Chapter One The Village

Chapter one

The Village

It was a crisp winter’s afternoon. The sun was out the sky was blue.
The school bell had just rung. Lots of happy excited children where looking
forward to the winters holiday. School was out for Christmas...
They made their way out of the school gates happy in the knowledge no more school for six weeks.
Michael McKenzie was nine years of age.He would be ten in four months time, February the 1st.
He was a tall boy for his age. Red hair and freckles with deep blue eyes.
He lived in a sleepy little village called Old Strepton. It was a lovely place to live.The village looked peaceful through all the seasons.
The last recorded big crime was one hundred and five years ago. A stranger had tried to rob the post office he had been caught and sentenced to deportation to Austraila.
No angry teenagers or gangs hung about the streets. Crime was nonexistant.

The local Policeman had a good life. Officer Anthony Davis was 50yrs old. There was no police station as such.
The local village hall had a cellar with rooms. In olden times it was used to keep prisoners or local offenders in.
Officer Davis had many hobbies, one of them was the scrabble group.
He was the County champion..He had been in the final more times than anyone, and he had won the title 10 times.The villagers were very proud of him.

Everyone respected him and felt safe when he was around. He had a commanding
presence. He stood at 6foot 5 inches. He had light brown hair and dark green eyes. Many of the local lasses had made a play for him.
The ladies of the village said the right one for him would come along. The right one had come along but Anthony was keeping it quiet for now. He would tell his family and friends at Christmas his good news.

His neice Jessica was his prodigy, she was only 14years old and had won many scrabble tournaments and was ranked number 1 in her league.
Anthony had taught Jessica her alphabet on a scrabble board. He was so proud of her.
Jessica's parents and her younger sister Natasha were all members of the scrabble group.
Jessica had lovely long blond hair and many of the village lads wished she would notice them. Jessica was more into her scrabble and fishing. Jessica and her sister went horse riding at Newton's stables.
Jessica did not own a pony but was saving up to buy her own.
Jesica got to ride a pony called Shadowmage. Shadowmage was a dappled grey he was 10yrs old and stood at 13 hands. He loved it when Jessica came she always had carrots and treats for him and she was gentle with him. Jessica was saving up to buy him
The scrabble group met up once a week to play and practice.
They had a nickname for the group Jessica had picked it they were called the FishMonstas.
As Most of them were members of the fishing club
Lots of folk helped run the club but one in particular was special she was Miss Nikki McMillan a primary school teacher in the local school.She had been teaching at the school for three years.
She taught English and poetry to primary seven.
All the kids loved her as she had such a beautiful smile and a lovely softness about her that can only come from within.
Most of the boys had a crush on her and the girls loved her too.
She had long brown chestmut hair hazel eyes like a fawn. She was only 5ft 2ins.
Jessica wished her shy uncle would see how Nikki looked at him. It was clear to a lot of folk Miss McMillan had feelings for The local bobby.....Many of the villagers said if he did not make a move soon someone else would snatch her up. Aye she was a fine catch.
Jessica had a plan...Before the New Year she would get her uncle to see what was under his nose....Miss Nikki McMillan..
Officer Davis Liked Nikki but he felt she was too young for him. Besides he had met an old friend four months ago at a police convention in Manchester. Christine Wilson they had been at the same police academy she was now a sargent working in Birmingham police station.
She had been married and was now divorced.They sat all night chatting. Anthony smiled to himself back home he found it hard to speak with to women, except his family and he was wanting to talk more he did not want the night to end. Christine was a tall women short blond hair a good figure she never had any children. Anthony thought her eyes looked like emerald they were a dark green.
He was never a romantic man but now he heard love songs running through his head and found himself counting the hours and days until they met again.
Christine felt the same for him.They had dated when they were younger but Christine was unwilling to move to the country so they parted. He was glad to hear she had had enough of city life and crime and was leaving the force.
Anthony also ran the local keep fit classes on a Wednesday night.
Jessica and her family all went to the keep fit classes.
They always had fun on those nights. The keep fit classes were for all age groups.
This week it was hola hoops.
Everyone was falling about laughing at eachothers attempts to keep the hoop up.. Natasha was the champion hola hooper, Jessica was getting the hang of it but their mum and dad it had to said were hopeless as were most of the older folk except Nikki and Gavin
Jessica smiled as she watched her uncle look at Nikki with amazement Jessica had misread the smile. She had wanted her uncle to ask nikki on a date but he refused to. plan B....
The big scrabble tournament for Christmas was being arranged. Mistletoe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He had to kiss her if Jessica timed it right.
There was only one obstacle Mr Gavin Patterson. Gavin was a teacher at the same school as Nikki.Jessica's scrabble nickname for him was pOOki. He had only been teaching for a year
He was the same age as Nikki and a very handsome guy. He played cricket,football,and he taught fencing. He had a very muscular frame. He was 6ft in height. The boys were a bit overawed by him and were well behaved in his class. He also taught music. He was a really good musician and made learning fun. PooKi was a scrabble champion he was next to nikki in the league table Jessica was at the top followed ny her uncle Anthony.
Gavin's eyes were a startling bright blue,he had wavy chestnut hair and when he smiled his dimples showed. Being outdoors a lot he had a rugged tanned complexion. Most of the girls, some of the teachers and the local girls had a crush on him.
He had eyes only for one girl Nikki. He had asked her out and they had a few dates.
Nikki found herself warming to Gavin. On the weekends they would go the White Swan. Gavin was the local attraction.
He had a great voice and could sing any song within reason.
Nikki enjoyed and looked forward to the weekend she had tried with Anthony but he was not interested in her. Gavin was fun to be around and he made her laugh and sing. Nikki had always been shy singing in front of folk. One day Gavin took her went for a picnic.
It was a lovely autumn's day. They went to blubell woods. deep in the woods was an old wooden hut. It had belonged to the local gamekeeper many years ago when there was a Lord in the manor.
The woods were shedding there leaves and the colours of all the different leaves against the sunlight took Nikki's breath away it felt good to be alive.
Gavin began to mimic the birds as they sang. Nikki found a spot to set up the picnic underneath a huge old chestnut tree. Gavin or Gaz as he asked her to call him brought his guitar alomg, and coaxed her to sing .They had a great day and it looked like the start of a romance.
Gavin was surprised she had a sweet voice he harmonised with her and they sounded good. After a couple of rehearsals he persuaded her to sing at the open night in the pub. They got a great applause and Nikki seemed to blosom when she sang. All the men in the bar wished they were Gavin..

