b'Memories of the 20s and 30sEdward WalkerProfile of Mr James Jebson were wooden railway sleepers. I worked on this building.F irst of all let me say he was a real gent. He was aAs a boy I can only just remember Mrs Jebson as Wesleyan, and one who really tried to live up to hisbeing very nice, and after I started work I did odd jobs beliefs. in the farm house and got well treated. I think William Mr JebsonJay as we called himwas thewas born during the 20s but as I was only 8 or 9 years son of Mr Jebson of Pocklington, who was the localolder I never met him till after I started work.Vet, with a practice in the town. I dont think JayDuring the 1920s and 30s, and even before that, was qualified, but he often helped people out withthe Chapel held a special service on Whit Monday so medicines for their cattle and pets. He was alwaysthat the children attending Sunday School could show asking for bottles, and this was right up my street asoff their new clothes, and say their poems and pieces we had a huge dump of household junk behind ourfrom the Pulpit. After the service everybody rushed workshop. Nettles 5 feet high, but profitable to me. off to Mr Jebsons farm where a building had been I remember him cutting off the tails of a litter ofcleaned out and tables laid for tea. This was prepared pups our dog had. A simple matter of using a penknifeby Mrs Jebson and her sister and friends, and was on a block of wood, and giving the mother dog thesomething to look forward to. Sandwiches made task of licking the wounds clean. with home-made potted meat (not the rubbish we I also remember a young horse getting stuck in theget nowadays), egg sandwiches, sausage rolls and mud, in a pond. The only way to rescue the exhaustedevery kind of sweet you could think of, and especially animal was to put a rope round its neck and harnessGrannies Spice Loaf. My mouth is watering with the another horse to it and pull. Success. thoughts, even after eighty years. In fact there is a little Mr Jebson was a great employer, and always hadpool of water on the table in front of me.at least three permanent men, viz. Walt Wilson, George Barker and Jack Loft. Seasonal labour was employed as and when required. Walt Wilson was main man, and always took the cattle to the shows. The Jebsons were very famous in the 20s and 30s for their Friesian cattle and Large Black pigs. Prizes were won at all the local shows and also at the bigger shows in the county. Large Black pigs were exported abroad.During 1920-30 and 1930-40 new buildings were erected. I think the first one was a cart shed with a barn over the top. Steels of Pocklington were the builders, and my father did the woodwork. This was followed by a Dutch barn, with huge wooden posts and a corrugated zinc roof. Later in the 30s a cowhouse was built,Lord Halifax thanks James Jebson, at the time of his with running water to each stall, andretirement in 1957, for his 38 years of service as secretary of electric light. Then I remember a fold-yardthe Bishop Wilton Show. Harry Smith was elected secretary in built to the left of the farm gate. The walls his place.Local ExpressionsI f you overhear someone using an unusual localmeaning now we come to the leftovers (overheard expression or you use one yourself please let usat a meeting) - derived fromgara, Old English for know. Here is one to be going on with: a triangle of land, giving gore, an odd corner of Garing as in now we come to the garingploughed land (similar to butt) 1 .1Arnold Kennett, 1994, The Yorkshire Dictionary of Dialect, Tradition and Folklore, Smith Settle176 BULLETIN 11'