What is your involvement with Friends of St Peter’s?

I’m a member of the Friends Events Team and we plan and run fund-raising events such as quizzes, BBQs and of course our monthly Saturday markets. I regularly bake for the Saturday markets and cook for the village Hall events. Since we started these events, we have raised nearly £50,000. Of course, being married to Terry who is managing the project I get involved vicariously almost every day!

Have you always lived in Forncett?

No, but I have been here for nearly 30 years, since 1996. I became head teacher at Tacolneston Primary School in 1990, but was living in Norwich at the time, so moving nearer to the school seemed to make sense. I fell in love with Chestnut Cottage, moved to Forncett and haven’t looked back! We’re lucky to have a big enough garden for us to keep chickens and a goose.  The chickens are very good at supplying us with eggs which are much needed for the baking I do for the Friends Saturday markets!

And what brought you to Norfolk?

That’s a long story! I was actually born in Dundee, lived in Leeds for a short time before being adopted by my parents who moved to Hampton in West London. When I left school, I decided I wanted to become a teacher and studied at the Church of England Teacher Training College in Fishponds, Bristol.

While studying we had a trip to Coventry Cathedral. My friend Bridget and I decided we’d apply for jobs in Coventry and we were both successful so that’s where I started my teaching career in 1964 at Bell Green School. Would you believe my monthly first pay check, which I’ve still got, was for £41 6s 3d! The school was situated in part of community centre in an area of newly built flats and totally unsuitable as a school, with large sliding windows and small rooms where the desks were wall to wall with very little space to move around.

As is often the case, it was love that prompted my move to Norfolk when my first husband Michael got a job at Keswick Hall.

And what about you – did you continue teaching?

Yes, I got a job at Trowse County Primary School. When Michael and I separated I was able to buy my first house because in those days teachers were offered the chance to get 100% mortgages. I took in student lodgers to help pay the mortgage. It was a busy time because I also volunteered with the Samaritans. My next job was as deputy head of the newly built Hethersett Primary School. When I was interviewed for the job, the school was just a circle of bricks in a field! It was officially opened by Mrs Thatcher when she was Minister for Education. I remember the day very well with protesters outside the school shouting “Margaret Thatcher Milk Snatcher” but she was very professional and also really good with the children. I was asked to get publicity for the school. My idea was to keep pet guinea pigs in the class, which was unusual at the time. It did get a lot of attention and led me to giving a talk about it at How Hill.

By now I was in a new relationship and had two children, which meant I had to give up teaching because in those days there was no maternity leave. When the children were old enough, I returned to teaching, this time at Angel Road First School in Norwich. It wasn’t long before I was encouraged to apply for a headship and I really liked the idea of running a small village school, so that’s how I came to be head of Tacolneston First School. I was there from 1990 to 2007 and under my headship it grew to become a Primary School.

Did you enjoy your time there?

I have many fond memories, not least meeting my wonderful husband, Terry. The school needed rebuilding and the architect appointed to manage the project was Terry who despite my initial impatience, always stayed calm with a warm smile on his face! I had met the children’s author James Mayhew when I was living in Norwich and he became a regular visitor to the school delighting the children with his drawings and story-telling. He’s now a lifelong friend whose partner Toto cooked wonderful Spanish tapas for my 80^th birthday last year.

I believe you’ve also got a passion for dancing?

Yes! I’ve had a lifelong love of dance going to ballet, tap, modern and National dance classes till I went to college. So, when I was out of teaching after my second daughter was born, I joined a contemporary dance class at the Crome Centre. This was a brilliant time as we met weekly and became a really good group, doing performances at the Cathedral, St Andrews Hall and other venues plus the weekly classes. This led to many lifelong friendships which add so much joy and delight to life. 

Wow, what an interesting life story you have! And thank you so much for all you do for the Friends of St Peter’s!

Hello Mary. When did you move to Forncett? 

Ainslie and I moved here from London in 2007. Ainslie had been Head of Sculpture at Kingston University, but following retirement wanted more space to pursue his passion as an artist and sculptor. We wanted somewhere in the country, well connected to London. We had friends in Norwich, found Riverside Farm and it was an easy decision to make.  

Mary Yule. Photo: Phil Whiscombe

But you were involved in the art world too Mary, weren’t you?  

Yes, I’d always had an interest in art, but originally did a BA in social studies at Manchester University, going on to be a psychiatric social worker working with children and families. It was hard work at the best of times and the political climate at the time didn’t help so eventually I burnt out. It gave me the impetus to follow my interest in art and I took a part-time degree in Art History at Birkbeck College, followed by an MA at the Courtauld Institute. 

And that led to a career in art? 

Yes, I starting working for The Art Fund, a wonderful charity which connects people, museums and art. Initially I worked as an archivist and cataloguer and ultimately as Assistant Director. I also worked after retirement as a lecturer for The Arts Society (formerly NADFAS) mainly talking about sculpture in public places. I’ve been lucky enough to give talks all over the UK, and to visit sculpture parks throughout Europe and the USA. 

And you’ve been involved with the Friends of St Peter’s since the start. 

Yes. When the 2018 quinquennial report highlighted the dire condition of St Peter’s, the churchwarden Gilly Barnes and I felt that something had to be done. Together with others we set up the Friends of St Peter’s and at the Easter service in 2019 gave out flyers outlining what was needed and what the Friends were hoping to achieve. It’s been hard work, but the thing that keeps us going is the wonderful support from the local community and from grant givers. We are now in the process of submitting our major bid to the National Heritage Lottery Fund for money to carry out the crucial repairs - wish us luck!