Upper Strepton had a good scrabble team it was run by the local nurse come midwife,
Mary Rattson, she liked to be called sister Rattie as she had a love for all small rodents.
Jessica had pet names for them all...Mary was married to the local dentist, Timothy.
A kind man with a gentle touch. They had been married for seven years.
No children yet, they planned to have children in a few years time.
Mary and Timothy were thirty years old.
Both their parents mum were pressing them to start a family . They wanted grandchildren.
"All in good time." was ratties answer.
( Mary and Timothy would go on to have 4 children three girls and a boy)Two sets of twins!
Upper Strepton was like a mirror image of Old Strepton nothing much had changed over time.
A new road had been put in. Now it was easier to get around from Village to village.
Being a conservational village any new builds had to be approved.
The local schoolteacher helped Rattie run the scrabble club. There was a good atmosphere when the tournaments took place. Which ever village it was being held in provided the food and drink.
After the tournament there was always a party to celebrate the local musicians would come along and before you knew it the whole village had come..
There was a big tournament coming up.



Old Strepson nestled in a small dale surrounded with rolling green hills.
Farms and green fields surrounded the village. In some fields sheep and cattle grazed happily. Behind them was a forrest with old oak and chestnut trees.
The fields were separated either by long hedge grow or old stone Dyke walls.
Horses roamed around a huge field which led into the small forest, it was good shelter for the horses when it rained.
The river flowed through the countryside cutting a path through the fields.
Many happy times had been had by the river.
His dad was a member of the local angling club. Michael got to go fishing with him.
His father’s friends also took their sons or daughters, but to date Lynsey and Jessica were the only girls that went fishing with them.

