The Great Cley Floods: Chapter 13
Mary and her family go the he village churchyard in Cley - and there she finds further confirmation of her story.
Earlier chapters of Jean Day's time-shift novel involving two great floods which swamped the village of Cley a century apart can be read by clicking on The Great Cley Flood in the menu on this page.
July, 1953
It was July, and the new arrival Simeon was three weeks old. Mary suggested they go for a walk, taking the children with them, to the churchyard. "I want to check those gravestones,'' she said.
"It's a lovely day,'' her husband agreed. "The children will enjoy running around. What are you looking for in particular?''
“I want to find Rebecca’s grave. I want to show her my new baby,” said Mary, moved almost to tears. “She made me promise I would show him to her, though she was hoping it would be a girl and we would name her Rebecca.''
“Let’s take a picnic lunch,'' said Martin sympathetically. "We an spend the whole afternoon there. I can play with the children while you see what you can find.''
Just after midday, taking the pram and a picnic basket, holding Alice and John firmly by the hand, they set out, walking through the village, past Whalebone house, Gainsborough Cottage, Hollyhock cottage, on and on until they came to the church and the graveyard. Mary and Martin sat on a bench. A blanket was spread on the ground for the children. Mary fed baby Simeon, who was being very good, then put him back in his pram and he quickly went back to sleep.
Martin, as good as his word, started to play games with the other two children. Mary, notebook in hand, began her search for names she had heard during the strange events which had befallen her on the night of the flood. Some of the names on the gravestones had been worn away by the weather. She hoped his had not happened to the one she so much wanted to see.
She worked her way round to the front of the church, and there she began to get excited. Some of the gravestones were for members of the Starling family. Rebecca and Freda Starr had mentioned the Starlings. An Elizabeth Starling had died on August 28, 1879, at the age of 44. The inscription on her stone read, “Being in the sight of the Lord is the wish of his saints.”
Mary wondered if this was the lady who had kept the shop which Freda now ran. Here was an Alice Ann Starling who died on November 22, 1894, aged 33. “It’s hard to part from one we love, But Jesus knows what is best” her stone announced.
Then there was a shout from Martin. “Mary, I have found a bunch of Bastards for you.”
Giggling to herself, Mary returned to the other side of the church, and there were the graves of the Bastards. William Bastard, born February 29th 1852, died in 1911. His wife was buried with him. Then she found Mary Ann Bastard who died on May 29th, 1889, aged 60. Mary was sure the woman she had heard mentioned was called Biddy.
Then she came to the grave of Samuel Bastard who died in 1864. It also contained his wife, Biddy. “Her children shall call her blessed,” the gravestone announced. Biddy had died in 1887.
At last, after she had searched for more than an hour, Mary found what she was looking for, a beautiful gravestone, with a rose carved on it and the inscription, “I know that my Redeemer liveth.”
She went to get the pram containing Simeon, pushing it to the edge of the grave. Taking the child she knelt and whispered “Here he is, Rebecca. He is ever such a good baby. You would enjoy holding him and playing with him. I’m pleased you had a good many more years after my visit.''
The gravestone announced that Rebecca had died in 1871.
"I hope you had grandchildren of your own.'' May said, conversingly natutally in a whisper. I don't suppose I will ever know whether you did or not. Thank you for rescuring me. I will come again. I will visit you often, bringing the children.''
