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Dorothy Walker & Betty Downie
Having listened to Mr. Johnson's talk on the "Alcester Waterworks", many happy memories came flooding back of when we lived at "Rock Mill" - Arrow.
My sister Betty and I spent happy hours playing in the Beeches and in the spring - knowing where to look for the first sign of celandines, coltsfoot and white violets. The best of violets would be found around the reservoir. I would be posted "on guard" whilst Betty climbed over the spiked railings to find the best flowers.
I think we all knew the names of the wild flowers and where to find them; that is something we ~ave both passed on to our children and grandchildren, the love of nature.
Often we would be allowed to stand by the door of the Waterworks when Mr. Tolman was working in there - a real treat!
The local roadman was a Mr. Joe Blake. He always kept his wheelbarrow and brooms etc., by the waterworks. Often we talked to him whilst he sat on his upturned barrow having his lunch. I well remember the bottle of cold tea which he always had.
Mr. Barnett was the Verger and Bell Ringer at Holy Trinity church and also the village blacksmith. It was very fascinating to watch him shoeing the horses. I can still hear the ring of the anvil and the smell of burning hoof.
Another delight was Miss Ward's sweet shop, just a little narrow room in her house, which had been the toll house at the bottom of Arrow Lane. Here you would find all sorts of sweets, so tempting for little girls; you could get ten assorted toffees for one penny. Happy days!
We were never bored or at a loss to know what to do with ourselves; there was so much around us and places to explore and life was never dull.
Life was lived at a much slower pace than today, but much more rewarding.