Michael was a happy go lucky boy. He was looking forward to the Christmas and school holidays.
He liked school, he also liked the fact that Lynsey was in his class.
Lynsey and Michael were best friends, she had a mop of blond curls and he had a mop of red curls.
When they were four years old a programme called the curly tops was on.
All the characters had different coloured curly hair.
It was a big hit with all the kids so it was cool to be curly.
Her eyes were a pale blue everyone thought she looked so fragile, like a china doll.
He always felt he had to protect her, not that she needed protection. She was a tomboy.

As Michael walked out the school gates he looked back at the old building.It was over 300yrs old. A new annexe had been added and a new playground. It was a lovely old school.It welcomed you in with it's wide doors and big windows. It looked as if it was smiling at you.
He smiled as he remembered the incident when Lynsey hit a six at cricket and broke a school window.
They had to face Mrs Elizabeth Wallburton the school headmistress.
She was tall for a lady, six foot one inch, with grey hair that seemed to be always in a bun.
She wore the same type of clothing either black, grey or brown suits always with a white or pink blouse.
She was a very commanding figure. She also had a kind and understanding nature.
When she had to be she was very stern. She commanded respect and she got it!

Before Mrs Wallburton married she had been in the army that's where she met Mr Wallburton.
He was a Captain and made it to the rank of Major which was a great source of delight to Mrs Wallburton,
She always thought her husbands title as Major gave that little bit of quality to her standing in the village.
She was very proud of her husband and especially proud of the way he ran the village fete.
Every year for the past 20yrs like clockwork nothing ever went wrong except the weather and that was out of their control.
Mrs Wallburton also ran the ladies guild and helped organise church fetes. She took great pride in her flower arrangements.
She was looking forward to decorating the church this Christmas. They had been married thirty years. They were never blessed with children of their own. It broke both their hearts.
Becoming a teacher Mrs Wallburton surrounded herself with children.
The Major ran the Boys Scouts Club and she ran the Girl Guides. Their lives were full of children.

They had all been summoned to the headmistress room.
They all squirmed under her gaze. No one would own up as to who broke the window.
Mrs Wallburton Knew who it was, she had been watching the children at play.
She looked at Lynsey and smiled when she said "Looks are deceptive the face of an angel and the soul of a tomboy."
Lynsey blushed, her cheeks were red she quickly said "We'll pay for the window." All the boys agreed and shuffled their feet and looked at each other.
Harry gave a nervous giggle but one look from Mrs Wall Burton turned his face down and the giggling stopped.
"Very well the cost will be £5.00 I will expect it on my desk tomorrow morning." "You may go."
"Except you Lynsey, I want to have a private word with you." As the boys trooped out they started guessing what was being said.
"Maybe she's making Lynsey pick up all the glass up." Said Harry
"Michael laughed at this" She wouldn't dare she could cut herself lets just wait and see." They all agreed to wait.

Lynsey was surprised as Mrs Wallburton took her hand and shook it. "Well done young girl, a six well done."
"When I was a girl cricket was my game, played in the army team for 3yrs."
Lynsey was amazed and was trying to imagine her headmistress playing cricket she was bowled over with the image.
"Pity they won't let you try out for the under elevens so many boys to pick from." Mrs Warburton looked at Lynsey with a softness Lynsey had never seen.
Mrs Wallburton straightened her jacket and as she walked around the room. She was trying very hard to keep her composure, here was a little girl that reminded her of herself when she was a child.
Mrs Wallburtons parents had been very strict she was never allowed to play sports unless it was a ladies game.
One of the reasons she joined the army was to get a chance to be what she wanted to be and play the games she liked.
Although Lynsey did not know it Mrs Wallburton had a soft spot for her.

Lynsey could tell she had something important to say.
"I want you to leave it with me I'll have a word with Mr Brown."
Mr Brown was the sports coach he taught cricket, football and basketball.
"I'll tell him he has to give you a try for the under eleven cricket team." Lynsey couldn't believe her ears.
"I don't want you to tell the others it's our secret for now"
Lynsey was dumbstruck she nodded and thanked her.
She left the office with a look of happiness.
The boys were amazed when they saw her smiling she looked like the cat that got the cream.
No amount of prodding from the boys could make her tell her secret.
She was speechless, her dream might happen and all thanks to their headmistress.

