Author Archives: Jill Cowley

Granny Hunt: Home nursing and more

Granny Hunt

My Granny Hunt did some home nursing when I was little.

Before I was born I‘m told she helped deliver babies. Her mum had given birth to thirteen healthy babies so I suppose it was a way of life for Gran.

She once told me that when she was young, if you had a baby that would not sleep, you got a square of butter muslin, sprinkled sugar in the middle then fold the butter muslin around it so it was rolled up, then you tied the ends tight with cotton. It should now be cracker shape. Then you stuck one end in the baby’s mouth and apparently they sucked the sugar out. What would health and safety think?

Sometimes the undertaker Mr May would send someone on a bike to ask her to come and lay somebody out who had just died. Granny Hunt would expect Aunt Alice and I to be very serious when she was about to go and do this. First she would put on a black silk dress then a black coat, black hat and a white starched apron. She had a little black case. We were not allowed to see inside and off she would go. When she came back we were expected to be silent for the rest of the day which wasn’t easy for me as a small kid.
Delia Whitehead nee Hunt b 1934

Doctor Drummond, Yarmouth Doctor

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How medical things have changed!
I remember as a child we sat in Doctor Drummond’s surgery, near the Quay. It was a small room and you took your turn to go in. The door between the waiting room and his consulting room was so thin if the person seeing the doctor had a loud voice you could hear what they were saying. Many a bit of gossip was picked up while you were waiting.

Some of his treatments were mixed in a room behind his consulting room. Those in my age group will remember that awful gritty chalky stuff you mixed with water for tummy complaints. It used to stick round your teeth and when you did manage to swallow it, it made you cough. There was some awful stuff you gargled with for sore throats. It smelt like disinfectant and burnt your throat.

He would always come out on house calls in the afternoon, when he used to call on us at the Toll Gate. There was always the apple polishing that had to be done. This may sound funny but Great Uncle George always kept the apples from one of his many apple trees for the Doctor. No one else was allowed to eat them. I remember they were big and went bright red in the autumn and would last for a very long time and looked lovely polished. The Doctor was well thought of in Yarmouth, and I believe greatly missed when he was gone.
Delia Whitehead nee Hunt b 1934

Delia Whitehead: Harvest Festival at St. Swithin’s Thorley

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Thorley St Swithin’s Church

When I was young I lived at the Toll Gate just outside of Yarmouth. My Aunt Alice always took me to St Swithin’s Harvest Festival (now called Harvest Thanksgiving).

On one occasion we were singing a lovely harvest hymn, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a movement. I looked towards a pile of vegetables and on the top was a marrow. On top of the marrow was a mouse chewing away quite happily and it did so for a long time.

It was only a few years ago I was telling a lady from Thorley about this and she said that the Thorley mice still come to the Harvest Service and their teeth marks were often found on the vegetables and fruit.
Delia Whitehead nee Hunt b 1934

Delia Whitehead : Picking snowdrops at Thorley old church

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The Old Thorley Church in a Field

The old church at Thorley had a church yard full of snowdrops in the spring. In fact there were so many no one seemed to mind if you picked a few. As children we would visit it in the spring and pick just a few snowdrops to take home to our folks.

One day I went with a friend to get some flowers. We had just left the church yard to walk across the field to the road when we heard this sort of snorting noise and there behind us a large ram was heading in our direction very fast. Did we run! We fell over the stile to get into the road. The flowers went all over the place. I might add we never went back to get them.

During the winter, the farmer, Mr Mullet used to let some sheep into the old church yard to keep the grass down. It rather put us off going for flowers again in case we met this hostile ram but we often laughed about it afterwards.
Delia Whitehead nee Hunt b 1934

Delia Whitehead: War years at Yarmouth School

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There was a large brick building across the playground that was used as an air raid shelter. When the siren went off, the drill was to stand up, pick up your gas mask and then a little mat that was hung on a hook. It was sort of felt on one side and rubber stuff on the other. This was to sit on, as the seat in the brick building was very cold. We then marched to the shelter and sang silly songs, said our times-tables and listened to stories until the all-clear.

Another rather frightening thing I remember. One day, a big black van came to the school and we had to go and sit in it, about six children at a time, with our gas masks on. This was for them to test that they were working all right. They did not explain to us that it was nothing that would harm us. One young boy got so frightened that he was sick down his gas mask and had to be taken home.

