Pakenham Village Tributes : Percy Foreman

Percy was born in Pakenham and grew up in a large family of seven children.
Percy attended Pakenham school which was on Church Hill in the village. Remember Percy was at school not long after World War I when schools in villages such as Pakenham were very different then as we know them today. Larger villages such as Pakenham had their owns schools and times were hard and the cane was regularly used to keep order. Percy, even for one so young, had a strong sense of justice and kindness and once when his brother George, or Dordie as he was known was caned for not singing, Percy hatched a plan to break and burn all the canes or sticks on the shelf in the schoolroom and replaced them by cutting a fresh one from the hedge!

Percy enjoyed school as a lad and thought the world of his music teacher Miss Elsie Carter the legendary music teacher and later headmistress of Pakenham School. Percy reckoned that he could do no wrong in Elsie Carters eyes.

From Pakenham village the family moved to the White House on the Gt Barton to lxworth road where his farther worked on the farm. Percy like many other young boys at that time, after leaving school went to work on the land, first for Percy Howes at Thurston and then Crosses farm at lxworth.

Percy met and married Violet just before the Second World War. He met Violet when going to Norton with his mate George Cocksedge as George had his eye on Violet but It wasn't George who came home with the girl it was Percy!! Together Violet and Percy had 6 children and built a close and loving family together. Violet was a strong lady who would defend her children and Percy in an instant, famously once running on to the football pitch and flogging an opponent with a towel who had badly fouled Percy during a game.

Percy's army days in WW2 were hard as his brother Dordie was a Japanese POW. Once in France Percy's unit was ordered to search and tend to the bodies of 20 dead German soldiers. In the wallets of the dead men were found the family photos they carried with them. Percy always said that it always reminded him that it could have been any of his family and friends. Something he never forgot.

After the War, Violet and Percy moved into Number 2 The Owell, then a brand new property and Percy lived there till his dying day.

Also after the war Percy went to work for 30 years for A.E.White with David Parnell tarmacing. Which he said kept him fit. Percy's fitness was well known on the football pitch as a fast and speedy winger and goal scorer. Percy worked hard and played hard. Some of his proudest moments playing for Pakenham were with two of his sons in the same team. 'Give it to dad' the cry would be. And of course dad would do the rest.

Percy was also a magnificent gardener. He always had home grown flowers and vegetables for sale by his front lawn. He once had four allotments as well as cultivating his back garden. Percy was a man that those who knew him had total respect for him. He was straight forward and honest and kept to his principles in life.

He had a devoted wife and a devoted family who loved and cared for him till his dying day.

PV&CN - July 2017