Michael had been looking forward to next term. He had been picked to play in the under elevens cricket team.
He felt sorry for Lynsey she hadn't been picked, he knew she was better than George in the field and batting.
They had played cricket many times on the village green and Lynsey played in every game.
Lynsey had been thinking of forming a girls cricket team but could only get five girls interested To be honest they were hopeless.

She wasn't like the other girls. When they played skipping ropes and girly games she would be playing cricket.
She loved fishing and she had caught more fish than some of the boys.
As Michael walked home from school he decided to go through the village.
The village was over 700yrs old some say it is older, a few new houses and shops had been added but in the style of the existing buildings.
It seemed that everyone knew everyone.
Being a child he sometimes listened to the adults gossiping or talking about someone or something.
Not that he did it deliberately, sometimes he'd be in the sweet shop and would hear the ladies gossiping.
Or when his mum’s friends came over for their coffee and tea they would all sit with their tea and gossip. Nothing bad was said but he learnt a lot about the villagers.

As he looked down the road at all the shops and the little winding streets that led to other shops he felt so sad. The village was a bustle with folk.
Everyone was full of good cheer. Halloween was coming soon. Folks with Turnips and pumpkins and lottsa sweets and apples..Halloween was fun in the village.
Michael saw Jessica and her little sister Natasha go into the joke shop.
Michael gave a little smile it amused him that Jessica always dressed up as a witch, and her uncle Anthony always dressed as a wizard.
The halloween party took place in the village hall.
Mrs Wallburton always organised a good party.

He came to the butchers shop first. The shop window was decorated with red and blue ribbons that they had won for best sausages and best butcher meat.
The door was a bright blue as was the window frames. A small canopy hung over the window, it to was blue and white stripes.
All the butcher meat looked so fresh lying in trays and sitting on white marble.
The shop was tiled from top to bottom in white and black tiles.
Mrs Burnside was a ver clean and tidy lady. Her husband and sons had learned to be clean and tidy or else!! Mrs Burnside had a good set of lungs on her , she sang in the church choir. Everyone remarked how loud her voice was.
Mr and Mrs Burnside ran the butchers shop with the help of their three sons they were triplets they were now 21 years old.
They were big boys all had black hair with brown eyes and big muscles.
They had been helping their dad for years lift carcasses and heavy blocks.
They preferred rugby to cricket. They were good at rugby and played for the county team.Mr and Mrs Burnside were proud of their sons and it showed.


The village had many shops and small meandering lanes and roads that led off to other houses and shops. Some of the off roads still had the original cobblestones. Bumpy riding on a bike.
As Michael walked passed the shops glancing in he felt sad.
Then he came to his favourite shop. A smile spred across his face .
The children of the village loved the old sweet shop. Miss Verity Symes owned it. She was so sweet to everyone. She was a spinster sixty two years old. She had never married.
There had been a rumour of a romance along time ago when Miss Symes was only twenty three. No one knew what happened except Miss Symes and her mother.
She was small and very slim with white hair and such gentle grey eyes.
When her mother was alive Miss Symes hardly spoke to folk she was always polite, some called her reserved, others thought she was cold. They were all wrong. She always wore what the folk called sensible clothes and sensible shoes.
Two piece suits grey, black, brown or green.

Some of the village folk thought she had gone a wee bit mad with grief after her mother past away.
Her mother had lived until she was 92 years old. Her father had died when she was only 10 years old.
Miss Symes dedicated herself to her mother, one of the reasons she never married.
She had always wanted children and loved being around them. Just like the Wall Burtons.
With the money she inherited from her mother she bought a shop and turned it into a tearoom come sweetshop.
Her shop was never empty, her tearoom thrived and she was the perfect hostess.
Folk were always popping in for tea and scones. She was never short of someone to talk to.
She changed the way she dressed no more dark suits and sensible shoes.
She wore bright coloured clothes with matching dainty shoes.
When her mum was alive she was never allowed to buy clothes that she liked.
Her mum was very strict and would never allow her to wear colours such as, pink, bright yellow, and red.
That were another reason folk thought she had went a wee bit wonky in the brain.
She changed herself completely and became the person she always wanted to be.
She had all the village children and the ladies loved her tea shop.
Michael and many others thought she was one of the nicest ladies they knew.
Her shop window had cakes and all sorts of sweets in it, little white mice, pink elephant candy candy spiders and chocolate bats.
The window and canopy were bright pink and lemon.
Inside the shop on one side were twelve tables and chairs. each table sat four folk. It was brightly decorated in a lovely floray pattern with lovely pink and blue tablecloths.
The sweet counter was a delight.
Every sweet you could think off Miss Symes had them
One wall was full of jars of sweets fom mints to toffees to chocolates, jelly babies... Miss symes always gave good treats at halloween.


