Open Writing

Tom closed the cottage door behind him shutting out the sobbing of his mother and father and, tying his corduroys round the leg with string, he struck out across the frozen fields, head bowed against the freezing winter wind, toward the village.

He soon arrived at his sweetheart’s cottage and, although still dark and early morning, he threw gravel at the window until a sleepy-eyed girl appeared, "What do you want at this hour?" she cried ."You’ll wake Mam and Dad.” Tom persuaded her to let him in and told her the sad story of the eviction.

Lizzie called down her mam and dad and together they discussed what to do. In the end it was decided that Tom's parents would be sheltered by Lizzie and her parents, with Lizzie sleeping downstairs.

It was a long walk ahead from the village of Farewell through Lichfield and onto the outskirts of Birmingham. Tom was heading for a little place called Handsworth where he had learned a Mr. Bolton and Mr. Watt had set up one of the new factories and would employ strong men used to working with their hands. With thirty miles to go there was no time to lose as daylight was short. Tom soon left the village behind and struck off down the narrow road toward Lichfield.

After a few miles he stopped for a rest and ate some bread and cheese that Lizzie had provided. Resting with his back against a tree trunk he was in deep thought when he was shaken by the sound of a frantic cry for help and the pounding of hooves. Jumping up, he caught sight of a carriage and pair hurtling toward him completely out of control with the driver frantically hanging on for grim death. Tom did not hesitate, and as the carriage and pair raced by he hurled himself at the bridle of the nearest horse and gradually brought the terrified animals to a halt.

The trembling driver alighted and thanked Tom profusely for saving his life, and after sitting down and resting, told Tom that his name was Gregory and that he lived outside Birmingham were he was a judge. They chatted and Tom explained the purpose of his journey. Mr. Gregory was quite impressed and suggested that, as Tom was experienced with horses, he could find him employment as his personal coachman with which went the tenancy of a cottage. Tom was overwhelmed and readily agreed, his first job being to take over the carriage and pair and drive onward to Birmingham.

It was a good life with a generous employer and more than that he had been able to find Lizzie a position as maid to Mrs. Gregory, and so they were married and lived in the cottage just outside Birmingham in the Hamlet of Harborne.

Tom enjoyed his job, sometimes driving Mrs. Gregory to the outer suburbs of Edgbaston where she would walk in her long flowing dresses to take tea in a charming tea shop close to the Church, together with other ladies of a similar social standing. Life was idyllic and with the birth of their first son they became a loving family unit.

Then came the day that changed their life. Mr. Gregory and his lady had been invited to open the local Church fete. It was a very hot day and Mr. Gregory, being a very big man, was finding the heat a little more than oppressive. As he wandered from stall to stall, Tom could see that his progress was getting slower and slower with an occasional slight stagger. Tom went up to his master and enquired if he could be of assistance. At that moment Mr. Gregory collapsed and Tom quickly caught him in his strong arms and carried him back to the coach and the house.

Mr. Gregory never recovered fully and relied on Tom to carry him out to the coach and take him for drives in the country. Lizzie took on the role of nurse and bathed him, fed him and ensured that the doctor’s wishes were carried out. Mr. Gregory slowly lapsed and eventually died amidst much grieving.

After the funeral the staff were assembled and informed that Mrs. Gregory would not be remaining in the house but retiring to a smaller residence and that they would all receive a month's wages. As they were leaving the room, the family solicitor called Tom and Lizzie back. “Sit down," he said as they stood before him. “There is some further news affecting you. Because of your unfailing loyalty and the debt owed to you for saving his life, Mr. Gregory has left you jointly the freehold of your cottage and the sum of £5,000 together with the coach and pair that you have always looked after.

Tom was a very careful man and together with Lizzie and their son they started a coaching business. But Tom could see how Birmingham was rapidly expanding and how within ten years it had gobbled up the hamlets and villages like a hungry lion, so he reasoned the need for transport would increase.

The family embarked on expansion into parcel traffic and with the growing demand, came the need for bigger coaches to take the workers into the city. And so they prospered, eventually even into the new-fangled automobile age.

Bedford U3A