Heybrook Bay, Devon

A  Naval  Hideaway.

What a great little place to be when in the RN. I was serving on the Boom Defence Boats in 1954/5. These boats were coal burning, and I was a stoker, so it was pretty hard work!  We spent most of our time in Pembroke Dock, but now and again we had to do some work in the Plymouth area, and berthed in Turnchapel, a real hideaway, no Naval Patrols, no Naval Officers, as our Skipper used to leave for his home in Plymouth, well I think that's where he went!!  Then we all used to go up to a little pub, just up the road from the jetty, on a hill, brilliant little place, good beer, always a sing song, nice female company!! And everyone was happy, that is until closing time!  Yep, that's fifty odd years ago now but I will always remember Turnchapel, although for the life of me, I am unable to remember the name of that pub. I remember the name of one of the girls though - but that's another story!
Julian Best.  

A very new Broadway

In 1962 my parents and I (12 years old) moved from Bristol to open Victoria Wine (later to become the Wine Market before reverting back to Victoria Wine). There were still several empty units awaiting occupation. I can recall most of the shops that were open, starting at the fire station end was James & Rosewell hardware, a ladies hairdresser, Lloyds? Bank, newsagent, service road, Barclays Bank, ladies & childrenswear, coffee bar (bane of our lives with noisy motor bikes racing around every night), South Devon Textiles, Co-op, Midland? Bank, Sharp & Savage TV, our shop, Dingles foodshop. Mays florist, Millbay laundry, Widgers decorators, Dewhurst, Pearkes grocery, Lockharts hardware then lastly was Fine Fare which was one of the first supermarkets to open in the UK.
There was no development on the south side at this time. It was another 2 or 3 years before Woolworths, then another year or two before Co-op (Plym House?), Boots and Halfords appeared.
We had the pleasure of the sight of cows grazing in front of the orchard of Down Farm, all under the car park now.
The Broadway was a through road with unrestricted parking on both sides!! Oh, what happy days for the motorist then!!
Every Sunday, the Boys' Brigade would march through playing their bugles and drums. In all the years I lived there I never did know where they were going as they went towards Mountbatten Way. There were no road closures of police escor in those days with there being so little traffic.
It was sight to behold whenever the fire siren sounded and all the firement would come rushing down Dean Hill on foot or a motley collection of old bikes, often jumping off and leaving them to come crashing to a standstill while they went rushing into the station. They were alwasy in about 2 minutes of the siren sounding. Shows how much things have improved over time!
There was a concrete building at the corner of Dean Hill and Broadway; I seem to think it might have been car sales but my memory is vague on this. The site was later occupied by Vospers in a new building.
Opposite the fire station was a small motor garage run by a Mr Jacobie.
I seem to remember the library being where the police are now, alongside the fire station. The police in 1962 were in Oreston, the station where LIDL is was still a year or so away, as was the library opposite. No health centre, just small surgeries. The Milk Marketing Board were opposite the petrol station, but they, like everything else, have gone now.
There was a largeish underground bomb shelter where LIDL's car park is now. We kids never got into it, the entrance was blocked. I think it was filled in and bulldozed over when the police housing was built. It may still be there under the car park!
I went to Plymstock School before it expanded into a Comp. The headmaster was Coysh Busby. Teachers I remember are Jessie Lugg, Mr Cornish, Mr Colicott, Miss Couch, Rex Booth, Mr White, Mrs Budge, Mr Coleman, Mr Cornish and Mr Ellis or Elliot. I then went to Tech College and did a 2 year course on radio and TV.
We left the Broadway when my father retired in 1976.
If anyone has anything to add contact me. cpden@hotmail.com.uk

My stay at Collaton Cross

I lived in Collaton Cross for a short while when my Husband was in the R.A.F. My surname then was TURTLE. My son Nicholas was born in the house in Collaton Cross. He was ill at birth and taken to Freedom Fields Hospital in Plymouth where he had a successful operation and is now a strapping six foot 3inches and very fit. I had a Daughter Julie and another son Tony. I enjoyed my stay at Collaton Cross and used to enjoy walking into Newton Ferrers. I had very friendly neighbours who were very helpful when my son was born and in hospital. My husband was working from R.A.F. Mountbatten on air/sea rescue. As I recall Newton Ferrers was a very pretty village which I hope some day to revisit,I also hope that my son will decide to visit his place of birth in the not too distant future.
I feel that I did enjoy the area but sometimes,when you are young and bringing up a family, you do not have the time to look around you and truly appreciate the beauty of such a place. It was a lovely summer that year as I recall. All too soon we were posted again and went abroad to Cyprus. How lucky we were to go to that beautiful island. After many postings though, I remember my short time at Collaton Cross with fond memories.

St Mary Church Devonport

This picture shows St. Mary’s Church which extended from west to east between Edinborugh Road (previously named Dock Wall Street), and James Street. It might have been taken from the top of The Column in Ker Street. The long building extending from north to south was the ropery where my Aunt Blanch worked at the turn of the twentieth century. The Dock Yard wall, which remains to this day, can be seen as if extending from the northwest and southwest gables of the church. This is deceptive as the width of the old cobbled street was between the two. I, as well as my five siblings was borne in 28 Edinburgh Road, this was approximately at the point where the wall was breached for the Yard extension after the war. I believe the breach was roughly in line with Duncan Street and Northbrook Street both of which ran at right angles to Edinburgh Road. There was a high level board on the wall, signed by Colin Campbell, the then Town Clerk, warning of the penalties for throwing missiles over the wall. As a child of about six, I was caught breaking this rule, and was taken to my front door by a Royal Marine Policeman, patrolling the wall at the time, who told my father. My Dad gave assurance that he would deal with the matter following which I received a caning. That was the way things were in those days; discipline immediately dispatched. This did me no harm and the incident is held with nostalgia among my many memories. The Rev. Bennett was the local vicar in the 30’s and 40’s and ran both a Scout Troop and Cubs Pack which met in the large cript below the church.

Posted 1615 hrs. 24th December 2008 Terry Hawton