Nora Batt (11 May 1928 - 10 Jan 2016)

In loving memory of Nora Batt formerly of Smarden.
Passed away peacefully on 10th January 2016, aged 87 years.
Wife of the late Alf Batt.
She will be dearly missed by all her loving family and many friends.

NORA'S EULOGY: read by Nora’s nephew, Hilary Millen, at Nora’s funeral at the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Smarden on 2nd February 2016.

Nora Batt: 11 May 1928 – 10 January 2016: Eulogy. Smarden Church 2nd February 2016

You may hear some things again that Alex has mentioned in his address. Nora was, of course, very deaf and so would probably appreciate hearing it twice!
Nora was born in May 1928 at South Park Farm, Egerton, second daughter of David and Ethel Wickens. Her mother had been a Pack; another local family. Together with sisters Molly and Kathleen she walked 2½ miles to Egerton School and back each day
In 1938 the family moved to Haffenden Farm in Smarden where David farmed until his retirement. There were 5 Wickens sisters in total including the younger girls Eileen and Patricia.
Nora now attended Smarden School and towards the end of her education was taught with the wartime evacuees from Catford Girls school in Zion Chapel. She left school at 13 or 14 to work on the farm where she particularly loved harrowing with the carthorses, Big Joe and Little Joe.
On 18th June 1955 she married Alfred Batt from another Wealden farming family here in this Church. They lived at Riverland in Bull Lane Bethersden until Gillian was born when they moved to Tearnden Farm a few hundred yards over the border from Smarden. Son Andrew was born in 1961. Alf farmed sheep and from time-to-time he and Nora had cattle, pigs and hens. Nora loved hop-picking in particular but found other chores gruelling, not least picking up potatoes. She could haul half hundredweight sacks but her back suffered for it in later years as she recorded in one of her poems:
‘I’m not really moaning, don’t get me wrong
I’ve just had this back too damn long!’
In 1975 the family moved to Sandhurst Farm in Smarden. Here Alf gradually moved into retirement and moved finally to Rowan Tree where Nora’s parents had lived after her father David retired. Nora loved living in the centre of the village where she could watch life go by and in close proximity to the Flying Horse as well as the Post Office and Butcher’s shop.
Nora was a member of various organisations and attended many events and activities. In particular she was a member of Smarden Womens Institute for over 60 years. Her poems began as entries for W.I. competitions and usually had everyone in gales of laughter. She saw the funny side of life and enjoyed recording it in humorous verse delighting in her ability to shock. Nora also enjoyed the Afternoon Club and Monday morning drop-ins at the Charter Hall.
Eric Spear and Eleanor Bliss recorded Nora’s reminiscences for the History Society; warm memories of the tilly lamps, evacuees, working in hop gardens, and of the tramps who used to travel from farm to farm in those days and who had evocative names such as Freezer Baldwin and Headcorn Nancy. At the opposite end of the social spectrum, Nora recalled seeing the King of Siam, who was in exile and living at Vane Court in Biddenden, walking the lanes. In recent years she announced this to a group of visitors from modern-day Thailand . She was greeted with much bowing and applause and they all requested to have their photo taken with her, something that amused her immensely.
Nora told some very funny stories. A particular favourite was when Mr Ledger at Luckhurst noticed wood disappearing from his woodpile. He decided to put a piece of gunpowder into a log...and that night the policeman’s stove blew up!
Nora loved village events; the Pancake Party, Duck Race, Beer Festival, Flower Shows and Bonfire Night. She also created gardens wherever she lived; they were full of all-year colour and much admired. She enjoyed flower arranging for flower festivals and Gardeners’ Society Shows. She also loved watching garden birds and even had a tame blackbird that would come indoors at Rowan Tree!
Nora worked as a volunteer with Jean Ridley in the Hospice Shop in Tenterden for about 10 years. The shop key was held in Fuggles Funeral Directors next door and it was here that Crispin Fuggle, who has arranged today’s service, got to know Nora and remembers her with affection.
For those of us who know Nora so well it is hard to believe that she was painfully shy in her childhood and teenage years. However this all changed and in recent years she could be found in the Flying Horse on Music Nights reciting poems at the open mike session to gales of laughter and applause.
Nora became profoundly deaf and while this was very frustrating and led to some confusion at times, it never hampered her ability to socialise.
Nora delighted in meeting new people in the village. Andy and Gill have been touched by the number of people who have written to say that Nora was the first to greet them when they came here. As one says ‘it was a pleasure to have known such a kind and charming lady who made we incomers so welcome all those years ago.’ Nora was never content to observe a new face in the pub but would go over and ask whether they lived here or were visiting. She was a great ambassador for the village, urging new arrivals to join various organisations or attend forthcoming events.
Alf and Nora were married for 50 years. They were both ‘characters’ and it was a great match; plenty of bickering but underneath a deep love and mutual respect. As Nora wrote:
‘A perfect husband not on your life
But then I’m not the perfect wife’
Nora and Alf both enjoyed everything Smarden had to offer and their ‘double act’ caused much amusement not least in the pub. Bob Farris recalls greeting Alf one day; ‘I see you’ve brought your wife out’; to which Alf replied ‘no she followed me’.
When Alf died in 2005, Nora found it hard living alone for the first time in her life but put on a brave face and got on with it. Being in the village centre helped and the shops and Flying Horse pub became a lifeline; somewhere to go and meet someone to talk to. She also delighted in her Cage Lane neighbours; she welcomed Carl and Sian to the village and loved to wave to Scarlett as she went to school. Indeed she would wave to everyone as they went by, from Mike Wilson on his tractor to Jenny Hutchinson on her horse. She particularly enjoyed a glass or two of wine with Jocelyn and Christine in summer evenings!
Family was very important to Nora; she and her sisters remained close and enjoyed family get-togethers, games of cards and other activities. She and Alf delighted in their grandchildren, Stuart, Paul, and twins Louise and Marie. Nora took pride in their achievements and greatly enjoyed days out with them when they were young; her antics often causing much giggling at her expense. She was particularly delighted at the birth of Stuart and Amanda’s child Alfie, named after his great grandfather. She enjoyed his Christmas visit and was thrilled to hear that he was now walking. Nora’s last visit to Smarden was for Marie’s wedding to Andy Underdown in this Church last August, a lovely sunny day.
In 2012 Nora began to find living alone all too much. After suffering a fall, some dizzy spells and a day in hospital she announced that she no longer wished to live alone. She chose to go to Breton Court Care Home in St Michaels where she had visited Denis Batt recently. She never looked back. After a life of hard work from morning to night Nora loved being waited on, excellent meals and good company. She loved her comfortable little room with a view of the garden and pond where she could watch the birds and squirrels. She enjoyed banter with the staff who worked there. Andy and Gill would like to thank Parveen, Priya and all the staff at Breton Court for taking such good care of their mother throughout the 37 months she lived there. Her poem My Advancing Years sums up how she viewed old age:
‘Now I’ve aches and pains and memories getting hazy
But, I enjoy a sit down without feeling lazy
So you see old age has its compensations
And you do not need folks’ commiserations’
So Nora has followed Alf one last time. They will rest in peace together beneath the yew tree in this churchyard where a robin often sings. Remember them when you pass by.
As Nora would say ‘thank you; thank you so much for coming today’