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Colaton Raleigh
Colaton Raleigh photos
Displaying the first of 3 old photos of Colaton Raleigh. View all Colaton Raleigh photos
Colaton Raleigh maps
Historic maps of Colaton Raleigh and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Colaton Raleigh maps
Colaton Raleigh area books
Displaying 1 of 26 books about Colaton Raleigh and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Colaton Raleigh
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Colaton Raleigh.
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Wedding Day
It was 20th April when I married Joscelyn Hellier, who lived in Pear Tree Cottage. We were married by Rev. Reginald Kaye in St John the Baptist Church at Colaton Raleigh. It was a windy Saturday but it did nothing to spoil the joy of the event. Forty-three years after, we are still together, we have three grown up children living in various parts of U.K. and we live in sunny Southwest France in a lovely little hilltop village near to Bergerac.
Many happy memories of Colaton, including Joscelyn's late father and mother who lie side by side in the village churchyard.
I do have other memories of Colaton but they can wait for another time.
France,21st June 2006
Devon memories
The Old Railway Station
My friends and I spent many happy hours playing on the old platform and under the old railway bridge before they were both demolished.
We used to play hopscotch on the platform and had a camp amongst the trees at the back.
We made a rope swing there and used to take a packed lunch down on school holidays and spend all day there messing about.
We had a secret club and had to give a password before you could enter it like children do.
The old bridge was shored up with peices of wood and we would climb up and down it racing each other to the top.
I remember there was an old tramp lived under there at one time.
Good Times
Some of my first memories were picking the daffodils which my family grew, my great grandfather being the Walter Hill who grew the first King Alfreds. We lived in Ova-Yonda in Back Lane, my grandparents lived in Waterleat, now the tea rooms. It was in the brook that ran through the property that I watched my grandfather tickle trout and I caught minnows and sticklebacks.
My great-aunt lived in a cottage further down the High Street and my great-uncle lived a house near the Cannon.
My parents were Percy and Betty Hill. They entertained many, Dad playing the piano, Mum singing and eventually me doing 'a turn'. Dad had a dance band during the 1950s and in the 1960s going into a pub with a piano and tinkling away so people could have a good old sing-song.
The fun we had in the village hall, fancy dress parties and games, later on dances. Christmas time was when the school would put on a concert. I was Angel Gabriel... Read more
Growing up at Newton Poppleford
I was born in London, moved to Oak Tree Villas at Newton Poppleford in Devon at 9 months. Jean Bastin lived on one side and Brian Pring on the other, with Mrs Harrison the church organist in the fourth house, next to the Turk's Head pub, run by Arthur and Mrs Devereux. In Factory Row lived Mr Down, a war reserve policeman. Moved to 3 Otter View, aged 7 or 8. Mum, Iileen Page, and dad, Reg, who was recalled to the colours in May 1939, and died in 1944. I attended the primary school, under Mrs Hawkins, Miss Burrows and E Warwick Cox. Later I schooled at Exmouth, with June Force and Jean Radford. June's parents ran the paper and general shop next to the church where I was in the choir, vicar was Reverend Greenslade. Jean's father was a farmer, and I spent many happy hours on his farm. His family with his wife included Ken, Kitty and Marion. The Exeter Inn in the centre of the village... Read more
1950s
Great holidays at Goosemoor Farm with the Ireland family. Jack Bastin worked on the farm. Devon teas at the Southern Cross B and B.
I Have One of These
Amongst my grandmother's collection of photographs and newspaper clippings, I have a very similar postcard but with much stronger light coming through the windows. Mine was produced by A.J. Way, 65 Mill Street, Ottery St. Mary.
Sir Walter Raleigh
Visited Sir Walter's birthplace at Hayes Barton and touched the house to link with his history and spirit. Beautiful location and could imagine him as a young man looking out over the same countryside that I could survey. It was a special moment and I could feel his presence and aura in the atmosphere of that special place. Found a loose piece of flint from the outside chimney running up the middle of the house into the deep blue, sunny sky. I felt at peace and at one with this great man and all that it brought to our history. Made me proud to be an Englishman and in my own way an explorer of the 21st century.
