TIME to relax and take a break from those drab daily chores, while we wallow in more of the delirious, distant days, that we TRM-ers all seem to enjoy so much.
I've delved deep into the archives for this week's Trawler Corner vessel, which, as promised, is the Dominion M27.
A wooden sailing smack, built in 1903, in Brixham. 52 tons. 65' long.
Landed at Milford from Jan 1904 to Nov 1917.
Local owners…William Francis, Castle Pill; John Phillips, Wellington Rd.
Local skippers include F. S. Weymouth…Jubilee Terrace .
Here's a clipping from the H/west and Milford Haven Telegraph from Oct 1915: "An interesting ceremony took place at the offices of HM Customs and Board of Trade, when the skipper and crew of the Milford Haven fishing smack Dominion were presented with medals, and certificates, from the French government, in recognition of their bravery in saving the lives of the crew of a French barquentine....The men who performed the gallant deed were William Summers, skipper; Albert Johns, mate; Samuel Malnery, 3rd hand; and George Walton, cook.”
In 1917, the Dominion was sold to French owners, and here's a great snap of her.
Now for some of the feedback I've had following the last TRM.
Firstly…the bits about the old Grammar School choir and song rang a few bells.
Jean Buckingham emailed me…"The photo Yvonne was looking for was the one you have printed this week. Taken in 1951/1952 at the Tabernacle.
“We sang, and Sandy McPherson played the organ. It was a very special occasion.
“Front left is chairman of the council…Cecil Lewis. I'm standing beneath Sandy McPherson."
Thanks Jean.
And from Christine Hesslegrave came this…
"Hi Jeff...a couple of things to stir the memory in last week's TRM.
“First, the photo of the school choir. Somewhere…I have either a photo or newspaper photo of Wally's (Walters) choir when my sister Rosemary was in it. Her photo, also taken at Tabernacle, looks very similar to the one you've printed, but Rosemary would've been in the choir earlier than 1954…more like 1949/52.
“I was interested to discover that the school song was older than I'd realised. I remember the day…(days)..we had to learn it. For some reason I gained the impression that the song had only just come out. In my time at the school…(a year behind you)…we only sang the verse as far as 'her traditions and her name...’ and for us it was ‘praise that great Shakespeare told’, not ‘fame’ and then into the chorus.
“Reading Yvonne's comments, I'm wondering now whether the Latin chorus had only been added in our time, and that's why I thought the song was new.
“The verse was written by Miss Mona Davies, and the chorus by Mr Hayes (who taught Latin, strangely enough). If you're interested, these are the words…
"Dum vivemus diligemus, Milfordiam Quam omnibus praeponemus pura fide Aestus surgant et decedant, licet descedant iuvenes Semper erit in animo, Milfordia.
“To the best of my knowledge we never had it written down, so the words above are how we sang them, and not necessarily the correct spelling.
“An interesting occurrence took place in 2013, when my form decided to meet up again after 51 years. Thirteen of us, with spouses, turned up and had a great evening, at the end of which someone suggested we should stand (outside the Little Haven Hotel) and sing the school song.
“Unfortunately, the proposer was a bit too keen, and launched in without giving us time to assemble properly…or even get vaguely into the same key!
“So it wasn't the success it might have been…we all seemed to remember the words, however, both English and Latin, which must say something for the drilling we went through at age 11.
“Reference Peter Eaton's photo…remembering how we used to stand on the Front Street, opposite the ice factory, and watch the big blocks of ice sliding down that chute…could the photo have been taken from that building?"
Many thanks Christine, sorry we can't be with you next week, but I'm sure you'll have a terrific night to celebrate your, and David's, Golden Wedding.
Maybe you can get the Tenby choir to sing the school song!
There was more on the grammar school song query from Graham Clarke...
"Hi Jeff…as I have a copy of With Cheerful Voice (being the hymn book of MHGS 1959 Edition) I have copied hymn 100, the school song. As you can see, there is only one verse compared to the two listed in your column. Authors...Mona Davies and John Hayes. Hope this helps."
Thanks Graham.
I'm also grateful to Judi Ball, who did exactly the same as Graham.
To cap it all, I had a phone call from my old Pill, and school chum, Ivor Day, who sang the whole school song (including the Latin) to me. Cheers Ivor…the voice sounds as good as ever!
Now for more feedback re Peter Eaton's Marine Gardens photo.
My old Waterloo Club snooker pal, Roy Jones, rang to say that he was born in cottage No.1, in 1934; his grandparents lived in No.2, and in those days, it was called the Old Dockyard.
Cheers Roy…glad to hear you're feeling better.
The next call was from Gwyneth Thomas, from Johnston, who informed me that in the 1930s, her parents had a farm, and delivered butter to Marine Gardens in his pony and trap. Thanks Gwyneth.
I then had the pleasure to meet, and have a chat with the delightful Mrs Lilian Setterfield, a spritely 92-year-old, and as bright as a button.
She lived in the Old Dockyard, in No.3, and recalled that in No.4 were Mr and Mrs Harries…he being the stationmaster; in No.5 were the Grants…Mr Grant being a road sweeper with the council; and then there were the Hyatts.
She let me have this family photograph to share in TRM. It's of her grandfather…Jimmy Thomas the oil man...who used to deliver oil in Milford and the surrounding district.
Many thanks to Lilian, and everyone else for their interest.
Now for our teasers…the answer to the last one was ONCE, and was correctly answered by…Eric Harries, Joyce Layton, Les Haynes, John Glover, Joan Earles, Gerry Thomas, Margaret Jones, Tricia Hawthorn, Jean Buckingham, Anne and Jets Llewellyn, David Spriggs and Elinor Jones.
What do you make of this one?
What has a neck but no head and wears a cap?
That's enough from me, I don't want to outstay my welcome. Just a few ‘watch out fors’…
TRM next week will include the personal memories of Skipper H.L .Thompson, about the loss of the Milford Viscount, recalled in a handwritten letter, forwarded to me by his son, Alan.
Also next week we'll have a great photo of a 1947 Hakin Utd, kindly provided by Nigel Roberts.
And finally...keep your eyes open for a fascinating new local book…We Will Remember Them...World War 1...compiled by Anthony and Margaret Williams…which is being launched on Friday Sept 7...it really is worth reading.
That's it from me…I'm off to play the old school song on the guitar…possibly in Latin!
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