Kingswear School
Lively Historians
The Kingswear Historians had their first meeting of the season on 26th September and they rather hit the ground running, so to speak, with a very well-presented introduction to his book about Kingswear in WWII by Dr David Williams. David had taken great trouble to make us want to buy the book which he has spent a little over three years writing, and which is a fine, thorough account of a community at war, a community very involved indeed in the War, with Americans, the Free French and many evacuated children all living in the village as well as its established residents.
David’s angle is very much a human one so, although there are many interesting details in the book, the story is of the people and what happened to them and how they felt about it. In fact this all adds up to a piece of social history which will interest all who read it now but will absolutely fascinate future generations when those who actually remember the War are no longer with us to tell us their own stories.
If you would like a copy of David’s book (and I urge you to buy one, it’s super) it is entitled ‘Kingswear at War’ (subtitled – Life in the Devon village between 1939 and 1945) and it is available from Kingswear village stores and Kingswear post office at £8. A snip! David asks me to let you know that he will be present at a book-signing at Torbay Bookshop, Torquay Rd., Paignton on Saturday October 29th from 10:30 onwards. Do go along to get your book signed by the author.
At the same meeting Mike Trevorrow gave an after-coffee talk on the coal-bunkering trade on the Dart between 1870 and its end during the 1960s. That sounds like a good cure for insomnia but I can assure readers that not one of the 60 historians fell asleep during the telling of that tale. Remarkable! Actually the coming of the coal handling trades played a very important role in Dartmouth’s prosperity, playing no small part in changing the appearance of the river and its environs for many years. Large hulks containing coal were strung out along the Kingswear side of the river, mainly from Britannia Halt area to the station in Kingswear. When a south-easterly blew there was one heck of a lot of coal dust blowing about. Apparently smart yacht owners were miffed when their snowy sails were besmirched by our grotty coal dust. Shame! I’ll bet that not many Dartmothians or Kingsweardoes know that one of the longest lasting industrial disputes of the twentieth century happened here on the Dart between management of the coal companies and the growing number of unionised lumpers (coal handlers) who were fighting for higher wages and better conditions. Management had the upper hand that time so not too much changes does it!
The thriving Historians’ group meets for its next session on October 31st, All Hallows’ Eve, at the village hall, Kingswear, when the subject will be the introduction of yet another splendid new publication by the Historians called ‘Kingswear’s Heroes’. This is a collection of stories about heroes of this area over a long period of time and is written by our very own Tessa Gibson and Trevor Miles. It should make for stimulating reading and make us feel good to belong to such a splendid part of the country. I don’t yet know its price but keep your eyes open for it at the post office and the village shop where it will appear very soon.
After the book-launch Trevor is giving a talk on ‘‘An outline history of the Brixham, Churston and Kingswear peninsula before 1840’. This should be essential knowledge for all who call themselves local or wish to feel so. The event starts at 7:30 and is free to members and £4 for non-members who are all very welcome indeed.
Tickets Please!
Actually tickets were very nearly needed to attend a meeting of the South Hams District Council Executive on October 13th. The meeting was to consider the situation of the ‘signal box’ building which is now almost completed on Kingswear Station. Around thirty residents attended to show their united opposition to the building and the way in which it was ‘allowed’. Clearly the executive was surprised by the strength of local opposition and quickly decided that much further information was needed before informed discussion could take place. Councillor John Baverstock was instructed to look into the project in more detail and to report back quickly. Some few minutes after having been seated in the very splendid surroundings at Follaton House the deputation was able to leave, but its message had been clear –“ legal scrutiny will be brought to bear in a thorough and accurate investigation into how this situation was allowed to develop in such an insidious manner without consultation to, or communication with, the residents of KIngswear”.
Busy Ladies
The Kingswear WI held their Autumn Group meeting in the Village Hall on the 21st September. This is when the four local Women’s Institutes of Brixham, Stoke Gabriel, Churston/Galmpton and Kingswear meet up. We were pleased to welcome members from our three other groups though it was with some trepidation! We are a very new committee and were worried we wouldn’t get it quite right but all our mistakes were met with laughter and tolerance and everyone appeared to enjoy themselves.