What drew you to get involved? 

I come from Durham and seven years of walking to and from school in the shadow of Durham Cathedral was a formative experience. It has always fascinated me – the thought of how many people had been there over the centuries, their stories, their triumphs and tragedies.  And I feel just the same about St Peter’s – its so much more than simply a beautiful building. 

Mary, we are so very grateful for all the work you have done in driving forward the Friends and for all the money you have helped raise. Thank you!

Since this interview Mary has stood down from the Committees as she's in the process of moving to be nearer family. Also since this interview we have received the National Lottery Heritage Fundinggrant - Read about it here 

We think Ethel is Forncett's oldest resident. Ethel is well known for many reasons, some of them of course being that she is well-loved, charming, wise and has been involved with village life for decades. She is also mum to Andrew, with whom she lives opposite the school, and David and Jill. Jill lives just along the road.

Ethel on her 90th Birthday   Photo: Su Leavesley

Ethel was born in 1928 (she told me to 'do the maths!') So at 94 she has many memories which reach back to a world which was very different to what we know today. Ethel spent her young life, until her marriage, in Great Moulton, moving to Forncett in 1953. She was the eldest of 5 and grew up on a farm. Her father, she told me, was 'incredibly kind, but strict.' I thought that sounded a perfect combination. Ethel talked to me of a child's world of great freedom and hard work. If something was needed around the farm, then the family would bring ingenuity to bear on whatever materials were lying about and make it themselves. Dad was particularly practical, able to extend the home as the family increased. Families were larger then, 5 children was not thought of as unusual. The village school took pupils from 5 years until they were 14 and the building still stands in Moulton, although these days it is no longer a school.

There were always jobs to be done on the farm, and children would help as soon as they were able; but the countryside was idyllic - these were the days of flower meadows, even the road verges and banks had a profusion of sweet scented wild flowers. It was only necessary to cut the hay meadows just before harvest. There was very little traffic, most people cycled or caught the bus. Ethel's father did have a car however and would regularly take produce to Norwich, returning with fresh orders from shops and boarding houses. Harvest would have been one of the most important times in the farming calendar and would not have looked substantially different when Ethel was young to harvest hundreds of years ago. The world of farming used the power of horses, supremely important on the land. Also, many hands were needed for harvest, nobody would have been idle. Her father however was an early pioneer, as he had a tractor, and would help other local farmers.

When Ethel did get married, it was on the day of the Cup Final, 1953. Ethel's husband was a keen football fan, as was the Reverend Bridges, who announced that he would conduct the marriage on that day on condition there was a radio at the reception! I asked Ethel if her husband minded missing the match. "Well, she said, he was a devoted fan, but..........." She stopped and smiled. It was clear that he was more devoted to his young bride-to-be.

Later, Ethel worked in the Post Office. She would take telegrams and cycle regularly to Thorpe Abbott with the wages of American Airmen. I asked her about her memories of World War 2 and she said that it was possible on certain nights to see a line of German bombers on their way to Norwich following the river, or railway line. She said that there was a period of 3 nights when the sound and flashes of explosions in Norwich were particularly severe. Italian prisoners of war would be seconded to help on farms and Ethel recalled that her father insisted that their own Italian prisoner eat with the family; "for", he said, "I would like to think that if my son were a prisoner in a foreign land, that is how he would be treated."

Later, Ethel worked for many many years at Forncett School, as secretary, sometimes doubling as dinner lady and pitching in generally while bringing up her own family. She concluded her reminiscences, after a moment's reflection, by saying, "It has been a joyful life."

We now meet Ally Rae, one of the Friends of St Peter’s committee.

Photo: J Rae

 Hello Ally, how did you get involved in our campaign?

I’ve had a deep interest in history and conservation ever since I did a degree in Fine Art at Reading University in the ‘70s. We studied many things including painting, print making, sculpture and art history. For my final year project, I researched gothic sculpture which involved visiting churches and cathedrals around the country.

And did this interest continue after you graduated?

Yes! While I was still a student I volunteered as a conservator at Reading Museum. Conservation mixes art and science and it really appealed to me. Once I graduated, I got a job as a conservator at The British Museum focussing on organic artefacts such as wood and textiles. I specialised in feathers which play a really important part in every culture around the world.

How did you end up in Forncett?

I’d met my partner Doug and we decided we’d like to live further from London so in 2006 I took the plunge, went freelance and we moved to Forncett. I worked for a number of organisations including Norwich Castle Museum and the National Trust until I retired a couple of years ago. We now live in Ashwellthorpe, but still have strong links to Forncett and its wonderful community.

 What is your involvement in Friends of St Peter’s?

I’m deputy chair of the main committee and chair of the publicity sub-committee. Publicity is so important, because we need support for St Peter’s from near and far. There’s a lot of work to be done, but I feel really optimistic that we’re making progress. The more I learn about St Peter’s, the more fascinating it becomes and the more important it is to secure its future.

 Thank you Ally – your experience, passion and skills have helped us so much already!

Ally was Deputy Chair of the FoSP committee from October 2019- October 2023 and chaired the Publicity sub-committee until October 2023. She was Secretary to the Project Steering Group until October 2023 when changes in personal circumstances meant she needed to step back. She helps with aspects of campaign publicity including social media.