Tag Archives: Sibsey

God’s Acre

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God's Acre

God’s Acre

 

When we visited the church at Sibsey, we noticed a sign about the God’s Acre Project. It seems to be a nature conservation project which manages churchyards for wildlife, in addition to their primary purpose of containing graves.

It seems like a good idea, and after being developed in Lincolnshire has been adopted by some Kent churches too.

It’s difficult to see a downside to the idea, as many churchyards are, to be fair, not kept in a manicured condition. It seems sensible to make a virtue of this and help develop the wildlife potential of the area.

Here are some pictures of the spring flowers at Sibsey. I note that they have nest boxes up too, as they have a number of mature trees, including an avenue of limes. 

Winter Aconites – Sibsey
Primrose
Primrose

The stump of cross is, it seems, a Grade 2 listed and a Scheduled Monument. I know we value our old bits and pieces, but this seems over the top for a bit of broken cross. If it was that important they should have looked after it better.

To be honest with you, I’d rather see some of the gravestones scheduled and looked after, rather than a bit of stone which looks tough enough to look after itself.

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Remains of the Churchyard Cross

 

Lime Avenue
Cyclamen leaves
Snowdrops

It was just a flying visit on Wednesday, to give me a start on the research for The Talk, as I am beginning to think of it. There is quite a lot more to see, and I’m sure a few leaves on the trees will encourage avian activity around the nest boxes.

More from Sibsey

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I wanted a look at the church and war memorial at Sibsey because I have a medallion awarded to a Sibsey man for his part in the Great War – normally called a tribute medal. It’s just over an inch high and I always thought it was a watch fob, but I’ve recently seen one pictured and it should have a bar and pin, the bar bearing the words “Sibsey Boys Fund Great War Souvenir”. Research doesn’t always turnn up the things you want. Corporal Good seems to have survived the war, as he doesn’t appear on the war memorial.

Gift from Sibsey 1918
Gift from Sibsey 1918 – Cpl S. Good

According to the Boston Guardian 22 January 1916, Corporal S. Good of the RAMC had just spent a week on leave with his parents, Mr and Mrs F Good  of Sibsey. I used this information to check the census – no sign of him in 1911, but he was listed in 1891 – Samuel Good.

I haven’t been able to pick him up on the military records, which is annoying, but I did pick him up on the 1939 Roll, the one that was used for ID Cards and rationing. As the 1931 Census results were destroyed in the Blitz and the 1941 Census was postponed, the 1939 list is quite important.

In 1939 he was the landlord of the Britannia Inn, Church St, Boston. It is now “Boston’s premier fun bar”. Those words, to be honest, appear to be like a glimpse into hell.

Searching newspapers on-line for the pub name I found that his wife had died in 1942, that they had been married 15 years and that they had one daughter, who went to Boston High School. He was an ex-serviceman, holder of the Mons Star and two of his brothers had died as a result of being gassed in the previous war.

I have found that he set fire to his curtains when he used petrol in an attempt to light his fire and that he was summonsed for two blackout offences during the war, which is ironic when you consider that he was an Air Raid Warden.

There’s still a lot more to find, but I’ve managed to rough out a good part of his life, which will be appearing as part of my talk at the Numismatic Society. There is, however, quite a lot more to do.

 

A Short Dull Post

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If my counting is correct, this post keeps things on target It was a long day yesterday and I didn’t post in the evening, but I had a some posts in hand, which has enabled me to keep on target and reflect on the value of advance planning.

I disgraced myself in the morning by getting Julia to the doctor three minutes late. I thought the appointment was for 8.10 when it was actually for 7.50. In everyday speech that is ten to eight and ten past eight – an easy mistake to make if you aren’t listening to your wife as intently as you should be. Or as intently as she says I should be. Her opinion is that I only listen to her if she talks about coins, medals or food.

This is true – I do only listen when she’s talking about interesting things. Fortunately I didn’t say this aloud or I may have needed a doctor too.

We went to Swineshead and Sibsey after the appointment, two villages in the Lincolnshire Fens. The Fens were not at their best, with it being a generally dull and depressing day. On a bright day, with the famously large skies of the Fenlands (no hills to block the view) and lots of fluffy cloud you can’t beat the Fens. On a grey day there isn’t much to recommend them.

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Sibsey War Memorial

The afternoon improved when we dropped down to Peterborough for tea and cake with my father to celebrate his 91st birthday. We were a few days early but it was close enough. I didn’t even mind being beaten at dominoes by Julia. Let’s face it, there is nothing that cake can’t improve. Apart from diabetes.

The snowdrops are starting to show, tempting me into thinking winter is over. In fact, as I know from experience, the worst is yet to come, though we have been remarkably fortunate this year.

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Snowdrops at Sibsey