Joan and Sidney Scarlett

Gyford shop
1960s Gyford Shop with Sidney Scarlett

When Elsie Gyford married and moved to Forward Green, Sidney Scarlett moved into Saxham Cottage and took over the running of Gyford’s shop

 
 

Sidney had been brought up next door to Saxham Cottage in what is now known as Grange Farm Cottage

This photo from the late 1930s shows Rufus and Sidney Scarlett with Chas Gyford in the foreground. Sid is on the right by the wing mirror, he must be in his late teens.

The van is a Ford Model T, with solid tyres. We don’t know how long the Gyford’s kept this van but a lot of their business seems to have been generated by traveling to their customers rather than waiting for them to come into the shop. (My thanks to a local resident who allowed me to copy this from a photo in his collection.)

photo of van
Gyford;s shop van

Sidney and his wife Joan (ne Finbow)  were very active within the village community.

Joan was a leader for the Sunday School, the parish organiser of the Mother’s Union and in the 1980’s organiser for The Good Neighbour Scheme. she also took part in a performance  in the Village Hall in September1963.

During the 1960’s Sidney served on the Stowupland Fete and Flower Show Committee, alongside Jack and Ena Carter. During his life he served on the parish Council, the Community Council and the committee for the Stowupland Town Lands Trust in 1990/1.