Okehampton, Fore Street c1955

Sid and Nancy Harris

My granparents, Sid and Nancy Harris, nee Podgers, lived and went to school in Broadwoodkelly. They lived in the rectory, Silver Trees, when I and my sister Liz were growing up. We loved visiting and sleeping in this huge and wondrous house, it seemed so magical, especially the grounds. My gran, Nancy, would lay the enormous kitchen table for tea, with homemade sponge cake and cream and butter that we'd watched her make. She'd show us the baby chicks and pigs, and laugh heartily at just about everything. We used to play on the 'Silver Trees Island' at the entrance to the house with some of the local children that went to Winkleigh school with us. I can still smell those trees on that island when I think about it. We used to walk the two Jersey cows down through the village (to a field that was next to the cottage I was born in, next to the old post office) with Granpop, as we called him, Sidney. We were always terrified of the geese at the front of the house, they would hiss and chase us.

Granpop used to take us in his lovely old car to Winkleigh to deliver cream, butter and eggs to people, he would drive very slowly, telling us interesting stories all the way there and back. He would also tell us scary stories when we walked through the churchyard with him. He told us stories about his church bell-ringing, I particularly remember him telling me that one night he dreamt that the bell rope took him up, and that the next day it actually happened just as it did in the dream! He was such an interesting man and knew how to tell a tale. I once asked him if he believed in an afterlife of any kind, I can still see his puzzled face as he answered ... " Well, I believe we all go on to somewhere, but I can't imagine a place that would be big enough for so many people!"

My cousin still lives in the village and I think she's lucky to live in an unspoilt village such as Broadwoodkelly, it's never really changed, thank God, and every time I go there the memories flood back, and I'm out of the rat race and home again with Gran and Granpop. Sadly they passed away but I'll never forget these wonderful people and all that they taught and showed us in life. Without them and Broadwoodkelly itself, life would have been very different. Thankyou Sid and Nancy, for lovely memories. Now my son Reuben, 5, visits the village, church and old school with me,(and my father Michael Harris) and I tell him my memories. Reuben knew Sid but I think he's forgotten now.  

St Bride's School in the late 1940s and early 1950s

My maiden name was Quarman. I boarded at St Bride's School in the late 1940s and early 1950s.  The headmistress was Miss Thompson, assistant Miss Watson.  We wore a green unifrom.  I ued to enjoy ballet in gym on Wednesday afternoons. I played Mustardseed in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', ha ha ha.  A few of the friends I remember were Anne Bradford, Athenie Gerome, Penelope Kennedy and Rhona Smythe. Does anyone remember the midnight swims and getting out through the chapel doors? we were naughty, lol.

Does anyone have any pics of those years? And if you remember me please get in touch.

Holystreet Manor, Chagford

I am wondering if anyone remembers the school in Chagford at Holystreet Manor. I went to this school in the mid 1950s and at the time it was called St Brides, later to be re-named Holystreet Manor School with a change of Principal. I believe it closed down shortly after.
I lived in Moretonhampstead at the time (my parents were managers of the White Hart Hotel) and used to catch a bus from Moreton to Chagford then walk the couple of miles to the school. I did used to get side-tracked by Mr French of the local riding school, helping him to catch up his ponies. My school uniform used to get covered in pony hairs so had to have a quick brush down before going into school. In the afternoon I walked back up to Chagford again but there was a long wait for a bus so my parents arranged for me to sit in Mrs Rose's sweet shop in the square until the bus arrived.
Holystreet Manor School was for boarding and day pupils, I still have a school photo and the total in the whole school was only 40 pupils (about 6 teachers)! It was a wonderful experience for me as the school had acres of grounds for outdoor activities from nature studies to swimming in the very cold river. Several pupils used to ride their ponies to school, leave them in the stables for the day and ride home again in the evening.
The interior of the house was superb and made Christmastime very special. Every year I paraded down the wonderful wide staircase in the same tatty old angel outfit in front of the adoring parents!
Do these memories ring a bell with anyone else?  
Elizabeth Moon (nee Sturdy)