Local Village Notes:-
Dr Wood had a keen
interest in the village and bequeathed many gifts, some of them
still in use today.
Mrs Phyllis Frost was the housekeeper at Parsonage Hall during
the mid 1920 to the 1930`s
(acknowledgment to Janet Brunswick, daughter)
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Dr Wood with his
Daschund (dog) which he named "Hitler" |
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Later Mrs Dorothy
Eaves took over as Housekeeper.
Dr Wood presented her with this 1947 signed copy of his book
"Cobbers"
>>>>> see right
Acknowledgment to Mrs Jean Howe for the image |
Dr Wood was noted
for his poor eyesight by the local residents, but few cannot have
known the full facts. He was born with congenital cataracts in
both eyes. In plain terms his right eye was blind except that
he could see flashes of colours and tell light from dark. His
left eye with powerful lens gave him about one-tenth normal vision.
In the late 1800`s doctors could offer him no treatment whatsoever.
During the war he
was the Commanding Officer of the
Home Guard. His eye sight was so poor he used to get his adjutant
to read the Standing Orders and letters.
Dr and Mrs.Wood presented the village with an
up-to-date fire engine and appliances in order to protect
the village during WW11.
Together
with Col Probert, Mr and Mrs Wood were instrumental in purchasing
land known as Vicarage Field for the community, during the mid
1940`s. Together with the existing Nayland Road Recreation Ground
this would make a combined sports field of some 5.5 acres.
The purchase of the land was still on the agenda of the Parish
Council during 1945, so it must have been sometime after that
date.
The portion of land known as Vicarage Field is now the site of
the Bures Cricket Pitch.
During the 1953 Coronation Celebrations the Sports Field was then
known as the "St Osyth Playing Fields". (see St
Osyth Wood page)
During
the late 1940`s Dr Thomas Wood donated a sum of money to the village
for the erection of a new hall, to replace the dilapidated Victory
Hall.
Unfortunately he died in 1950, before the project got under way,
but his wife kindly carried on with the legacy.
Mrs Wood opened the Village Hall in 1961, a plaque commemorating
this event still stands inside the main entrance doors.
During
1949, Thomas and St Osyth opened the Wormingford Village Hall.
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Alfred Hume was his
chauffeur, gardener and general handyman. Alfred did not
live at the Hall but travelled to work each day from the
village. When Thomas dies Mrs Wood asked Alfred if you would
move into Parsonage Hall as she couldn't manage this large
house on her own. Unfortunately Alfred has long since passed
away, but he leaves two surviving sons one living at Sutton
Coldfield and the other at Gt Cornard.
Left:-
Mrs Phyliss Frost and
Alfred Hume by the horse.
Arthur Bitten who
previously worked at the Maltings, commenced working for
Dr Wood on 19th July 1947. He was only assurred of work
until Christmas of 1947 then the situation would be reviewed.
However, this date passed and he was still employed at least
until July 1954 according to his diaries.
Arthur wrote in his diary for the 19th Nov 1950:- Gov
died at 10.00am, Cremated on the 23rd
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|
Thomas Wood, (front)
talking to farm workers |
He excelled organising local events such as the 1944 Carol Concert
in the
Victory Hall, where he invited the Americans from the Wormingford
Air Base which attended with great enthusiasm. Residents can still
recall the sound of "Silent Night" echoing down Nayland
Road.
He also organised the Carols Concerts each year at the Victory
Hall.
The initial Bures
Scouts Group existed from 1910 to 1925, then from 1923 to 1925.
The person responsible for
re-starting the Scout Group after WW2 had ended was Dr Thomas
Wood.
He attended the Sudbury & District Association in 1950 and
after a meeting with the Vicar decided to start a Scout Group
in the village. The Scout Troop actually re-started in 1953 by
the Reverend Cyril Sharp and the Wolf Cub Pack in 1952 by Mrs
Mary Hynard
He
was the president of the Bures British Legion and a member of
the Parish Council for many years, always taking a great interest
in the appearance of the village
He was a generous subscriber to any useful local scheme, such
as presenting a new flag of St. George to St Mary`s church.
The National
Portrait Gallery in London has a large photographic display
of Dr Wood taken circa 1935.
There appears to be no family connection with other "Wood"
composers such as "Henry Wood" who was famous for having
been the conductor of the Promenade Concert now called the BBC
Proms.
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Conveyance records seem to
indicate when St Osyth`s father,Thomas Eustace Smith died
in 1936 the Woods inherited some of his property namely:-
a piece of land with three cottages (formerly five tenements)
thereon, known as the Old
Workhouse, situate next to the Queen's [Head] Inn in Bures
Road, Wormingford, in occupations of [blank] Cook, Farnham
Smith and Mrs. Tilley.
Coincidentally, the Workhouse was closed one year later in
1937
Ref:-http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/%5CViewCatalogue.asp?ID=907644 |
Hymns associated
with St Osyth
`O Son of Man,
our hero strong and tender` text written by Sir Frank Fletcher
(c. 1924).
Included in the "Book of Common Praise"
Music by Thomas Wood with the tune name "St Osyth"
Ref:-http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/BoCP1938/641
========================================
`This Is the Day When Light Was First Created` text written
by Frederik Herman Kaan (c.1929)
Included in the "The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church
of Canada and the United Church of Canada"
Music by Thomas Wood with the tune name "St Osyth School"
Ref:-http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/HBAC1971/375
=============================================
Other hymns which
appears also has the tune St Osyth associated with it include:-
Father, we come, with youth and vigor pressing,
gladly to serve, our loyalty to own;
Words: Edith Clayton,
1922
Music by Thomas Wood with the tune name "St Osyth"
Ref:- http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/f/f120.html
O Son of God,
our Captain of salvation,
thyself by suffering schooled to human grief,
Words John Elleton
Music by Thomas Wood with the tune name "St Osyth"
Ref:- http://hymnal.oremus.org/hwiki/index.php/O_Son_of_God%2C_our_Captain_of_Salvation
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The composer Bernard
Barrell wrote:
....................................................The masterly
St. Osyth appeared in 1925 - its beautifully planned
climax is thrown away for the want of a slight adjustment to avoid
faulty accentuation in A.F. Baylys dignified verses (no.
78 in 100 HFT) - Parrys beautiful Intercessor
would fit perfectly, but St. Osyth must rank among
the finest unison tunes ever.
Ref:-http://www.church-music.org.uk/articles/bernard.htm
Updated 03/02/2017