The Union Hotel

A Memory of Newton Abbot.

My name is Jane Anne Simmonds (nee Hyde). I was born in Newton Abbot on 31st March 1956.

My grandfather Herbert Hyde had retired as a Wing Commander in the airforce and was managing the Union Hotel. My brother John Hyde was born in the rooms above this hotel on 8th September 1954. I was born in a house at the bottom of Powderham Road.

I have fond memories of my mother taking me and my brother John to Courtenay Park. We later moved to Moorland View and my father used to ferry all the kids in the street on his motorbike & sidecar to Penn Inn for a paddle in the pool.

I used to love going to the newton Abbot cinema on a Saturday (cost sixpence at the time) and sitting out on the edge of the River Lemon afterwards.

I also remember a bakery with a big bun over the door and often wonder if it is still there. Mum would buy us an eccles cake if we had been very good.

My father owned a tyre shop (John Hyde Tyres) but I'm not sure of the address.

I attended the local primary school and remember it was dark when we went to school and dark when we came home. We used to visit the local sweet shop after school and and I think it was owned by a lady called Irene Parr. She had an Airedale dog who sat outside the shop and all us kids was give him sherbert. It was no wonder he had hardly any teeth!

One of my earliest memories was of my mother and father ballroom dancing at Haccombe House. It was a regular Saturday night event for them as they were keen ballroom dancers. My brother and I used to sit in front of the stage, all freshly bathed and in our pjamas, watching the adults dance.

We moved to Australia in 1965. I missed Newton Abbott terribly. I went back in 1975 and am planning another visit this year. It will be interesting to see what I can still remember.

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