One bit we did like was every so often, a lady used to arrive dressed in a green dress and a broad-rimmed green hat. I think she was from the Women’s Voluntary Service. We were given a piece of stiff paper that, with help, had to be made into a cone shape. Then the lady filled it with chocolate powder, folded the top over and we were supposed to take it home but the teacher turned a blind eye to the fact that many fingers were licked and poked down into the chocolate powder, to say nothing of the odd tongue. Not a great deal of the powder reached home, I might add!

Then there was the school war effort. One of the things done was that every so often, we were asked to bring a bag or tin dish to school, and we went to an area that is now the old train line path, to pick wild rose hips. These were to be made into rose hip syrup. But I don’t know which was worse, the insects that bit us or the boys! They would break the rose hips open to get the itching powder out and put it down the girls’ backs when the teacher was not looking. But the hips that did not drop on the ground or get put down people’s backs finally were taken back to school and weighed.

A few evacuees came to live in Yarmouth during the war years. I made friends with one little girl the day she arrived and we have been friends to this day.
Delia Whitehead nee Hunt b 1934

Harvest Festival at St. Swithin’s

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When I was young I lived at the Toll Gate just outside of Yarmouth. My Aunt Alice always took me to St Swithin’s Harvest Festival (now called Harvest Thanksgiving).

Carnival 2013: Saturday August 17th Parade

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Yarmouth’s Townfolk, Thorley residents and visitors alike braved the wind and weather and congregated on the Green ready for the Judging and the Parade.

The afternoon weather worsened from overcast, miserable and blustery, to heavy rain, so everyone who came deserved an award, especially those who stayed the full course.

Carnival 2013: Saturday August 17th Parade, Yarmouth School entry

Yarmouth School and Pre School sent messages to children, parents and supporters by jungle drums ( and texts) calling all cavemen and dinosaurs to join their float. Result: Yarmouth School Roxs! and won the David Dockrell Cup and Best in parade. Well done!

Carnival 2013: Saturday August 17th Parade, School Cavemen and PTFA cavewoman Tanya Letchford.

Carnival 2013: Saturday August 17th Parade, Pre School Cavemen

Carnival 2013: Saturday August 17th Parade, Pre School Cavewomen and Denise the Sabre Toothed Tiger.

Carnival 2013: Saturday August 17th Parade, School Cavemen win David Dockrell Cup

Carnival 2013: Saturday August 17th Parade, School Cavemen and a few Cowleys win the David Dockrell Cup

We’ve won! Great team work from Yarmouth School and Pre School, children, parents and PTFA. Kizzy Cowley and Claire Bennett, both parents of children at Yarmouth School, and members of PTFA, co ordinated the entry with Tanya Letchford and Sarah Howell of PTFA.

Viking Isaacs arrived early, but fights broke out amongst their own numbers, so happily the town was not plundered on this occasion. They didn’t seem to use their oars very enthusiastically – perhaps their energy had been taken up in Decorated Dinghies and Harbour Sports.

Carnival 2013 Vikings

Carnival 2013: Parade Mallyshag

The Carnival’s own Mallyshag received an unexpected visit from a rather larger Millishag, looking, we’re told, for Love ( GSOH, own sets of boots, good supply of cabbages required).

leCarnival 2013: Parade MallyshCarnival 2013: Parade, Millishag

Carnival 2013: Parade Millishag led by Pete Scott

Carnival 2013: Parade Carnival 2013: Parade, Millishag

Carnival 2013 : Parade, Millishag in action, feet belonging to Scott family, Margaret Scott, Rebecca ‘Mastermind’ Blake, Hannah Blake, Katie Franks, with Jean Tiffin and Marion Stevens.

The visiting Milli was awarded the prize for Best Group on Foot ( feet?) and Mally and Milli were seen keeping company, so we await with interest next year’s developments.

Carnival 2013 : Parade Peckham Wimbledon tennis

Together at last; Mallyshag and visiting Millishag set off in the rain to tour the town.

Two young gentleman, ‘Fred Perry’ and ‘Andy Murray’, with lady umpire, braved a three hour motor-borne tennis match. Rain did not stop play. We challenge any professionals to play with such panache under such conditions! We salute your stamina, and ball control, chaps.