He past the greengrocers Mr and Mrs Armstrong owned it. Their daughter Louise helped out in the shop at weekends and holidays. Louise was sixteen and very pretty.
She had wavy black hair and brown hazel eyes. A lot of the boys in village would love to take her out.
Louise was more into her horse than boys. She had no time for romance. Her horse Troy was the only male other than her brothers and father that she had time for
Mr Armstrong and his sons, five in all rang the fruit and vegetable farm.
There was Adam aged twenty four, Bryan was twenty two Christopher twenty.
David nineteen, Edward eighteen.
They all looked alike black hair and brown eyes. They were all big lads.
Years of helping out on the farm and digging trenches mending fences left them with big muscles.
Adam and Bryan were studying new growth methods using natural fertilisers and hot houses.
The farm had once been a dairy farm, with cows and sheep. A bad outbreak of foot and mouth saw a lot of cattle being destroyed.
Mr Armstrong was sad but his wife Agnes had come up with the fruit and veg idea. That was ten years ago.The shop was theirs bought and paid for.They delivered their produce to other villages and built up a name in the local markets for their fresh products

As he walked down the village main street he became to feel sad again he just could not shake it off. He'd miss all these folk.
He paused at the bakers and looked in, he got a big smile from Mr and Mrs Forrester who owned the bakers. The smell of fresh bread and cakes filled Michael’s nose.
They were a happy couple and it showed. Both were in their 50's they had three children.
Two boys Simon and Terrance and Anne their daughter.
The boys were now twenty years old and Anne was 19 years old.
Anne had the same green eyes and brown hair as her mum,
The boys had blond hair like their dad. Simon was a chef in a big fancy restaurant in London.
Terry as he was called stayed in the bakery business.
He was an all rounder when it came to cricket that means he could bowl as good as he batted.
He had helped the village cricket team get their 1st trophy in five years it was a proud day for all the cricketers.
He got 165 runs and 4 wickets what a game. The villagers still talk about it.

He past the drapers with its wools, patterns and bright coloured cloths. Twin sisters ran the shop.
Margaret and Mary Forbes they were not married.
Margaret was engaged to Martin Green. He owned Merryweather farm.
He bred sheep and grew wheat and barley. The farm had been in his family for two hundred years.
Martin had been busy getting the farmhouse modernised for Margaret.
The house was due to be complete in April next year, the month they were to be married.
Martin was a strong man used to the outdoors he had a handsome ruggedness that Margaret and a few other ladies found irresistible. Black wavy hair with deep brown eyes that had a look of gentleness like a deer.
He was a shy man and it took him years before he could ask Margaret out.
He always felt silly going into the shop but his mother would send him with a list and Margaret always served him.

Mary noticed how Margaret took her time when serving Martin and how she glowed when he came into the shop.
In a way Mary was the one that helped Martin get over his shyness. Unbeknown to her sister she told Martin Margaret really liked him. If he liked her to hurry up and tell her as John Hammond had been pestering Margaret for a date.
That was when Martin plucked up the courage and asked her out, four years they had been courting.
Her wedding dress was in her wardrobe hand made by herself and her sister.
They were thirty five years old. Margaret looked younger perhaps because she had never felt real grief.

