CD 1  (69 mins)

1/1

UFFCULME/VICARAGE/PARENTS/GRANDPARENTS

Born Uffculme 12.5.1920, Chapel St, near Cullumpton. There until 7, father and mother moved to Luppitt with curate. Father born Uffculme, mother Ashill, near Uffculme. Father worked in vicarage, mother did occasionally. 1932 came to Dulverton, father went to work for Col Clayton at Northmoor. Mother ran vicarage, father looked after garden etc.

Only ever knew grandmothers. Grandfathers died. Grandmother Troake very severe, lived in Uffculme, not keen on them and let them know it [laughs]. She sat in chair and banged on floor and everyone ran. Different in character to Grandmother Acland, who lived with them. Grandmother Acland moved to Dulverton with them, died soon after, at 84, the kind of person who would have driven with verve even when old. Those days such things not done. Both grandfathers died of heart attacks, mother's when mother quite young. Aunts and uncles much older, father last of 8, mother 15 years older than other aunts and uncles, always gap, TT came along behind. Living with grandmother worked, sometimes she'd go to one of the other children and come back again. [Back to top]

1/2

MOVE TO DULVERTON/NORTHMOOR ESTATE/COL CLAYTON

Finally ended up at Northmoor. Northmoor self sufficient, had two gardeners. Moved 1932. Northmoor estate mile north of Dulverton, over Marsh Bridge. Built by Wills' tobacco people, later became Lord Dulverton. House built by them and estate developed. 1930s owned by Col Clayton, quite well known, chairman of Dulverton RDC and Somerset County Council. Very severe man, you didn't speak to him he spoke to you. Mrs Clayton quite nice, David Clayton still around now, quite different. Northmoor self-sufficient, had its farm, its gardens. If anything had happened could have lived off produce. All the staff indoors, cooks, kitchen maids, butlers, a complete unit on its own.

Estate stretched from Marsh bridge to Hawkridge, goes right up side of Barle valley. Mr Quick's job to keep paths clear and woodlands. Estate quite well looked after, don't know about today. Father saw to car and any other jobs, had mixture of jobs. Moved from Luppitt because parson decided he'd get married, mother would have lost control, had no intention of doing that, so they went. But he didn't get married after all. All rather a muddle, didn't marry woman who was going to move in (her mother was going to move in as well). Words were said between the two women and TT's mother, something had to give [laughs].

Then father had to look for a job. Job at Northmoor advertised in paper like Western Morning News, used to be quite a lot of vacancies.

No brothers and sisters. Doesn't remember much about move except it was an upheaval.
[Back to top]

1/3

SCHOOL

Listen to an audio clip from this track by clicking wma or mp3.
(Click here for information about downloading audio clips)

Only school the top school, behind church, everyone went there. Didn't cover such a large area as there was a school in Brushford at that time so only catered for Dulverton. Bus used to go up Highercombe Drive, round Ashwick and down again, picking up children. They lived at Northmoor. Went on bus, then it got crowded, so went on bicycle because he was bigger than the others. A lot of children then, families larger than today. They did very well at school, taught to read, write, all kinds of things.

School quite good. Learnt his music there. Headmaster, Mr Weaver, used to run church as well, had choir, boys had to sing. TT had to play for choir practice twice a week, a nice half hour. Learnt shorthand and lots of things, amazing what they did learn. Basic education, not such an extended syllabus like today, quite likely some of it they don't want to know at all and not taught some things they should be taught. They were taught to read and write and all the things they would want. People more particular then. Now children can spell wrong, they can just write anything as long as they can express their thoughts. Thinks schools have gone too much the other way, don't spend long enough making children do things right. Much later, at work, boys and girls were coming to them and doing things wrong, no-one had corrected them at school.

From school went into Barrow and Chapmans. School not as large as it is now, classrooms have been added out in playground. What was the First School, then took everyone from 5 to 15. All this nonsense the other day about putting the schools together, saying big ones would have trampled over little ones. About 30 in class, a roomful, and beaten with a stick if didn't behave, girls worse than boys sometimes. Supposed he got beaten. It was discipline, they wouldn't have controlled them unless they'd known they were going to be punished. Doesn't know why children are so good today. Was only fear of what might happen at home and school that made them behave. Children don't have this today, amazed how children react to not being punished, of course some don't and that's where problem arises. They got away with it, of course by today's standards they were brutally abused [laughs]. Never really hurt, caned on hand and at home with anything reach. Never really hurt but enough to keep them in check. [Back to top]

