Don’t need that coffin yet!
Nov 26th, 2011 by Andy Funnell
STEPHEN Ziegler from Horam is writing up his family history.
His grandmother, it turned out, had six brothers who served in the Great War and remarkably they all came back, though two died later due to wounds.
His gran married Sydney Funnell in 1923 whose family were the wheelwrights at Rushlake Green.
He had three other brothers who also all came back from the war.
A taster from Stephen about Ernest Funnell, who carried on the wheelwright business until about 1940:
“A certain Mr Avard of Flitterbrook Lane, Rushlake Green, paid a visit one day to Ernest. ‘Ern I wunt ye to measure me up for a coffin, I wunt it made o’oak and delivered to me ‘ouse.’ Ern made the coffin, delivered it, and asked him where he would like it placed.Mr Avard said under his bed. Beds were high in those days. So they both struggled with it up the narrow staircase and eventually manoeuvred it under the bed. A few months later Mr Avard arrived home late from the inn, rather worse for wear, dragged the coffin from under his bed, bumped it down the stairs and out into the garden where he set light to it, exclaiming ‘Shan’t be needin thee yet, ye bugger!'”
What a sport!
Source. Newspaper clipping, probably Sussex Express, sent to me a couple of years ago. Sorry I can’t be more precise.
One Response to Don’t need that coffin yet!
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Hi Andy
Re- ‘Don’t need that coffin yet’
Yes it was me that sent that story to the Sussex Express. I am writing a story based around my Grand mother Grace Funnell (Nee`Hobden), memiors before, during and after the Great War.
Iam trying to get it all finished before the 100th anniversary but its hard going, work gets in the way.
Part of the story is about the Funnell’s and wheelwrighting which my Greatgrandfather Leonard Funnell started in Rushlake Green in the early !880’s, his son Ernest Carried on until about 1940, he sadly died soon after this.
Leonards 2nd youngest son Sydney (My Grandfather) was a craftsman he felled the trees, cut the timber to size and made gates which he won prizes for and also made furniture. I am fortunate to have inherited his skills as I am by trade a furniture restorer.
I would love to know if any other Funnells out there have any storys to tell about the wheelwrights at Rushlake Green, photographs of the wheelwrights are also in short supply. If any would like to share them with me could they contact me either on 01435 810121 or email stephen.ziegler@tesco.net
Thank you
Steve