Burton Latimer - Wars: Proposed evacuation to Rectory

Article from the Northants Evening Telegraph 13 January 1939

RECTOR'S APPREHENSION AT PROPOSED ARRIVAL OF EVACUEES

Rev R W Sharpley

BACHELOR RECTOR TOLD TO BE PREPARED FOR TWENTY REFUGEE CHILDREN

LADIES OF BURTON LATIMER OFFERED TO HELP HIM OUT

Behind a brief reference in Burton Latimer Magazine recently, lies the story of how a country Rector, a bachelor, is faced with the problem of accommodating and catering for 20 evacuated children in the event of another crisis.

He is the Rector of Burton Latimer, the Rev R W Sharpley who is a little over 40 years of age.

He wrote in St Mary's Parish Magazine:

"I am most grateful to all who helped a helpless bachelor to prepare for the coming of 20 evacuee children which a generous Council allotted to me; nevertheless my relief was great when my large family failed to arrive."

Earlier in his magazine "editorial" the Rector stated:

"The crisis made much work for A.R.P. helpers, billetting officers and others who volunteered to help our Urban Council in their heavy task; let us remember their work with gratitude."

COOKING PROBLEM

Those who "helped the helpless bachelor" were women members of the congregation who were prepared to "do" for the 20 children when they arrived.

"Fancy a bachelor like me being faced with the task of cooking 20 dinners," he said to a "Kettering Leader" reporter last nigiht. "Unaided, it would be an impossible task for us here, of course. My staff consists of only a housekeeper and caretaker. They are an elderly man and wife.

"The cooking difficulty was the worst, and when we were told in September that we could expect the children to arrive by any train I arranged with a bakehouse to cook the meals every day.

"The baker's wife offered to buy the food and prepare it and I should have paid her for the finished dinners."

WANTED BEDS FOR ALL

The Rectory at Burton Latimer has 10 bedrooms. As a bachelor, Mr Sharpley requires only limited accommodation and no more than 4 of the bedrooms are furnished.

"I feel that if a smaller number of children had been allocated to the Rectory," said the Rector, "they could have been made comfortable with beds. I should not like children to sleep on the floor here.

"I have a number of paliases used for Scout and choir camps and I had them filled with straw in readiness.

"I also planned to borrow the crockery and knives and forks used for Church functions. But think of the washing up!"

The notice received from Burton Latimer Council by the Rector read:

"The number of persons to be billited in your house is 20, and will you please hold yourself in readiness to receive this number at any time of the day or night."

And in spite of all the Rev R W Sharpley is not a critic of the local authority, but of the Government, whose A.R.P. billeting plans, he thinks should be revised to take note of certain individual circumstances.

"TIMES" LETTER

In a letter to "The Times" yesterday the Rector wrote:

"The news that billeting is to be voluntary can give greater relief to none than a helpless bachelor living alone, save for a staff commensurate with his simple needs who on September 28th last received a terrifying official notice - "Please hold yourself in readiness to receive . . . at any time of the day or night . . . 20 children."