1/4

ONLY CHILD/MUSIC/ORGAN/BRUSHFORD CHURCH

Listen to an audio clip by clicking wma or mp3.
(Click here for information about downloading audio clips)

Being only child you don't have to consider others quite so much. Being single all his life, you don't really have to give that consideration to other people, you can say I'm going to do that and do it. Somehow or other has always balanced the two [laughs], otherwise people wouldn't have tolerated him all his life, voted for him. Games never appealed much. He played tennis but had no ability at games. Had no problem entertaining himself, has always belonged to things. Always had music, which takes up time, being asked to play, goes on all the time. Always had music at home, father played violin. At vicarage at Luppitt had church organ at end of garden, could always play, never had problem, when quite young could open book of music and read it, but take music away and couldn't play God Save the Queen.

Taught by Mr Barham in Uffculme because there was a Masonic Lodge, Mr Prowse the parson used to go there, Mr Barham would come from Tiverton and TT got an hour on the organ. Then taught by Miss Bennett, Dulverton schoolteacher. No money to pay for anything, but somehow it was managed, had to pay for music lessons. Always a problem. Many years later went to Mrs Stanbury and did harmony with her, Mrs Stanbury David Stanbury's grandmother, John's mother. She was brilliant, would teach piano and play, would put on musical shows and things. TT came across her through church music. He was helping out in Dulverton, then job of organist advertised in Brusford. TT 16, thought he could do that. Parson du Boe said it was a waste of time advertising in [West Somerset] Free Press because no-one would reply. TT turned up on doorstep saying I can do that. He saw Mrs du Boe. They paid for Mrs Stanbury to come to Brushford with TT for an hour for four weeks and then said yes he could do it. Still playing there now. [Back to top]

1/5

MILLENNIUM ETC/ORGAN PLAYING

First playing was for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. It didn't bother him, still doesn't. Was doing songs of praise millennium thing in Dulverton, does a lot of millennium things. People say doesn't it worry you, he says no, you just sit down and learn, you sit until you can do it. It doesn't bother him, you play it and play it and play it until your fingers drop on the notes. If playing for Stephen Pugsley and Barle Singers, going round Winsford, Dulverton and Exford he plays it twice. Plays it through once at home, then again. Did part of millennium thing last Sunday week but played it through beforehand on piano, happy with pedalling because it was hymns. And if he can't do it he says so, if too difficult says no it's out, I'm not doing it. You soon know if it's beyond your ability. Sometimes can play nearly all of it except for three pages, it's too difficult, so says get professional for that, I'm an amateur. Layout of music would make it too difficult. Can happen quite easily because you haven't been trained to that level to have the technique. That does happen, but it's no good trying if it's beyond your capabilities [laughs].

Millennium service, songs of praise, presented no problems. Same on 1 January, did Martin Shaw's Fanfare. Would have liked trumpets, but trumpets did not materialise. Bad time over Christmas. Vicky Dunscombe had big keyboard, amplified, and played Fanfare in tower, with group and conductor and choir all round her. That worked all right. Whereas TT up other end of church which would have been disaster because of time lag. Very difficult to see what's going on because of screens and pulpits. Gets a lot of pleasure of it, but more pleasure from rehearsals, all joining in together. [Back to top]

1/6

CHANGES TO CHURCH MUSIC/CATHOLIC  v ANGLICAN

Changes to church music vast. You win and you lose. Up until 1960s, until Brushford joined with Dulverton, Brushford was very high church. For years sang high mass, Merbecke plainsong and acolytes, incense, occasionally candles [phone rings].

Difference between Dulverton and Brushford because Brushford church had always been church for Herberts at Pixton, who were Catholics, with living in giving of Herberts. Pixton large Dulverton estate with Carnarvons and Herberts. Herbert family church, so could decide on rector who would be sympathetic to them and sing high mass. So had parson du Boe, who came across from Ireland. Gradually sung Eucharist introduced, about 1916. Very early. Could get permission to sing this type of service from the cathedral. In those days it was going back to roman catholic church and very strongly resented. Remembers when he came to Brushford, only doing matins and evensong, Mrs du Boe playing sung Eucharist, ringers wouldn't sit in there, sat outside, saying the works of the devil were going on in there. Still feeling that this was popish and should never be. Surprising how that still lingered in 1920s and 30s. Same with communion service, everyone had to leave unless you were taking communion. It was secret, and if you asked questions you were told to clear off. Annoyed him. Surprising how things have changed.

