Stoke Fleming, Devon

Warfleet

I first came to Dartmouth in 1966 as a member of the Vancouver Boys Band. We were a 39 piece military style marching/concert band. All of us in the band fell in love with Dartmouth. We were hired to play for the Carnival in June and the Regatta in August. I returned with the band in 1968 and 1970. On one... [more]

Living in Kingswear

My mother Mary Dart was brought up in Kingswear, where she lived with her mum, dad, and brother Edward until she married my dad Les Witty who was in the Army at the time. She had to move away as Dad was posted to Germany in 1953. I was born in 1955 and came to Kingswear when I was about 18... [more]

Past Schoolmaster

My Gt grandfather, William James Hawken was a certified schoolmaster at Galmpton between 1875-1880. His youngest child, Frances Marian, was born there on 10th October 1875. She went on to marry William Henry Birch, who was a son of the iconic Betsy Birch who founded the London omnibus transport system, after the early demise of her husband William in... [more]

Childhood and Marriage

I went to Sunday School here from 1949, and I sang in the church choir from 1950 until 1960 alongside my Nan.I was also allowed to learn to play the organ, the church has (had?) a wonderful organ, 2 keyboards and foot operated keyboard pedals, plus more stops than I could ever get used to. An uncle also sang in the... [more]

Dartington Morris with Heather & Gorse Clog Morris at The Church House Inn

This view is EXACTLY the spot where the dancers and musicians of Dartington Morris and their guests Heather and Gorse Clog Morris performed in August 2008.

It was a lovely warm August evening and a crowd of villagers and holidaymakers gathered for the dance performance at 8pm. I recall there is now a plaque on the front wall... [more]

A village entertainment at The Church House Inn

This is the spot where the dancers and musicians of Dartington Morris and their guests Heather and Gorse Clog Morris performed in August 2008. The view shows some villge women sitting on a low terrace where a crowd had gathered for the dance performance just recently!

I recall there is now a plaque on the front wall of the... [more]

Cudhill

We arrived in Brixham in the spring of 1954, our first 'home' was a one bedroom   basement 'flat' in Torquay. I found plumbing work on a block of flats at Plainmore, and became close friends with Brian and Whin Dovey from the Newton Abbott area, unfortunately we have since lost touch. Our first home in Brixham was in Langley Avenue. I... [more]

Dancing at the Brixham Heritage Festival 2008

One of the week long programme of events for the Brixham Heritage Festival is morris dancing on the old Fish Quay.

Grimspound Border Morris entertained the crowds first. They "blacked up" in the traditional way and then danced to the hypnotic rhythms of their large band under the canopy of the old Fish Market. It was something of a... [more]