Author Archives: Jill Cowley

Richard lawry: Free Time, Cricket 1960s

Several locals played for West Wight – George Kelsey, Fred Cheverton and Chris Cheverton, Ted Lawry, Ted Crooks, Denny Stretton, Stuart Holloway, and before I left to become a Police Cadet in 1963, I joined Dad, (Ted Lawry) so there were two generations of Chevertons and two generations of Lawrys playing.

In the early days when Dad was playing, my mum used to push my sister in her pram with me walking, along the railway line to watch Dad play at Stroud. If we were lucky, there were wild strawberries growing along the railway line to make the walk more tasty.

I remember being told that Dad, who was a ‘Demon Bowler,’ took a lot of wickets at Calbourne in one match. Dad was working in the High Street on the following Monday, and Bill Brett, a staunch Calbourne player and member of a cricketing family, was working in South Street. Dad couldn’t resist the chance to celebrate  West Wight’s victory so he made a giant sized bat and sent his apprentice round to deliver it to Bill Brett, with the message that Calbourne might like to use it in the next match.
Richard Lawry b 1947

Brian Pomroy: Free Time, Yarmouth Football 1930s – 1950s

:Yarmouth Football Team, with Bill Pomroy in goal 1936

:Yarmouth Football Team, with Bill Pomroy in goal 1936

The best team Yarmouth had was in 1947 when they played in the final of the Hampshire Cup over at Fratton Park. They had George Cleary from the pub, George Kelsey, two masters from the school at Eastmore and two lads from there. One of them, Charlesworth, he was really good, he went on to play for Wolverhampton. Mr. Holding from the shop, he was Chairman, and helped with money. You might get two or three hundred watching.

You should have seen Bun Cotton! He would really get stuck in. The ball would be at the other end and you’d look round and there was Bun, having a real go at someone. Yes, he used to get sent off.

Ted Levey used to referee, but every time he refereed when Yarmouth was playing he got into trouble. He’d be blowing the whistle and getting really queer with people.

My family played; Dad played in goal for Yarmouth and my brothers Derek and Peter. Derek was the best player of the family. I went with him when he had a trial for Southampton when he was 18 or 19, but when he came on the pitch at The Dell and saw the crowd, it was just too much for him. When I was 14, I had to go and see the Headmaster at Freshwater to get permission to play for Yarmouth First Team. My Mum used to have to do all that washing, kit for 3 of us, heavy shirts and all.  Brian Pomroy b 1937

Eileen Smith: Events, Coronation Elizabeth II

2, Mill Terrace decorated for coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

2, Mill Terrace decorated for coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

Coronation Day June 3rd 1953 The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

My grandad  Robert  May hired in a television,  a little 12 inch one. Everyone in the family came to his house in Ommanney Road, with piles of sandwiches, and we watched the television all day. It’s what the children remember most – watching the little black and white television. They had a ticket for a free packet of chips from the little fish and chip shop in the bungalow on the corner of South Street opposite Sixpenny Corner. Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b 1921

Eileen Smith, Pat Burt, Annette Haynes: Events, Coronation George VI

Ox being roasted for celebrations of Coronation of George VI, 1937

Ox being roasted for celebrations of Coronation of George VI, 1937

For the coronation of King George VI there was a whole oxen spit- roasted on the Recreation Ground.  My dad was involved with that. It was started one day and went on being cooked all night ready for when everyone came. Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b 1921

The ox roast was at the back of the Rec. We were given a slab of meat between two slices of bread. It wasn’t a dainty sandwich but it tasted all right. Pat Burt and Annette Haynes b 1929

Ugh, the smell was terrible! The whole town stank of burning fat for days. No, I didn’t have any! Pauline Hatch b 1930

Pat Burt: Free Time, Yarmouth WI 1930s

Yarmouth and Ningwood WI meeting at Ningwood

Yarmouth and Ningwood WI meeting at Ningwood

Yarmouth W.I. used to meet at Ningwood – Yarmouth didn’t have a place of its own you see, so they used to go to Ningwood’s hall.  I remember going out there with my mother with some veg. she had grown and I had to stay with it when she went home.  I  got into trouble for starting to collect all the carrots up before it was time, then I had to bring them back on the bus.  Pat Burt nee Adams b 1929

Carol Corbett: Free Time, Concerts and Plays 1950s and 1960s

The ‘Con Club’, Sports and Social Club was used as an entertainment venue for concerts, plays  and pantomimes. ‘Winter Wonderland’ was one when I would have been 7. My mother was in the show, I wanted to go all the time to watch it.
I went with my grandmother one night and couldn’t understand why my dad wasn’t there, and apparently he took one of the women’s places because they were ill.

Watching the entertainment at the 'Con' Club 1950s

Watching the entertainment at the ‘Con’ Club 1950s

Carol Corbett nee Cotton b 1946 

Mary Lord: Free Time Guides Pantomimes 1950s

Front of stage Mrs. Hans Hamilton, writer and producer, with Sam McDonald who provided music for Guides and Brownies' pantomimes.

Front of stage Mrs. Hans Hamilton, writer and producer, with Sam McDonald who provided music for Guides and Brownies’ pantomimes.

The concerts and pantomimes  arranged by Mrs. Hans Hamilton and Win Davison were a really important part of our lives. By the time we were ready to put them on, it was often Easter.  Rangers, Guides and Brownies were always involved, music and dancing.  Effie was usually the principal boy, with Mollie Mallett – they both had good singing voices. By the time we actually gave the performance, I was usually word perfect for the whole play, everyone’s part. Mary Lord nee Hayles b 1936

Pat Burt: Free Time, Brownies and Guides 1940s

Pat Burt, Heather Doe, with Mrs Hans Hamilton at Guide camp 1945

Pat Burt, Heather Doe, with Mrs Hans Hamilton at Guide camp 1945

Mrs Hamilton used to take us into Thorley Copse, in the middle there where the paths cross. We used to have fires in there in the copse. It was used by the public then,but it may have been owned by Thorley Manor.  We used it all the time rather than Mill Copse.   We used to pick primroses; just the flowers, we never took the plants.

We couldn’t go camping during the war so the only Guide camp I went to, was in August 1945. Mrs Hamilton took us camping at St Helens.

Annette’s not in the photo, she dropped out of guides because she started work at 14 so she was probably working. Pat Burt nee Adams b 1929

Eileen Smith: Free Time, Brownies and Guides 1930s

Eileen Smitth , Effie Pitman:Brownies at Wootton 1929

Eileen Smitth , Effie Pitman:Brownies at Wootton 1929

My aunt was one of the original Girl Guides and I joined the Brownies. The year after I joined, we had a coach trip to Wootton to meet up with other Brownie groups. Effie was there too.
On Armistice Day and Empire Day at school, we were allowed to wear our uniform. There was a big British Legion then too, and they used to have an important Armistice Day ceremony. One year I was the flag bearer for the guides, I was so proud.

On summer evenings, we used to go down to Rofford’s Field, and cut out a turf and make a campfire to cook our supper. Oh it was lovely! We used to wade in the marsh, sometimes with the mud right over our wellingtons, and collect moorhen’s eggs to cook.  They were like pullets’ eggs, gorgeous. There weren’t coots, only moorhens. Eileen Smith