Then came Rite A and Rite B. Decided on Rite B because could still keep Merbecke. Thinks catholic church no longer holy in Brushford because words wouldn't fit, they put another word in and it couldn't be holy any more, word wouldn't go in because Merbecke hadn't put it in. Back in 1550 there was a split with King Henry VIII and he set up his own church so he could  marry when he wanted to, rotten thing to do. Had no music, which was a problem. Merbecke wrote setting for anglican church, about 1550, in plainsong, so you had full mass in plainsong. In catholic church, which we do now, gloria came at the beginning, but someone in their wisdom said let's take it out and put it at the end, so the gloria came at the end, then we took it from the end and put it back at the beginning again. Then they came to Rite A, and none of the music fitted then. Rite A is the service we are using at present time, mass again. New music had to be written, so people like Appleford, which Brushford is using, and Rutter, all kinds of people wrote settings, Aston. Most of the young chaps, born 1930-40 all wrote music. Meant new words and new music, used to sing Aston in Dulverton and Rutter in Brushford. Then Dulverton had to change to Appleford because there was a bit in there for the men which they couldn't do any more, then Dulverton [?Brushford] liked Appleford so now it's all the same music. [Back to top]

1/7

CHURCH MUSIC/DULVERTON & BRUSHFORD CHOIRS

Things have changed. Before, with high mass everything intoned, even readings, and it went on continuously, organ picked up from priest, priest from organ, whole thing went on, all acolytes moved and it was a spectacle, it was set up for that before people could read. Now the thing's broken up and people patter all over the place, You have Mr Somebody read a bit and then Mr Somebody Else read a bit and somebody else say a few prayers and somehow the thing's fragmented. They say it draws congregation in. Perhaps it does but whatever you do you lose something. Back to the old and there's no participation and the spectacle goes on. Now more participation but you lose the grandeur, it's gone, can't build up atmosphere. You get all these ditties now, family service, little drops of water, little drops of rain [laughs]. Not hymns. On Sunday morning they might have had two hymns but rest all ditties. Picked up off Songs of Praise. Sunday morning TT said no-one knows this we've never had it. Jan Weaver said I know it, Lady Caroline said I used to sing it at school. Lots of people watch Songs of Praise, all kinds of stuff there.

Brushford will join in singing, in Dulverton you can rarely get congregation to sing. To do with building. In Brushford you're compressed together, choir in front, organ in back. Dulverton vast building, people spread about and don't sing, difficult to sing when on your own. Choir and organ behind screen, so shut away. TT can play evensong in Dulverton, with four in choir, but not be aware anyone else has sung it because they are too far away behind a screen. They've improved it now, put them in choir stalls, which they said were uncomfortable so moved into little chapel now. Choir in both churches, 8 in Brushford, 3 come down from Dulverton. [Back to top]

1/8

CHOIRS/SERVICES

Madeleine Marsh organist in Dulverton, she and TT run both groups together. Others join for carols. Had 8 men the other day, but they don't come week by week. Very difficult to get people to sing in choir. Will come for harvest and carols but not Sunday by Sunday by Sunday morning, people don't like committing themselves to it. Not much you can do about it. At moment working reasonable well, but it is a job. Have about 8 children in Dulverton, very good, come down from schools, sing very well. One, Ned, goes on to Wells in September, sings beautifully, did little solo at Easter, beautifully done, comes down from Brompton Regis. Madeleine Marsh very good at training choirs up, knows what to get them to do. They do the right things, but then Dulverton and Brushford choirs lose them.

Wear robes, hasn't changed much. Robes in Dulverton, not Brushford. Until they come to carol service, perhaps harvest, and then they insist on robing. Means have to move all stuff from Dulverton to Brushford and back again because they share robes, all little children's stuff as well. Not bad idea for children otherwise would be multi-coloured, god knows what they might come in. Blue cassocks and white surplices, men and women.

