Newsletter No. 72 March 2018 Den Perrin 1932 - 2017 Den Perrin, founder of the Heavitree Local History Society, died just as we went to press with our previous newsletter. As promised we now pay tribute to the man who made such a significant contribution to the communication and celebration of Heavitree’s past. When Den retired from Devon County Council his active mind turned to potential projects to keep him busy and stimulated. As a Heavitree resident and with a keen interest in history Den started to explore the idea of a local history society. This culminated on 12 August 1998 when Den, together with David Morrish, Norman Shiel and Martin Weiler, met ‘to discuss the possibility of forming a Local History Society for Heavitree’. The idea was quickly endorsed, and the Society inaugurated in October that year with Den as secretary. From the outset he was very focussed on doing things rather than just talking about local history. Very speedily he organised for the fledgling Society to publish a guide to the Higher Cemetery, and moreover successfully approached Exeter City Council to pay for this. Soon after, Den started an annual survey of the shops in Heavitree Fore Street and researched what had been there previously right back until 1851, producing the results in a booklet. The survey is still continued by members and the changes are updated on our website. Den also edited a fine publication naming all those from Heavitree who died in World War 1 – The Heavitree Roll of Honour, and when it came to World War 2 commemorations Den negotiated the closure of Whipton Lane and organised a street party to mark the 60 th anniversary of the end of hostilities. Over 300 enjoyed entertainment, tea and a victory cake. Den launched the Society newsletter in 2000 and continued documenting the history of the area. Other publications by him included histories of Heavitree Parish Church and Heavitree School. He also wrote a booklet for the Civic Society on all the plaques and public inscriptions around Exeter. Den’s biggest triumph was persuading the Royal Albert Memorial Museum to host an Exhibition on Heavitree’s history – Heavitree 2002. This proved a great success and we still use some of the exhibition boards today. He was very keen on reminding people that Heavitree used to be an independent borough until being annexed by Exeter in 1913. Eventually however he forgave the City, and indeed Den was the main driver behind the setting up of the Exeter Local History Society. When he organised the first Heavitree Fore Street walk in 2000 an amazing 83 people turned up. Den had touched a nerve. He knew that people were interested in their community and its local history; knew it but crucially did something about it. Everyone with an interest in Heavitree will forever be grateful for Den’s foresight and persistence. The Society is still thriving today – nearly 20 years after Den formed it – a great legacy from the man we are honoured to remember as our founder and inspiration. Martin Weiler David Morrish RIP It was with great sadness that, as this newsletter went to press, Heavitree Local History Society heard of the death of David Morrish. He was our co- founder and first Chairman. David was a County and City Liberal Party Councillor for Heavitree for three decades and is widely known as ‘Mr Heavitree’. Together with the late Den Perrin (who we also pay tribute to in this edition) David established our Society in 1998 and served as our inaugural Chairman right through to 2010. A full tribute to David will appear in our next issue. Heavitree Boundary Walk 2018 Saturday 7 th July – starting at Livery Dole at 9.00am. This year those who wish to stop half-way round at Honiton Road, can complete the route on the following Saturday (14 th ), when the second part will start at 10.00. The whole route is 14.75 miles; doing it in two stages will be 7.75 miles and 7 miles; the speed of walk will be at the slowest walker’s pace. Further info will be available at our next meeting.
