What’s in a Photo?

George Mabbutt

Philip Yaxley Published: 02 April 2023

George with his bags of Royal Maundy Money at Ogden Close on his return from Norwich Cathedral in April 1996..

It really was a red-letter day for Wymondham legend George Mabbutt when he was presented with Royal Maundy Money by Queen Elizabeth II at Norwich Cathedral on Maundy Thursday 4 April 1996. Traditionally sets of Maundy Money are distributed to men and women who have served their local community and/or church – and George certainly filled the bill!

George showing his Royal Maundy Money to some of the ladies at Ogden Close on his return from the Cathedral ceremony

Sporting a smart uniform George joined Elsie Capps to lead the Carnival procession during the town’s celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee in June 1977.

Born and bred in the town, George had worked for the Briton Brush Company (later Briton Chadwick) for 48 years, retiring in 1978 as a quality control inspector. During World War Two he had served in the R.A.F and after became a keen member of the Royal British Legion and a committee member of the town’s branch when it won the prestigious Haig Cup and other awards in 1954. George and his wife Flo fostered eight boys and received a Royal commendation for their care and kindness. In the 1930s George had been a member of the Church Lads’ Brigade and after the war he was active in youth work. He ran the Wymondham Town Minors’ football team for a time in the 1950s and the Congregational (later United Reform) Church’s youth circle for many years from its inception in 1947. He was appointed an Elder of the Congregational Church and for 25 years he was secretary for the wonderful flower shows the Church held in the Fairland Hall. Other posts George filled for some years included that of a manager of Browick Road Primary School, Central Hall committee member, chairman of the Friends of Wicklewood Hospital and president of the once successful Wymondham Racing Pigeon Club. He was a founder member of the Wymondham branch of Toc H, a force for good in the community, and in later life was secretary of the town’s Over 60s’ Club, as well as being active in the Ogden Close Social Club. Despite devoting time to all these interests he served as a Liberal on the Town Council from 1968 to 1976 and rarely missed a meeting. He was vice-chairman of the last Wymondham Urban District Council, before it was sadly reduced to parish status in the local government reorganisation of 1974.

Congregational Church Choir standing in front of a coach

George is on the right of this Congregational Church choir party about to go on a coach outing to the Broads and Great Yarmouth in 1957.

A Wymondham Town Minors’ team of the 1950s with George on the left.

Following that memorable ceremony at Norwich Cathedral George returned to Ogden Close, where he then lived, and held a sherry reception for his fellow residents and neighbours in the complex, thanking them for their friendship and support.

George with me when my book “Wymondham – A Century Remembered” was published in late 1999. He was a fund of knowledge on the last century when I was researching.

After his death in 2001 his relatives presented his Royal Maundy Money to Wymondham Heritage Museum, where it resides as a lasting reminder of a true community champion.