Parents
Andrew James Innes Laurie (23 February 1884-28 January 1969)
farmed "Polsteads" a short distance away at Daws Cross.
Married at Frinton-on-sea
Charlotte Jessie Wyllie Rogers (20 April 1902- 2 April 1979)
They both started married
life in a farmhouse called "Beanlands" in Tendring, but by
the end of 1925 they had moved to Butlers Farm.
Andrew and Charlotte`s five children.
(1) Mary Laurie
- b Oct 1924 - Emigrated to South Africa in 1955. Married Colin Douglas
Scrimgeour aged 36 on 12/Oct/1957 at the
St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Durban, Natal, South Africa
Both returned to the UK in the 1980`s to live at Hadleigh, Suffolk
Colin died after returning to the UK - date not found
Mary Passed away December 2000 in Hadleigh
(2)James Andrew Stewart Laurie 9/4/1926. he was the Vicar at
Charsfield together with Four other parishes.
Rev.James passed away on Sunday, June 1, 2014, aged 88 years.
(3)Charlotte Mary Laurie 28/12/1928 -8/7/2020
(4)Ruth Laurie 26/5/1930 - d Jan 1945 aged 14 (due overactive
thyroid, no cure)
(5)Elizabeth Laurie 5/6/1932 - d unknown
Charlotte, or 'Busky'
as she was locally known, obviously had a farming background and studied
under artist Bernard Adams (1884-1965) in his Chelsea Studio in London.
She exhibited in London and the provinces, including with the Society
of Women Artists.
In 1980, her oils 'The Forge, Stoke by Nayland' dated 1960, was exhibited
at Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich.
Busky derived her nick-name
from Buskins which are Thick soled boots.
She was put in charge of all the "Horses Tack" at Butlers
Farm, hence the name which stayed her until she passed away
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The Laurie family moved
from Butlers probably around 1952, relocating to several other locations.
(a) Charlotte lived in
the Old Vicarage at Leavenheath with her mother.
(b) Hunters Lodge, Stoke Road. (circa 1968)
(c)Property called "Stones Throw", Newton Rd, Sudbury
(d)Property in Harrow St, Leavenheath
(e)Saracens Head at Newton Green
(f) Black Cottage (Now Blackthorn Lodge) along the Stoke Rd at Leavenheath
(g) Finally relocating to Thorington St, Stoke by Nayland
Busky worked at Leaden
Hall, Leavenheath working for Mr Dawson, possibly 1962/3 looking after
the horses.
Jeremy Pilgrim (Pilgrims
Garage in Bures) recalls her mother, Mrs Laurie travelling around Leavenheath
on a motorbike and sidecar while her husband used the Rolls Royce.
It was not unusual for Mrs Laurie to travel to Scotland using her motorbike,
accompanied by her dogs and Busky in the sidecar.
From her Studio in Thorington
Street, Busky exhibited her paintings at the 'Visions of Sudbury' at
St Peter's church, Sudbury in 2007,
Three of her oil paintings were on display, 'The Mill Hotel', 'Highland
Cattle and 'The Maldon Grey'.
She died at Waterfield Care House, Hadleigh on 8th July 2020, she was
unmarried.
How I first met Charlotte:-
In 2004, I became intrigued by the numerous
single-lane concrete roads on land adjacent to Bakers Hall and Butlers
Farm in Bures. Notably, one road behind Butlers Farmhouse was constructed
in a loop. What was the purpose of this road ?
My initial inquiry was directed to Gordon
Webber, the owner of Bakers Hall, who had since relocated to a bungalow
along Colchester Road in Bures. He informed me that he had signed the
Official Secrets Act in 1941 and was unable to disclose any information.
However, he suggested I contact the Laurie family, who owned Butlers
Farm during the war.
Local research revealed that the Lauries vacated Butlers sometime in
the 1950s or 1960s, but a surviving daughter, Charlotte, was no longer
residing in the village.
An internet search led me to a Charlotte
Laurie, an artist living in Thorington Street, Stoke by Nayland. I contacted
her and arranged a visit a few days later.
Upon my arrival, I was greeted by Charlotte
at the side door. I was immediately struck by the abundance of oil paintings
displayed on the floor, tables, and walls. When I explained my research
into the wartime activities surrounding Butlers Farm, she was eager
to assist.
Charlotte, who was well-informed about the mysterious roads, revealed
that they were constructed by the American Air Force in 1943 for the
storage of thousands of bombs destined for local airfields. This site
was officially known as USAAF Station 526.
The land owned by the Butlers and Bakers
was requisitioned by the US Air Force, with the exception of two farmhouses
that were no commandeered
Remarkably, Busky maintained a daily diary throughout the war years.
I subsequently visited Busky on several occasions to take extensive
notes and recordings of her wartime memories. During my visits to Thorington
Street, I also had the pleasure of meeting her brother, James, who served
as a Vicar in the Bury St Edmunds area.
After extensive research, the book "USAAF
Station 526" was published in 2019.
By this time, Busky had moved from Thorington Street, and I was eager
to learn about her current situation. Through Social Media, I discovered
she was residing at Waterfield House in Hadleigh. I contacted the Care
Home and explained how Busky had been an inspiration for the book I
had just published.
The Manager informed me that she was now suffering from dementia but
expressed interest in receiving prints of her paintings, which a volunteer
staff member would read and describe to her.
I sent several sheets containing copies of her paintings that I found
online, hoping they would evoke memories of her time at Butlers. A few
days later I was delighted to hear that Busky showed some emotion when
viewing her own artwork.
Busky was a truly remarkable woman, who
will be deeply missed and remembered.
Rest in peace.
Alan Beales
Acknowledgement to Beth Munnings-Winter, for allowing me to use
this Image
Beth was related to Sir Alfred Munnings, the renound equine artist
who lived in Dedham |
Busky`s charcoal drawing of Butlers Farm
|
Thorington Street
The extension to the rear was Busky`s Studio |
Romany Caravan parked in Busky`s
garden at Thorington Street |
Circa 1980 floods in Bures outside
The Swan Public House
Busky & Mary following her mother, making their way back to
the farm. |
Left to right
Busky, Ruth, Mary and Mother, |
|
|
Busky maintained a close friendship
with Roger Clarke at Weylands Farm, situated just a short walk
from Thorington Street.
Roger was a highly skilled farrier
and an exceptional horseman, actively involved with the Suffolk
Horse Society, an organisation committed to supporting owners
of this endangered breed, believed to be the oldest heavy horse
breed in Britain.
To aid in increasing their population, Roger played a pivotal
role in the breeding of these magnificent horses.
He adhered to traditional farming
methods, utilising his horses for all farm work, including ploughing,
threshing, and carting.
Not a tractor in sight.
Visiting the farm was akin to stepping
back a century. Roger could often seen working in the fields,
from Higham to Stoke by Nayland Road.
Cars frequently parked by the roadside as passengers admired Roger
working with his horses looking across the valley.
I had the privilege of meeting
him on numerous occasions while he was working in the Bures area
with his horses.
Roger passed away in 2019.
|
Photographs by Alan Beales
Published 02/09/21
Updated 05/09/2021
updated 02/10/2021
David Whymark with Leavenheath material
Thanks to Elizabeth Gardiner (sudbury) a great friend
of Busky
updated 23/08/2022 Mary Scrivenor
Updated with AI 28/12/2025
