Alf Hicks
Alf was born in Ivy Cottage opposite the school in 1907. He started work when he was seven and still at school looking after cows grazing at the roadside. He left school in 1921 and did farm work before going into the grocery trade at Woollards shop.
After three years there he decided to learn to drive and went to Denston Hall as under chauffeur. The cars there were kept so clean Alf had to polish the sumps. After leaving the village for a year or two to follow the grocery trade he returned to Wickhambrook to work for Justin Brooke first as a tree planter and later as a salesman.
History of Alf Hicks
Following the Second World War which he spent with the N.A.A.F.I., having failed is medical for active service, he joined Pearl Assurance Co. as their local agent.
Lay preacher at the Congregational Church, officer in the Boys Brigade, Footballer, Cricketer, founder member of the Community Council and Local History Society, Alf was all of these as well as being the village reporter for the East Anglian Daily Times and Bury Free Press.
Alf’s death in 1995 left the village so much poorer but perhaps the erecting of the Village Sign, for so long Alf’s dream, will be a fitting memorial to one of natures true gentlemen.
The Alf Hicks Biscuit Barrel Award …
In 1998 the Parish Council decided that, as the Barrel has to be returned at the end of the year, the recipient should also receive an award certificate. The first certificate was awarded to Michael Medcalf. Subsequently certificates were presented to all the previous recipients of the Barrel.
| YEAR | RECIPIENT |
|---|---|
| 2024 | George Woods |
| 2023 | Kevin Grimes |
| 2022 | Sandy Wood |
| 2021 | Julie Little |
| 2020 | Roger Merry |
| 2019 | Mike Pettitt |
| 2018 | Roger Medley |
| 2017 | Maggie Elers |
| 2016 | Val Orange |
| 2014 | Diane Haywood |
| 2013 | Thelma Farrow |
| 2012 | Jim Field |
| 2011 | Dorothy Anderson |
| 2010 | Roger Alexander |
| 2009 | Steve Taylor |
| 2008 | Jim Fieldsend |
| 2007 | Peter and Pam Miller |
| 2006 | Julian Gardner |
| 2005 | Barbara Merritt |
| 2004 | Ivy Haygreen |
| 2003 | David Turner |
| 2002 | Percy Nunn |
| 2001 | John Bean |
| 2000 | Brenda Fairhall |
| 1999 | Dr and Mrs Forsythe |
| 1998 | Michael Medcalf |
| 1997 | Colin Bird |
| 1996 | Ron and Edna Penhaligan |
| 1995 | Derek Pope |
| 1994 | Peter Bayman |
| 1993 | Gladys Alexander |
| 1992 | Gladys Bishop |