Issue 75 October 2015
Bilton Historical Society Newsletter If you need to get in touch or have something to offer, please come to the Community Centre on Tuesday morning or contact Keith Burton on (01423) 569907 or email [email protected]
Maurice Johnson Geoff Deighton In early 2013, Malcolm Neesam made mention of the Gardeners Arms in Our Heritage in the Harrogate Advertiser. He also wrote of Maurice Johnson, its former landlord. It has been suggested that Maurice became the longest serving pub landlord in the country. This may be the case but I am not certain whether the matter was conclusively researched. Few, if any, licensed establishments can lay claim to having only three licensees over a period of over a hundred years - moreover of the same dynasty. Maurice took over from his uncle Thomas Thompson in 1934 who in turn had succeeded his mother Eliza Thompson in 1898. Eliza is first mentioned in 1877 about a hundred years from the end of Maurice's tenure. The 1881 census records Eliza's age as 52 and her occupation is described as "innkeeper and farmer". She must have been a formidable individual. The inn would cater for the workers in local industries. Perhaps the biggest boost in trade would be when the Leeds and Thirsk Railway set out to complete the line north of Harrogate and over the Nidd viaduct in the late 1840s. The line passed a few hundred yards from the Gardeners Arms. We do not believe the inn could have been owned by the Watsons of Bilton Hall. It was outside the boundary of Bilton Park unlike the Watsons Arms. A list of "Alehouses and Licensed Premises in the Claro Wapentake" dated 1827 refers to "The Cornwallis" and we believe that this may refer to an establishment later renamed the Gardeners Arms. For a debate on which Cornwallis it was please see our publication " Bilton With Harrogate - Forest Farms and Families".
Yet again I have to apologise for one of my mistakes. In the listing of the coming Lectures I included the one from George Thrower on December 2nd. The date and the speaker are correct but I gave the wrong subject and title. George will be entertaining and educating us on “Bilton Shops - Now and Then”.
P a g e 2 Bilton Historical Society
We are sorry to report the death of Colin Waite, author of "Reflections of Killinghall", who has contributed so much to local history records. We have recently enjoyed his detailed series of articles for our newsletter about James Coombes & Co Ltd. Colin’s generous sharing of his memories has enriched our knowledge of bygone times and we shall miss his contributions so readily shared. Shirley Dunwell
The following was received from Colin in May. I am sure that he would like it to be enjoyed, especially by those with similar memories and/or a keen interest in local personalities. It is printed here in remembrance of one of my finest contributors. The editor
More memories of Derek Kevan
It might have been 47 years since my wife, Margaret, and I moved to Bilton from our home city of Ripon but seeing the name Derek Kevan in the December 2014 issue certainly brought the memories flooding back. During our schooldays his name was mentioned with considerable pride as the first Ripon-born player to represent his country in the national football team. News of his selection in 1957 led to the headmaster of Ripon Secondary Modern School, Fred Ward, announcing to a packed morning assembly how honoured everyone involved with the school should feel that a former pupil had made such a great achievement. Of course, with the benefit of hindsight, it probably also pleased Mr Ward to be in a position where his school could, on this occasion, have literally scored over its academic neighbour opposite, Ripon Grammar School, which, in an era of the 11Plus, was seen as a much superior educational establishment. No doubt he would have been equally pleased a few years earlier when, as also reported in the society’s December newsletter, Derek was a member of Ripon Modern School’s under 15s team who were victorious against a team representing Harrogate Grammar School under 15s in the Daily Dispatch Trophy. But whatever Mr Ward’s personal feelings it can be said that Derek was certainly destined to make his mark on the football field. An enthusiastic competitor at all levels, from Harrogate and District Schools to Ripon City, his big break came when he was spotted by a club scout from Bradford Park Avenue who, at the time, played in the third division. His first match for his new club was in 1952 when he was 17 years old and within a year he had signed for West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £2000. Although he had to wait until August 1955 to make his league debut Derek did so in style by scoring both goals in a 2-0 home win over Everton. He went on to become a star player at the Albion – where he earned the nickname I s s u e 7 5 P a g e 3
