IT'S time for more of our musings and meanderings through Milford's memories, starting with a follow-up to last week's column, which came in the form of this Facebook message from Ghislaine Davies.
"Hi Jeff...I just saw your write up in this week's Mercury, about the Davies family.
“I am married to Andrew Davies, formerly of Hamilton Terrace, and we are delighted to know you have written a piece about our family.
“My father-in-law, Tom, recently passed away, but was really into his family, and would have had many more tales about the family, which I'm sure he would have shared with you regarding the shipping and the deep family history.
“Thank you, again."
Thanks for getting in touch Ghislaine, it's always nice to get feedback from families who get mentioned in TRM.
In this week's Trawler Corner, is the Dagon…GY 438, a steel-sided trawler, built in Beverley in 1920. 282 tons. 128' long. Local owners...A J Tilbrook, Milford Docks in 1945. Skipper...J Garnham (Jr).
In 1939, she was Requisitioned by the Admiralty to be converted for minesweeping duties, but, as it turned out, proved unsuitable for the job.
Landed at Milford from April 1946 to Jan 1952.
Here are a just a few news snippets.
From the WW Guardian of 30/5/47.
"The sad death has occurred of a 25-year-old trawler cook, Stephen Thomas Holdstock, Waterloo Rd, Hakin, who was found lying dead at the bottom of the companion ladder of the steam trawler Dagon, while at sea on Wed morning last week. A native of London, he was married to a local young lady, formerly Miss Goffin, of Waterloo Road."
And from the WWG of 11/1/1952.
"The steam trawler Dagon, belonging to A J Tilbrook and Co has been sold to an Aberdeen firm and has left the port."
In November 1955, at Charlestown, Firth, Dagon was broken up.
Here's a snap of her.
Recently, as you know, we were fortunate to share some of the wartime recollections and exploits of the Old Pill Boy, well this week, from the depths of my cobwebby vaults, I've resurrected yet another Memory of Pill, but this particular one goes back much further, probably even before the 1914-18 Great War.
I have absolutely no idea who sent it to me...nor who wrote it...but it describes a rather charming world, from a vastly different time, and, to be honest, I rather enjoyed reading it.
It reminded me, somehow, of those classic black and white silent movies.
"The school day began with our walk from our home in Pill, along Pill Lane, where the Homestead Farm was, and then down Charles Street to the National School, which is where the Torch Theatre now stands today.
“We took sandwiches for our lunch, and could buy hot cocoa if we wanted it.
“On Sundays we went to St Katharine’s Church and Sunday School.
“During the week, we attended the Band of Hope in the Mission at the top of the Beach Hill…there we would see lantern slides.
“A big day in the year was the joint Church Sunday School picnic, we walked four abreast from the church to Milford Station. We carried our own mugs, a ticket for our tea, and our pocket money, all wrapped up in a large handkerchief.
“At the picnic field in Johnston, there were swings, slung from the trees, and races such as the sack race and the three-legged-race.
“Large wicker washing baskets were filled with sandwiches, currant cake and seed cake, which were handed round.
“The adults brought tea round in large teapots and jugs, this was followed by someone bringing round another basket, filled with wrapped sweets, which were scattered on the grass for the children to scramble to pick up.
“In those days a journey was a well-planned event, we might go out for a day in a pony and trap, hired from Mr Coady. Our parents sat in the front with the little ones…we sat behind, with our backs to them. The horse always stopped on the way home outside Mr Coady's house, and waited for his master to come out and give him a pat. Only then would he take us home.
“For longer trips we would go in a brake, from Mr Venables in the Nelson Yard.
“These were pulled by two horses and had long hard seats down both sides."
And to fit those simple, magical memories from over a century ago, I've come up with a couple of snaps that I think will fit the bill.
One, from 1910, Sunday school children outside the Mission, the other, from 1907, a colourful collection of young folk outside St Katharine’s.
Who knows, whoever it was who wrote this week's Pill memories...just might be in in one of the photos. I guess we'll never know…but stranger things have happened.
Now for our teasers.
The answer to last week's poser was ONE…as spotted by Margaret and Phil Jones, Elinor Jones and Les Haynes.
Try this one. Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world?
That's enough of my waffle for another week, thanks for all your comments, hopefully, unless the wind turns, I'll be back next week.
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