Hawkchurch, Devon

Bonners Drive Friend

I lived in Millwey Avenue and had a good friend, Christine Taylor, who lived in Bonners Close off Bonners Drive. We worked for a short while together at Boots the chemist in Trinity Square before I left to make a life in London (from which I never came home), we have kept in touch (mainly at Christmas) and have both sadly... [more]

Aminster Secondary Modern School

I have some rather bad memories of school years spent at this school, because I was a rather shy and insecure child so I tended to be the victim of the school bullies. One I remember very vividly was a Maureen Ashby, I also remember a Miss Wallis as the domestic science teacher, who used to make me feel very nervous and... [more]

Dukes and Hawkins. My two favourite sweet shops.

In the years of rationing, my mum used to remove the sweet coupons from her ration book so that we didn't spend all our pocket money on sweets. About halfway down Castle Hill, on the left, was Dukes shop. All I was interested in were the sweets, though he also sold tea, sugar and a variety of other less interesting items. I... [more]

Axminster Secondary Modern School in the 1950s

I was born in Axminster and having failed my eleven-plus exam (fortunately) I went to the secondary modern school where Mr Tolchard was headmaster (known affectionately as Herby). My favourite teacher was Mr Hayman, our maths teacher, who was brilliant at flicking chalk at anyone whispering during his classes - the chalk always found its mark. He was better known to... [more]

Reflections from childhood

I was born at Reeds Hill Farm in 1942. I started school at a two room school in Chardstock, we walked to school which for me was a long way and I usually got my older sisters who had to walk from the farm past my school to catch the bus to the senior school in Axminster.  I remember the school... [more]

one of my many schools

I went to Uplyme school from about 1958/59, I was about 8 years old, we lived in Combpyne and came to school by bus which we caught at Rousden.  My memories of the school are three sisters by the name of Taylor, one I think was Belinda, and a girl called Ruth. I also remember two brothers Frank and Ralph I... [more]

School days

My first school was at Uplyme. I started when I was 4 which was nearly 54 years ago now. I remember the headmaster was a Mr Denham and he lived in a house on the top of the hill opposite the Church. I remember being quite scared of him. The teacher who I also remember with great fondness was a Mrs... [more]

The post office

I grew up in Combpyne but I remember that we used to have a van that came up to the village from Musbury 2 or 3 times a week with everything any body might need from paraffin to bread.  I remember the man who owned the post office then was called John Fenner.  My Mum and Dad always had a friendly... [more]