Tag Archives: Whitewalls

Eileen Smith: Thorley, North View 1950s

Thorley from Broad Lane

Thorley from Broad Lane

The Smith family

Ralph and I had applied for a house in Yarmouth, but with no success. Then one of the chaps who was offered a house at Thorley, turned it down because it was too far from the shops. We didn’t mind!

The women in the cottages opposite North View, Elsie Squibb and Miss Drake, came out and said they didn’t want Council Houses in the village. We said, ‘Dont you think that people who have done their bit in the War, deserve somewhere decent to live?’
Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b 1921

Mike Smith, Mary Henderson: Thorley, Squibb family 1950s

Elsie Squibb wasn’t always popular. When we used to sit on the bank writing down the number plates of the cars coming through –  and there weren’t many, – she’d come out and complain, and say we were making too much noise; she needed some peace and quiet.
On one afternoon she had brought home a nice box of cakes from Wrays Bakery in Newport. Mike Henderson kicked a football and it knocked into the box, and the cakes weren’t improved…. Mike Smith b 1951

North View, Thorley

North View, Thorley

 

We all used to be so envious of Phyllis Squibb. She seemed to have all the things our parents couldn’t buy us.  Years later, she said how she’d envied our freedom. Her Dad used to insist on meeting her and walking her home, even from Wellow Institute.
Poor Els., her bark was worse than her bite. If you were in real trouble, she’d be there to help. Mary Henderson b 1954

Thorley School photo 1932, 1930s

Thorley School 1932

Thorley School 1932

Thorley School pupils c 1932

Back Row: Hazel Trowbridge, ? Robinson, Margery New, Gladys Scovell, Ivy Russell, Vecta Cooper
2nd row down : Reg Cozens,?Welsted, Kath Cozens, Cyril Henderson, ?Robinson, Jack New, ?Eileen Thornton,Margery Henderson, Not Known

3rd row down: ? Welsted, ? Robinson, Phyllis Squibb, Billy Henderson, ? Robinson
Front Row: Not Known, Not Known

Margery New married (1) Andy Cooke d WWII (2) Bill Colenutt
Gladys Scovell married Vic Whittingham, Ivy Russell married ?Stone
Marge Henderson married a Canadian soldier during WWII and went back to Canada as a war bride.

Phyllis Squibb lived in Whitewalls. Her mother Elsie was a teacher, her father Frank worked for Mills.  Vecta Cooper lived at Upper Lee Farm with parents Henry and Fanny, and Aunt May Cooper. The Welsteds lived in New House or Upper Place      ( there were 2 related families, spelling their name either Welstead or Welsted).Cyril and Margery Henderson lived at Acorn Cottage with parents Victor, a Coastguard, and Florence. Cyril married Sue Hillier who lived in one of the pair of Newclose Cottages, eventually living in the newly built Northview. J.C.