CD2

(62 mins)
 

2/1

PAY / HOUSEKEEPING / DANCING / HUGHIE HOGG / VISITORS / PUB / FATHER'S BEER / CIDER

In her first year of teaching she was paid £70, then £2 or something was added on and it became more as time went on. Education Authority were very keen on keeping it down. She contributed to housekeeping at home. 'In fact every penny I had I think I put on the dresser and Mum helped herself to it.'

She loved dancing, old polkas, set dances. They could sling her anywhere because she was small, 4'11. She enjoyed life very much. Boyfriends were taken for granted.  One called Hughie Hogg, who came from Harrogate.

There weren't many visitors to Withypool in those days, but as time went on it became popular. She can't remember anyone special, though she used to write to one or two. Quite well-to-do people would come to stay at the Royal Oak.

She doesn't think she's ever been inside the pub, nor her brothers. Only in later years when they had to get a couple of bottles of beer a night for Dad. For years he left off drinking until some neighbours called Carter came to live at Landacre and pressed him to make an evening of it with them. From then on he liked it. He'd drink 2 quart bottles every night. Mother never drank. She herself has never wanted it. Half a glass sherry at Christmas time, only if it's sweet or nice. They used to have cider that they got from a farm in Molland. They'd get a barrel of cider and a bag of apples. Sweet Morgan, or Morgan Sweet. It was called Sheepwash Farm, Hayes she thinks the people were called. She liked the cider when it was sweet. [Back to top]
 

2/2

ALFRED MUNNINGS

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They were very friendly with Alfred Munnings. He came to Hillway no end of times, at teatime. 'My sister used to say "he plans it just right, doesn't he? When he knows it's teatime, here he comes."' He would visit once a week. He liked his cream and jam. Often his wife was there, but more times he was on his own. He wasn't very tall, but a great character. She never accepted one of his paintings, but it would be worth a fortune now. She didn't want to take things from people. He did a painting of Mrs Bawden, at Newland Farm. 'She said to me one day, "I've never been sworn at so much in me life. If I just moved he'd say 'can't you B well keep still just for a few minutes?'"'. He would have walked the 1½ miles to Hillway. He would come once or twice a week. He would have tea with them all, the boys, chatting about country things. They were allowed to talk at mealtimes then.

She thinks he painted Hillway, but he didn't give them one. The painting of Mrs Bawden was lovely, life size. He really was a marvellous painter. He became 'Sir' later. His wife was quite different, fairly tall, quite robust, quite jolly. He wasn't so tall, but thin. It was nice to hear him talking about things.

They lived in a house in the village, Lady Parrett [?sp] had lived there at one time. They used to supply them with cream and butter. He'd collect it when he came to tea, at other times they'd take it to them. 'We had 2 or 3 cows. My brothers used to milk them and Mum used to make the cream and the butter and sell it. All helped keep the wolf from the door.' [Back to top]
 

2/3

WORLD WAR 1 / MOVE TO TIMBERSCOMBE / TEACHING AT SCHOOL / APPLYING FOR JOB / EVACUEES LEAVING

She remembers the start of World War 1. Hughie Hogg came up to tell them war was declared. Being on the farm they didn't go short of anything because of the war. 'Then the same lad came up, I remember, saying "peace has been declared". Lovely to hear, you know, peace.' They were at Hillway then. He came because he was head boy, the most reliable boy. He'd tell the whole school, very proud to be saying 'peace is declared.' She thinks he moved to Canada, they lost contact.

It was all right when she moved to Timberscombe because she lived with her Mum's sister, Auntie Eliza, at Ford Cottage, right by the roadside. But at school it was a little nerve-wracking. She was disappointed to start with because she was I the same room as the head teacher. Not so nice. She hadn't got the choice of being in the infants room, which was what she'd wanted. Somebody else was teaching the infants. She was teaching the same children as the head teacher, though she'd thought she was going to teach the infants. Miss Wallace taught the infants and her sister was the Head, one was called Bessie, the other was Valentine, the elder sister.

