CD2

(52 mins)
 

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LYNMOUTH FLOOD AFTERMATH

The next day TR walked up over the debris to Lyndale Bridge; at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, he was told to go to Lynton immediately. Cleared them all out and put in the Globe Hotel for 14 days. 13 of them came back and accommodated them from the 'Rising Sun' area. They weren't actually destroyed, possible to live back there. Mr Hardman was the owner of the pub. TR got fed up and hired a 12 inch television and went back to his own house. All the people that came back that didn't have one came to watch; the cafe wasn't open. In the evenings with nothing to do, went to the Bath Hotel and spent hours in there.

There was power just in the far end of the village. Power got destroyed but was connected again because they wanted them to get back to Lynmouth as soon as possible. The council asked TR to open up the cafe as soon as they could because so many people wanted to come to see it.

The rest of the village was dead, absolutely, nothing but rubble. As you looked up from the seafront, it was like a skeleton. Pathetic really the stuff that got washed down on the beach - bedding, doors, people's personal stuff.  If it wasn't for the flood, would have had a good haul. Didn't touch it, it got washed away. Fortunately, TR didn't see a body; they all got carried out to sea.

To be the small part of the village that wasn't affected, in one sense TR was delighted, but in another he felt very upset about the unfortunate people. He had friends who got drowned and houses were washed away. He was on a rescue, trying to get people across from one side of the road to the other to get safe, one evening with his friend Harry; Harry got drowned on his way home to his wife. Lost lots of friends, Ned Smith.

Burials were all organised by the local council at different intervals when they found the bodies. Grieved as a community by having a service at Lynmouth by the river, but even now it is at the back of his mind. Each year they commemorate the floods. [Back to top]
 

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LYNMOUTH FLOOD / LIFE AFTERWARDS / CURIOUS VISITORS / BOATS / INSURANCE / THE SEA / MUD AND ROCKS

The army came in and local council and Devon County to put the village back together again. TR's life was upside down. In the summer, too busy to think about things that had happened, had to make a living. His house wasn't damaged at all, only with water seeping in through the floors; could carry on the business. Damage increased the tourists from a curiosity point of view. The Lynmouth flood was universally known.

On the night of the flood, TR was working with Vince Squires and the other boatmen, everybody joined in. The boats got washed away. The trees got caught up in parts of the bridges and wiped away all the lot. TR had 2 boats then and the Campbell's had boats, motor launches which plied the passengers from sea to shore; all went. Brother lost his boats. TR doesn't think anyone had insurance for the boat, just the passengers. Afterwards, insured against storm and tempest. Generosity of people in the country and the world, gave donations that helped a terrific lot. Insurance is more modern; now have comprehensive insurance for boats.

Father survived the flood; Seaview is on the side of the hill; he got it decorated. The sea was quite good, it was the torrential river that came down., swept everything away in front of it. In the morning when the tide went out, could walk right across the front of the harbour, tons of mud and rocks, red earth; cars, people's possessions. [Back to top]
 

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BOYHOOD CTC TOUTING / RUNNING B&B / GETTING WOOD / PIGGY BANK JAM JAR / SMOKING

TR was at school until he was 14. Made a few bob touting CTC (Cycling Touring Club). At night times, waited on Lyndale Bridge when they came down Countisbury Hill and ask if they wanted accommodation, 2s 6d bed and breakfast. TR used to fill his own house up first, then fill up other people's houses. Crowds of people would come in, prior to the flood. Came as individuals, husbands and wives, families, on a bicycle. Cars used to stop at the hotels; CTC people always looking for a boarding house. Came from Birmingham, London, all over the country. Had luggage on their shoulders or strapped to the back of the pushbike; only essentials. Usually wore shorts, both men and women.

Dad had toilets put in about 1929. He managed to do B&B and his job fishing as Lena was very capable girl and younger sister was with her. Did their own washing, sheets every day. Dad had big boiler out the back of the house. Loaded up with wood to boil the water up for washing. Plenty of ground for hanging the washing out. Ironing done by putting it on the stove, flat irons. TR did not do that, left it to the girls [laughs]. Got wood from Glen Lyn or the beach. The people who owned the wood, Scolitse (he doesn't know how you spell the name) gave permission providing they didn't cut the trees down; Seaview was attached to the woods. Wood from the beach was planks of wood, trees washed down by the river, stuff washed ashore.

TR had a little jam jar for his money. When he wanted anything, used to help himself. Clothing was provided for. Wanted money for sweets, occasional cigarette. Started smoking when he was about 11; Dad didn't know. In the evenings, people in hotels came out in their dinner jackets smoking big cigars; boys would watch them and smoke cigar butts. Had matches, ½d a box. Smoked Woodbines, 2d for 5. Got in trouble when he got home, used to be sick; they knew exactly what he'd been doing, told off and sent to bed. Most kids did it in those days. Quit smoking about 16 when he started playing football. [Back to top]
 

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WORKING FOR CAMPBELLS / TAKING OVER FROM FATHER / BROTHERS' EMPLOYMENT / FIRST DAY / PACKET BOATS / PADDLE STEAMERS / FIRST EXPERIENCE AT SEA

[BOILER NOISE STARTS]

Left school at 14 and started with P&A Campbell's under the direction of his father so he could take on his job when he retired. 3 brothers; George was engineer, during the war in London docks as a marine engineer; Bill was in the bomb disposal RAF; Maurice was a medical officer in the Navy. It was accepted that TR would be the one to take over from father, being the smallest. 

