My Association with Ludham Village, Norfolk, England from1946.

Introduction

Ludham Village is located in the county of Norfolk, England, Great Britain about 15 miles from Norwich City and about 8 miles from the North Sea. The earliest record of Ludham is 1016 when King Cnut founded St. Benet’s Abbey. Ludham was the most easterly Royal Air Force (RAF) Airfield during the second world war, created in 1941, with many fighter aircraft such as the Spitfires and Typhoons. HM King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the Base in late January 1943. It was also allocated to the US Air Force but never used by them. Ludham is surrounded by farms and waterways and is a close knit community with a rich history.

Ludham is part of a combination of Rivers, Broads (Lakes) and other waterways called the Norfolk Broads. These are part of the national parks and are used by holiday makers hiring Yachts, Motor Cruisers and smaller Boats.

My association with Ludham has 2 parts both related to my Father, Joseph (Joe) Hogg and my Mother Margaret (Peggy) Hogg. The first part was from 1946 to 1951 when we moved to Ludham from my home town Gateshead-On-Tyne, Co Durham. The second part when my parents moved from Keighley, Yorkshire in 1962 until about 2008 after my mother passed away in 2004 and later my father passed away aged 95.

The following is my own recollection of those times remembering I am now 82 years old and our memories can be a bit blurred at times but I will always have a great affection for Ludham and the people I met. This is story is dedicated to my Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

Part 1 – Ludham 1946 to 1951

A few months after the second World War finished in June 1945 my Father, Mother, Sister 3 years old and I, nearly 5 years old moved to a village in Norfolk called Ludham. My Father who I called ‘Dad’, a Non Ferrous Moulder who helped to build war ships in Gateshead- upon-Tyne in North East England, where my sister and I were born, moved to become a partner in a small Non Ferrous Foundry established as R.O Brooks, in the village of Ludham Norfolk. When we arrived we first lived in a very small house on Staithe Road next to the Churchyard and Cemetery near the centre of the village.

Primary School:

When I was 5 year old in 1946 I went to the Ludham Primary School on School Road near the village centre which is still there exactly as it was except for some modernisation. I remember our Head Master called Mr Bird who I met in the village many years later. These are pictures of me at the Ludham Primary School at the age around 7 years old. I went to school with Tommy Thrower, Jenny Roll, Malcolm and Jill Parker and others I don’t remember but we were also very good friends but a bit rebellious sometimes which led us into trouble with Mr Bird. Later my Sister Audrey who is 18 months younger than me also went to the same school and was also friends with Jill Parker.

Brooks Foundry – My Dad:

The R.O Brooks Foundry was located behind the cottages on Norwich Road. My Dad who was a very skilled Non Ferrous Moulder, joined Russel Brooks in 1946 to expand the business. The image is my Dad (far left) with his Workmates outside the small Foundry.

My Dad liked his pint of Beer in moderation and was a very good dart player. He used to play for both the Kings Arms and Bakers Arms teams. I remember my Dad took me into the pubs for a very short time just to see what it was like when I was around 8 years old.

Manor Farm – Malcolm Parker:

Malcolm Parker was about the same age as me and we went to school together. His Father owned Manor Farm which was on Staithe Road on the corner with Lovers Lane on the way to Cold Harbour. Malcolm and I went everywhere together and got into trouble together as we were both young rebels. I used to go to the Farm quite often as it was on the way when we went Fishing or just mess about at Cold Harbour. They had some black and white Friesian Cows which they used to milk everyday. I remember Malcolm, me and some other boys went out to get Chestnuts to play Conkers. However, to get them we used to throw stones or small bricks to get them off the tree. However one of the small bricks fell on one of the boys head who went off crying and telling us he would tell the policeman. So we all decided to walk round the Marshes so we would not get into trouble. Wrong, when Malcolm and I reached my small house in the evening the local policeman was talking to my Dad. We both got scolded.

One year in a field opposite owned by Malcolm’s Dad was used to erect a big Circus Tent and all the different things and animals that a Circus has. Malcolm and I used to go and watch what they were doing long before the show went on for the Village.

The Manor and Grounds:

We moved from our very small house to a Cottage next to the Stables in the Manor Grounds, on the left hand side of the gravel driveway going towards the Manor House. My Mother (Mum) used to help and look after Mrs Brooks in the Manor House during the day. This was so much better as we had more room and a garden where we grew vegetables and flowers. My Dad made us a small swing that Audrey and I used a lot. We liked to be in the garden when the weather was good. On one occasion my Granddad and Grandma Onions (Mum’s Parents) came for a Holiday and stayed in a small Caravan near our Cottage. My Dad used to help out at times in the grounds and the maintain the small river leading to Womack. I remember one day my Dad and others were trying to ride a Penny Farthing Bicycle in front of the Manor House which was quite funny.

