Jim Hastie 1926 -2018
Foxearth village lost one of its long-term residents on 15th October 2018 when Jim Hastie died at the age of 92. At a service at the West Suffolk Crematorium on 12th November to celebrate his life, many tributes were paid to a well-respected and greatly loved man for his friendship and the wonderful memories he bequeathed to us.
James George Hastie was born on 30th September 1926. His father was a dairyman for a Scottish landowner who decided to move to Suffolk in 1936 bringing his entire herd of 85 cows, 3 horses and the Hastie family - which then included 6 children, of which Jim was the eldest. They all boarded a train at Castle Douglas, the Hastie family having a crate of chickens, two dogs and two cats of their own. Sadly at Newcastle station one of the cats did a runner for it never to reappear to the family. A great deal of local interest was generated when the "convoy" arrived at Sudbury station and a cattle drive through Friar St. and Ballingdon to their new location at Goldingham Hall in Bulmer took place. As a ten year old Jim had vivid memories of this exciting adventure which he later recounted to local historian, Ashley Cooper. Jim left school at the age of 14 and began work at Brook Hall farm where the family were now living. As a young man Jim would get smartened up on a Saturday afternoon and take the bus into Sudbury and it was on one of these occasions that he met Vivienne. He summoned up the courage to sit next to her and this led to joint visits to the cinema, trips to the coast and outings on his motorbike - and on 26th September 1953 the couple were married in Glemsford church. They lived at Huntsmans where there was no electricity but the resourceful Jim soon got a generator to overcome that problem. Water came from a well with a pump - and neighbours arriving to collect water from their well were a surprise for Vivienne who had been used to a more modern facility! The arrival of daughters Judith and June gave Jim and Vivienne great joy and family holidays in various parts of the UK are an enduring memory. When the girls married grandchildren Simon and Rebecca, Anne, Lucy and Charlie eventually joined the family, becoming a consuming interest in Jim and Vivienne's life. June and her husband Tom and children live in France and Jim and Vivienne often visited them and also had wonderful holidays in Denmark, Italy and Portugal.
Jim remained at the farm working as an agricultural mechanic until he retired - an impressive record of over 50 years which was recorded in the local paper. He revelled in his love of the countryside by taking part in shoots, walking miles in all weathers and talking to his many friends. His interests in how things worked and restoring old machinery were pursued through his keen membership of the Bures & District Agricultural Club and the Farm Machinery Preservation Society. Another retirement job was gardening which started with helping one or two elderly folk in the village but soon grew so that his battered pick-up truck was a familiar sight for miles around. For many years he kept the Foxearth churchyard in good order with careful mowing; this job came with a little building which Jim called the Verger's shed and its assortment of clutter would challenge his inquisitive mind! At the service many anecdotes were recounted about his wariness with new customers, his friendship with so many families and his affinity with children for whom he could always suggest a game or activity. One particular episode related to me by June and indicative of the home-spun philosophy so typical of country folk was when a fox made off with one of his chickens. Far from being annoyed, Jim's reaction was "Well, that just shows he's cleverer than me"! Jim loved animals - all animals evidently - and they had quite a variety at Huntsmans.
The lives of all who knew Jim were enhanced by his friendly smile and the pleasure he gave; he will be sadly missed but long remembered. We offer to Vivienne and all the family our sincerest condolences.
Ken Nice