Our sinister past - by Harry Bletcher

I remember Mr Samuel Fell-Wilson being murdered up by the windmill in the early thirties, they brought in the top detective from Scotland Yard but it remains a mystery forever. There were a lot of people suspect but no one was ever charged with the murder. On the spot where he was found there is a cross made from bricks, in the hedge bottom, just below the windmill on the opposite side of the road. The funeral of this man was witnessed by most of the village, they where lined up the side of the road from the Mill bridge to the doors of the church, he was well respected. There were 4 black horses to draw the black hearse, provided by Jim Lambert and George Townroe the undertaker.

The family moved to the shop on Clumber Street next to Mr Hollingsworth and I often was sent there to run an errand for my grannie. Mrs Wilson's daughter graduated as a doctor from Nottingham University and moved to London.

The next tragedy in Warsop in the thirties was1938, Alma Price and her sister where murdered by their father at home on Sherwood Street, the father lost his job and there was no food in the house. He also tried suicide but was found by his wife. After his trial at Nottingham he was taken to Lincoln Jail where he paid the price.

In 1939 just months before the war started the submarine *HMS Thetis went out on sea trials off Portsmouth and didn't resurface, 6 escaped out of 60 personnel and one of the dead was Dr Horan's son from Warsop. Dr Horan lived at the top of Dawney Hill and Sookholme Lane and had his surgery there too, this sad loss devastated the family. They moved out of the house and Dick Bradley, the butcher moved in there. The submarine was raised during the war and saw active service but was finally sunk by the enemy.

On page 3 in the book Old Warsop in Pictures there is a photo of the funeral of Mr Fell Wilson, it was probably the biggest in Warsop history.

Mr Frank Blythman was a great historian of Warsop, he lived on Ridgeway Terrace and had his storage shed in the back garden, it was the end house near Fenwick Street, (there were only 19, 21 and 23 that were fenced off prior to the war, I was born at number 9 and lived there until I was married in 1951 to my one and only) Putty Blythman was his name and he had a yard full of glass and window frames. When the houses where built up Mansfield road to the station, Mr Blythman moved into the one next to the stationmaster house, the last new one.

I worked part time at Mr Beeston's shop on Church Street during the war and I used to take groceries every Saturday morning to Blythmans house at Mansfield road. They had both married Eastwood sisters so they where well respected by everyone. The rent my parents paid was collected by either Cora Eastwood or Daisey Eastwood, the rent was 2/6d prewar to 12 shilling in 1951.

Harry Bletcher.

* September 8th 2007 - I received an email that say's - Re article by Harry Bletcher - Please note some inaccurate information on HMS Thetis, the trials were in Liverpool Bay not off Portsmouth and 99 men were lost not 60 - John Avery.

John also recommends anyone wishing to read a full version of the Thetis incident can find information at www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/thetis/subs.htm