People
Hosking Family
Richard Hosking born 26 May 1955 youngest son of Frederick and Joyce Hosking living at Pencaire next to where I live. Our house was lived in the early days by my grandparents James Greenwood Hosking and wife Edith.
My grandfather had been married before and had six children sadly only two survived, Ida and May (emigrated to Canada and married Charhd Burge). My grandfather married again after losing his wife and married Edith Blatchford and went on to have six children: Frederick, Reginald, Harold, Bernard, Nora and Ruth. Sadly Ruth died aged 24.
My father Fred and brothers ran the corn merchants business here on the quay and had a coal yard below the Spaniards pub. The business had a big sign on the quay J.G Hosking and Sons. On the death of my grandfather the sons continued the business and in the early days by horse and wagon (I have a picture of my father and grandfather with the wagon outside Southwark).
Harold left the firm to train as a parish priest and climbed the ladder to become canon. Nora married Leonard Greet from Trehan Farm, Trematon Saltash.
Ida never married but was employed as housekeeper for Mr and mrs Ernest Talbot of Southwark, here in Cargreen. He was a market gardener and the local taxi driver.
It was very hard work in the grain stores as everything was carried by hand. In later years there were two lorries for deliveries driven by Peter Braund and Roy Williams.
During the summer tractors and trailers would come from the corn field to store their grain which would be milled and prepared to feed the livestock. Roller mills, crusher mills, and mixers horrendous noise. Father never ever wore ear defence or dust masks yet was never ill or deaf!
Over the years I have met so many people who were customers or family of that I still see today.
My father looked to retire and together with Reg this took place.
Bernard (the baby of the family) had many more years to go. Bernard purchased the property and did boat chandlery together with his brother in law Roy Wade and the little store (now Slipway Quay) was converted to a dwelling for Roy and Edith to live.
When Bernard retired in the 80s it was sold to Sellick, Nichols, and Williams for development and is what it is today.
I was sad to see it go but my father by this time had done enough hard work and needed a break!!
