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From: "Dorothy Jones" <>
Subject: 'Kingsclere a better place before all these aeroplanes'
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 11:01:59 -0000
References: <004401c6079d$880310c0$0300a8c0@barbara>


Courtesy of Vic Middleton in Australia, I bring you this extract from a
wonderful article in The Newbury Weekly News of 12th April 1958:

'Kingsclere a better place before all these aeroplanes - Oldest resident
(97)'
"Too healthy to die in and too poor to live in." That was the somewhat
caustic description accorded Kingsclere many years ago.
The writer would be hard put to substantiate one of these allegations today;
the village, nestling in the Hampshire hill-country, by no means suggests
poverty.
Admittedly, such a complete lack of light industry makes it difficult for
many residents to find employment within the parish boundary. Most have to
seek work elsewhere - in Basingstoke factories, at the U.S.A.A.F. base at
Greenham Common or at Aldermaston's Atomic Weapons Research Establishment.
But how many rural communities are self-sufficient these days?
More credence can be given to the claim for Kingsclere's health-giving
qualities. Until a few years ago the village could boast four
nonagenarians. Now there is only one, Mrs. Jane E. FISHER, 41,
George-street, who was 97 last December. One of a family of 14, she has
never lived outside the parish except for short holidays. She still does
all her own housework and until about a year ago could see to sew. "I like
Kingsclere," Mrs. Fisher said. "But it was better in the old days, before
all these motors and aeroplanes were about."

DJ Notes:
Jane Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel & Sarah HISCOCK, was baptized 29 Feb
1862 Kingsclere; she married Orman FISHER 12 Feb 1918. In the above article
she reckoned herself to be one of a family of 14, whereas I'm advised that a
sister, Nora Emily May SPARKES, C.B.E., claimed to be one of 13. I've only
found evidence of 12 in the PRs and/or census returns, including two girls
named Sarah who were infant mortalities, so I'm now wondering if there were
any others or whether the figure became distorted in memory in old age?

Does anyone know who the other 3 nonagenarians of the 1950s were?


Happy Christmas!
Dorothy Jones


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