Vague Memories

A Memory of Watchet.

I was born in February 1941 and have vague memories of living in Watchet sometime in 1943/1944 for a period of almost two years. My mother (Kathleen/Kitty) and her sister (Olive) rented a house which I believe was on the Doniford Road. My mother and I came down from London while my Aunt and her daughter (June) came from Hastings. Before moving into the rented house Mother and I stayed with a family named Chidgey (spelling may be incorrect). They lived in a property running broadly adjacent to the railway station. Mr Chidgey worked in the booking office of the GWR station. I can remember being taken by him to the station and watching the trains. Also staying/living at the house was a young lady named Oona.

I can remember, on more than one occasion, an American army lorry arriving in the main town, I think near the railway bridge, handing out doughnuts etc to the townsfolk. Walking along cliffs one day a fighter plane flew very close rolling over several times. I was told that the young pilot's family lived close by and that this manoeuvre was a regular happening; true or false I do not know.

My other abiding memory was of what seemed to me to be a big boat regularly in the harbour which was jokingly, or warmly, referred to as HMS Rushlight.

I have returned to Watchet briefly, walking, pub lunch, WSR, over recent years and have always wondered if there was anyone around who could confirm, or otherwise comment on, my vague memories.

John Elston

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