I entered Beevor’s House in September 1920 and left in September 1923.
My career at Aldenham was uneventful. I was scholastically not very bright and was poor at games. On leaving I returned here to help on the family property.
During the General Strike in the 1920’s I drove a lorry
Farming was entering a period of great difficulty and the farm was losing money. My father served throughout the first war being in the Norfolk Yeomanry and so was unable to take advantage of those prosperous years.
In 1929 I went to Kenya Colony and worked on the 100,000 acre property of Sir John Ramsden, a fellow officer of my father.
After three years I acquired a 1000-acre farm there and grew maize and pyrethrum. The world recession had by that time hit Kenya.
In 1934 I joined the Kings African Rifles, Reserve of Officers (1 Jan 1934). In 1936 my father visited me in Kenya and said he intended to retire and I was the elder son, so if I wanted Sparham I must return and take it over.
It was my birthplace and the pull was too great to ignore. So I returned here in July 1936.
I then joined the 5th Battalion (TA) Royal Norfolk Regiment as Lieut. I obtained “D” on my promotion exam for Captain. On the expansion of the TA in 1939 I was promoted to Captain and on 17 September I was appointed Staff Captain 53rd Infantry Brigade. From December 1942 to 6 May 1943 I attended 10 Intermediate Staff College Camberley and received (STET) qualification.
Embarked Middle East 1st January 1944 a Lt Col.
Returned to UK June 1945, released 5 September 1945.
I took over Sparham on arrival home as my father was seriously ill with heart trouble.
My younger brother was killed in action in the RAF 15 February 1944.
In 1946 I married the daughter of the rector of the next door parish and had a son born 1947 and a second son born 1952.
I was appointed a magistrate in 1945 and a Commissioner of Taxes also in 1945 until 7 May 1981.
I was a Chairman of the local bench for ten years until it was done away with on 24 May 1970.
I think what Aldenham gave me was a love of poetry and books and self reliance. On reading these notes they seem to be nothing more than a potted biography.
During the war I was made MBE receiving this honour at Buckingham Palace.
On retirement from the Service I received that TD. I shall be 96 in May – I add this as an excuse for sending you this.