“The Tank” because of his committed and powerful style of play – and played alongside such familiar names as Bobby Robson to become one of the club’s top scorers with over 100 goals in only six seasons at The Hawthorns. Such success led to his being one of two players to top the England goal scorers’ list in 1962 – the other was Ray Crawford of Ipswich Town – with a total of 33 goals, a figure many of his more modern contemporaries can only envy. His record still remains the highest post-war league total by an Albion player. It was similar kinds of performances that had led to Derek being picked to represent his country between 1957 and 1961. It was news of his first cap in the England team selected to play old rivals, Scotland, (when Derek scored one of the England teams goals in a 2-1 victory) that had prompted the announcement to be made in his old school’s assembly. As one of the almost 500 pupils present that morning I can still recall that sense of pride we all felt on hearing the news, even though many of us had never actually met Derek – but we did know his younger brother, Arthur, who, I remember, was standing fairly close to me at the time. Of course, back then, there was nothing like the massive media coverage football attracts today but despite this we could recognise the honour of playing for the national team and the publicity it brought to Ripon and the school, which is now known as Ripon College. Opened in 1939 by the chairman of the West Riding County Council, Sir Percy Jackson, it was the first school of its type to be built by the council, which many readers will remember was based in Wakefield. Ripon represented one of its most northerly outposts with the council’s boundary ending under the railway bridge that once crossed the A61 Ripon to Thirsk Road, only yards from the city’s former railway station. It could well have been from here that Derek set off for his career in football. A glance at his impressive record, which is available on the internet (just put Derek Kevan into Google), shows he played for such household names as Chelsea, Manchester City and Crystal Palace before going on to play in the lower divisions until 1970. But of all the clubs listed his longest period was spent at West Bromwich Albion which, in those days, was one of the country’s top clubs. And such was his impact over a ten year period that older fans still remember him with great affection, as can be seen by the many tributes posted on Derek’s internet site. As for the man himself, he never forgot his Ripon roots. He was a regular visitor to his home city where he would meet up with former team mates from his early playing days. Some, like my brother-in-law, Alan Binks, who, although a couple of years younger than Derek, also played in the local leagues, can remember Derek telling them on one such visit in 1960, following a game at Elland Road against Leeds United, that he was earning £45 a week. And although this was far more than the average worker could hope to achieve at the time it certainly puts into perspective how much the game has changed when teenage strikers today claim they are not happy on £180,000 a week! P a g e 4 Bilton Historical Society In later years Derek would be only too happy to respond to requests to attend such events as Ripon City FC anniversary occasions held at The Spa Hotel. He also answered a similar call from one of the pioneers of Sunday football, the Ripon Sunday League, when they held their golden reunion in April 1999. A former player with one of the league’s five teams known as Southgate Select, which took its name from an area of Ripon, Derek’s presence was, for many, as welcome as that of the reunion’s guest of honour, the legendary former Leeds United player, John Charles. The two men shared many similarities: both had represented their respective countries in the 1958 World Cup and both had that rare ability to score goals for their teams. Finally, on a personal note, although I did have the pleasure of once meeting John Charles I cannot claim that I ever did get to meet Derek Kevan. I also have to admit that back in the days when he was playing in the top league my interest, like many other local people, was more on the fortunes of Leeds United. However, thanks to the mention about Derek in the December newsletter, I was prompted to research his playing career and now not only realise how much of a football star he was but how fully he deserved our old headmaster’s praise from 58 years ago. Colin Waite It pays to look through your old papers and books. Recently we were given an old and battered copy of one of the Ackrill’s annuals by Freda Emmett. There was no cover and so no date. However by careful checking of some of the events and personalities mentioned we have worked out that it was produced for 1917. It tied in beautifully with the work that some members of the study group were doing on the Harrogate men who were involved in WWI. Their list was added to considerably. One of the fascinating items discovered was a picture of Sergeant W E Rathke of 20 Albany Road. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in July 1917. He and his brother had difficulty in volunteering for the British Army because of their German name, but clearly they succeeded and served with great distinction. An even more fascinating fact discovered by the group was that Sergeant Rathke was the grandfather of David Coates - one of our Study Group members. We hope to put together more information for an article to give more insight into the life and times of the Rathke family. So thank you Freda. What looked to be an old, tattered and useless remnant of a book has turned out to be a goldmine for our research. Are there any more such books and magazines in boxes, cupboards or lofts? We will be delighted to have the chance to look for titbits of old Bilton - don’t fill your dustbin. The editor
On February 3rd we will be visited by Keith Barber. He will take us on “A Trip down Memory Lane”. We all have our own memories from many different areas and times. Keith will take us through the 40s, 50s and 60s with his own nostalgic reminiscences. I s s u e 7 5 P a g e 5 Memories of my Early Days
