HOLIDAYS from Peter Westmacott

Hello Jean
Regarding John Satchell's comments on the new cafe/restaurant in West Street, yes it does look rather smart. My wife and I spotted it when strolling around Ilminster on our last visit in September, but as we had already eaten rather well in the Meeting House Arts Centre (the old Unitarian Chapel) in East Street, we weren't able to sample what Tea Tree had to offer.  Perhaps another time.

WELL, I’M A BIT MIFFED. I SENT THEM  A LINK TO OUR WEBSITE BY EMAIL AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY RESPONSE! DISAPPOINRING THAT! JJ

I liked the photo you posted of the Dolphin pub in Silver Street. The day we walked past, there were several people sitting outside with drinks, quite a contrast to the one you displayed. I suppose back in the 1950s very few, if any, of us children would have ever seen inside any of the pubs.  At least I can't remember ever doing so!  Perhaps other Summervaleans had different experiences.

I REMEMBER THE DOLPHIN WHICH WAS RUN BY THE DUKE FAMILY. ON ONE VISIT TO ILMINSTER MIKE AND I WENT IN FOR A DRINK AND WE COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. THERE WAS A SORT OF BAR BUT VERY FEW BOTTLES AND THERE WERE HUGE BARRELS FROM WHICH THE BEER WAS DRAWN. MIKE SAID IT WAS LIKE THE DARK AGES! JJ

 

We have recently flown back from two weeks on Tenerife.  On the return trip I was thinking generally about holidays and how they have changed in my lifetime. Thinking about Summervale in the 1950s I was struck by our lack of holidays then.  We once had a week in a caravan in Weymouth with my mother, brothers and grandparents (Reg and Ethel Durham). It was a bit cramped, but we loved it and the many visits to the beach. Beyond that I can't recall a lot about it. The only other holidays I can remember were those when we visited relatives in London. These were the same relatives who would annually plonk themselves on my grandparents for a week or two, so it seemed a fair exchange to occasionally dump ourselves on them.
Where did other Summervaleans go for holidays in the 1950s?  I'm sure that some of you must have gone somewhere, perhaps even abroad, although I guess that would have been quite unusual at the the time.  The age of mass overseas tourism - the annual week in Spain - didn't arrive until the 1960s. Perhaps most of you just spent your time around Ilminster.
We certainly did for most of our school holidays!
Best wishes everyone
Peter Westmacott.

WEYMOUTH

Was one of the popular seaside resorts we all visited from Ilminster especially on our Sunday school outings.

Here is a photo of my family and the Symons walking from the coach park towards the beach.

 

I guess Janice is about  3 in this photo being carried by her very proud Dad Charlie. That would mean this photo was taken around 1952 so I would have been 8?? Probably as I can remember that dress; I had one in blue and one in pink and I ruined one of them at school by tipping a whole inkwell over it. Mum was not best pleased.

It also means my parents were in their early forties – they look so much older than that don’t they?

Here are some beach photos but I cannot be certain whether they were taken in Weymouth of Exmouth. Does anyone know?

 

We also went to visit family in London although I think they were duty visits rather than holidays.

My grandmother lived in Manor Park and others lived in East Ham.

My maternal grandmother, who fled Guernsey when the Germans invaded, lived on a houseboat in Poole. Loved visiting there and vividly remember Sandbanks before the millionaires moved in.

We spent several holidays in Lyme Regis in a chalet right on the beach. Used to love it and learnt to dive off the Cob wall. I think someone at STC owned the chalet and used to rent it out.

This is photo of Marie Macey in Lyme Regis

Anyone else got some memories to add?

JJ