Harold Baxter Hart

Hilary Roadley with info from Eileen Gershon & Douglas Winter

Harold - centre row, 2nd from left- played cricket for Cambridge

(E Gershon)

Harold to right of Lady Walston in centre, daughter Sheila to left

(E Gershon)

Hart children in front of Pinehurst, 153 High St, Harston in 1923

(E Gershon)

Family background:

Eileen Gershon, Harold’s granddaughter said ‘My mother’s paternal grandparents (Henry and Florence Hart) lived at a house called ‘The Moorlands’, Meldreth…they had 8 children (and I believe some of the descendants still live in the village). My mother’s father Harold Baxter Hart was the second child.

The 1911 census shows Harold lived with parents and his siblings in Meldreth Rd, Shepreth. His father was Henry Preston Hart (B: 1865 Barrington – started as clerk at brick works in 1881, manager of cement lime works, Barrington in 1891 & 1901), mother Florence Baxter from Bradford/Leeds, Yorkshire (M:1886). Harold was born in Barrington (J-S 1887) as was sister Grace & Oswald but rest of siblings were born in Shepreth. By 1911 mother had had 9 children with 8 surviving still living at home – others were Winifred, Harry Rosslyn, Lilian, Valentine Vernon & Elsie. Henry’s sister Kate lived with them also with her private means. Harold was a clerk for Cambs County Council age 23 in 1911.

Harold married Olive Elizabeth Abbott in 1914 (Eileen has a drinks tray that was presented to him on this occasion by ‘the servants of Newton Hall’, but was unsure what the connection was). Douglas Winter, who worked for Walston farms, said Harold managed Lady Walston’s Thriplow farm estate (dairy) including Newton & Thriplow in 1920s &30s so that explains the drinks tray. Douglas also said that Harold married (J-S 1914 Royston) Olive Abbott from Royston whose family had a department store that sold furniture, prams, etc as Douglas bought their pram from there later on. Harold and Olive married in a non-conformist church.

They had four children; Gordon (known as Billy) who was blind, Margery, Bernard and in 1923 Sheila (Eileen’s mother) who would have been in the pram in the photo, which therefore probably dates from 1923/4.

Harold was Captain of Cambridge Cricket Club and can be seen in the photo, centre row, second from left.

The newspaper clipping of Harston, Hauxton and Newton Horticultural show, from around 1930, shows Harold to right of lady Walston in centre (he worked for Walston farms then), and his daughter Sheila as a young girl, in the front row…. she presented the bouquet.

Living at Pinehurst, Harston:

Eileen’s mother wrote Harold & Olive lived at Pinehurst, (153 High St), Harston “on the right approx 7 houses (south) from The Old English Gentleman. Pine trees in front and down both sides. The lawn in front was more than big enough for two tennis courts – there was one. Orchards on one side and extensive at the rear of the house, also vegetable gardens, cow and milking sheds…some poultry and pigs. On the other side of the road there were orchards and grazing fields.”

Until Sheila was nine she had a governess in the mornings during ‘term-time’. She was not allowed to play with the village children, nor to join the Brownies inspite of a direct appeal to her mother from their leader. She loved the tennis court and grew up with a racquet in her hand! Her father Harold led the British Legion parade to a service in church one year and chapel the next!