St. Catherine’s Church – Choir

St Catherine’s Church is very large for a small village like Ludham built in the 14th Century but a beautiful example of architecture and construction. My Dad and I were at one time in the Church Choir. My Dad was a very good Tenor and I was a boy Soprano. We used to attend Choir practice together. The Church has 5 Bells and I liked to watch the Bell Ringers before the Sunday Morning Service. I also liked the Harvest Festival Time and Service.

Harvest Time:

Harvesting was around mid September and the Farmers needed to get their grain harvested as quickly as possible. In the late 1940’s and 1950’s harvesting involved quite a bit of manpower as the Harvester Machines were quite primitive compared to the ones today, so men like my Dad used to help. The boys like Malcolm, Tommy and I would go to the fields being harvested and try to get any Rabbits with our hefty sticks as they ran out of the crop being cut.

My Dad had an allotment on the left hand side of Norwich Road on the way to Rolls Garage. I used to help my Dad as we grew lots of vegetables like Runner Beans, Peas, Cabbage, Cauliflower and Potatoes.

Fishing – My Passion

Almost from the day we moved to Ludham in 1946 I wanted to go fishing with my Dad. He taught me how to fish and how to put the tackle together. The nearest place was Womack Staithe as we could walk there from our house. My Dad and I also went to Cold Harbour River Thurne, Hunters Yard and many other places. As I grew older I used to go to Womack by myself at times at 4am before the sun came up passed the Barnes and the Maltings on Horsefen Rd on my bicycle.

My Dad and I used to get our fishing tackle and rods from the local Albert Knight’s saddlers shop. He was well known for the tall tales he told to tourists but he was very good to the young boys in the village sometimes giving us some fishing hooks and line free. He also used to give us some good advice about where to fish and what sort of fish that were there. We used to catch Bream, Perch, Roach, Eels and other types.

Beginning of the end of my first association with Ludham:

In early 1951 my Dad was offered a very good job at a Non Ferrous Foundry in Norwich which he wanted to take. The problem was he had to get a train from Wroxham 7 miles away early in the morning to Norwich and he only had his bicycle. He decided to accept the job in Norwich and he would bike to and from Wroxham every day whatever the weather. That’s what he did for a few months but it was very tiring for him. He decided that the only way was to leave Ludham and move to Norwich. All of us including my Dad loved living in Ludham as our family had many friends but Dad could not continue traveling every day. I was 10 years old and very sad to say goodbye to my friends but we could always pay a visit to Ludham at a later date which we did.

Part 2 – Ludham 1969 – 2005

In 1969 my Mum and Dad decided to move back to Ludham. They were able to move into 5, School Close near the centre of Ludham. I’m sure that made them very happy being amongst old friends again and being back in the countryside and having a garden.

During the 1970’s

I was married and had a Son called Kevin. We visited Ludham very frequently as I was stationed at RAF Cosford, Shropshire, England, at that time. One of our family traditions was that the guys went for a beer on a Sunday about 12 o’clock and the ladies especially my Mum would cook Sunday dinner with Yorkshire puddings for us returning at about 1.30pm. My Dad and I always went out together at the Kings Arms in Ludham or the Dog Inn near Ludham Bridge or other local pubs near Ludham. We used to play Darts or Dominoes with friends. Although my Dad only had one eye he was still a good Darts player.

I was posted to RAF Cosford in April 1969 as a RAF Technical Instructor until May 1975 therefore I was able to visit my Mum and Dad quite often. I believe during this time but I’m not sure of the dates I lived in Ludham with my family for about 12 months at a bungalow Willow Way shown on the image below. This gave me the opportunity to be near Mum and Dad and allowed us to go to many places surrounding Ludham. I remember I had a Lassie Collie dog called Jamie who was about 9 years old in 1975. My Mum and Dad loved Jamie.

In July 1975 I was posted RAF Wildenwrath West Germany on the Harrier (Jump Jet) Force and my family followed. As Jamie could not go Mum and Dad wanted to look after him. Once again I was outside the country for another 4 years but I did manage to go back to Ludham once or twice during that time. Mum and Dad used to take Jamie to Cold Harbour on occasions. However, sadly Jamie died before I came back to the UK.

Whilst in RAF Germany in June 1978 with the Harrier Force I was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) by Her Majesty The Queen, the highest peace time honour I could be awarded. This made Mum and Dad very happy and on my return to Ludham in July 1979 we had a great celebration.

