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Chesham Stories

Maurice Payne: After School and Summer Jobs

At the age of ten, during the summer holidays, I heard that boys were wanted at a farm in Raans Road. Off I went with two other boys and we got the job. We set off at 7am each morning and walked to the farm. We were taken to a field where we had to pick up potatoes after a machine had drilled them from the ground. It was back-aching work but we loved it. At the end of each day we lined up at the farmhouse and were given our wages, which was sixpence (2.5p). I remember going home with this 'tanner' and giving it to Mum and in return she gave me a penny. One day I found to my horror that I had lost the sixpence. Mum still gave me a penny and Dad told me how to tie the sixpence into my handkerchief and then wrap it around my hand.

At the age of twelve, I was in The Broadway and in a shop window a notice read 'Wanted - Boy for delivering fruit and vegetables'. I ran home and asked Dad if I could go and he replied, 'I don't see why not'. Cleaning my boots and tidying myself, off I went to apply for the job. I walked into the shop. Mrs Hobbs, who owned the place, eyed me up and down and said, 'Can you ride a bike?' My answer was 'Yes' (I had learned on Mum's old bike). 'Very well', said Mrs Hobbs. 'Be here tomorrow after school at 5 o'clock sharp. You will work from 5 until 7 each evening except Fridays, when it will be 8 o'clock. Saturdays will be eight in the morning until 1 o'clock and wages will be four shillings weekly'.

The next day I ran home from school, had my tea, and then off to my new place of employment. My first job was to clean the Scales and Weights, as they were brass. I was then told where the delivery bike was. When I looked at it, there came my first setback - the old bike had seen better days. It was a woman's, with only one brake and a broken saddle. Both tyres were flat and there was no pump, so I had to borrow one from Brown's, the ironmongers next door. Having got the bike ready for the road, I was all set for my first delivery.

Mrs Hobbs' daughter loaded two large baskets with fruit and vegetables. I had to hang these baskets on the handlebars and be careful not to catch my knees on them. If there was only one basket the bike would pull over to one side and it was very difficult to steer straight. My first delivery, I remember, was to Stanley Avenue, to none other than my headmaster Mr Golding. As he looked over the top of his glasses he said "good lad" and gave me a penny. Another place that was among my many deliveries was Dr Leaf's Health Centre at Champneys. Here I took tow baskets full of Jaffa oranges. It was a good thing it was in the summer as it took me ages to find the place.

On the first Saturday, I will ever remember taking home my four shillings wages and handing it over to Mum. We had previously come to an agreement that I would keep the tips and Mother the four shillings. If I had a good week I would have fourpence or sixpence in tips if customers were good to me. I remained at Mrs Hobbs' until I left school at fourteen years old.

Maurice Payne, born 1913

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