Long Melford Heritage Trust have added oral history audio recordings, made by Thomas Howlett in 1972, to their website. These recordings consist of interviews with several people about their memories of life in Long Melford from 1900 onwards.
Amongst the interviewees is George Riley, who was based in Long Melford during his Second World War service with the 12th Royal Lancers. He remembers that in the summer of 1940, he camped in the grounds of Melford Hall with the other enlisted men, while the officers were billeted at Kentwell Hall. He also remembers that the Black Lion was the pub he drank in, while the Bull ‘belonged’ to the officers. George’s job was to train the Home Guard in basic warfare in case of invasion by the Germans, a very real fear at that stage of the war.
Take a listen to these interviews yourself on the Long Melford Heritage Trust website.