A Watchet Boy

A Memory of Watchet.

I was born in Woodland Road in 1948. The houses were brand new. I used to watch the builders from Dates going up the road to work on the houses at the top. I would stand on next door's doorstep and swear at them as they passed.
My friends were David Bulley, Tony Knight, Raymond Waterman, Peter Brewer, Mike Higgins and Alan Stephenson. We played in the playing field, up in the woods, in the water den, and in the gasworks! We loved to hide in the steam as Ronny Gunney's dad cooled the coke from the ovens. We had "seasons", bow and arrow, marbles and kick the can were some. Jack Date delivered fruit, Bill Strong brought the milk and Bob Barron's dad the fresh fish.
At first there were only two cars in the road - belonging to The Henrys who emigrated to the U.S. and "Lord" Stronach the postman.
I went to Watchet C.P. School and was often in trouble for my sense of humour. Mr Young ( Old Tommy) caned me sometimes. We dug a swimming pool with Mr Davis and I was often sent to put coke in the school heating boiler in winter. Mr Young made us cut the lawn with scissors sometimes. As milk monitor I had to thaw the milk on the heating pipes during winter. We would take a penny to school and get a doughnut from Tiley's bakery at playtime. Mrs Fish used to mix up our dinners into a great mash to make us eat everything! Ham and peas pudding and loads of beetroot stick in my memory. The Christmas parties were great and we often went to The Community Centre for games. Someone always sent in buns cut in half spread with jam and clotted cream.
I was in the cubs with Mrs Bale and Mrs Knight. We went tracking in the summer and had sausage sizzles in a field up the mineral line. I moved on to the sea scouts. We never went to sea as we didn't have a boat. The scout hut was in the yard in West St.
My father, Joe Taylor, played football for Watchet and would take me to watch. Trevor Yate's dad was the medical man and Owen Baker the coach. I can remember Alfie Edwards and Micky Strong playing and Wally House being the groundsman. I really enjoyed the half time tea made by Mrs Clausen in a huge boiler. It was hot, strong and sweet! What memories!
Mr Chave persuaded me to join Watchet Town Band and I was taught to play the baritone by Fred Bishop. I really enjoyed marching through the town and playing concerts on The Esplanade.
I travelled on the steam train to Taunton to grammar school with Michael Dilley, Walter Hennig ,Robert Hutchings , Melvyn Jones and Bernard Sulley. I was there when the diesel units were introduced. When I left school they shut The Minehead Line under The Beaching Act, but what an experience it had been for a boy!
I returned to Watchet this year 2012. and found it had changed a little and for the better. The steam train was in the station and I watched Princess Ann name the new boat for the Sea Scouts and was pleased they could go to sea. The old house looked the same, even the hedge my mother planted was still there.The school had gone, as had the gas works and Street's haulage firm. The shirt factory had closed, the esplanade and harbour looked magnificent.
I have many happy memories of my friends and home in Watchet and shall return soon I hope.