Interviewed Monday 10 February 1986

 

Memories of Fred and Kath Watts

Fred Watts

Born: 27 May 1909, London

Father: (Name not recorded; killed in the First World War)

Mother: (Name not recorded) – later married Mr. Weeden, brother of Miss Alice Weeden

Kath Watts (née Titmuss)

Born: 2 April 1909, Pirton

Father: Charles Titmuss (builder and labourer, worked at the Moat House, Holwell)

Mother: Jane Titmuss (née Odell)

Fred’s Early Life

Fred Watts was born in London in 1909. His father was killed during the First World War, and his mother later remarried — her second husband being a policeman, the brother of Miss Alice Weeden, the much-loved Pirton schoolteacher. As a boy, Fred spent many of his school holidays in Pirton, staying with family. He fondly remembered following a young girl, Kath Titmuss, to Holwell when she went to fetch milk — long before either guessed they would one day marry.

Life and Work in Pirton

Fred returned to Pirton permanently in 1933, taking a job as conductor on the local bus service, the Pirton Belle. Fares to Hitchin were 7d return or 4d single, and his wages were £3 per week, rising by 5 shillings after he married Kath in 1934.

At first, Fred lived with his grandfather in Royal Oak Lane, in the house later occupied by Ann Bennett. After his marriage, he and Kath rented one of the Holwell Road cottages (No. 14), paying 2s. 6d a week in rent.

He later left the bus to work for the White Horse Inn, where he was employed as a driver for the pub’s taxi hire business.

When war broke out in 1939, Fred was the first volunteer in the village to enlist. He served for six years in the Army, driving troop carriers in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, and was demobilised in 1946.

After the war, Fred worked at Maidments in Hitchin for three years, then joined London Transport Garage in Hitchin, maintaining and driving country service buses. He later worked for Brookers, making deliveries around the district.

Fred retired in 1974 at the age of 65 but soon returned to the school he had always loved — this time as caretaker and handyman. Working alongside headmaster Geoff Welch, he said it was “the happiest time” of his working life. He finally retired at Christmas 1978.

Kath’s Early Life

Kath Titmuss was born in 1909 in one of the three thatched cottages on Great Green, next to the White Horse — cottages that have since been pulled down. She was the younger of two daughters. Her sister Hilda, older by several years, later lived in Arlesey.

Kath’s father, Charles Titmuss, was a builder and labourer who worked at the Moat House, Holwell. Her mother, Jane (née Odell), came from another long-established Pirton family.

Her grandfather — possibly Titmuss or Odell — bought the house at 4 Holwell Road for £75 in 1912. When her mother died in 1964, it was valued at £1,400, and Kath and Fred moved in, adding a bathroom soon afterward.

School and Working Life

Kath began school in Pirton at the age of three, attending with her sister. She had clear memories of Miss Donson, under whose supervision the children made furniture polish from beeswax and carefully rubbed it into the wooden desks.

She left school in 1923, at fourteen, and went to work in Ickleford for an embroidery firm. Four girls sat around a large frame, dividing the work into quarters and being paid 7s. 6d per week, with bonuses for finishing early. They embroidered crests and tapestries for large country houses, including Lord Lytton’s. She enjoyed the work, cycling daily to Ickleford for an 8 a.m. start and finishing at 4.30 p.m.

After two years she moved on to a hat factory in Luton, making women’s hats from straw and fabric with ribbons and trimmings. She earned between £2 and £3 a week. The girls cycled to Shillington, left their bicycles there, and took a private bus on to Luton each day.

Village Life and Memories

Kath remembered going to the cinema in Hitchin — 6d or 9d admission — either at the Playhouse in Market Square or the cinema in Hermitage Road.

Sweets were a great treat: vinegar flats (1d) and lamb’s tails (2d) were favourites.

These were bought from the shop where Effie Goldsmith later lived, at the end of Cromwell Cottages, or from the shop that later became the Post Office. The village butcher, Harry Davies, also sold sweets and groceries.

Milk was collected from Jack Burton’s farm — you took your own can, filled for 1d or 2d.

Petrol was hand-pumped in the village garage, costing 1 shilling per gallon.

Life Together

Fred and Kath married in 1934 and spent the rest of their lives in Pirton. Their shared memories spanned a century of change — from thatched cottages and hand-pumped petrol to bus routes, war, and new housing estates.

Fred’s quiet pride in his work and Kath’s fond recollections of her early days at school and the embroidery frame in Ickleford capture the simple, enduring rhythms of village life — work, family, and community — that defined Pirton in the twentieth century.

 

 

 

Joan’s notes

Fred Watts, born in London 27.5.1909.  Father killed in 1^st WW and mother re-married to Miss Alice Weeden’s brother (a policeman).  Came to Pirton for school holidays.  Used to follow Kath (his wife) to Holwell to get the milk when he was 12 years old.

Came to Pirton in 1933 to take a job on the bus – the Pirton Belle.  Fares to Hitchin when then 7d. return or 4d. single.  Earned £3 p.w. and 5s more when he married in 1934.  When he first came to Pirton lived with grandfather in Royal Oak Lane (where Ann Bennett used to live).  When first married, he and Kath lived at No. 14 Holwell Road cottages.  Paid 2s. 6d rent.

Left the bus and went to work at White Horse (taxi hire).

In 1940 was the first volunteer after start of the 2^nd WW.  In the Army for 6 years – France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.  Working on troop carriers.  Demobbed in 1946.

Worked at Maidments in Hitchin for 3 years.  Then London Transport Garage Hitchin (country servicers)Then Brookers on deliveries

Retired in 1974 at 65.Started at school as handyman etc. (part time), loved working there with Geoff Welch – the happiest time of his working life.  Left Christmas 1978.

Kath Watts (nee Titmuss), born 2.4.1909 in Pirton in one of the 3 thatched cottages on Great Green next to White Horse (now pulled down).

Mother was     Jane Titmuss (nee Odell)

Father was       Charles Titmuss who was a labourer (building).  He worked at the Moat House, Holwell.

She has one sister, Hilda, who is older than she is and lives at Arlesey.

Her Grandfather (? Titmuss or Odell) bought house in which she and Fred now live (no. 4) for £75 in 1912.  When her mother died in 1964, it was valued at £1400 and that was when Kath and Fred moved in and bathroom was added.

She enjoyed school, went at 3 with her sister!

With Miss Donson, they made polish from beeswax and polished the desks with it.

She left at 14 (1923) and went to work at Ickleford at an embroidery firm.  Four sat round a frame, work divided into 4, paid 7s. 6d p.w. but more if their work was finished more quickly.  Embroidered crests, tapestries etc. from big houses (e.g. Lord Lytton’s).  Liked the work very much.  Cycled to work – 8 a.m. start 4.30 p.m. finish.

Then worked in hat factory at Luton for 2 years – women’s hats, including straw, trimmings etc.  Paid £2 – £3 p.w.  They cycled to Shillington where they left their bikes and then there was a private bus to Luton.

Went to cinema in Hitchin (6d or 9d) – Playhouse in Market Square and another in Hermitage Road

Sweets – Vinegar flats 1d.  Lamb’s tails 2d. from shop where Effie Goldsmith now lives (end of Cromwell cottages) and the one where P.O. now is.  Also Harry Davies (butcher) who also sold sweets, general groceries etc.

Milk collected from Jack Burton’s – took your can and filled for 1d. or 2d.

Petrol 1/- a gallon. (hand-pumped in the village, where garage was).