Another memory

Canon John P BeaumontVicar of Finedon

1970-96 After growing up in Huddersfield and doing my National Service in the RAF I attended Leeds University studying philosophy. I then trained at the Ministry of The College of the Resurrection which is in Muirfield.

I married my wife Alison on June 6th 1959 in Leeds whilst I was a curate and she was a doctor at Leeds General Infirmary.

My next position was Priest in Charge and subsequently first vicar of St Andrew’s in Wellingborough. We were there from 1960 to 1970. I was Part Time Chaplain at Wellingborough Borstal from its opening in 1964 until leaving in 1970.

Our first child Catherine (Kate) was born in 1961 and Andrew in 1963. Catherine is now a Physicist in Computer Software and Andrew is now a Headmaster in London.

I moved on to be the vicar here in April 1970 at the invitation of Bishop of Eastaugh of Peterborough. We lived here in Finedon until Nov 1996. I first of all met the then Churchwarden Harold Bailey and Bill Bollard.
I remember then that we moved to the lovely large vicarage of 1688. Alison did a lot of gardening. We were much helped by Albert Horne in the enormous garden.

My wife, a Paediatrician, worked as a GP in Wellingborough and later worked in Community Medicine. My mother Blanche and father Harold lived in the Bede House in the Vicarage. Father died in 1976 aged 73 and mother died in 1989. I was an only child.
I believe I must have gone to every house in Finedon and I had a keen interest in everyone I met. I wanted to get to know as many people as I could in here. I always had a historic interest in not only the church but also the people and families. I particularly enjoyed talking to the old people and was really honoured to be part of their lives. Compulsory retirement comes at the age of seventy but I chose to retire a little earlier when I felt I had done all I could do.

I have an interest in steam locomotives and actually after twenty five years as Vicar the parish treated me to a Steam Driving Experience at Wansford. My other interests include being a radio amateur. I have spoken with people all around the world. My call sign is G4JPB. Computing and digital photography are other interests. I gladly help in local churches.
My favourite hymn is “Dear Lord and father of mankind” and my favourite psalm is 139.

Hampton Cell, colloquially known as “Old Maids Cottage” owes its existence to a Miss Deborah Hampton who, until her death in 1725, was housekeeper to Lady Anne Dolben, the widow of Sir Gilbert.
Upon the deaths of her two sisters and a niece a modest rent be paid by an old maid of good repute over the age of fourty to live in the cottage; overseen by appointed trustees. The earliest recorded occupant was Elizabeth Sibley who was there in 1806, she died in 1838, aged 76, succeeded by Hannah Wallis who died in 1848, aged 80,next came Mary Freeman, who in 1851 had an old pauper, Martha Wallis, lodging with her. Miss Freeman died in 1866 aged 65 was succeeded by Mary Tompkins who was there in 1871. Later occupants were Mary Tompkins there until 1906 when she died at the age of 90. Anne Newman Willis became the occupant until she died in 1912 and was succeeded by Louisa Vincent and after her death Miss Ada Young became the “Old Maid” in 1918 and remained there until 1949 when she was admitted to a local hospital. After this the property was declared unfit for human habitation and there was a risk that it may have been demolished.
The Charity Commissioners supported a loan for its renovation and in 1951 Miss Adeline Chapman became the next occupant until she died in 1953 and was succeeded by Miss Mabel Ager until she left in 1965. As no properly qualified applicant could be found Hampton Cell was let to a married woman Mrs Mildred Brown who remained for a few years and then left which gave the opportunity for Miss Lillian Chapman to move in and remained there until her death. The present occupant is Miss Molly Thompson.

AA