I was born on 9th April 1941, nothing special about that you may say, except that I was born 6 weeks early at 17 St John’s Drive, Bilton weighing 2½ lbs – the first child of my parents Norman and Kitty Wilkinson. I was born in the front room and was delivered by Nurse Tagg, the community midwife. The doctor, Dr Bessie Brown from King’s Road Surgery, (now a private house, next to the former St. Luke’s Church), told my parents that I was unlikely to survive, but Nurse Tagg was more hopeful as girls then had a higher survival rate than boys when born prematurely. I am told that Harrogate Borough Council told all expectant mothers that home confinements were to be downstairs and not in the bedrooms because of the fear of bombs. My father managed to keep the room warm day and night with cinders from the gas works and logs he procured from neighbours and friends – no mean feat in the austere days of 1941. There was no incubator and my mother said I struggled to breathe, as I understand that the lungs are the last organ to develop, not being needed until we exit the womb. I was so tiny that they had to lift me on a cushion and as I was too weak to suckle I was fed sugar and water and breast milk by spoon until later when I was strong enough to breast feed. I was dressed in doll’s clothes as none of the clothes that my mother had prepared for me would fit until I was three months old. My mother told me that I could not go to hospital because it was full of recuperating soldiers which was in part true, but 50 years later two retired nursing sisters from Harrogate Hospital told me that I was probably not taken to hospital, even though there were primitive incubators and a maternity ward that was open, because the trauma would have been too much for me and the risk of cross infection would have been high in my weakened state. With the love and care of my parents and the dedication and skill of Nurse Tagg, who visited every day for a month and regularly afterwards, I slowly gained weight and was at last dressed in baby clothes and could be taken into the fresh air. By nine months I was a chubby baby and by one year was walking. There was never any question that the low birth weight had affected my brain. In fact, Kitty told me that once I had started to talk, I never shut up! As I grew up my mother pointed out Nurse Tagg to me in the street as she cycled round the area with her bag in the front basket, attending to mothers in all weathers, day and night. Dr Bessie Brown died young in her 40s, probably not helped by the huge work load that she had in the war years with most of the male doctors in the forces or in the hospitals, dealing with the ill and wounded. I remember her coming to the house when my brother and I had all the usual childhood diseases to confirm the diagnosis and advise on treatment, not the usual practice today. Jean Spence P a g e 6 Bilton Historical Society
A POEM THAT SOME CAN RELATE TO I remember the cheese of my childhood, We ate what was put on the table And the bread that we cut with a knife And I think life was better enjoyed. When the children helped out with the ANON (adapted) housework, Sent in by Shirley Dunwell And the men went to work not the wife. The cheese never needed a fridge, Life’s Observations from older eyes: And the bread was so crusty and hot When I use stairs I have to stop midway The children were seldom unhappy to catch my breath. When I’m ready to And the wife was content with her lot. start again I can’t remember whether I I remember the milk from the bottle, was going upstairs or downstairs. With thick yummy cream on the top, Back up my hard drive? How do I put it Our dinner came hot from the oven, in reverse? And not from the fridge in the shop. Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime The kids were a lot more contented, to waste it on children (George Bernard They didn't need money for kicks, Shaw) Just a game with their mates in the road, And sometimes the Saturday flicks. Once you are over the hill, you begin to pick up speed. (Charles M. Schulz) I remember the shop on the corner, Where a pen'orth of sweets was sold Wrinkles should merely indicate where Do you think I'm a bit too nostalgic? smiles have been (Mark Twain) Or is it...I'm just getting old? I am getting to an age when I can enjoy I remember the 'loo' was the lav the last sport left. It’s called hunting for And the bogey man came in the night, spectacles. (Edward Grey) It wasn't in any way funny Pensioners – don’t mess with them!!!! Going "out back" without any light. From newspapers cut into squares Two businessmen in Cardiff were sitting Came interesting items we perused down for a break in their soon-to-be They were hung on a peg in the loo, opened shop… It took little to keep us amused. The shop wasn’t ready, with only a few shelves set up. One said to the other, “I The clothes were boiled in the copper bet any minute now some pensioner is With plenty of rich foamy suds going to walk by, put their face to the But the ironing seemed never ending window and ask what we’re selling.” No As Mum pressed everyone's 'duds'. sooner were the words out of his mouth I remember the slap on my backside, when sure enough, a curious old And the taste of soap if I swore. woman, had a peek and in a soft voice Anorexia and diets weren't heard of asked, “What are you selling here?” One And we hadn't much choice what we of the men replied sarcastically, “We’re wore. selling idiots.” Without skipping a beat, the old woman said, “Must be doing Do you think that bruised our ego? well… Only two left!” Or our initiative was destroyed? I s s u e 7 5 P a g e 7