When he was over at the Campbell's office, the telephone number was Lynton 14. The old man had taught him how to read the bills. Once he had got over the first telephone call, he was all right. Only TR was in the office, unless Dad was ashore. TR looked after the boats, when the tide came in, would bring the boats in; if the tide was going out, would take the boats out all ready, clean them up spotless.

There were toilets and restaurant on the steamers, had their own chefs. Carried up to 600 people. TR was stationed at Lynmouth; if short of staff would go over to Lundy or Minehead.  Steamers were powerful. Passengers were landed and embarked from packet boats towed behind the motor boats. Packet boats were rowing boats; TR rowed them regularly.

The first day TR went to sea, frightened him to death.  Big sea running, just going alongside the steamer, the sea caught them in the stern , they slid round alongside the paddle steamer and they went in under the paddles. Used to sleep in the same room as his Dad; he woke up in the night and told him he didn't want to do any more boating. Dad swore at him and wouldn't stand any nonsense. [Back to top]
 

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FIRST PADDLE STEAMER EXPERIENCE / FATHER / BOATING FROM CHILDHOOD / DAUGHTERS HELPING / SWIMMING / FALLING OVERBOARD / LIFEBOAT / RESCUES / GLEN USK

TR was 14 years old when he had his first experience under the paddle. His Dad managed to get a rope round the stern of the steamer and the motor boat came up at an angle. Bit nervous going back next day.

3 brothers slept in a room. Dad had a big room with a double and single bed in; TR used to sleep there, felt natural. As a kid, would clean his boats out. Always on the water with Dad. All the boys did that until they got to 14 when they took up their various jobs. His daughters used to go out with them. The boatmen liked the girls out there, they could speak the boatmen's language and the ladies language! Bobby or Jane would help the people up.

Ever since he was born, messing about with the boats, second nature. Used to be able to swim. Not a good swimmer but could save himself. Fell overboard. Been out on 240 cases of saving people in his lifetime of boating. No lifeboat, used their motor boats and a dinghy. TR was part of an official team, didn't get paid. It wasn't expected, it was accepted. Boatmen always ready to go at any time. The lifeboat went in 1944; it didn't pay to keep it there. Had motor lifeboats at Ilfracombe, Mumbles and Minehead. All the messages form the police or coastguards went to the cafe, on the seafront. It was first priority, gave up whatever they were doing.

The Glen Usk, a steamer, came out of Cardiff and went ashore on the sand ridge at Lynmouth. 73 passengers were rescued. Cabin crews were always in trouble and dozens of people cut off by the tide. Worked in co-operation with the helicopters stationed at Chivenor. Peg called Dr Nightingale to come down to a woman who had broken her back falling off the rocks, he injected her. Got her in the dinghy, transferred to the motor boat and she was hauled up on a rope to the helicopter and recovered in hospital. [Back to top]
 

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WORKING WITH FATHER / TACKY-LACKY / OFFICE WORK / CORRESPONDENCE / WIFE / CAFE

TR was about 10 years with his father before he took over. He lived till he was 91. TR learnt everything he needed to learn in that time; father was very strict; he was working with experienced boatmen who treated him as one of them. He was tacky-lacky when he started [laughs], the person who has got to do odd jobs. TR took to being in an office, paperwork but chiefly on the phone. Peg called him Skip. She was a very educated girl and did all the correspondence.

Peg came from Bath. Her people were founders of the Bath Investment Society. Her dad was caught up in the army and stationed in India. Her Mum wouldn't leave Peggy to go to India. After 10 or 15 years, they split up. TR met her at school. Her mother took on a big house in Lynmouth; Peg was nearly 15 and finished off her last few months of education. No further education; she helped her Mum who got married to the owner of Esplanade Number 1. Cafe next door, he and Peg bought it when they married. [Back to top]
 

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MARRIAGE / TERRITORIAL ARMY WAR SERVICE / CAFE CLOSED / CHILDREN / REOPENING CAFE

TR got married in '38 and only had 1 year down there, just buying the cafe. Being in the Territorial Army, got called up the first September, in his early 20's. Went down to Ilfracombe, then down to Exeter, Plymouth, Fowey, then Eastbourne. Going in for a commission, been promoted to corporal. Had to report to headquarters with all his gear, given 5s to spend and a railway ticket to Bristol. Had to go to the Bristol Aircraft Company. When he got there, it was blown to pieces. Given a fortnight off. Peg's uncle and auntie lived at Chipping Sodbury and TR lived with them . Had a car and drove into work every day. When the war ceased, applied to return to the cafe.

The paddle steamers were taken over by the Government, did the Dunkirk evacuation. While he was away, financially upset their plans, no income apart from what he was earning. Bought the cafe through the bank. Peg had Bobby in 1941 and Jane in 1945. When they re-opened, opened 2 hours a day because no food, rationing. [Back to top]