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« on: Tuesday 28 November 17 19:47 GMT (UK) »
Bertie Cecil Kidger and his wife, Agnes, moved, from Ilam, to the farm and lived there for twenty five years. In 1940, Mabel Kidger, contracted meningitis and, because of the heavy February snow, had to be carried by sledge to Ilam. She was taken to hospital but, sadly, died and was buried in Ilam churchyard.
Sydney Allen, age 23, was working as a farm labourer on the farm, he also contracted meningitis and died. Local opinion says that the illness was contracted by infection from one of the horses. There appears to have been an epidemic of meningitis, around this time, as Vera Smith, from a cottage opposite the school, in Swinscoe, also died of the disease.