Stephen has worked as a thatcher since the 1970s. He talks about his working life and the work he did, along with his brother, on cottages, churches, boat sheds, bus stops and even a village sign. I was born in 1954 at my grandparents’ house, Crome’s Farm, How Hill. In those days young mothers would […]
Reedcutting & thatching
A Man of the Marshes (1947-2018)
Wally tells his story as the ‘King’ of the marshes. He is the last hand reedcutter and is leaving his legacy of knowledge to his sons. I was born in Rockland St Mary, in the old Post Office row, in 1947. I had two sisters and one brother. I just got one sister left now. […]
My varied life – Bevin Boy, herring fishing, agriculture and reed cutting (1940-2019)
Bernard had a varied career based around the Stalham, Hickling area. He was a Bevin Boy, worked in the fishing industry out of Great Yarmouth, cut reed and sedge and did many other jobs. Early days in farming I started work at 14 in 1940 and I worked at the nurseries, or greenhouses – whichever […]