Our speaker, Amelia Mariette, former curator of the Holst Birthplace Museum in Cheltenham, and currently Keeper of Art at Torre Abbey in Torquay, gave a light-hearted and entertaining talk, on the life and work of Gustav Holst.
Flowers and a birthday cake were then presented to Eileen Holden who was celebrating a very special birthday – her 90th and still an active member of Kingswear WI. There were five entries for the autumn theme competition and the winner - Barbara Lawrence, President of Brixham WI - was presented with the silver Rose Bowl for her beautiful hand printed silk scarf.
If you are looking for inspiration for special gifts and stocking-fillers for family and friends, don’t miss our Christmas Fair in the Village Hall on Saturday 26th November. Our Craft Group is busy making exciting individual creations and there will be the usual selection of books, plants, hand-made cards and our yummy cakes. This is definitely a ‘must-do’ date for your diary. We look forward to seeing you.
Happy Littl’uns
Some very good Kingswear news is to report the success of the new ‘Foundation Unit’ at the school. Many of us were aware of building work going on but it is only when you go inside that you see just what a transformation has been made. A new classroom has been built, another has been split horizontally, creating a new mezzanine layer, and the offices have been up-graded and enlarged. All a big improvement I must say.
However the point of this is to inform you that the splendid Foundation Unit is now very much up and running and open for business. So far there are 15 children and Mark Oakshott, the headteacher, tells me that they can accommodate up to about mid twenties in numbers; 24 would be ideal. So if you have a little person at home (aged 3 – 4+) who would benefit from company and structured play, from the attentions of two qualified teachers, then do get in touch with the school. Children can be accommodated for half or full days, can have their lunches if they wish, and of course government vouchers can be used for the time offered. It is interesting that a majority of the children who started in September have already opted to increase their hours, so they must be doing something right.
It is worth saying that Kingswear School (01803 752356) is very well-placed for outdoor activities, being near to the creek and having use of the playground, not to mention the splendid garden which the Joneses have so generously made available – great things have been happening up there.Summer Smooth
Mike Goodearl wondered if I wanted to mention in BTD that £2,528 was raised at the “Summer Smooth” Jazz Concert on 23rd July in the village hall. £1,800 will go to “Help for Heroes” and £728 to the Dart Inshore Life Boat.The cheques will be handed over to both organisations at the Dart Inshore Life Boat premises at 4.30pm on the 31st October. D’you know I think I will mention it, and congratulate all involved in the organisation and carrying-out of a very successful evening.
Zumba
The village hall was throbbing away on Monday 17th October when 37 ladies (no, seriously) packed the place for a Zumba session. Tricia Daniels was mightily relieved that the evening was a great success because she organised it, but the outcome is that there is hoped to be a series of regular Zumba sessions since the response was so enthusiastic. I was told by my wife (only slightly panting for breath!) that Zumba is a sort of cross between aerobics and dance set to South American rhythmic music. The music is really suitable for the activity and the ladies clearly enjoyed it a lot. When arrangements can be made for regular sessions they will let you know of them through this page.
Bit Moorish
The parish council have asked me to let you know the moorings availability in the creek. On the north bank of the creek there are two moorings available: numbers 2A and 22A (£96 pa or £79 if paid by 31st March 2012 – for full-time residents) (£133 pa or £114 if paid by 31st March – not-full-time residents)
There are 12 spaces available at the creek pontoon and it is worth saying that access to that will soon be excellent because of a new companionway which is currently being purchased. These moorings are £93 (£79 if paid by 31st March) alongside the pontoon, and £73 (£62 if paid by 31st March) for those tied on top of the pontoon.
There is no increase in the mooring fees this coming year so they represent fair value for money. If you are interested in acquiring a mooring please contact the parish clerk, Emma Illingworth, on 01803 392265.
First Published November 2011 By The Dart
