Derek Newton moved to the Witleys from Shropshire at the end of the 1940s, and stayed here until the mid 1950s. His father was farm manager at Witley Court Farm and the family lived at Witley Court Worcester Lodge – one of the two lodges situated at the entrances to the Court.
Derek attended Great Witley CE School and has many happy memories of his time there.
Dereks recording: Newton_Derek_20150411_1_2_A (55 mins 31 secs):
| Start | Topic | Period |
| 0:00 | Introduction | 1948 |
| 0:15 | Moved to Witley – Dad’s work at Barringtons – Farm worker | |
| 1:26 | Witley Court | |
| 1:40 | Dad – rabbit catching at Witley Court | |
| 2:30 | Great Witley School – Head Mr Ford | |
| 2:45 | Queen drove through Great Witley | 1951? |
| 3:15 | School trip to Weston Super Mare | 1950s |
| 3:40 | The Cooks – never missed a trip to theatre in Worcester | |
| 4:00 | Dr Johnson | |
| 4:15 | School dinners – made by Mrs Ford – Cow cabbage – school milk, coal refuelling, Miss Cornwall | |
| 5:45 | Witley Court – daffodils | |
| 6:00 | Dad’s car Morris 8 – Witley Court Drive | |
| 6:50 | Meat delivery – Mr Thomas | |
| 7:20 | Sugarbeet hoeing – 25 minutes a row – 6d(2 1/2p) per row 100yds, fruit picking at Dr Goodwins, Pool House Lodge, reminiscing of Uncle George Poyner from Cleobury Mortimer/ Hopton Court, Hopton Wafers | |
| 13:15 | Gardens at Witley Court – Arum lillies | |
| 14:15 | Christmas cockeral | |
| 14:40 | Ben Cooper / Carol Cooper Sunningdale | |
| 16:00 | Teenage years in Holt Heath – Mr Palmer, Baker | |
| 17:45 | Mr Ellerie and family at Little Witley, Sunday School – stamp for attendance | |
| 18:45 | Richard Colwill and family | |
| 19:45 | Shooting on Sundays | |
| 22:45 | Stourport Lodge. Mr Davies – Canning factory – kept an eye on Witley Court | |
| 23:30 | Rabbiting | |
| 24:45 | Reason for moving from Bridgnorth farm managing. Cattle feeding, mangles and sugar beet. | |
| 27:20 | Red Marley Hill Climb | |
| 29:00 | Hundred House | |
| 29:45 | Tolleys – first combine, Klauss Combine. Scramble at Tolleys. 2000/3000 attendance. Noak Farm – scramble on Grandstand | |
| 31:50 | Holidays – only day trips with school. Went with Mrs Cooper 1953/54/55 | |
| 36:20 | Working at Porcelain Works | |
| 44:00 | Gypsies borrowed tin bath from Stourport Lodge | |
| 47:10 | Fete at Warwicks in Little Witley | |
| 48:00 | Colebatches farm machinery contractor. Evelyn Brazier, Glovers Garages |
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