Penny began by admitting that this talk was all about her family and based on her mother’s memoir which had been converted into a book following popular demand!
Starting with the long hot summer of 1940, Edwina Hallett, Penny’s mother, was just 18. In 1942 she decided to enlist in the Womens’ Auxiliary Air Force as a Driver, Mechanical Transport and following a somewhat embarrassing medical was sent to RAF Innsworth.
As a WAAF she learnt to drive and eventually passed out as a ‘Leading Aircraftwoman’ but was sent to a Maintenance Unit RAF Chessington. On ambulance duty in May 1943 she lost the toss and was sent off to collect an ex POW returned from Italy. With a group of walking wounded he had been exchanged having been shot down whilst flying a Hurricane over Italy and parachuted into enemy territory. One leg had been amputated and his family had even been told he was dead although nobody believed it. They were proved right when they received a postcard from him saying he was OK although a little short in the left leg!
This of course turned out to be John Hall and Edwina fell in love!! Despite her father warning her against marrying an amputee she did just that. Despite his ‘peg-leg’ John managed to get back to flying Spitfires and Hurricanes until the end of the war but was unable to obtain a commercial licence after the war. With no jobs, little money and nowhere to live they thought they were ideally suited to run a pub and eventually John became the landlord of the Blacksmiths Arms in Chiddingstone in November 1946. They had a baptism of fire on the first day they opened for business when, after a very quiet start a coach drew up with a darts team and they were told that that night was a darts match!
Edwina’s book, recounted by Penny told stories of the visit of the hop pickers from London that had to be watched carefully and how Penny herself was born in the room above the bar in 1949.
Before the following spring they had decided that working 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year was not ideal for a growing child and had made a decision to farm.
After months of searching they were let down over one tenancy but then one of their regulars told them that the tenant of Oakenden Farm was getting ready to leave and after a few heart stopping moments the tenancy was theirs.
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Several members of the audience were familiar with The Blacksmith’s Arms and the people involved, so discussion ensued for a good time.
Chris thanked Penny for her entertaining telling of the story – so far – and several copies of Edwina’s book, Potholes, Pigs and Paradise went to new homes.
