This Ted Talks article is one you can join in with at home, provided you lived in our town in 1960 or know someone who did.
Back then, there was an appeal to support the world’s refugees, and the people of Wymondham generously raised £1204, which Ted observed, “was a lot of money in those days.” As part of this great fundraising effort there was a big parade through the centre of the town, which has been captured for posterity in a short, silent, colour film that is now part of the East Anglian Film Archive: World Refugee Year Appeal (1960) | East Anglian Film Archive (eafa.org.uk/work/?id=2313).
It was no surprise to me, when I watched this 4-minute film with Ted, that he recognised several people who had taken part. “There’s John Barber,” said Ted pointing to a gentleman wearing a red tie, “he took over Mr. Legett’s farm where I used to work. He had two sons, Jonathan and David”.
Ted was impressed by the two grey horses which pulled a parade cart, “They were show horses and also working horses used for transporting furniture.” The cart was ridden by Al Farvey who wore colourful clothes. “He sold fish and chips in Damgate,” recalled Ted.
This event was strongly supported by local businesses such as RGD, Mobil Heat and Bibby. Ted was pleased to see Tom Turner wearing a grey jacket. “He worked for the auctioneers, Hall and Palmer, and he used to carry his clipboard around with him.” Ted then spotted another Ted, Ted Frost, driving one of the vans. “Ted Frost was a thresher, he shovelled coal into steam engines. He was married to Minnie.”
The participating, red-brown fire truck brought back a flood of memories for Ted, who knew three of the firefighters; John Thomson, Chicky Stand and Reggie Cullan. “Reggie’s family owned both a hardware store and a tobacconist.”
Perhaps there are people in this big parade that you remember. Do you know the names of any of the girl guides or members of the brass band or the fellow in the jeep who was waving to the crowd? Maybe you were there in person? Please let us know, it would make Ted’s day.