The job was advertised in The Teachers' World, Timberscombe VA, Voluntary Aided. She and Mrs Webber from Wheddon Cross but in for it, they were rivals, but she got the job. As they said, she's married and has got a husband who can support her. She was single, so she had the job for another 12 years. She was Mrs Eddie Webber [her husband was called Eddie].

Working with head teacher wasn't really easy. Sometimes they made too much noise. It was nothing like being on your own. She doesn't know why she didn't get the infants, and was too timid to say anything about it. It lasted quite a few years. Then the evacuees gradually started going back and things were getting back to normal and she could get back to her own classroom. Yes, it could have been because the school had grown with evacuees that she didn't go to the job she'd thought she was going to. [Back to top]
 

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VISITS TO WITHYPOOL / TIMBERSCOMBE SOCIAL LIFE / LIVING WITH AUNT / EVACUEES

She can't remember about going back to Withypool. It wasn't very convenient for travelling, so she went back perhaps twice a year. She rather liked living in Timberscombe. It makes a difference who you fall friendly with. She became friendly with certain lads, people from Avill. Living with her aunt was all right. You had to behave yourself. Her husband wouldn't way a word.

There wasn't much social life, the occasional dance, or whist drive, but not a lot. She would do quite a bit of knitting or sewing.

The evacuees disrupted the school, it was so different with 30 or 40 extra children, not knowing their background or anything. After a time they got used to it but it was difficult going at the beginning. They had two girls at Ford Cottage. [Back to top]
 

2/5

MEETING HUSBAND / ADDRESSING FREEMASONS / STEPCHILDREN / HUSBAND CABINET MAKER / FARMING AT STEART / RUNNING GUEST HOUSE

She met her husband when she was 38, 39. He'd lost his wife, 2 years before. She'd been very friendly with her, which was nice. She'd no idea she'd meet up with him. He came from Yorkshire, was a Mason. Some years after they married it was his turn to be a Worshipful Master. She had to make a speech as well, couldn't think of what to say so started off saying her man was a Yorkshire man and had taught her how to make Yorkshire pudding. That got a laugh. The meeting was at the village hall in Timberscombe. Wives were involved as well, but she can't think [what they did].

It was so sad when Mrs Schofield had died. Two or 3 years afterwards they became friendly. He had 2 children. Edward was 6, Janet 4, she thinks. Her husband was a cabinet maker. Did beautiful woodwork. He made lectern in Timberscombe church and all the carving around the altar and doors to belfry.

He was quite keen on farming, became first class farmer. Bought Steart and turned it into a farm. She did cream teas and lent it out as a guest house, living in part of the house and taking in guests. [Back to top]
 

2/6

GUEST HOUSE / HUSBAND HELPING / MEALS / MOTHER DOING DISHES / BATHROOMS / FARMING

They had a number of pleasant visitors. She still hears at Christmas time from the very first people who came to Steart, people called Jarvis, from Kent. Quite a few of them would write and say how they'd enjoyed it.

She didn't mind giving up teaching too much. Seemed to make a success of the guest house. Her husband helped her, wore a white serving coat.

She used to do all the meals for her guests. The kitchen was absolutely roasting in the evening when the sun came round. She couldn't be cooking in the evening, it was too hot. Her husband would serve the people, telling them to put out their own knives and forks. He'd got quite a sense of humour and was very funny at times.

She wore an ordinary dress, and overall chiefly.

They enjoyed picking out the different china, for tea or supper. They'd start with a morning cup of tea, in bed, then breakfast at 9, chiefly fried. They didn't come in at lunch but were in at dinner time, one o'clock, when she did a cooked meal. If they were about in the afternoon they'd have tea, then supper at about 8. Cold supper, cold meat.

She worked out what to charge by asking around different people what they charged.