During the 1980’s

The 1980’s was a momentous period as I was posted to RAF Cottesmore, Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment ( UK, Germany and Italy) (TTTE) in charge of the new Tornado Aircraft Acceptance Team which the RAF received from British Aerospace in July 1980. This was a very busy time for me but we still visited Mum and Dad in Ludham quite often. I was very honoured to receive a certificate from the TTTE Commanders of all three countries. Also in April 1983 I was promoted to Flight Sergeant to take up a new post. Again my Dad and I had a few beers to celebrate on both occasions in and around Ludham.

My new role in April 1983 was to be the Officer-In-Charge of the Harrier Aircraft Ground Servicing School at RAF Wittering. This was a very important position for me but I was still in the UK so our visits to Ludham continued on occasions.

In 1985 I was posted to RAF Laarbruch in West Germany in charge of a large team preparing the Tornado Aircraft in case of war with the USSR which was quite tense at this time. Once again I was abroad and it was difficult to make it back to Ludham to see my Mum and Dad. After a very difficult RAF Germany military exercise in 1986 in which for some reason I was selected to be tested to the maximum for 48 hours non stop with my team, I felt perhaps it was time for a change whilst I was only 45 years old. In July 1986 I resigned from the RAF although I was to be promoted to Warrant Officer and joined British Aerospace in Warton Lancashire. This meant I could visit Ludham more often.

In August 1988 I started my own Company, Computerised Training Systems Ltd (CTS) in Scunthorpe Lincolnshire. The company name was in fact chosen by my Dad as he asked me what we did, I replied Computerised Training, so he said just call it that. This meant I was extremely busy but I still visited Ludham on a regular basis as it was reasonably near. Little did I know the company would last for 33 years.

During the 1990’s

This period was both challenging and stressful but I decided to expand into the Far East and to that end I exhibited at Asian Aerospace 92 which was a great success as I was able to secure a contract with Singapore Airlines and later the Singapore Ministry of Defence. For that reason I spent quite along time traveling back and forth to Singapore. This put a huge strain on my personal life resulting in my wife and I parting. However we both still visited my Mum and Dad in Ludham when we could.

Over the following years CTS expanded both in the UK and Singapore, I therefore decided to split the company CTS in the UK and CTS in Singapore. I therefore lived in Singapore from 1997 on a full time basis.

During the 2000’s

This period was both very happy and very very sad. In 2000 I was married in Singapore to a Malaysian and in late November one month early my daughter Natalie was born. My Mum and Dad were very pleased to be Grandparents again. CTS in Singapore was doing well so we planned to go to Ludham at Christmas 2001 to let Mum and Dad see there 1 year old granddaughter. As it happened it was snowing in Ludham which was nice for Christmas. We met up with the family including my sister Audrey not far from Ludham. We visited Tommy and his wife at their home and went to the Kings Arms. These are some of the images of our visit which was very enjoyable for all of us.

Natalie my daughter was 3 years old now so we decided to go to Ludham to see Mum and Dad in August 2003. My sister in law also joined us. As it happened the weather was very good. These are some of the images of our visit.

This image was taken as we were leaving 5 School Close Ludham to return to Singapore in 2003. It is very special as it is the last time I will see my Mum and Dad together.

During 2003 the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) disease broke out in Singapore. After we returned from Ludham to Singapore this had a major impact on my CTS company as all government funds were directed at fighting SARS. As it happened CTS UK wanted to provide me with work initially to do in Singapore. However, a big design task need to be done in the UK in 2004. Then things turned even worse.

I returned to Ludham on the 12th December 2004 as my Mum had a Stroke and was in Hospital in Norwich. On the 23rd December at 5am my Mum passed away. I was with my Dad at 5 School Close Ludham and broke the news to him. He was of course heartbroken as they had been together more than 60 years. Also my wife’s Father passed away in Malaysia only 5 days later on the 28th December 2004, so both of us were very upset.

I decided to stay in the UK and work with my Son on the UK’s projects. I acquired a small bungalow in Messingham near Scunthorpe as my wife and daughter would join me in February 2005. For the next few months we used to visit my Dad in Ludham but during this time my Dad decided to move from 5 School Close to a Nursing Home near to my Sisters house in Caister On Sea. I returned to Singapore and Malaysia regenerating my company CTS which lasted until December 2021 when I retired aged 80.

After this I never went back to Ludham which is always synonymous with my Mum and Dad. My Dad has also passed away but he and my Mum will always be in my thoughts as will Ludham because they are so closely related. Best Wishes to those I knew in Ludham who are still with us.

Thank you for taking the time to read this story.