Tag Archives: George Kelsey

Phil Kelsey: WWII outbreak 1939

The day war broke out I was up the river sailing in my boat. It didn’t sink in that it would be anything like it turned out to be.  That was 1939, I had to register in March 1940 then I was called up in June 1940.
My brother George and Newt, both were reserved occupationists because they were builders you see. George went into the Navy much later, because he was Reserved.  Newt was building a lot of these air raid shelters and George was working for Bucketts – most of his time was spent working up the Needles Battery.  They did a lot of work up there.    Phil Kelsey b 1920

Builders 1930s

Builders 1930s Photo Di Broomfield

 

Phil Kelsey: Garages and coaches 1920s,1930s

I can remember the garage being built on the corner of Mill Road, it was about ’26.  I wasn’t very old.  I can remember them building that.  Royal Blue from Bournemouth had it built and they used to keep their Royal Blue coaches to go round the island.    There was another coach company in Yarmouth, Saunders  – yellow coaches.  They used to keep one down there on the corner where the Harbour Commissioners have got their yard. They used it during the war, the people on fire duty had a hut down there.  I know Newt and George, before they were called up, they used to take turn at nights down there. Phil Kelsey b 1920

Royal Blue charabanc

Royal Blue charabanc


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

Phil Kelsey: Free Time at Sandhard 1920s

Sandhard 1950s

Sandhard

One of our trips was to go to Sandhard with my mother and the rest of the family.  We used to get in the boat down by the Mill.

 Sometimes mother got in if it was reasonable but she didn’t often.  George and perhaps the rest of the kids rowed over to Sandhard, dumped them off, then rowed back to the bridge. There used to be a landing stage right in the corner there and we used to get Mother in there and take her across. We used to drop her off there because, probably by the time we were coming back, the tide would be gone out.  It was awkward to get out down the Mill so we used to drop her off there, and one or two of us used to come and scrabble up over the wall down the bottom. Phil Kelsey b 1920

Phil Kelsey: Free Time 1930s

When I was young, Dad had his boat down the Mill and when I was about ten I used to take it out all day long in the summer. I was up and down the river, I reckon I’d propelled the boat in every little inlet.  Once when I was quite small, Dad had taken us over to Sandhard. Coming back, we got alongside to get out and I was just getting out. George was supposed to be helping Dad get me out and there was some swans there suddenly started fighting. They let go of me and dropped me down into the water!  Didn’t Mother create when I got home!  Phil Kelsey b 1920

Phil Kelsey: Free Time and Leisure

Stone Pier with Bun Cotton, Eric Doe, Jim Ryall, George Kelsey and Jack Noyce

Stone Pier with Bun Cotton, Eric Doe, Jim Ryall, George Kelsey and Jack Noyce

Before the Rec. was done, we used to go down and kick about  in what now is all brambles, down the Mill. Old Harry Jackman had cows down there then , and he also used to have them out around the copse.  Providing they weren’t there for milking, we used to go down there and kick about.  It was cut a bit like a field, it was nothing much, it was very rough.
Other than that we used to get messing about in Mill Copse and Thorley Copse, we were always out there.
In those days you couldn’t go over the bridge because you had to pay so we always went towards Bouldnor.  We used to try and scrabble along the front – Nicholson’s path – down by what is now Port La Salle.  It’s still there now.  To save having to come up and go right round there, we used to try and scrabble along there and keep out of sight of the gamekeeper with his dogs.  It wasn’t too bad if the tide was out, we used to get by.  We used to go right along then as far as the old Stone Pier usually. Of course that’s mostly disappeared, during the war most of it.  It’s a pity really that went. Phil Kelsey b1920