw their daughters and even granddaughters come to work there. It was,in common with many jobs at that time, not easy, but it had a family atmosphere and a team spirit. When the weather was suitable the clothes were hung out on the webs of steel lines down on the meadow. At the first sign of rain someone shouted the alarm and everyone rushed out to bring in the clothes. People still mention that feature today.

It also enjoyed the reputation of being the best laundry in Western Command as the clothes were always clean and dry and they had their own clothes back. In fact when the Americans left Sedbury Camp and were posted to Bridgnorth they continued to bring their laundry back to Sedbury as it was the best laundry they had ever had. A British unit would not have been allowed that option.

The Indian Army stationed at the Racecourse used to bring their laundry over by mule train and could be heard long before they were seen. On one occasion when mother was ill in bed the Officer in charge, who looked very grand in his white robes and plumed turban, was disappointed not to be able to go into the house and pay his respects.

The Weir family began the Laundry.
H.J. Weir Engineering Co. Ltd.
Laundry Finishing Systems have works in Bulwark and Sedbury.

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