Harry's family moved to Rushden 1942/43 as his father was working at Chelveston Aerodrome. Also brother Jim married a Rushden girl, Pauline Dunmore. Have not found a date when the Grahams moved in with Arthur William Osborne, a recluse. Mother looked after him until he died 17th September 1943, aged 58.

Harry and a lady visitor from Seaham Harbour, Durham where the Graham family came from - at the gates of "Peacehaven" in 1943

Mr Osborne owned riding stables opposite No. 316. All the Graham boys helped out there. Michael remembers a big shire was called Captain, a ginger hunter called Biscuit on which he sat when ploughing a field with Mr. Osborne, and a pony called Paddy.

When the Graham family moved in Mr Osborne had piles of papers and stuff everywhere. He owned riding stables opposite "Peacehaven" and the Graham boys helped to look after them. Michael remembers a Shire named Captain and Hunter named Biscuit. Michael ploughed fields owned by Mr. Osborne. Eastfields Farm was owned then by the Cook family.

The farm was owned by Peggy Strickland when Fred Carr and Harry's brother brother Matthew managed the farm. Matthew married Fred's daughter Dinah. At a later date Matthew Graham bought the farm (7 acres) and also "Peacehaven". Mrs Strickland owned a shop on the High Causeway Rushden where Dinah worked for a time.

No. 316 was used as a dairy and was built facing East. The scullery on the left as you walked into house down a step was originally the dairy. Mr Osborne stored cow cake in the scullery, and the Graham boys dug this out. The big kitchen/living room had a black range on which Mother baked large quantities of bread, stotty cakes etc. for the family. They sat round a large table to eat which was also used to play cards on a Sunday afternoon when all the family gathered there. It was a mammoth task getting tea for everyone.

This room led into a sitting room. (When Mother was dying from cancer the staff from Wills’ Dress Shop gave her a television which was in this room.) Leading off this was the "front" room where Mr. Osborne had lived when he was looked after by Mrs Graham. The lavatory was outside, serviced by a cess pit.

c1950 Harry with Megan in the orchard and a chicken coop. The family kept pigs, ducks and chickens. Michael used to breed rabbits for sale, Brother Matthew helped with this - he worked at Eastfields Farm and eventually owned it.

In about 1950 a lodger moved into this room, a Miss Moseley. She was a lady who Mother met on a train and invited her to move from London to Rushden. She actually outlived Mother. Mother did the washing in an outhouse. Harry lit the boiler with sticks and coal on a Monday morning before he went to work. It took Mother all day to do the washing and all Tuesday to iron it.

There were two wells which were used in the early days until water pipes were laid.

Mr Osborne stored many books in sheds. The books were about animals and as the pages were opened pictures stood up, but unfortunately these got damp so subsequently were thrown away. Gramophones were also in the shed.

The Harbour family owned the land which backed up to 316 behind the Anniwell's property. There was talk of a stream. [Mrs Parker at 306 told me in the 1970s, about a stream with watercress being behind her property. KC]

The bungalows in Newton Road in 1953

Mr Osborne owned many bungalows in Newton Road and some in Avenue Road. The Graham family collected the rent for him, and later for his sister Mrs Dunbar (Florence Osborne).

The orchard land at 316 was vast and went nearly to Avenue Road.

Mother was a member of Newton Bromswold WI and Church Mother's Union. St. Mary's had a "plant" in Avenue Road which was a converted Nissen Hut. Mother attended this and St. Mary's Church Rushden. She went to the Royal Albert Hall for a WI event. Father's favourite pub was at Newton Bromswold. [The Swan]

No cars much in the late forties and fifties so the bus was well used. Quite a few members of the family used it on a Sunday. Left Rushden 2pm ish and Newton Road 6pm ish. The family thought nothing of walking to and from Rushden. Cycles were also used.

Court Estate Players were very good and Harry donated some of his Navy uniform to them. Peter Whelan ran this.

The Graham family sold fruit from the orchard and also daffodils. Always plenty of work to do around the place.

Harry Graham MBE