Mary had a worn expression she looked sad at times and then she'd snap out of it and be her cheery self.
Folk called her a handsome woman. She had blond hair and green years like her sister Margaret.
She was not petite more cuddly according to Mr Grayson that ran the Angling shop.
The talk in the village was that Mr Grayson was sweet on Mary.
He was one of the only men that went into their drapers shop.
Mary had been married to Alex for five years when the twins were born. Alex was a soldier.
Mary knew the risks but never thought it could happen to them.
He was killed six years ago by a sniper when he was on patrol in the war in the Middle East.
She had twin sons aged ten. Adam and Alexander. They were identical twins even their mum got mixed up.
The boys loved to swap identities and baffle folk.
They were sturdy boys into their sports; they had never really known their dad although they missed a father figure they had many role models to pick from Major Wallburton being one of them. The Major took the boys under his wing.
He got them into the cricket team and scouts; they helped him during the fetes. Putting up tents, arranging seats.
The Major and his wife paid the twins to do small chores for them... picking up the leaves in autumn, cutting the grass in the summer, helping in the vegtable plots. It was a very happy arrangement.

Michael looked at the cricket club with its immaculate green and white stands newly painted that summer.
His dream of playing for the village team would never happen.
The cricket house had got a new roof and looked like new even though it was one hundred and thirty years old.
He was remembering all the games played there and all the happy and sad times they had there.
Mr Brown the school coach was the captain of the village team. He was a good all rounder and was grooming young Terry to take his place as captain of the team. Mr Brown was thirty four years old married with three daughters folk felt a wee bit sorry he had never had a son but Mr and Mrs Brown took great delight in their daughters Sarah aged twelve , Melissa aged ten and Rachel aged eight. They all took after their mother in looks they had her blond hair and blues eyes Mr Brown was bald no one could remember what colour his hair had been. (It had been a light brown)
They were a happy and contented family.

Michael stopped outside the fish and tackle shop and peered in Mr Grayson was busy arranging stock.
He loved the smell the shop gave off it reminded him of the river.
Mr Grayson turned around and saw him at the window he beckoned him in.
"Well young Michael I hear you are moving soon." Michael nodded and looked so sad Mr Grayson’s
Heart went out to him he'd known this lad since he could crawl.
He was friends with Michael’s dad as he was chairman of the Angling club that they belonged to.
He ruffled Michael’s hair "Don't look so down lad. I know that there are great fishing spots in Scotland."
" And you can be sure the angling club will visit them." Twice a year the club went on fishing holidays.
Each time to a new place or revisiting favourite places. "I will miss so much here Mr Grayson I never realised what I had here until now." "Nay Lad you are going on a great adventure and life is opening up lots of new experiences for you."
He sat Michael down. "There are folk in this village that have never left it this is all they have known."
"I'm not saying that's bad, the folk are happy."
"Your dad has been offered a job he has dreamt about and a chance to create something really good."
"You lad will be part of that." "Your mum is so happy and you will be too one day."
Michael looked down. "Nay lad don't look down you will get through your sadness and one day you will say old John Grayson was right I am so happy."
"I have a going away present for you." he disappeared into the back shop and came out with a fly rod that Michael had been saving up for. "When you catch your first big salmon you tell all those Scotsmen it was thanks to John Grayson’s fly rod."
Michael did not know what to say he gave John a hug and thanked him.
"Will you promise to come visit us in Scotland?" Asked Michael Mr Grayson smiled "Of course, and I will expect a haggis hunt, I hear the haggis hunting is a big thing in Scotland." He winked at him
Michael laughed at him. There was a time he thought haggis was hunted. Mr Grayson had a weather beaten face ruddy complexion with deep green eyes. He always had his fishing hat on folk said he slept in it. He was tall six foot 5 inches.
He looked thin but had a lot of strength in him.
He had never married but hoped one day to make Mary his wife. The twins liked Mr Grayson and loved the fishing holidays.
Mary did like him but decided not to get involved until her sister had married and was settled down.

He left the shop with his new rod. He stopped in the heart of the village there was an old well now blocked off that stood in the square off to the right was the village hall with its clock on top. Christmas pantomines and shows were put on there as well as council meetings.
The streets and the parks were kept neat and tidy. Mr Wilson was the village caretaker he was employed to sweep the street and keep the grass and flowers looking good. He had been in the army most of his life, never married. Although there was talk that he had loved a local lass and had been turned down by her. Some folk say he joined the army to escape a broken heart.
Lately he had been spending more and more time in Miss Symes tea shop.
It had been noticed by a few of the villagers how tenderly they looked at one another had Miss Verity Symes been his sweetheart? Some said yes.