Correspondence I read the BHS Newsletter with great interest having grown up in Bilton and Harrogate from 1949 to 1960. My father was in the West Riding Police and we arrived in Harrogate when I was 11 years old. I lived there until I started training for the Anglican Ministry in 1960. My parents remained in Harrogate until they died so I remained part of Harrogate and Bilton Church until my mother died in 2004 age 93years. When we first moved to Harrogate we lived in Albany Road and I joined Bilton Church Choir in about 1951. Walter Bussey was the choir master, Harold Pearson the Vicar, and a few years later John Parry arrived as Curate. I remember that when I joined the choir I was paid the princely sum of 13d (5½p) per quarter and when my voice broke I was top boy on 6s6d (32½p) a quarter. Inflation! The article about Harold Ascough brought back memories as I can remember that the old Bilton cricket ground could be seen clearly from the choir vestry door. There were always good crowds sitting watching the games, especially in the Evening League. I was very keen on cricket and joined BCC as a junior. In those days Harold Ascough was a bit of a legend. Another name that springs to mind is Gordon Spittlehouse. He too was an idol to a young boy keen on cricket. Strangely, when I was appointed Vicar of Great Horton in Bradford in 1969 I played for Great Horton in the Bradford League only to hear people talk about a professional they had had a few years before called Gordon Spittlehouse! What has prompted me to write is that I have a photograph of Harold Pearson and John Parry standing outside Bilton Church in the '50's. I am very happy to send it to you if you think it would be something you could use and if you can promise to return it to me when you have finished with it. There are still a number of people at St John's who I grew up with and stay in contact with. I have many happy memories of Bilton Church and my years growing up there, and the faithful people no longer on this earth, who had a great influence in my life. Miss Mountcastle lived in the houses alongside the drive down to the church. She taught at New Park School. Miss Hilda Dawson, a single lady who ran the boys bible class and lived with her sister in a very large house in Pannal Ash. Mr Brown ran the Sunday School and was Headmaster of Bilton Endowed School. I remember with fondness the many Concerts we put on as young people in the Church Hall and the faithfulness of the folks that turned out to watch. Then there was Harold Spencer of King Edwards Drive who taught me in Sunday School. I could go on but I don't want to bore you! With best wishes Max Wigley
Canon Max Wigley Chaplain Yorkshire County Cricket Club Honorary Diocesan Evangelist, Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales
Issue 75 October 2015
THE GOOD OLD DAYS ? A list of rules from 1853 found in Docks Office G.P.O. Cardiff. 1. Godliness, Cleanliness and Punctuality are the necessity of a good business. 2. This firm has reduced the hours of work, and the clerical staff will now only have to be present between the hours of 7am and 6pm on weekdays. 3. Daily prayers will be held each morning in the main office, clerical staff will be present. 4. Clothing must be of a sober nature.The clerical staff will not disport themselves in rainment (sic) of bright colours nor will they they wear hose unless in good repair. 5. Overcoats and topcoats may not be worn in the office, but headscarves and neck wear may be worn in inclement weather. 6. A stove is provided for the benefit of the clerical staff. Coal and wood must be kept in the locker it is recommended that each member of the clerical staff bring four pounds of coal each day during cold weather. 7. No member of the clerical staff may leave the room without the permission of Mr Rogers. The calls of nature are permitted and clerical staff may use the garden below the second gate. This area must be kept in good order. 8. No talking is allowed during business hours. 9. The craving of tobacco, vines and spirits is a human weakness and, as such, is forbidden to all members of the clerical staff. 10. The clerical staff must bring their own pens, although sharpeners brushes, brooms and soap would be provided for the boys and juniors who have to report for duty 40 minutes before each prayers. Brought to our attention by George Thrower from the Letters Page of the regular magazine of NFOP (The National Federation of Occupational Pensioners).
I wonder what the reaction would be if a company were to bring in rules like this in 2015. There would be problems with rule 3 under the Religious Discrimination legislation. The Clean Air Act and Smoking in Offices would cause problems with rule 6, Public Decency would be outraged by Rule 7 and the Environmental Lobby would be very unhappy about both of them. Rule 8 would make telephoning very difficult indeed. As for rule 10 - words almost fail me as to the reaction to that one. The only ones that might be considered normal and acceptable are rules 1 and 9 - but only just. Some of the others would be considered an affront to the workers’ civil rights.