MARLDON LOCAL HISTORY GROUP May 2008

You may recall that in our Report in the March issue of the Magazine I referred to the Group's collection of Parish Magazines and the recent donation to us of a complete set of Magazines from 1993 to date together with a set for 1990.  I also made an appeal in that issue for any Magazines from the missing years of 1991/1992.  I was very pleased therefore to be stopped recently outside the School by Tony Moore (who makes many contributions to the Magazine) with the news that he had an almost complete set for 1992.  I say "almost" because the missing issue was for December, which would have been the usual double issue dated December 1992/January 1993.  Not to worry, I thought, "the missing issue may be included in our set for 1993".  No such luck though - our set for 1993 starts with February!

So, here is the new appeal - any Parish Magazines from 1991 (or earlier) and the issue dated December 1992/January 1993 please.  And, of course, any memorabilia of any kind relating to the Parish, of any date.  In the case of photographs, we can have these copied if you wish to retain the original.  Please get in touch with either Tony Chidlow (521419) or Doug Pulle (557141).

You may have heard that this year is the 50th Anniversary of the Apple Pie Fair, and the Group will be putting on a display of photographs on Apple Pie Fair day (Saturday 26th July - put it on your calendar). Again, any photographs etc of the Fair from the past 50 years will be most welcome to add to the already existing huge archive for this subject. Please ring either of the numbers above.

An early reminder now of our next Open Meeting on Friday 13th June, 7.30 in the Village Hall. Our talk will be about the Torbay Chalet Hotel holiday camp (now the site of the new development opposite Cox's Garage). Our Speaker will be Bob Hooper, telling us about the camp during his years in charge there.  Bob will be bringing some of his own memorabilia to show us, to supplement the Group's own collection.  And if you have any photographs etc of your own relating to the camp ........... you know what to do!  Admission is free to Members and £2 to non-Members.  Look out for the posters on the Notice Boards in due course.

MARLDON LOCAL HISTORY GROUP

April 2008

Steam trains are nearly always a source of nostalgia for people of a certain age, and very often for others who were not even alive when they were operating, so it was no surprise that our last Open Meeting on 14^th March was attended by a lot of people from the first category and a few from the second. (I am not sure in which category I can place our friendly local Postmaster, but he was there as well!).

Nearly 80 people then came to see an hour-long slide show, with expert commentary by Peter Gray, about the railway between Newton Abbot and Kingswear and all points (pardon the pun) between, including sometimes forgotten stops such as Kingskerswell, Goodrington and Churston.  The slides included some rare images of early railway buildings, a couple of snowy winters, Bertram Mills circus train at Torre, and grand plans for Paignton Station which never materialised, amongs others, all lovingly commented on by Peter.  If you want more, he has a weekly column on Saturdays in the Herald Express.  All in all, another enjoyable and well attended Meeting.

Also to be seen at the Meeting were a few recently obtained “old” photographs, and the latest photographs in the Group’s rolling “Marldon Now” project which records the Parish as it is today (all of which can be seen on the Group’s website www.marldonhistory.co.uk).  These photographs are the work of Member Ray Bond, as is the latest work on the Parish Tithe Map which was also on display. 

Our next Open Meeting in June will be another occasional opportunity for one of our well known “locals” to give us the benefit of his many years in the Parish, when ex-Parish Councillor Bob Hooper will talk about his years in charge of the former Torbay Chalet Hotel (“the camp” as it is still referred to by many, and now the site of the recent Midas development).   Hopefully, Bob will bring along some of his own memorabilia of Torbay Chalet to supplement that of the Group which will be on display.

MARLDON LOCAL HISTORY GROUP

March 2008

I was interested to read in the last edition of the Parish Magazine the piece by Angela Cox, on behalf of the Parochial Church Council, referring to the hopes to re-introduce the “Welcome Scheme” for new residents in the Parish.  I suspect that many residents will not have heard of this Scheme, and I would have been one of them were it not for one of those happy coincidences that happen occasionally.

As you may know, the History Group is always looking for memorabilia and other items to add to its Archive, and I am pleased to say that we are often approached by residents (or former residents) to see if we are interested in something they have just found or had forgotten about, or something which belonged to some family member who has passed on.  Very recently, a lady Member asked if the History Group would be interested in some old Parish Magazines which were just gathering dust.  As the Group has been collecting the Parish Magazine since our formation, the answer of course was, “yes please”!  The result was complete sets of the Magazine for the years 1993 to date, and a complete set for 1990. (She can’t remember what happened to 1991 and 1992!).

With the Magazines (and I’m getting back to the point now!), was a copy of a little booklet of 7 or 8 pages produced by the “Neighbours Care Group” which was issued to new residents and containing all sorts of very useful information about Marldon (and Compton) of the kind referred to by Angela, and more, and including a very useful street map.  The booklet dates from 1986, and I’m sure it would have been a very useful “ice-breaker” to newcomers to the Parish.  Fingers crossed then that the PCC’s hopes are realised.