[question about washing facilities] Willy, her husband, was always one for progress, he wanted all the help they could get. Her mother used to love washing the dishes and drying, she felt she was being useful. She was living in the village at the time and would come up daily, the men would fetch her and take her back. She'd moved from Withypool. She can't remember where she went from Withypool, ?Simonsbath. She's forgotten. She came to live with her [MS], because she died there. Her father had died quite a few years before.

They had 2 bathrooms, which was rather good. Her husband had converted a back room to a second bathroom. They let out 5 or 6 rooms. They found it was quite profitable.

Her husband liked helping on the farm as much as anything. Her brother was working there and after Willy became acquainted with it all Jo, her youngest brother, went somewhere else and left him to it. He was living with them there then. He's now living at Somerton. [Back to top]
 

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HUSBAND'S WORK / STEPCHILDREN / HOLIDAYS / HUNTING / LOSING HUSBAND / TYPICAL DAY NOW / EXFORD DAY CENTRE

Her husband came to Exmoor to work for Mr Towler, who owned it all. He came down as a builder, built Willowbank, 3 or 4 houses there, and did some buildings on the farms around. He had enough work to keep him going for quite a few years.

She went to Yorkshire, but liked Somerset more, although Yorkshire was very nice.

It was very good indeed with stepchildren. She has no regrets whatever. They were sweet little ones. She doesn't remember a quarrel. No children of her own. Those 2 were a godsend. She thinks they went to school at Timberscombe. Janet is at Morebath.

She can't remember holidays. The work had to be done. They went to Yorkshire. They didn't go abroad then, but did some years later, though she can't remember at the moment. They had quite a few holidays away.

She didn't hunt. He [her husband] didn't like it and nor did she. Her people didn't like it much. They were too busy working to bother with anything else.

He died about 10 years ago. A sad thing. She couldn't believe it. He'd smoked a lot in his younger days. He gave it up after a time, but it was a bit too late it seems.

She thinks she must have stayed at Steart after that, and taken what guests she could. She had to do something. She can't remember when she came to North Hawkwell, to live with Edward [BJ says Edward said it was about 10 years ago].

A typical day now would be eating and sleeping. She doesn't go out much because she can't walk far. She goes to Exford Day Centre every Wednesday. It's quite interesting. They have their dinner there, which she doesn't care a lot for but she has a cup of soup. Eight, 9 or 10 of them go in a little bus from Wheddon Cross.

The first thing they do is have a cup of tea. They don't do a lot until dinner time. After dinner they play cards. They leave one week at 2, next week at 3. Go about 9 in the morning. She doesn't know who runs the day centre. [Back to top]
 

2/7

READING / LIFE NOW / LOOKING BACK / MISSING TEACHING / GENERAL REFLECTIONS

There isn't really anything else like that she'd do in the week.

Reading was quite a part of her life. You can't do without it. She would read anything, used to like Dickens. Doesn't read now, her eyes won't stand it. She wishes she could.

She goes to bed at 10 o'clock. Watches quite a bit of television. There isn't anything else much to do.

Looking back, 'I've enjoyed most days and been quite happy and contented and accepted whatever came, knowing I had to.' It wasn't always easy. At times it's been a little difficult, losing people, you gradually think that's another one gone. When her brother Abra died that was very sad.

She doesn't think much about the future. She's got to live from day to day now.

[uncertain response to question about grandchildren] 'Children make life don't they? I think.'

She has quite a good time at Christmas. Doesn't do much to help as she thinks she's better out of the way. There's plenty to eat and drink.

Her health is quite good, which she's thankful for from day to day. She counts her blessings.

[BJ admires her thistle-down white hair] She used to have earphones for a long time at school, a plait each side and then twisted up.

[question about missing teaching] 'I missed the teaching for quite a time. I used to say sometimes "what am I doing here, I ought to be at school."' But she came to her senses.

[BJ suggests she's tiring MS and that it is her lunchtime. MS kisses her goodbye and asks her to come again]

[RECORDING ENDS] [Back to top]