Bulmer & District

History

Group                                                                                                   

                Bul

        Bulmer & District History Group

Bernard Ernest Sandford

1916 - 2004

Bernard was born in Sudbury on 20th May 1916 and attended school in Sudbury. Upon leaving school he worked for the painting and decorating firm Bailey and Goates.

Bernard, known as Sam, met Violet Messent at a dance at Bulmer Village Hall and they were married in Bulmer Church in November 1939. They lived in the family house in Church Road Bulmer.

Bernard was called up in June 1940 and, due to having bad eyesight, was enlisted into the Royal Pioneer Corps. He remained in the UK and Ireland throughout the war. Three days after D-Day the Pioneers and Bernard landed in France to build bridges, roads and other infrastructures. Bernard spent time in Belgium, rebuilding what was needed after the Germans had been beaten.

Upon returning to England and being demobbed Bernard returned to his job at Bailey and Goates. Violet and Bernard had three children.

Violet died in 1974. Bernard, died nearly 30 years later aged 87 in March 2004 and was buried with his wife in Bulmer churchyard.

                                                                                 Sharon Porter 2013