© Copyright Harleston Grapevine 2009

Do you know…..?

Martin road was named after my father, Henry Martin, a butcher in Harleston and Bungay. His main claim to fame was that for many years he was chairman of Harleston Parish Council and a district councillor. During his time in office Harleston acquired many new council houses, electricity, water and sewage, a modern fire engine and ambulance.

He was born in Bungay. His grandfather, who was coachman to the London/Great Yarmouth stagecoach, until the arrival of the railway, became landlord of the Fleece Inn where both my father and grandfather were born.

In the 1914 war my father served in the Royal Flying Corps in France, as a despatch rider. In the 1939 war he was appointed a deputy meat agent, which meant he was responsible for the distribution of meat to all the butchers in South Norfolk.

He was a talented pianist and singer, entertaining with humorous songs at the piano at many socials and dinners throughout the surrounding area. In 1916 he married Mary, my mother, daughter of George Stebbings, manager of the Harleston branch of Barclays Bank. I was born in 1919, their only child.                                                                                       Kay Nelson