Arthur Wilson was Sixty five years old. He always wore his flat cap and tweed jackets. His overall were always on except for church and special occasions. Folk called him a handy man as he could mend almost anything.
He had two younger men that worked with him. Years in the army gave him a very straight back and a steady stride,
When he walked folk say he marched.
He was respected in the village and loved by many. He lived next door to Lynsey and her parents.
Every day he could be seen on his cycle or walking with Herbert. Herbert was a stray St Bernard’s dog,
He had been found by Mr Wilson when he had been up in Manchester.
Herbert was a bag of bones and all scraggy when he found him in an alley, the police said he could keep him as no one had reported a missing dog.
Herbert was adopted by the villagers he loved the attention he got he especially liked the butchers shop.
He accompanied Mr Wilson everywhere. He was white with brown and patches, a big friendly happy dog.

Herbert loved children especially Lynsey. Sometimes he walked her to school and sometimes he's be waiting to walk home with her.
Mr Wilson was a member of the angling club. Herbert was allowed to go on fishing trips with them.He enjoyed them just as much as the humans. He got to play in the water as long as there was no fishing going on. The kids had hours of fun playing with him and they did not mind when he shook the water all over them...
Like any village there were the two local public houses The Laughing Cavalier and The White Swan.
Both got their name from historical landmarks.
There had been a battle in 1560. The cavaliers were beaten back some took refuge in the village and where hidden in the cellar of the house that is now the inn. It had suits of armour, roundhead helmets, swords. Outside was the traditional white with support beams showing. A lot of houses were built in that style.
Inside had been slightly modernised without taking the character away. The old oak beams still showed. The tables and chairs were new but with enough age to fit into the inns history.
A big open fireplace welcomed you in the winter.
The white swan took its name from the swans that lived in the village park.
They had a huge lake where they and other birds nested. Outside hung the sign with a swan and her cygnets..Inside it had old oak beams small nooks and crannies a big open fireplace with all sorts of brass and ornamets surrounding it.
On the walls were photo's of the old days with horsedrawn carts and raggamuffin looking children'
A beautiful oil painting of a lake with swans and countryside took pride of place above the bar. The place had a warmness and a feeling of love..A love for all that entered it's door.

You could always hear singing coming from the inns. Mostly local songs.
The White Swan had been taken over by a young couple Anne and Mark Forrester.
They had came to the Village for a holiday and heard the White Swan was up for sale.
They decided that every Thursday would be a karaoke night and every Saturday a live band.
The karaoke night was a big hit as was the live bands.

To the left of the village was the bandstand where the local brass band held concerts.
The May Queen was crowned there. Then there were the parks.
There was the small park for younger children with swings sandpits chutes, roundabouts.
Many happy days where spent there. There was an adventure playground for older children; it had climbing frames, monkey bars miniature assault courses and a football park.
The paths were well attended. Mr Wilson saw to that. No matter what the weather was like you could always see someone out walking.
There were lots of benches set around the park and it boasted a beautiful maze.
Everyone had been in the maze. It was a great tourist attraction. At the heart of it was a sundial with a Gazebo.
The maze was two hundred years old. And shaped like a swan
Every Easter there was an egg hunt, lots of eggs were hidden all over the park and in the maze.
Parents enjoyed the egg hunt as much as the children. Oh how he would miss all that.
Michael’s feet felt heavy has he neared his house he glanced back towards the village green and sighed.

Off to his right was the old church with its big graveyard. There were a lot of old headstones some had gargoyles and looked scary, a very creepy place to be at Halloween.
There was a new minister as Reverend Lincoln was retiring he was seventy three.
He had never married and had been an only child so having no relatives he decided to enter the retirement home for Church elders. It was a charming place in Devon and he was looking forward to relaxing and doing nothing.

Reverend Saul Samuels. Was taking over the Parish. He would joke with a name like his he was destined for the church.
He was much younger only thirty one, unmarried which was a source of delight for some of the unmarried ladies of the Parish. Their housekeeper Mrs Deans would get hot under the collar when the ladies of the Parish would send up cakes they had baked or jumpers they had knitted. She took it as a slight on her housekeeping.
Rev Lincoln would chuckle he remembered his time when he was younger and perused by a few ladies in the village.