Brushford high church until early 30s. Then Herberts at Pixton went roman catholic and had services up in iron room, a big barn at Pixton, set up own roman catholic church. Had American organ. TT has played there and in all churches, has no feelings about it, plays for anglicans, roman catholics, congregationals and methodists, they all ring him up. Has no feelings about it at all, just plays for them. Plays all the same music, no difference, thinks what's it all about in the end. Services much the same, very little difference, even catholic. Asked to play practically the same for funerals and weddings, begin to wonder what it's all about. People no different, all friends of his, knows them all [laughs]. One begins to wonder why these people can be so divided. Though join together a lot more, as over flower festival, all three churches took part. Church of England, united reformed (TT knows as congretational) and roman catholic. Doesn't bother him, always the same, never concerned him. Since 1985, since he retired at 65, went into local government. [Back to top]

1/9

FIRST JOB/BARROW AND CHAPMAN SOLICITORS

Left school at 15/16. Went to Barrow and Chapman, solicitors in Dulverton (now Risdons). Did general office work, stayed until war came. In those days Barrow and Chapmans covered multitude of things, not only solicitors but clerk to Dulverton rural district council and to magistrates, amazing how much there was. Stayed until 20, Effie Allen used to be clerk for Mr Chapman and do Dulverton RDC. Quite a set up. Highways Department and Sanitary - John Organ (Brushford) started in Dulverton and did that before moving on to Williton, worked in Sanitary Department before they had such fancy names. [Back to top]

1/10

ROYAL ARMY PAY CORPS/PIPE LAYING

TT went into army. Best days work ever did. Coming up to 20 and was going to be called up, which he knew. So thought this is a bit of a mug's game, supposing he went to Taunton and volunteered saying he wanted to go in Royal Army Pay Corps. So he went to Taunton, that was a fine job, someone who actually volunteered and said he wanted to go in Royal Army Pay Corps. So they sent him off down to Exeter and put him in Royal Army Pay Corps. They didn't know what to do, somebody had gone there, volunteered and said exactly what he wanted to do, so they thought let him do it. Best thing TT ever did because then he had a Royal Army Pay Corps number. So stayed in Exeter, then got sent to Leeds, then was transferred out into service corps. Didn't matter at all, because as soon as he went to any unit he had a Royal Army Pay Corps number and everyone would line up and he would get called out and sent up to office, and no-one saw him any more [laughs].

That went on for six years and he had quite a good time in the army, no one ever queried it. Most of units had people in charge who had worked for SWEB [South Western Electricity Board]and construction sites, had been builders, all sorts of things, even bank clerks. Surprising how bank clerks knew hardly anything. Solicitors, some of them, lawyers, all kinds. But knowledge limited to what they could do, couldn't run an office, when it came to pay didn't know what to do. So would keep TT sitting  all week doing nothing so he could do the pay, no problem. Would sit there and run the little offices, quite a nice job, best day's work he ever did. Went on until he came out of army. They had little platoons, each had its office, all its rations, about 30 men, quite a set up and the whole thing had to be run. Had own kitchen, own cooks, water tankers and things, and lorries. Quite enjoyed it in service corps.

They put him on oil pipe lines, Pluto, pumping oil across under the channel. Responsible for pipes which oil went through. No good having army with no oil, no diesel. Pumped it through and up the other side, up to Calais, round about there. Had to lay pipes wherever they [the army] went. Went to Normandy first and then up to Rouen, about there. Was slow because they couldn't get the Germans out. When Germans went they went quickly. RAPC were left then so had to jump right up to Calais because Germans didn't stay around. Went on nearly up to Rhine and then called it a day. Quite a nice job. [Back to top]

1/11

DULVERTON SAWMILLS/CINEMA/POST WAR

Then came back and went to work in sawmills. Came back 1946. Things different in those days, once had up to 100 men working at sawmills. Sawmills at Exebridge on main road where industrial site is. Was Dulverton sawmills. Timber used to come in and be converted. Worked in office. Job all right, until labour government went in and wanted work for steel works. Railways using all wood, so they said let's change it to steel so they did. So sawmills lost all their railway orders. The end of the sawmills, didn't really recover. Went into Exmoor woodcraft, making mangers, gates, hurdles and goodness knows what, farm material. Also garden furniture, seats and tables. That was difficult, getting seasoned timber.

Have never been out of work a single day, always finished one job on Friday and started next on Monday. When came back from war couldn't have a holiday. Sawmills had men there but in reserved occupation, conscientious objectors and all that sort of thing, it was staffed with these people. War ended and these people said we're off. Mr Short had to come back, had been there before, appeared very old, used to shuffle about. TT came home, they said can Tom come down and help Mr Short. So father said he'd ask TT, who said well yes, he'd only just come out of the army but he'd come back. There was a week's holiday coming up and TT said when the mill closes for a week I'll have a week's holiday. So he really didn't have any time off at all. But work was easy to come by, he could always get a job.

Dulverton hadn't changed during the war, was the same. Cinema now came twice a week, only once a week before. Came from Lynton, shown in Town Hall. Americans had put projection box on so films could be shown right way round, not wrong as they had been. [Back to top]