Recently, Jean, a Resident at Bernhard Baron Care Home (BBCH), saw one of her long-held wishes come true. With the help of Rachel, Senior Care Practitioner, and Nicki, Activities Coordinator, Jean was able to revisit The Stag Inn at Balls Cross, near Petworth—a place she and her family called home for 27 years during and after World War II. Jean’s history at The Stag is one of resilience, community, and family, and her recent visit brought back rich memories of her remarkable past.
In 1940, as World War II loomed over Britain, Jean, then a young girl, and her family embarked on a journey that would lead them to a place they never anticipated calling home for the next 27 years. Jean, her mother, and her baby brother Peter were evacuated from Broadstairs to Petworth. The Stag Inn in Balls Cross, advertised in The West Sussex Gazette, caught their attention – though at first glance, it was far from what they envisioned.
With no buses to rely on, Jean’s mother pushed her brother in a pram, walking three miles to see the inn. On reporting back to her husband that the inn was “a dreadful place,” her father said "We will be together and it will only be for the duration of the war”. Little did they know that this “temporary” stay would span nearly three decades, from 1940 to 1968.
Life at The Stag wasn’t easy. With wartime shortages, they closed three days each week due to beer scarcity. The inn had no electricity, gas, or running water, relying instead on a shared well and a hand pump. As there were no buses and the nearest station was 10 miles away, Jean’s father managed to turn the challenge into an opportunity, starting a successful hire car business that served the local community, including schoolchildren, the Red Cross, and even fruit pickers.
The family grew over the years, welcoming Jean’s younger brother Ricky in 1945, though he sadly passed away in 1950. Shortly after, Jean’s father died of cancer. In the wake of his passing, the inn’s brewery owners gave Jean’s mother and her a mere fortnight to vacate. However, recognising the family’s resilience, they extended their stay by a year, eventually granting Jean’s mother the licence, which she held until 1964. Jean then took over the licence from 1964 to 1968.
The Stag held memories rich in local tradition. Jean recalls the “bacon loft” halfway up the chimney, where her father smoked bacon for local farmers, climbing up every three weeks to turn the meat as it cured. The inn’s fireplace breast bore the Duke of Norfolk’s crest, a symbol of its historic ties.
Despite the hardships, Jean and her mother thrived at The Stag, running a beloved bed and breakfast and becoming part of the community. They fostered a vibrant social life, with a lively darts and football team at the inn. In the late 1960s, they finally bid farewell to The Stag and moved to East Sussex.
Jean’s recent visit to The Stag, now managed by Ann Marie and Phil, who have been there for seven years, was a chance to relive her memories. She even pulled a pint behind the bar and enjoyed lunch with her best friend. To commemorate the occasion, Rachel and Nicki at BBCH prepared a special keepsake—a laminated book filled with Jean’s own write-up and photos from her time at The Stag, capturing the life she built there.
For Jean, returning to The Stag was more than just a visit; it was a homecoming to a place that shaped her family’s story. Her journey back serves as a beautiful reminder of the rich tapestry of memories held by our Resident and the joy of rekindling connections with the past.
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