Nizefela and Wilf White

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MarkEllis

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Does anybody know where Wilf White and Nizfela lived in retirement? I've recently moved into a property now called Laurel Grove at Carden in Cheshire. I have been told that Wilf White lived here and that Nizefella is buried in the garden. I'd love to find out if that is true?
 
I knew Mary White until she died. Wilf died in the Isle of Man but his ashes were scattered on the grave of Nizefella which is in Cheshire. The exact address I don't know, but I know a man that does!

Leave it with me and I will get it for you

From what I can remember of the story he is buried in the field.

If you search my posts there was one a number of years ago and there is a member on here that worked for them in Cheshire
 
Many thanks Cronkmooar. I look forward to hearing from you. There is a ref in his autobiography to Wilf and Nizfela living at Lower Carden Hall, not Laurel Grove. However what is now Lower Carden Hall seems to have been in other ownership since late 1950s. I wonder if Laurel Grove was once known as Lower Carden Hall. I shall try to get my hands on the title deeds. I shall also try to contact Maesfen.
 
Quote from 2008:
Only in that I worked for Wilf and his wife for a couple of showing seasons and Fella was in retirement there too. He was a lovely old horse to deal with (as Wild was too!) and had a mare that was stabled with him as companion, they never let either out of sight! When he died (well after I left) he was buried in the garden there and a few years later, they went to live in the Isle of Man; he's still in the garden though as far as I know. I still have a White City and Harringey plaque of his and a couple of AIT rosettes too.
He was always my Dad's favourite too, he was chuffed to bits to actually meet him too after just worshipping from the ringside.
Maesfen
 
How wonderful! We've been told that Nizefela and Wilf's ashes are scattered in our garden at the edge of the garden by a rockery on its west side adjacent to a field. When you worked for Wilf can you recall if he and Nizefela were living at what is now known as Laurel Grove? It's the property with an entrance near to the big old stone gatehouse / back entrance of Carden Hall (now Carden Park hotel)? I could private message you a picture of the house and stables?
 
Ok from the person who helped bury him..

It is Laurel Grove

Nizefela was PTS in the field away from the house and is buried in the garden.

The location is at the bottom of the garden, in line with the kitchen window, so that Wilf could look out and see him.

Wilf's ashes are not scattered there - his ashes are buried with Nizefela.

My friend thinks it was about this time of year, but I was 40+ years ago so this might not be right! It was one of the school holidays

If you have photos the exact spot can probably be located for you if you want.

A judge owned the property after Wilf and Mary and a service was held to bury Wilf there.

Mary died 6 year ago- and was also supposed to have her ashes buried/scattered there but we don't know if this did actually happen. She was cremated in the IOM
 
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Thank you so much. We are so pleased. Yes I will send some photos in the next week or so which perhaps you can pass on to your friend. If anyone out there has any photos of Wilf and Nizefela at Laurel Grove we would love to see them. Thank you.
 
Thank you Dusty85. Sorry, when I replied I thought your post was a post from Maesfen. I will try to pm Maesfen to see if she/he can add any more info. We'd love to find some photos of the place in its White and Nizefela era! M
 
No worries- I did wonder, but thought you may be talking to Cronkmooar!

Pretty cool huh? Im glad you've found your answer. I find it surprising though that if Wilf himself is buried there (albeit in ash form), why there is no plaque/stone?

You should keep an eye out for them both cantering and jumping around at the bottom of your garden!!
 
Dusty85 said:
I find it surprising though that if Wilf himself is buried there (albeit in ash form), why there is no plaque/stone?
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I presume it is because they no longer owned the property - I know Mary's will stated she would like to be put there if it was possible.

She died in September 2007 - so you could ask whomever owned the property then if she joined them.

Maesfen does have some stories - we emailed a few times back in 2008 when the other thread was started.
 
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MarkEllis said:
Many thanks Cronkmooar. I look forward to hearing from you. There is a ref in his autobiography to Wilf and Nizfela living at Lower Carden Hall, not Laurel Grove. However what is now Lower Carden Hall seems to have been in other ownership since late 1950s. I wonder if Laurel Grove was once known as Lower Carden Hall. I shall try to get my hands on the title deeds. I shall also try to contact Maesfen.
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Just received your PM which I'll answer in a bit but yes, Wild was at Lower Carden Hall before he moved along the lane to Laurel Grove. Lower Carden was then bought by the McAlpines of building fame and they lived there until last year when it was sold; I believe now bought by Steve Morgan of Redrow Homes fame, also owner of Wolves FC and I think his wife now lives there; beautiful house, loads of oak panelling but a bit erie when you're baby sitting there with all the creaking it did, lol!
Laurel Grove has always been Laurel Grove BTW.

I think I have a spare copy of the book by Wilf which I'll happily let you have too.
 
This has bought back memories, I used to see Wilf and Nizefela at local shows, they were always a pleasure to watch as they jumped in great style. Am I right in remembering that Nizefela user to do a kick back when he cleared a fence?
 
MarkEllis said:
Does anybody know where Wilf White and Nizfela lived in retirement? I've recently moved into a property now called Laurel Grove at Carden in Cheshire. I have been told that Wilf White lived here and that Nizefella is buried in the garden. I'd love to find out if that is true?
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Hi there, I lived & worked at Laurel Grove with the White’s, I think it was 1978/9, they moved to the Island of white. Yes Nizefella is buried behind the house nearest to the road. I did pass Laurel Grove a couple of years ago, hoping to see from the road where I used to live but it was all fenced around so had no luck.
Hope that helps & hope you are happy living at that beautiful place.
Kind Regards
Janie Elbourn (My surname was Hardy back then though)
 
Lovely thread, so many memories of that time come flooding back. How lovely of OP to have so much empathy and respect for their final resting p!ace.
 
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