Another item which was handed to me recently, and which might have ended up in the bin had the finder not been a Member of the Group (and well known in Marldon), is a car-sticker dated 1972 advertising a “Grand firework display and Barbecue” at the School in aid of the Changing Room Fund.  This would have been organised by the PTA (or its predecessor) and was in the days when the School had its own little swimming pool.  Admission was 20p and 10p for OAPs and children!  The sticker was put in the rear window of your car, and carries the instructions “moisten here” at each end!   This little piece of history was being used as a bookmark.

So you see, nothing is too small or insignificant for our Archive, and as it is quite some time since we issued a formal appeal for anything which you might have relating to the Parish, or its residents, which might be of interest to us, then please let us know. Obviously, photographs are the most common items which you may have, but any sort of memorabilia will be considered.  In the case of photographs, we can make copies if you wish to retain the originals.  Speak to any Committee Member, or ring Tony Chidlow (521419) or Doug Pulle (557142).  Or, better still, come along to our next Open Meeting (details below) and bring it along.  And if you have any old Parish Magazines from 1991 or 1992 (or earlier), we are very interested.

And that brings me smoothly to giving you details of our next Open Meeting (this isn’t just thrown together, you know!), which is on FRIDAY 14^th MARCH, at 7.30 in the Village Hall.  Our Speaker will be Peter Gray, who will be talking and showing his slides about Steam Railways in Devon.  Peter writes a regular column in the Herald Express about this nostalgic subject, and his previous talk and slide show a few years ago was very popular.  Admission is free to members and £2 to non-members.  You can of course become a Member for only £3 a year!  Posters are on the Parish Notice Boards and Members will be reminded directly as usual.  We look forward to seeing you there.

MARLDON LOCAL HISTORY GROUP

February 2008

I know that by the time you read this we shall be into February, but nevertheless, on behalf of the Group, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all our readers a happy and peaceful New Year.  I also know that I expressed that wish in our Report in the December/January magazine, but I am taking no chances as I know that the timing of wishing people a happy New Year varies from person to person, and I assume it varies because we all come from different parts of the country.  Certainly in the part of the Midlands (North Staffordshire) where I come from, the tradition is to express the wish the first time you see someone in the New Year.  Indeed, it was considered unlucky by some to be wished “ a happy New Year” before New Year’s Day!

The many weeks and celebrations that have passed since the last Parish Magazine help to make the Group’s Christmas Social Evening on 14^th December seem a long time ago, but I do recall that nearly 100 Members and their guests turned up at the Village Hall to make the evening a successful occasion.  As a change from our usual Guest Speaker we were entertained for an hour or so by that well known local duo, the Stage Door Johnnies with their music-hall act of humour and song, and were again well fed by a splendid buffet. I should also mention that our excellent raffle was also very well supported, for which many thanks to all who attended.  The prize in our other (free) raffle was the latest limited edition print of the Village by Marldon artist Debbie Flack, whose pictures of the Parish as it used to look are well worth seeing.  We were also pleased to see our Chairman Doug Pulle, who continues to look well.  Many thanks to all who came.

Our first Open Meeting of the New Year will be on FRIDAY 14^th MARCH, 7.30 in the Village Hall, when Peter Gray will be giving a slide show and talk about Steam Railways in Devon.  As many of you will know, Peter writes a regular column in the Herald Express about this nostalgic subject (on which he has an encyclopaedic knowledge!), and his previous slide show and talk to us a few years ago was very popular. Our Open Meetings are of course open to all - admission is free to Members and £2 to non-Members.  You can of course still become a Member for only £3 per year!   Look out for the posters on the village Notice Boards - Members will be reminded directly as usual.  We look forward to seeing you there. 

                   MARLDON LOCAL HISTORY GROUP

                  December/January Report

Well, it’s doing it again - Christmas is sneaking up on us once more, and nothing done towards it.  If Christmas cards are one of the things you haven’t done, don’t forget that the Group’s Marldon Christmas cards are still available either from the Group (ring Tony Chidlow - 521419), or from our friendly local Post Office.  

Also sneaking up, but even faster, is our Christmas Social Evening on Friday 14th December.   As mentioned in last months’ Magazine, admission this year will be by ticket only and for Members/spouses/partners only.  This is to enable us to keep within the limits allowed for the main Hall, and to avoid a situation where we might have to turn people away on the night (some of whom might be Members).  So, if you are a Member and wish to come, please ring Chris Alcock (551946) or Alison Bone (528663) or Tony Chidlow (521419) for your tickets as soon as possible.

Finally, on behalf of the Committee, may I thank all our Members for their fantastic support throughout the year (and all non-members) by attending our Open Meetings in such large numbers, and may we wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year.