BY popular request, Ray Sanders (87), a retired farmer who has lived in parish of Cheriton Fitzpaine all his life, led a party of around 35 people through the village on August 11.

Ray is a fount of information about the history of our small agricultural village and remembers when it was virtually self-sufficient.

In Ray’s time, there were three tailors, two butchers, two bakers, two shops plus a “house shop” at Cary Cottage and a Cobbler. Most people in the Village had a well, but for those who did not, a pumping station was situated where “The Willows” is now.

Next door, at “The Nunns House”, was the Market where cattle were bought and sold before being led to the Abbattoir at the foot of Bary Close.

The Village Policeman lived in the Main Street, knew everybody, and, in his spare time, helped the lads to build a wooden shed for a Youth Club.

Young children went to the thatched School, which had previously been the Workhouse and Parish Rooms, and they were able to play in the field where Pynes Close now stands, and where the Village Revels were held. Sports Days were held in the Rectory Gardens.

A doctor lived in the village and a dentist came for two hours a week working from the upstairs room of a cottage.

Lloyds Bank also took up residence for one afternoon a week, so people rarely needed to leave the village.

Most men worked on the land, or in associated activities, and in slack times, there was always casual work available, such as rat catching.

Some things haven’t changed - we still have two pubs, two churches and, thankfully, Ray!

Mary Nunn