Interviewed 3 May 1985 Born 1904, 7 High Street, Pirton Later of 29 Royal Oak Lane
Ethel Jarvis, known affectionately as “Aunty Ethel,” was born in 1904 in a cottage on the High Street, next to what later became Derek Kefford’s house. Her father, James Jarvis, worked in Hitchin for Lucas’ Brewery, walking there from Pirton each day, setting out at 4.30 a.m. Her mother, Louisa (née Hanscombe), was the daughter of George Hanscombe. Ethel was the third of six children — Elsie, Arthur, Ethel, Samuel, Edward, and Bob. Tragedy struck early when her sister Elsie died aged seven, when Ethel was only three. She vividly remembered all the schoolchildren being marched down to see Elsie in her coffin — “it was the custom,” she said. That image, clear and solemn, stayed with her all her life. The family’s cottage had just two rooms upstairs and two down, with a tin bath in front of the fire. Ethel often stayed with her Granny Hanscombe 19 Shillington Road (in the house later lived in by Mrs Dawson, next to Rosemary Britnell’s). Her mother’s family were closely linked to the Gurneys — Rose Gurney’s father and Ethel’s grandfather were brothers.
Schooldays Ethel started school in 1907 at the age of three but had few happy memories of it. She disliked Mrs Donson and “thought very little” of Mr Donson, who taught in the large and overcrowded room. She recalled sitting beside a boy who was being caned — “the point stuck into my leg,” she said. Although she was bright, she was not allowed to take a scholarship, “not being from one of the right families.” She could have left school at twelve, but her mother insisted she stay until fourteen — the year the First World War began
One of Ethel’s happiest memories from childhood was Lucas’ Brewery’s August Bank Holiday treat. Each year her father took the family to Hitchin, where the brewery workers’ families were given bottles of pop — perhaps ginger beer — followed by chips in town. “It was a special day,” she said with a smile.
Early work After leaving school, Ethel went to live at Rectory Farm with Mr and Mrs Davies, helping to care for their three daughters — Helen, Vera, and Edie. She was paid 29 shillings a month plus keep, and remembered Mrs Davies as “a lovely woman, very generous.” The family shared meat and liver from the farm with Ethel’s mother, which helped greatly at home. The Davies girls travelled to school in Hitchin by pony and trap, driven by Lake, and one of Ethel’s duties was to sell skimmed milk at the farm gate for a halfpenny a pint. She stayed there for about two years before moving on. Ethel then worked as a dental receptionist for Mr Paine in Brand Street, Hitchin, for eight years.
Life in London Seeking new experiences, Ethel moved to London, working as an under nurse for a Jewish family on Finchley Road. There were four boys, and she joined when the youngest was born. She stayed with them for two and a half years, later working for two other Jewish families. She spoke warmly of her time there. “It was a wonderful life — I was very happy,” she said. “You were in complete charge, and they trusted you.” All the children she cared for stayed in touch, even inviting her back years later to help when their own children were young. All the families she worked for were Orthodox Jews, and through them she witnessed funerals, bar mitzvahs, and weddings. When helping to plan the cars for one wedding, she couldn’t find her name on the list and asked which car she was to go in. “Which do you think?” said the bride’s mother. “In the first car with me.” Her working hours allowed one afternoon and evening off each week, and one full day a month. In 1938, Ethel’s mother died, and she returned to Pirton to care for her father and brothers. “I didn’t like coming back to that little cottage after London conditions,” she admitted — yet she did her duty without complaint.
Work and Service in Pirton In 1939, Ethel and her father moved into 29 Royal Oak Lane, one of four houses built by her uncle in 1927. She worked at Hitchin Hospital in the children’s ward before returning to Pirton School in 1950 as school cook — a position she held, with a few breaks, for nearly 25 years. Those were hard years of manual labour. There was no hot water, no fridge, and only a coal fire to heat the water. She began work at 8.30 a.m., cooking for around 80 children, often single-handed until help arrived later in the morning. Every surface had to be scrubbed clean. Meat was bought from Allingham’s Butchers, ordered weekly, and vegetables were sourced locally. “They were very cheap,” she recalled. Vera Thrussell collected the dinner money. A visiting Director of Education once told her, “Pirton is the best village school in Hertfordshire” — a compliment she never forgot. During her years as cook, she also became something of a nurse. “Children who fell over in the playground used to come to me for some of my yellow magic,” she said, referring to her antiseptic cream. About 1950, the now elderly Mrs Donson came up to the school to see her. “Ethel,” she said softly, “I really loved your mother.”