Carnival 2013 : Parade, Pan and Hook

The retiring ‘Spirit of Yarmouth Carnival’, Carl Ingram, appeared as Captain Hook with brother Ryan as Peter Pan to celebrate Yarmouth’s literary heritage ( New book last Year, ‘History of Yarmouth’ ; new book this year, ‘Yarmouth and Thorley Voices’ available from Holdings. BUY ONE if you haven’t already!) Maybe Hook’s remarkable wig kept him warm and dry – he stayed the whole course.

Carnival 2013 : Parade Team GB

Sporting achievements were celebrated – Team GB in its entirety, from Dame Ellen, through gymnast Tweddle to a cycling hero who was banished from riding on the float and had to pedal his way. Red, white and blue did their best to cheer up the afternoon.

Carnival 2013 : Parade, Harry, Pippa and the baby buoy

There were more red, white and blue celebrations as Prince Harry and Aunty Pippa put in a surprise appearance celebrating the birth of a little buoy ( love it), courtesy of Yarmouth Sailing Club.

Carnival 2013: Parade, Pearl

Not quite carried out to sea, one little Pearl appeared in a scallop shell, thoughtfully wrapped against the rain.

Carnival 2013: Parade, horses

From over the river came the White Horses – an annual tradition, with a good number of riders from Hill Farm.

And yes, the Fire Engine can get round the corner without damage to Harwoods, Harveys, ( Mills really) or spectators. Great demonstration, Crew!

To all who took part, in any way, you’re all winners, just rather wet ones this year.

Carnival 2013 : Road formation dance team

Carnival 2013 :Pat Lester in action

Carnival 2013: Vectis Corps of Drums ready. Peter and Serena Cottrell contributed to the costs of the bands.

Carnival 2013: Yarmouth School’s winning entry, led by Deanna Turnbull of PTFA, wet but undaunted.

Carnival 2013, Izzy Taylor and Team GB, wet and going home.

Carnival 2013 Pre School Little Stars leaders, Denise and Sadie still dry and happy.

Carnival 2013 Yarmouth School, Moses Cowley, dinosaur with club: double trouble.

The Carnival parade was sponsored by Yarmouth Spice, to whom many thanks, and to their patrons who were generous when the collecting buckets were rattled at them.

Carnival 2013: Friday August 16th Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier

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Carnival 2013 harbour trip as pirates, Curtis and sister

Carnival 2013 Pirates Curtis and sister waiting to go aboard for the Lifeboat Demonstration.

Carnival 2013: Pirate ship watching Lifeboat demonstration

Carnival 2013: Watching Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier, from 'Ramblin' Rose' : photo Thomas Cowley

Carnival 2013: Watching Lifeboat Demonstration, from ‘Ramblin’ Rose’ : photo Thomas Cowley

After the Prize Giving there was a special treat for all who had booked a place on pirate ships, ‘Yarmouth Rose and Ramblin’ Rose’, courtesy of Pirate Peter Lemonius – the Lifeboat Demonstration off the Pier.

Carnival 2013: Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier : photo Thomas Cowley

Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier: photio Thomas Cowley

Coxswain Howard Lester and his crew put on a fine display of rescue techniques, some involving the Coastguard Helicopter.

Carnival 2013: Lifeboat Demonstration of rescuing from the water off Yarmouth Pier . photo Thomas Cowley

Those on the ‘Roses’ and those watching from the Pier enjoyed a great show, and some late evening sun.

Carnival 2013: Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier using ‘Y Boat’ : photo Thomas Cowley

Carnival 2013 : End of Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier: photo Thomas Cowley

Carnival 2013 Friday August 16th : Prize Giving on the Green

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Late sunshine for the Prize Giving on the Green, with David Langford as Master of ceremonies, and Mayor, Steve Cowley, handing over the prizes. It took both their efforts to find out the name of this bear.

Carnival 2013:

Pippi had distinguished herself by rowing in the Harbour Sports before she won this prize.

