Ash Bros 1988 - Bob & Ken's Retirement
SN 1988 - 012
ASH BROS
No, it’s not a Bill Heading. No need to ring the Bank Manager or consider a second mortgage.
What prompted this item was the news that Ash Bros. are about to lose two of their three members, Bob and Ken. True, there will still be Roy, Peter and Michael; also true that the two senior brothers deserve and need to begin their retirement while they are still young enough to enjoy it. Nevertheless, for some of us there is the feeling that “things will never be the same again.”
This old-established family business is typical of village life at its best, just as Margaret’s wedding was a typical village family wedding.
Before the present older generation of Ash’s there was their father, Frank. I hardly knew the family during his time, as I was not then living in Seavington. But before Frank there was his father, Fred, whom I knew well. Fred’s house and carpenter’s shop were at the bottom of David’s Lane, adjoining our orchard (Quar Orchard: was there once a quarry there?). Children on their way home from Seavington School used to “plague the life out of” Fred. We asked endless question, played with the sweet smelling curly wood-shavings on the floor, and begged to use any of the tools. I lost several finger-nails in that vice. When Fred had made a wagon wheel he would trundle it up the road to Jack Rowswell’s blacksmith’s forge, where “Farrier’s” now stands, to have an iron hoop fixed on it. My grandfather, James Poole, used to say that Fred made the wooden settle in what was then our kitchen; it is still in the same position, as sound as the day it was made. It cost 7/6 (371/2 p.).
During World War I (1914-18), children were encouraged to pick blackberries “to help the war effort”. Jam for the troops? We never knew. But we were given one afternoon’s holiday from school, every week during the season, to pick blackberries. We took them to Fred in his carpenter’s shop to be weighed and paid for. I fancy we were paid 4d. a pound. I usually managed to pick 1 1/2 Ibs., but Mabel Clarke (Mrs Ern Baker) always seemed to bring back at least 41b.
I feel that no sort of tribute to the Ash Bros. would be complete without mention of the Ash wives (past and present) and the Ash sons and daughters, who have always so loyally supported the family. We all know, for instance, how they have worked with Mrs Jack in the initiation and building of the Recreation Field Fund, and in many other village activities. What some people may not know about, however, is the many unobtrusive acts of personal kindness they do, on the quiet. And certainly in a domestic crisis, such as a burst pipe, everybody in the workshop rushes to the spot and takes control. I hesitate to mention funerals, but who could direct one with greater efficiency and dignity than Ash Bros?
Now we are to depend on Roy, Michael,Peter, Janice and Valerie. Perhaps we shall not be aware of any change. Peter and Michael are the fourth generation, and maybe young Stephen will be the fifth. I shan’t live to see it, but it is a nice thought.
Anyway, good luck and a happy retirement to Bob, Ivy and Ken. And continuing success to the new Ash Bros -‘The Old Firm’.
By Rachael Amos
Ash Bros photos can be viewed here