John Robert Holehouse

John Robert Holehouse (known as Jack) was born on 30th October 1898 in Spilsby

By 1919 he was part of the West Pinchbeck football team

He married Dora Eveline Mary Nix on 11th October 1922 at West Pinchbeck Church

During their early married life they lived at West Pinchbeck, where they kept the Cross Keys public house. Jack - as he was known throughout his life - was a driver of tractors and coaches.

They probably kept the pub between 1922 and 1932 (only a guess!)

The family had moved to 4 Foundry Lane in Spalding by 1932 where their only daughter, Betty, was born.

In about 1938 they moved to 14a Bourne Road, which was then renumbered to 43 Bourne Road

They moved to 28 Chestnut Avenue in about 1953 when the new estate was completed

When new bungalows were built to create Lime Court, Jack and Dora decided to move from Chestnut Avenue to 31 Lime Court - in 1962.

Jack worked at the Sugar Factory on West Marsh Road until his retirement in ??

Jack was a very competitive bowler, and won quite a number of trophies and silver cups over the years.

He died on 14th February 1978 in Bank House nursing home at Gosberton

Mum says that my Grandad (her father) got the nick name 'Bamber' because I was unable to pronounce the word 'Grandpa' correctly - and the name Bamber stuck until he died in 1978!

My first memories of Bamber were at 28 Chestnut Avenue

The grass and hedge

The front garden of 28 Chestnut Avenue was laid to lawn, and being on the corner it was quite a large garden. Around the front of the garden was a low brick wall, and above the wall was a privet hedge. I remember that the lawn and hedge were always immaculately cut and trimmed, and the garden was his pride and joy.

The pipe

Bamber smoked a pipe, and I remember him pushing in the tobacco from a pouch, and then lighting it. For some reason the pipe always seemed to be going out, and he was forever relighting it.

A bald head

For all the time I knew him - he had a completely bald head. I think he was the first person that I had seen with no hair at all, and I recall how he used to pretend to polish his head to make it shine.

Tea out of the saucer

Jack would often pour tea out of his cup into the saucer - blow on it - and then drink it from the saucer - much to Mum's annoyance. I think she thought I would probably copy this habit ..

The motorbike

At one time, when I was still quite young, I remember going on the back of a motorbike or scooter with Jack. Mum was not happy that he had taken me for a ride - and I seem to recall that I didn't really feel very safe. That was the one and only time I have been on a motor bike!

The White Horse

When I was old enough to go into a pub, I would go with Jack to the White Horse for a pint of beer. That was his favourite pub, and I don't remember him visiting any others.

He spent the last months of his life in Bank House Nursing Home in Gosberton, but I only remember visiting him there a couple of times with Mum when I was home from Durham.