Carnival 2013 Friday Carnival 2013 August 16th : Prize Giving on the Green: Pippi Reed

Carnival 2013 Friday August 16th : Prize Giving on the Green

Carnival 2013 Prize Giving, prize 1

Carnival 2013 Friday August 16th : Prize Giving on the Green, prize group

Friday 16 August 2013

QUIZZES & COMPETITIONS FIRST SECOND THIRD

CROSSWORD JOHN MAY

LIMERICK RICHARD KINGSTON EMMA CROSS

WINDOW SPOTTING: JOINT FREDDIE DRAYCOTT CARL INGRAM WILLIAM & SARAH KINGSTON

FAMILY QUIZ (1) INGRAM FAMILY

FAMILY QUIZ (2) ANSCOMBE FAMILY

PEBBLE PAINTING ARABELLA DRAYCOTT ROSE MCINNES SASKIA TAYLOR

MINATURE GARDEN STELLA TAYLOR LYLA, DAISY, ROSE SOFIA BEANE MCINNES

PAINTING THE MALLISHAG CLODAGH PUNTON ISLA NORRIS EMILY KINGSTON 5yrs & UNDER

PAINTING THE MALLISHAG AMELIA WEBB HANNAH BLAKE PIPPI REED 10yrs & UNDER

PAINTING THE MALLISHAG GEORGIA COOMBES 14yrs & UNDER

PAINTING THE MALLISHAG ASHLEEN MEANING OVER 14 GEMMA COWLEY

BEST DECORATED HOUSE MEANING FAMILY MCINNES FAMILY REED FAMILY

‘PRAIRIE FOLK’ PININGS BAY’ ‘BABY SARDINE

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HIGHLY COMMENDED: THE MCLEARY FAMILY ‘HOLMES COURT HOUSE OF HORRORS’

BEST DECORATED SHOP LAURENCE MITCHELL JEWELLERS

LUCKY PROGRAMME COOMBES FAMILY

SPIRIT OF CARNIVAL CUP HELEN SCEALES

Carnival 2013 Friday August 16th : Prize Giving and Thanks

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There were prizes galore – for Best Dressed House ( The Meaning family of Victoria Road), for Best Dressed Shop ( Frances and Laurence Mitchell of the High Street), for Best Miniature Garden, Best Painted Pebble, Treasure Hunt, Window Spotting, Crossword, Limerick….

Carnival 2013 Prize Giving on the Green

The crowd waited with bated breath……

Some prize winners were full of confidence, like Stella Taylor, who won the Best Miniature garden,’I’ve worked on it all week.’ Seen here with Anne Toms, who judged the competition, and has the Gallery in the High Street.

Carnival 2013 Friday August 16th : Prize Giving on the Green, Stella Taylor winner of Miniature Garden with Anne Toms

Others needed a little help.

Carnival 2013: Friday Carnival 2013 August 16th, Prize Giving on the Green, prize winner with help.

Carnival 2013 Friday August 16th : Prize Carnival 2013: Friday August 16th, Prize Giving on the Green, shy prize winner

Carnival 2013 Friday August 16th : Prize Giving on the Green, prize 15 Gemma

Carnival 2013 Friday August 16th : Prize Giving on the Green. Gemma Cowley

Carnival 2013 Prize Giving: Beth’s prize

No one was more excited than Beth Davies when she found out she’d won a prize.

The glass trophy for Best Dressed Shop was awarded to Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Mitchell, after escaping unscathed when the Mayor dropped it. It will be safer in their hands than in the Mayor’s. ‘Careful with that Steve…..’ as he dropped it.

Carnival 2013 Friday August 16th : Prize Giving on the Green Best Dressed Shop received by Frances Mitchell.

And finally there were very well earned thanks to those who worked so hard for so long, to make the Carnival Week such a success.

Carnival 2013 A Thank You kiss to Sue Langford for all her hard work.

Carnival 2013 Flowers to thank Sue Langford for all her hard work.

Carnival 2013: A ‘Thank You’ kiss to Sue Langford for all her hard work.

Flowers too!

The Chairman, Chris Waddington is thanked for all the hours and hours and hours he puts in to Carnival Events throughout the year – November 5th, Christmas Carols in the Square, Christmas Lunch, Pancake Day Race, Duck Race at Easter.

Carnival 2013 Prize Giving, Mayor Steve Cowley thanks Chris Waddington

See you at the Parade, lining up on the Green 2.45 Saturday! Bring your rain coats!