Pakenham Village Tributes : Michael Bryant

The Remembrance service for Michael was held at St. Mary's Church Ixworth on Monday 8th April. St. Mary's was packed with over 400 people who had come from near and far to remember Michael. The service was led magnificently by Rev. Gill Walker. Michael was cremated at a private family service at Risby Crematorium.

Whoever met Michael could not fail to be impressed by him. His quiet forthrightness, his dedication only to his family and business, but also to his surroimdings. His obvious love for where he was born and brought up was outstanding. His feeling and regard for the people of Pakenham set him aside from others.

Let us not forget that the man Michael Bryant was known throughout East Anglia and far beyond. Michael and his brothers Peter and John are responsible for keeping Pakenham Windmill in the prime condition it is today, recognised as one of the five iconic buildings of Suffolk.

For Jean and family we pray that their loss, although great will ease in time, and they will be comforted that the man they loved was so admired by others.

We will continue with edited excerpts from Michaels book "A Touch 0f Wind" over the next few editions of the Village and Church News.

Michael was born 13th July 1927. Started at Ixworth School at 5 years old. Walked to school. No school buses those days, no school dinners either. Bread and dripping sandwiches and water to drink. Still top of the class even then. Priority was the farm and the business being built by his father John, so young Michael had to stay at home at busy times especially when the thrashing gang came - and indeed Michael got a thrashing from the driver of the thrashing tackle when he knocked off a fan from the thrashing machine. Lesson learnt.

Saturday morning was delivery day to Pakenham Village with a horse drawn 4 wheel van and off he would go with his father to Grimstone End, then Fen Road then after Mrs Feveyear's shop the horse would find its way into the yard at The Royal Oak pub, then several more calls and they find themselves at The Fox and perhaps a bag of crisps or a packet of biscuits. Michael remembers that he worked for 5 shillings a week in those days. That's £1 a month. And we reckon we are hard up! Different days. And he worked 90-100 hours per week!

Michael ever industrious added another string to his bow. He became a messenger boy at Ixworth Fire Station where he slept every third night earning himself £1.10 shillings a month making his gross monthly income £2.10 shillings. Roughly £2.50 in todays money.

"Old Michael always had plenty of money even when he was young" someone said when remembering Michael. Just read his book "A touch of the Wind". Michael wasn't given any pocket money or an extra few bob by his dad to keep him quiet, as might happen today. He just went out and earned it and one way and another he got it!

Excerpts from Michael's book "A Touch of the Wind":-
Fathers cousin was Mr AGW Fordham, who kept the garage in Ixworth, was also in charge of the fire station and the two fire engines, he invited me to be a messenger boy at Ixworth Fire Station, this involved sleeping at the station every third night 10pm. till 6am the next day. For this service I received £1.10.0d per month so for 10-11 nights per month my income went upfrom £1 monthly to £2.10s.0d. I felt very well off.
The leading fireman on my shift was Mr. G. W. Reeve a local farmer and taxi proprietor, he often brought his taxi up to the Fire Station on duty nights and would then produce a list of taxi jobs which I did for him. 1 got 25% of the takings. Most nights I used to take someone to catch the mail train which came into Bury Station at 1.23am and soon found out that some people would get off the train as well as on, so I often had a fare to somewhere local. The going rate for that time of night was 12/6, this I kept for myself.

Michael was a wise man, very savvy. A natural born business man. A lot of that acumen was put into his achievements for Pakenham, and for that we should be grateful.

Max Bacon

PV&CN - May 2013