Whiddon Down, Devon

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)

A Saturday ramble at Fingle Bridge

The Heather and Gorse Clog Morris Dancers organised a ramble to celebrate the New Year and we met on a beautiful sunny January Saturday at the Fingle Bridge Inn.

My wife Elizabeth and I joined our group of friends some of whom took their walking very seriously judging by the Nordic walking poles and huge woolly caps!  Others were more informal with soft fell boots and dogs chasing sticks!  

We climbed the "blue" route starting a couple of hundred metres before the bridge and walked along the ridge admiring spectacular views. I guess we walked for two hours on a circular tour returning to the Fingle Bridge Inn.

We booked lunch in the carvery and we had an excellent meal. I had a giant plate of succulent roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, roast potatoes in goose fat and half a dozen different veggies. The horseradish sauce was hot (not sure if it was home-made but it was good). There was also turkey available and a vegetarian option. I chose a lemon meringue to follow which was a disappointment but others in our party were delighted with their chocolate torte or raspberry roulade. Coffee and mints followed and the entire meal was attended by pleasant waiting staff. A good choice of real ales in the bar which is important for morris dancers of course!   If only I had opted for the raspberry roulade instead of the lemon meringue!  

Ideally we would have had enough energy to round off a lovely outing with a display of morris dancing with music on my piano accordian but the meal was just too filling and everyone wanted to relax and talk!

The Friendly Post Office

As a kid this is where I cycled to from my home in Windy Ridge, Skaigh Lane, Belstone to save my pocket money - I knew I would never be a millionaire but I achieved my target of having a thousand pounds by my 18th birthday and I remember making the deposit at Belstone Post Office not long after my 17th birthday - I have very fond memories of Belstone as a child.

Paul Starkey