Olden times in Old Buckenham

Celebrating village life

Sharon Brunsden's (John's daughter, third from right) with Richard Styles, Caroline Lindenmayer, John Houchin, Don Cronshore, Tom and Cynthia Walshe. 

Links with Old Buckenham dating back more than 100 years were celebrated recently when members of one of the village’s best known families made a sentimental journey back in time. Focus of the gathering was “the Boy from Rod Alley”, John Loveday, whose book of that title has stirred the imaginations of villagers present and past. 

Descendants of some of those mentioned in his memoir about growing up in Old Buckenham in the 1930s were among those who met at the Gamekeeper for a celebration of family and friendship. The pub - called The White Horse in John’s day - is just yards away from where their parents and grandparents lived and worked in a very different era of local trade, employment and education. 

John is now 98 and was unable to make the journey himself from his care home near Basingstoke but was instrumental in promoting the visit. His daughter Sharon Brunsden drove up from Berkshire accompanied by her uncle, John Houchin - originally from Attleborough - and Don Cronshaw, the son-in-law who grew to love the village after his marriage to Marina, John Loveday’s late daughter.

Sharon and her cousins Caroline Lindenmayer, Vivienne Robinson and Kelly Loveday - all grandchildren of Tom and Kathleen Loveday, who lived at 4 Rod Alley Row - were also joined at the Gamekeeper by John’s sister Barbara Robinson.  

Others with roots in the village attended as well; some had never met the Loveday family members before but have been corresponding regularly about their shared links with village history. They included Tom and Cynthia Walshe. Tom’s mother, Marjorie and grandfather, Wiggy Westfield, were mentioned in the book, Marjorie having been born in the same year as John. Richard Styles also attended. His sister, Betty, knew John well and their father, Charlie, was one of the village’s longest lived residents, reaching the age of 101 before his death in 2009. Newsletter and blog editor Ron Brewer was also present to record the occasion for village interest. 

Conversation was lively and amusing with many interesting historical facts arising. Sharon said that she had wanted to meet those who had been so interested in her father’s book and keeping in touch with him. She added that John Loveday’s love for, and interest in, Old Buckenham village life remains as strong as ever. 

Young John in cowboy outfit made by his grandmother st Sunnyside.

Older John in National Service uniform (with Education Corps just after WW2).

John's painting used for cover of his book.

John's sister Barbara who also grew up in village in 1930s.

Generations of the Loveday family (with other guests).