Shute memories
Here are memories of Shute and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Shute or a Shute photo.
Shute School in The 50s!
Anne must have left Shute School a few years before I started there!! I remember a fantastic cold spring with an old fashioned pump in the "grounds" of the gate house. Always very welcome when we had biked to Colyton and back on a Saturday afternoon!! And the water was always ice cold even on the hottest day.
Shute in The Early 1950s
As Anne Tilbrook, I was a pupil at Pippins and then Shute, from 1950-53. I vividly remember Feb. 6, 1952, when the girl who rang the bell for change of classes brought us the news that King George VI had died. We all cried and Mrs. Clapp, our math teacher, led a spirited lesson on lung cancer. Few linked it to smoking in those days. I had a pash on a girl called Helen Roth - all very innocent in those days. The only other student's name I remember was Heather Spears. We did G and S in the gorgeous old theatre, played vigorous lacrosse and indifferent tennis. I had a tortoise - and I remember the crocodile lines going to church on Sunday and to a pantomime in the village - where I remember hearing the song 'Little White Duck' for the first time. We also did a school trip to Lyme Regis, perhaps by train? I recall a wonderful cello recital in Mardi's study and showings of great... Read more
Lesley Manning
I attended Pippins the Shute prep school in 1946, we used to go to Shute school occasionally, once for a May Day play when I had to carry a doll. we swam in the river in Axminster and went on the train to Lyme Regis on a Sunday. Can anyone tell me when Shute School closed? Lesley Manning
Shute School 1963-1965
I attended Shute School from 1963 to 1965 (my surname was then Vincent). My memories are reasonably food orientated: Midnight Feasts, wonderful afternoon teas when visiting schools came for sports, terrible porridge which you HAD to eat especially when placed on "Mardi's" (the headmistress) table. Lacross, netball. All the girls in love with the gardener's boy who was the only male in evidence.
School Memories
I attended Shute School from 1958 to 1963. My memories are of Halloween parties in the gym,midnight feasts and drama performances in the theatre. Every Satuday afternoon we went for long walks in the surrounding countryside. Summer half terms were spent with my parents at nearby Beer!!
Shute Memoir
I was at Shute from 1969 to 1974, when it closed. In fact, I was the final head girl. But only by default! My sister and school pals have spent hours over the years telling the same old stories and so I have finally decided to write a memoir. It won't be frightfully flattering, but I think our experience is the closest you will find to a real St. Trinians. If anyone out there remembers me or my sister Judy, it would be great to hear from you. Carolyn
Memories of Devon
East Steet (Renamed Dolphin Street)
My Uncle Henry Haskell Hooper, owned Ivy House, East Street, the adjoining premises was his shop and yard. He was the local painter and decorator. I was born in Ivy House December 2nd 1940. My mother was the sister of Lillian Hooper (Nee Cooper)
David Broughton
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 banter with him. I recall my mum teasing him and calling him butter fingers because he was always dropping things. Nobody was more distressed than Mum when he came and said he was giving up the round because he had M.S. But they remained friends until John and his family moved.
The School
I think 1960 was the year my mother (Joyce Baxfield) was appointed headmistress at Offwell School. She had been head teacher at Cotleigh before this. I grew up riding my pony all around the area and have many fond memories, including taking a day off school to attend the hunt when it met right here in the picture!! It was a blissful childhood and I am sure many of the friends I made then are still living in the area.
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 used always follow an adult into the shop, who would invariably take pity on me when Mr Duke told me there were no sweet coupons in the ration book I had offered him (I knew that really). A voice would pipe up and say "It's ok Mr Duke, I think I may have one or two coupons in my book that I won't use". And so, off I would go with my tuppence worth of aniseed balls, after gratefully thanking the kind adult. Mrs Hawkins's shop was about a third of the way down Castle Hill on the right hand side. It always smelt of potatoes and cabbages, but she... Read 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 clumsy because I was left handed. I work in a school now and love all the kids to bits, even the very shy ones who can come across as disruptive, but only need understanding, something old-fashioned teachers never gave. My maiden name was Darke, and I had older families, 2 brothers + 2 sisters, that attended this school before me. Mr Tolchard was only head for my first year, he was then followed by a Mr White. The one teacher I do remember as being so kind was a man whose name I cannot remember but he taught English, he would help me through many a difficult term, especially after I... Read more
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