The Garner Family, Brian, Gerald and Michael, were born in the Farm cottages owned then by Doug's father 'Percy'. A very generous person who allowed my Mother Mary to live in one of the farm cottages, virtually 'rent free' !!
Our Father had deserted our Mother for another lady leaving her to look after us 3 boy's on her own !!
I, Gerald , used to take our rent book with the half a crown rent money every week to the farm. Percy would sign the rent book and put the half a crown money back in the envelope for my Mother !! What could have been more generous and kind than that ?
In addition, he supplied us with free eggs, milk from his dairy, veg grown on the farm and seasonal fruit grown from the orchard.
We boys were allowed to do simple jobs on the Farm, and Doug, then a young person himself, was our 'boss' ?? He was always very kind in his allocation of the odd jobs and made sure we were not only given 'generous wages' although small, but also plenty of eggs and 'fresh milk' from the daily milking sessions.
Without this extreme generosity of the 'Hacket Family, including Doug, our Mother would not have been able to give us the quality of life we were able to have in the 1930's/1940' ?
We are forever in dept to he whole family and of course, have so many wonderful memories of our growing up in the cottages at Ratcliffe !!
Brian, Gerald and Michael.
Gerald Garner:
31/10/2019
