Fairminer - Treneman - Family Tree

Cemetery: VIMY MEMORIAL ; Pas de Calais, France

Canada's most impressive tribute overseas to those Canadians who fought and gave their lives in the First World War is the majestic and inspiring Vimy Memorial, which overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge, about eight kilometres northeast of Arras on the N17 towards Lens. The Memorial is signposted from this road to the left, just before you enter the village of Vimy from the south. The memorial itself is someway inside the memorial park, but again it is well signposted. At the base of the memorial, these words appear in French and in English:

TO THE VALOUR OF THEIR COUNTRYMEN IN THE GREAT WAR AND IN MEMORY OF THEIR SIXTY THOUSAND DEAD THIS MONUMENT IS RAISED BY THE PEOPLE OF CANADA

Inscribed on the ramparts of the Vimy Memorial are the names of over 11,000 Canadian soldiers who were posted as 'missing, presumed dead' in France. A plaque at the entrance to the memorial states that the land for the battlefield park, 91.18 hectares in extent, was 'the free gift in perpetuity of the French nation to the people of Canada'. Construction of the massive work began in 1925, and 11 years later, on July 26, 1936, the monument was unveiled by King Edward VIII. The park surrounding the Vimy Memorial was created by horticultural experts. Canadian trees and shrubs were planted in great masses to resemble the woods and forests of Canada. Wooded parklands surround the grassy slopes of the approaches around the Vimy Memorial. Trenches and tunnels have been restored and preserved and the visitor can picture the magnitude of the task that faced the Canadian Corps on that distant dawn when history was made. On April 3, 2003, the Government of Canada designated April 9th of each year as a national day of remembrance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Reproduced with kind permission of Selborne Publishing
KNIGHTS, PRIESTS & PEASANTS [ The book is available, see below ]
A History of Selborne
2009
[Italic notes added by Les Treneman]

p 379...........The next were the three foresters’ cottages. In the south end cottage lived a Mr Jim Smith; in the middle one Mr Ventham, who was carter for Lord Selborne at Ketchers Farm; and in the other end cottage lived a Mr Fairminer [ Could be any of a number of Fairminers ], who ‘drove the delivery horse and cart around the villages for Mr Maxwell. In the next house, Old Club House (two houses), lived a Mr Barber, a bootmaker who made boots to fit your feet (shoes were not thought of in those days; when they did come in we always called them ‘high lows’). [The threeforesters’ houses remain, although the named plaque over the centre is no longer visible.

p 383.......... The next house was Maxwell’s and the stores with all the outbuildings. Much the same today as in 1900, except the two showcases at first-floor level, which were taken down by Mr W E. Leg and used in the conversion of the barn as bay windows (still there today. Now known as Greystone Villas [beyond honey Lane]. Next is the Old Vicarage. Still the same (externally) as at the turn of the century. Next is Plestor Cottages — three. In the top cottage lived a Mr Broadhurst (Maxwell’s baker). In the centre lived a Mr Nunn (Maxwell’s bookkeeper). In the third lived a Mr Obadiah Smith, who worked on the building as a general all—rounder. [These three cottages are now two]

p 383 Next is Plestor House, where a retired Dr Hepworth lived. In the alleyway between Mr Smith and Dr Hepworth (approached from The Plestor) was a store. On the ground floor Mr Maxwell kept his cheese in large round heavy blocks. These cheeses were turned top to bottom every fortnight.
On the upper floor Mrs Ned Fairminer used to print by hand with single stencils on the new hop-pockets the different farmers’ names, together with the year, name of the farm, etc.

p 384 Returning to the High Street we come to the butcher's shop, externally much the same today as it was at the turn of the century Next is the thatched house in which Mrs Muggeridge lived, who owned the house and the butcher's shop. The next small cottage (end on to the road) was occupied by a Mr Fred Brickell, who ran a hire business with the help of a Mr Fred Stacy. When the cars came into being, and the horses were out, Mr Stacy went to live at Thames Ditton and worked for the late Mr Rye (the late Tony’s father).

p 389..........A little further up the lane stand two cottages. In the lower one lived Gran [Mrs] Ned Fairminer (who stencilled the hop-pockets which I have already mentioned). We nippers used to go to Maxwell’s shop for him (Ned) to get ½ oz Black Shag Tobacco and a box of matches, all for 1-1/2d. We had the odd 1/2d for going. The tobacco was weighed up loose (from a large container) in a cut-to-size piece of newspaper. Mr Scammel [who worked in Maxwell’s shop] had a special way of rolling this very small parcel, with both ends tucked in, without loosing a grain.
In the other cottage lived her daughter, Mrs B. Warren [Who married 17 Nov 1894], who was traction-engine driver for Jackson’s Threshing Tackle, Farringdon. [Her husband was the driver] The other driver was a Mr Jack Ellis. His means of transport was a three— wheeled tricycle. He lived in Farringdon.

p 390 Every Saturday Gran and her daughter would walk to Alton, shopping, with two bags each, strapped together and hung from their shoulders. The footpath is still there today Via Trunchens Farm and the Alton Waterworks.
[Approx 4 miles 1-1/4 hours each way !]

p 390 Next up the lane on the top of the hill were two houses. In the first one (with the barn) lived my grandfather and his married daughter, Mr and Mrs Jarman, who moved to Sheet on his return from America. In the other end lived my uncle who moved from Gracious Street about the same time.
[The two houses are now one, Dowlingsj I believe this is the last?

Ned = Edward Fairminer 1843-1923 [Great Granduncle of Les Treneman]
Married 1869
Gran Ned = Cannon Harriet Walker 1857-1931

Daughter [Only child]
Ada Fairminer 1875-1963
Married 1894
William Thomas Warren
They had 6 children

Source

KNIGHTS, PRIESTS & PEASANTS
A History of Selborne

By Edward Yates
Selborne Publishing 2009

Appendix 5
Mr Cecil Norman
Remembrances
My Cecil Norman was born c1900 and wrote down his memories when he was 85 years old

Selborne Publishing
West Plestor Cottage
The Plestor
Selborne
Hampshire
GU34 3JQ

Contact Robert Updegraff for copy's of book

01420 511540

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