Diss Family History Group

My father worked at the sawmill at the bottom of Waveney Road, off Victoria Road. We lived at 93 Victoria Road. The sawmill used to cut up English home grown timber which Mr. Stevens (the saw mill owner) purchased, some from local houses. There was a large stack of timber in the yard in the form of tree trunks, some long, others short, down to about 8ft in length.

My father’s job during the week was to cut these trees into planks which were 2in to 12in thick. Then they would be stored in a large shed to dry and season. He used a horizontal bench on which the trees were placed, which was propelled through the saw as it cut up the trees. It was drawn by a belt system of pulleys from a stationary oil engine in another building.

When I was about 12 or13 years old my father asked me if I would like a Saturday job down at the mill which I agreed to. On Saturdays if the weather was OK the planks were cut up into posts and rails for fencing and gate posts on a rack bench circular saw with a blade about 3ft across. This was run by a belt from a Burrell steam engine on to pulleys. My job on a Saturday was to look after the steam engine by keeping the fire going for pressure of about 200 lbs in the boiler all day. This was done with wood logs. I also brought planks from the store to the saw, then took timber back to store on a flat cart. All this had to be stacked so air passed through. Many of the planks were cut into posts 3 x 3, 4 x 4, 6 x 6 and 12 x 12, about 6 to 8 or 9ft long for gates and fences. Also 2 or 3 x ½ rails to ten feet long. Nothing from the planks was wasted, scrap cut into firewood logs and sold in bags or sacks. In another workshop there was some woodworking machinery with a circular saw, planning machine and a band saw.

When I started woodwork lessons at school my father taught me how to use them properly. When I required some wood to make something at school I would ask my father for this and then help myself to what I wanted. I could cut the wood and prepare it for my requirement, then take it to school to work with - e.g. coffee table, bedside cabinet, bread board and cutting board.

When the top was taken off the windmill it was made into an area you could walk on with an entrance hatch in the middle and a wall round it about 3ft high. Sometimes I would climb the stairs and ladder onto this roof and watch the trains go past on the railway. When there were aeroplanes flying along the railway at low level sometimes as low as 150ft a bit scary when near the mill top. One I remember was a Supermarine Swift taking photos from the air.

All the machines worked by pulleys and bolts from an oil engine in another building. This had a large fly wheel with a belt attached. This wheel was used to start the engine by spinning by foot and hands. You had to be very careful, this powered all machines in the mill.

After my father finished at the mill he went to work at Jewsons in Diss as a yardman until he retired at 65 years old. He lived until he was 81 years old.

In January 1958 I got married to Eileen Tooke from Taverham and we did a cottage repair at Walcot Green, Diss and lived there until 1960 when we received a new council house at Skelton Road, Diss. In 1978 my wife left me and the two children (girls). I got a divorce but got everything at court so I stayed living there.

Then I married Ivy and she was the best wife a man could have. We had a happy life together until she died in 2002 aged 50.

My wife and I used to go with South Norfolk Band to Holland and Germany, where I sill have lots of friends. We used to help run this Band and raise funds . My wife ran raffles, the tuck shop on Tuesday evenings and raffles at concerts, and I used to transport all the gear and instruments to concerts and also help to set up the Band. My payment was seeing young children come into the Band and grow up good citizens. Sometimes I did a woodwork project for a person which to me was like a hobby and I enjoyed it.

In later years I became a Freemason which I enjoy, raising in rank to become an officer in all degrees to which I belong, which is an enjoyment and I meet many people from other Lodges.

I had a lovely teenage time when I was growing up, all a boy could wish for, a good home and family, never hungry and plenty to occupy my time. I have been very lucky in life, both in health and keeping myself fit but there have also been times when life was not so good but I got through it and came out OK with many experiences and things that have happened. It has been a good life and may there be more to come.