Parish Pump (CGA Series) - Plot Summaries

Plot Summaries

The series ran from bi-monthly in 1971 and 72; then again in 1974 and 75; in 1973 a shorter, but monthly, article, appeared.

1971

• Jan pages 6 to 9: Introductory article - why strong walls make good neighbours
• Mar p95-97: An exotic London couple make their homes in the village
• Jul p275-277: Grey spars with his taciturn, obstinate gardener
• Sep p368-370: Deadly intrigue at the Horticultural Show
• Nov p445-447: A widow plans to sell a small meadow for development

1972

• Jan p9-11: A description of the village's original 3 pubs, now reduced to 1
• Mar p83-86: the uses the thriving village hall is put to
• May p148-151: The unadopted part of the village lobbies to be incorporated
• Jul p213-226: the village handyman is departing, much to everyone's dismay
• Sep p303-306: a local bachelor strikes lucky at the local races
• Nov p 453-456: The Sunday Newspaper "Boy" ( aged 86) retires

1973

• Jan p14-15: The Post Office Noticeboard
• Feb p74-75: A tenant farmer is selling up
• Mar p144-146: Mid week routines
• Apr p210-212: A new pub sign is universally disliked
• May p270-272: The Grey's faithful "Lady that does" quits
• Jun p338-340: A popular local "Beatt Combo" split
• Jul p400-402: The growing "Week-enders" trend
• Aug p464-465: A young Scion marries into money
• Sep p535-537: The Cricketing feats of yesteryear
• Oct p593-595: Organised poaching gangs visit at night
• Nov p656-658: A thatcher refuses to take no for an answer
• Dec p726-728: The new vicar causes concern

1974

• Jan p10-12: How Grey moved in one frosty New Year's Eve
• Mar p149-151: A portrait of the General
• May p272-274: A Hungarian tractor driver is well and truly lost
• July p385-387: An exact repeat (although not acknowledged) of the July 1973 article
• Sept p540-542: An Irish girl comes to work at the Grey's
• Nov p659-661: Two old comrades refuse to walk a quarter of a mile to see one another

1975

• Jan p14-16: Two very different soldiers are stranded in the village on New Year's Eve
• Mar p149-151: The pub's ancient settle is removed to make way for a fruit machine
• May p269-271: A portrait of the village's charismatic former G.P
• July p394-396: A former G.I. settles in the village and tweaks some time-honoured customs
• Sept p486-488: A description of the rivalry between the village and its larger neighbour

"There is no great amity, just a polite acceptance of the other's existence." (Sept 75)