Chetnole And Leigh

A Memory of Leigh.

I REMEMBER BEING AT LEIGH VC SCHOOL, I LIVED IN CHETNOLE,AND CAUGHT AN OLD FASHIONED COACH TO SCHOOL. I MISSED IT ONE DAY AND WALKED IN THE RAIN, I WAS DRENCHED TO THE SKIN AND SLOSHING IN MY SHOES !!! I WAS THERE IN 1972 AND FOUND I WAS ONE OF TWO PEOPLE IN THE YEAR TO PASS MY 11 PLUS EXAM ! I WENT TO LORD DIGBY'S IN SHERBORNE UNTIL WE MOVED IN 1973 AND I WENT TO A GRAMMAR SCHOOL IN SURREY UNTIL I WAS 16. I WAS WITH THE 1ST YETMINSTER GIRL GUIDES AND WAS THE FIRST TO INTRODUCE THE PRIMROSE PATROL AS THEY HAD TO MAKE A NEW BADGE FOR OUR PATROL. OUR GUIDE LEADER WAS MISS MCSWINNEY, AND SHE SHOWED US AROUND HER MILL IN CHETNOLE ONE SUNDAY.SHE WAS DEBATING WHETHER TO REMOVE THE MILL WORKINGS AND I PLEADED WITH HER NOT TO AS IT WAS SO INTERESTING, AND IF EVERYONE GUTTED THEIR MILLS THEY WOULD BE JUST ANOTHER BUILDING !I WAS PLEASED TO SEE AT LEAST SOME OF THE INSIDES WERE LEFT, AT LEAST THERE WASN'T AT LEAST A HUNDRED YEARS OF DUST ALL OVER IT ANY MORE !!! SOMEONE WHO DID THAT JOB WOULD HAVE NEEDED A MASK!!!
I REMEMBER WE HAD A MAYPOLE IN THE SUMMER OF 1972 FOR MAYDAY, GREAT FUN, I'M SURE SOMEONE TOOK PICTURES FOR THE LOCAL PAPER !