The Kemps of Malgre Tout

Judith lived in Button End near Malgre Tout and remembers their neighbours, the Kemps well:

Roland Kemp was originally from northern England and probably met his wife Astrid in Egypt while serving in the Army. Astrid could well have been a refugee.They came to Button End in the late 1940s and lived in a caravan on the roadside. Later their bungalow was built on the land behind.

As a child I remember Mr Kemp, ‘Roly’. mainly for his loud voice, louder cough and large pocket hearing aid. He worked at Heffers bookshop. My sister remembers him singing a solo in the Village Hall; he was a very good pianist and amateur photographer too. Astrid worked in an office in town, also doing translation work at home for students at the University. I remember her ‘exotic’ accent and wonderful round, lined face and lovely smile.

The garden was a struggle but rose cuttings no problem – ‘I just put dem in and dey come’. Her exotic cooking included quince jelly, rose petal jam and hummus. I regret losing the recipe she kindly wrote for the last, though I often used it.

Astrid and Roland’s lives were a struggle with fairly constant chronic health problems. I don’t remember any reference to family members at all.

Kindly, good neighbours, adding more colour and flavour to our lives. Little wonder they called their small bungalow ‘In spite og all’