Joan’s notes Interviewed 3/5/85
Miss E Jarvis (Aunty Ethel) 29 Royal Oak Lane **Her uncle built the house and 3 others next to it in 1927, but mother did not want to move there
Born 1904 in High Street (in cottage next to Derek Kefford’s house)
Father James Jarvis who worked in Hitchin for Lucas’ Brewery. His father was Jack Jarvis.
Mother was Louisa Hanscombe, her father was George Hanscombe.
Ethel was one of 6 children- the 3rd child. They were Elsie (died aged 7 when Ethel was 3). All children from school marched down to look at Elsie in her coffin- Ethel, aged 3, remembers very clearly seeing her and the other children. Says “it was the custom”. Arthur, Ethel, Samuel, Edward and Bob. Cottage had 2 up 2 down, tin bath in front of fire. Ethel stayed a lot with Granny Hanscombe (Shillington Road where Mrs Dawson now lives [next to Rosemary Britnell]) Rose Gurney’s father and Ethel’s grandfather, on mother’ side were brothers.
Went to school 1907 at age of 3. Has no happy memories of school. Didn’t like Mrs Donson and thinks very little of Mr D. Says the big room (Mr. D’s) was very full and children were crammed together – remembers when Mr D caned a boy sitting next to her the point stuck in her leg.
Wasn’t allowed to take scholarship as not one of the ‘right’ families. Could have left at 12 but mother insisted that she stayed till 14. (1914).
A good memory is of the Lucas’ Brewery on August Bank Holiday. Went there and was given a bottle of pop (? Ginger beer) and then had chips in Hitchin. It was a special holiday. (Father left Pirton at 4.30 a.m. to walk to his work in Hitchin).
When she left school she went to live in at Rectory Farm (Mr & Mrs Davies) to help look after the 3 girls – Helen, Vera & Edie. Was paid 29/- per month and keep. Mrs Davies was a lovely woman, very generous and Ethel was very happy there. Mrs Davies used to send liver and other parts of animal (after killing) which they did not want to eat to Ethel’s mother and this was a big help.
The Davies girls went to school in Hitchin in pony and trap (taken by Lake)
One of Ethel’s jobs was to sell the skimmed milk at the door of the farm (it was put in large zinc bath) for ½d. a pint.
She was there for about 2 years.
Then went to work as dental receptionist for Mr Paine in Brand Street. 8 years there.
She then went to London and worked for a Jewish family in Finchley Road area. There were 4 boys and she went as under nurse when youngest was born, and was there for 2½years. She then worked for another 2 families (again Jewish) Says it was a wonderful life – very happy. You were in complete charge and she was obviously highly thought of. All ‘her’ children keep in touch and she has been asked back to help out with children’s children when Nanny has been on holiday.All Orthodox Jews, saw funeral, bar mitzvah and wedding. She was doing plan for the cars for Margaret’s wedding – couldn’t find her own name – asked which car she was to go in. Margaret’s mother said “Which do you think? – in the first car with me.” Time off – afternoon and evening weekly, 1 day per month.Had to leave to come back to Pirton when her mother died in 1938 to look after Father and brothers. Didn’t like coming back to that little cottage after London conditions!
However in 1939, went to live in 29 Royal Oak Lane with Father and Bob. Worked in Hitchin Hospital in children’s ward.
In 1950 (January) went to school to cook dinners (this had started in 1949). No hot water, no fridge, coal fire to heat all water. Wooden floors. Had to scrub everything. Very hard work.80 children to cook for and any visitors. Was there alone from 8.30 – 10.30, then Eva Mates came to help and one other person to set out tables. (Vera Thrussell collected dinner money – how much for a dinner) Got meat from Allingham – ordered every Friday for week – and vegetables locally (very cheap). Cook for 15 years. Then a break. Then went back when G.Welch. came (1971) until 1975/6.
A visiting Director of Eduction ( The one before Donald Fisher) told her “Pirton is the best village school in Hertfordshire.”
During her time as cook, children who fell over in playground used to go to her for “some of my yellow magic”!
About 1950, old Mrs Donson. came up to the school to see her (very frail, just before she died) and said “Ethel, I really loved your mother.”
