Maidencombe, Devon

Memories of Watcombe

I have wonderful memories of Watcombe. I lived  there for many years. The beach was a favourite place to go in the summer, although even later for me as I used to help Bob Chapman with his fishing, he used to put out the lobster pots and salmon nets. I did the rowing and sometimes the sea very rough but it never worried me although I could not swim. Most of the beach would be filled with local people, and space to sit was at a premium. I hope anyone that reads this item will write a response. My brothers Gerald, Derick and Ronald have passed on. Perhaps someone will remember us and make a response to my letter.   
Best wishes,
Eric Harwood.

Father Christmas visits Stoke-in-Teignhead Village Hall

The villagers organised a wonderful welcome for Father Christmas when he arrived at the village hall. They had prepared a 'Victorian Christmas Fair' with arts and crafts and local produce for sale indoors, and outside there was a hog roast, mulled wine, real ales and roast chestnuts!

The huge crowd of villagers were entertained by the Heather and Gorse Clog Morris Dancers and I went along with my piano accordian to play in their band. It was a gorgeous sunny winter's day - sun shining brightly and not a cloud in the sky but I don't think the temperature went above freezing once! I finished up playing my accordian with my gloves on!

Our dancers struggled a little with the surface outside as there were grassy pavers with the gaps filled with gravel - these proved to be too slippery in the cold conditions so after just one dance almost every dancer had to change out of their clogs into a safer pair of shoes with more grip!

The village organisers must have been pleased with the event as it was crowded when we first arrived just after midday and huge numbers were still there as we finished our second dance spot just before 3 o'clock. It was a wel- run event, with a jolly Father Christmas arriving there in a white Morgan sports car, lovely local arts and crafts for sale and fabulous catering. Well done Stoke-in-Teignhead for a memorable event!

Heather and Gorse dance at a family ceilidh in Stokeinteignhead

Stokeinteignhead has a beautifully appointed new village hall which was the venue for a fundraising Family Ceilidh on 24th November.

The event was well supported by the village community and raised a lot of funds. The band - "WoRTS 'N ALL" - gave their performace free and we all had a great time dancing at their Family Ceilidh. An interval entertainment was provided by the Heather and Gorse Clog Morris dancers who performed four of their favourite dances: Hindley, Marston, Walton's Parade and Slapton.  

It was a really lovely evening and the dancers looked very smart in their kit of blue skirts, white blouses, black waistcoats and shiny black clogs. For me it was an especially memorable occasion as my wife Elizabeth had recently joined the local morris side and this was her first opportunity to dance in public with them. For me too it was a first - I joined in with their band playing my Hohner piano accordian.  Altogether it was a lovely evening in Stokeinteignhead village hall.

Squire Brown's, now Pontings.

The thirties were the very early days in my life. My mother would take us up  to Greathill where we would sit and have a picnic, not a lot to eat but a chance to play in the fresh air. We were all very happy together. Sometimes we might see a skylark rising above us singing away. We used to try to find the nest but never did. My mother would tell me the skylark took off well away from its nest. Barton was also where Squire Brown's house was, a large place where we had an outing day from the church, it would be at Easter time and the helpers would hide chocolate eggs for us children to find. I remember that you had to have six stars for attendance on Sundays to be allowed on the trip.
The Greathill I talked about was the high part of Torquay, that was where we could look right over the fields to the sea, not many houses then to cloud our view. Further down was Coakers farm, now only a road sign to mark it by. Walk along Moor Lane, Farmer Ching lived in a cottage, he had an orchard, yes, we would shin up the trees and fill our shirts with apples and run off when we heard the dog barking. All us locals knew of the greenpond that collected water from the springs that fed it. Sometimes moorhens would nest there, and sometimes it would freeze over and we would skate about like kids do. Does anyone remember Mary Pinkham? Her house is still there. Church Road is where Brunel had a chapel built, Stoneman the builders turned the building into  two dwellings in 1947?, I'm not quite sure about the date. I lived in Barton village for some years, quite a lot of history in the village. I think Upcott, the house opposite us, was once a pub. The quarry at the back of us was worked by a Mr  Gillard whose son Harry was an architect and was a friend of mine. A little further up the road Sharhams lived, I believe the house was once a post office. There is much more to say but perhaps I have said enough.

MR Eric harwood.