ASTON HERTS LOCAL HISTORY

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DES' PICTURE GALLERY OF ASTON.

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ROSE AND CROWN PENTANGUE TEAM

Pulican Lyn Fowley introduced two pitches for playing Pentangue. It began in March, (2001) and there were two winter teams. The game attracted some 20 players and two teams entered the Rhubarb League and Lucas SS League. The Chairman of the Lucas SS League Jeff Smith from Pin Green, Stevenage, is on extreme right, back row.

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The Beane Valley in February

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Spring arrives in Aston

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ELIZABETHAN COTTAGE
Used to be part of Aston End but is now claimed by Stevenage New Town
Aston's trees have been positively glowing with Autumn colours. Due to a mild November. I can't remember an Autumn like it! Wonderful!

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ASTON BRANCH ROYALBRITISH LEGION IS CLOSED DOWN
The 'Colour' was paraded for the last time on Sunday 11 November 2001.

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Aston lad, SERGEANT JOSEPH PATERNOSTER was killed at Givenchy, France on June 16 1915, aged 30. There is no known grave.

Bronze plaques made from metal salvaged from WWI guns were issued to the next of kin. They were commonly known as 'Death Medals'.

I am indebted to the late Mrs. Rowe who gave these items to the collection.

JOHN CHARLTON
Died of Influenza 28 February 1919, Aged 28

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HENRY JAMES WILSON
Died, possibly of Dysentery on 16 October 1918 Aged 23.
I have discovered in my collection of Aston School pantomime pictures two more of our 'Aston lads' who died in WWI. Not by the bullet but of disease. These portraits were taken in the old Parish Room circa 1903. I guess John Charlton is about 12 and Harry Wilson about 8 years old. My thanks to the late Mrs Jennie Spicer who donated the
original photograph and identified the children. Also my thanks to and to Ted Wykes
for his publication 'Aston War Memorial'.

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LANCE-CORPORAL FRED ALLEN
Died Friday 12 April 1918. No Known Grave

Through sheer good fortune and the kindness of Winifred Beadle who now resides in Liskeard, Cornwall. I have received a picture of another Aston Lad- Fred Allen and unbelievably a newspaper cutting of the time, which reads:

GUARDSMAN'S SACRIFICE
ASTON SOLDIER FALLS HOLDING THE LINE

'Mrs. Allen of Aston, has been informed of the death in action on April 12 of her husband, Lance-Corporal F. Allen Grenadier Guards.Lance-Corporal Allen was one of the gallant Guards who held the line for forty-eight hours at the cost of their lives until a reinforcement of Australians reached them. He went to France nine months ago, and when the German offensive opened he was expecting to come home on leave previous to training for a commission for which he had been recommended. Sympathy is extended to his widow and baby boy'.

Mrs. Ethel Wilson, nee Canfield was Win Beadles aunt. I phoned Win telling her I had discovered a picture of her aunt when she was at Aston School and also that her Guardsman husband had died in the war. She said "I've got a picture of him, I'll send it to you". Thank you so much Win.
Here is that picture of Ethel at Aston School, performing in that same pantomime (circa 1904) as her future husband. Henry Wilson John Charlton, see above. was also in the same cast.

Young Ethel Canfield

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ASTON CRICKET TEAM
Henry Edney, pictured centre, scored 91 Not Out off 48 balls to help win the match
against Codicote on 19 August. Eddie O'Hanlon took 4 wickets for 29. Aston's total was 236 for 6 declared and they won by 73 runs.

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ASTON IN THE SNOW
Top: The Rose and Crown
Centre: St Mary's Church
Bottom: The Coach House
PHOTOS: Taken 28 December 2000

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Will Canfield. March 2001

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Aston St. Mary's. March 2001

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Aston's bus has problems getting through all the parked traffic.

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Come and join us! New sign for the church. March 2001

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Centre of the village. Rosemary Howe and Nigel Paine look on.

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The Rose and Crown with Cow Parsley- Cricket on Centre Field and Doris Dowler. May 2001. Sadly Doris died in 2006. RIP

JULY/AUGUST
One of the largest trees in Aston gets the chop.
This 200 year old Ash had reached the end of its life and was literally taken apart as there was no room to drop it in Aston Lane.

The new Millennium village sign was unveiled in July.
The winning design is by Margaret Moreham.(See also Village Mourns page.)

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Updated:10/12/2019