Frank Finch - farmer, actor, singer, motorcyclist and more - 1996

Frank Finch was born into the well-known farming family in Tunley.

In his younger days. Frank was a motorcycle rider and loved playing in the motorcycle football team. He was a keen scrambler and won many cups in scrambles.

He was proud of the job local farmers did during the Second World War and of being part of the Home Guard. He told a story of manning the barricades on the Eisley to Eastcombe road and calling out with his group to an innocent cyclisc 'What's the password then?'. To the trembling cyclist's 'I don't know', Frank and his crew retorted, 'We shall just have to shoot thee then" before dissolving into laughter.

People in Oakridge particularly remember Frank's acting abilities, notably in the village pantomimes such as 'Robin Hood and the Tunley Witches', written by John Poole, a Far Oakridge resident. Frank frequently shot his cuffs, as they used to say, and there was method in this because he had written notes on them to aid his memory. He had an excellent singing voice too.

Frank was a warm-hearted man, lively and full of jokes and amusing stories. He was very knowledgeable on a wide range of local and

nature subjects and would give sound practical advice and help whenever he could. He was definite in his views, though, and would not hesitate to tell someone if he thought he was overstepping the mark. Frank died in 1996 and is buried in Bisley.

The above is an extract from 'Oakridge a History' by Pat Carrick, Kay Rhodes and Juliet Shipman, available from Oakridge History Group, price £15 through the ‘Contact Us’ page or from the Oakridge Village Shop.