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Literary - Nature of the New Forest and Lady Bailiff
Our first meeting of the Society Season 2007/08 was held on 1st October when we had a return visit by Ian Rumley-Dawson to give a talk on “Nature of the New Forest”.
Only a king could have devised a playground as grand as the New Forest, with its 145 square miles of woodland, heath and marsh where the deer roamed at will, except when a royal huntsman sprang to the chase. William the Conqueror created the New Forest in 1709, planting new woods in a scrub-covered wilderness with scattered farms and homesteads that was the old Saxon hunting ground of Ytene. It has survived 900 years to remain one of the largest stretches of undeveloped land in England, still Crown land but today preserved for public enjoyment and recreation.
We were shown beautiful slides of Ashley Walk, Bolderwood Grounds and Mark Ash wood and the Tall Trees walk possibly the most magnificent and awe-inspiring part of the New Forest. The conifers were planted in 1859, and anything less that 60 feet tall is a mere stripling. There are 20 species represented. They form an avenue of timber giants, among which a mighty redwood of 132 feet is outstripped by a pair of Wellingtonias soaring to 160 feet.
A very enjoyable evening by an appreciative audience.
By
Kenneth Bridger
On 15th October we were treated to a highly entertaining and informative evening by Jean Haynes on the subject of “of being a Lady Bailiff”. At the time of applying (1970's) this was an unusual vocation for a lady, and had traditionally been a male preserve.
However, Jean doggedly pursued her initial training and career including training in the East End of London with domestic cases (up to 30 a day) involving valuation and removal of goods to repay debts from people with limited assets. This work was highly stressful.
After becoming qualified, she obtained work initially through the Customs and Excise, with various commissions including the impounding of an aircraft at Gatwick Airport, involving fixing a service of goods notice to the nose-cone of the plane until payment in cash of £250,000 was made and delivered by Jean under police escort to a local Horley bank for safe keeping!
Other amusing incidents were recounted including a “Walking Possession” order for Daisy, the horse of a rag and bone man, being his main asset. Her staff were most upset at Daisy “going to the glue factory” but the money was paid in time and peace returned to the office.
The moving of gypsies from illegal encampments has been another speciality, as Jean had just reposed two JCB diggers, which passed the eviction site on low loaders. The gypsies feared that they would have no route to leave the site, so left promptly, with the gypsy community in awe of “the lady what's got diggers” and responding to late requests to “move on” from other sites.
Lady Bailiff are now not unusual probably inspired by the successful career of our speaker.
By
John Tarrant
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