Transcript
Newsletter No. 72 March 2018
Den Perrin 1932 - 2017 Den Perrin, founder of the Heavitree Local History Society, died just as we went to press with our previous newsletter. As promised we now pay tribute to the man who made such a significant contribution to the communication and celebration of Heavitree’s past. When Den retired from Devon County Council his active mind turned to potential projects to keep him busy and stimulated. As a Heavitree resident and with a keen interest in history Den started to explore the idea of a local history society. This culminated on 12 August 1998 when Den, together with David Morrish, Norman Shiel and Martin Weiler, met ‘to discuss the possibility of forming a Local History Society for Heavitree’. The idea was quickly endorsed, and the
Society inaugurated in October that year with Den as secretary. From the outset he was very focussed on doing things rather than just talking about local history. Very speedily he organised for the fledgling Society to publish a guide to the Higher Cemetery, and moreover successfully approached Exeter City Council to pay for this. Soon after, Den started an annual survey of the shops in Heavitree Fore Street and researched what had been there previously right back until 1851, producing the results in a booklet. The survey is still continued by members and the changes are updated on our website. Den also edited a fine publication naming all those from Heavitree who died in
World War 1 – The Heavitree Roll of Honour, and when it came to World War 2 commemorations Den negotiated the closure of Whipton Lane and organised a street party to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of hostilities. Over 300 enjoyed entertainment, tea and a victory cake. Den launched the Society newsletter in 2000 and continued documenting the history of the area. Other publications by him included histories of Heavitree Parish Church and Heavitree School. He also wrote a booklet for the Civic Society on all the plaques and public inscriptions around Exeter. Den’s biggest triumph was persuading the Royal Albert Memorial Museum to host an Exhibition on Heavitree’s history – Heavitree 2002. This proved a great success and we still use some of the exhibition boards today. He was very keen on reminding people that Heavitree used to be an independent borough until being annexed by Exeter in 1913. Eventually however he forgave the City, and indeed Den was the main driver behind the setting up of the Exeter Local History Society. When he organised the first Heavitree Fore Street walk in 2000 an amazing 83 people turned up. Den had touched a nerve. He knew that people were interested in their community and its local history; knew it but crucially did something about it. Everyone with an interest in Heavitree will forever be grateful for Den’s foresight and persistence. The Society is still thriving today – nearly 20 years after Den formed it – a great legacy from the man we are honoured to remember as our founder and inspiration. Martin Weiler
David Morrish RIP It was with great sadness that, as this newsletter went to press, Heavitree Local History Society heard of the death of David Morrish. He was our co- founder and first Chairman. David was a County and City Liberal Party Councillor for Heavitree for three decades and is widely known as ‘Mr Heavitree’. Together with the late Den Perrin (who we also pay tribute to in this edition) David established our Society in 1998 and served as our inaugural Chairman right through to 2010. A full tribute to David will appear in our next issue.
Heavitree Boundary Walk 2018 Saturday 7th July – starting at Livery Dole at 9.00am. This year those who wish to stop half-way round at Honiton Road, can complete the route on the following Saturday (14th), when the second part will start at 10.00. The whole route is 14.75 miles; doing it in two stages will be 7.75 miles and 7 miles; the speed of walk will be at the slowest walker’s pace. Further info will be available at our next meeting.
Retailing in Fore Street 1851 - 2018 We have recently updated our record of the shops and businesses on Fore Street; a copy of the records can be found at the bottom of this newsletter, and on our website. It always makes for fascinating reading. For example, number 56, which is currently the Vit-D Tanning Salon, has also been a shoemaker, grocer, cooked meats shop, battery shop, video rentals shop and cobblers! 2018 sees some really interesting new businesses in Heavitree - The Daisy Café, The Spanish Shop, Hospiscare, Helping Hands, Sword Board Gaming Shop, Dream Doors and Heavitree News have all opened their doors to business - I wonder which of these businesses might still be going in a hundred years' time?! Now that Leyman's Jewellers has moved, it looks like the longest running business on its original premises (apart from pubs) is the Superwash Launderette.
Interestingly, as this newsletter went to press, work seems to have begun on the former Chinese takeaway at 42 Fore Street, that has been vacant for about six years. The signage has been removed,
revealing a sign from the 1970s (almost fifty years ago now!), from when John Gill ran an insurance/accountancy business there. Apparently, due to his poor health, the shop did not remain open that long, although members of the Exeter Memories Facebook group remember getting insurance there. Another member remembered working as an apprentice when this shop was a hairdresser's called Shooters, some 55 years ago. Men were upstairs, women downstairs. Two members recalled a welsh man working there in the 50s with a full head of wavy hair, and later as bald! Rumour has it that the shop is to be another coffee shop, although nothing has been confirmed yet. It's good to see so many new businesses on Fore Street. Keep your eyes out in this newsletter for an article, coming soon, about the lost shops of Heavitree.
Memories of Rosary House School - Rosemary Baxter (nee Wall) I was there from the age of five until I was eleven. I was extremely happy there and I found the nuns very kind despite the fact that my family were not Catholics. The large entrance hall was in a Victorian tiled pattern of shades of terracotta, blue and white. In these days at Rosary House there was a class taken by Miss Beck to the left of the entrance hall, and to the right was the BIG room where assemblies,
P.E., plays and other activities took place. Behind was the kitchen where Sister Camelia was in charge; to the left of this, under the stairs were the cloakrooms, toilet and back entrance. There was a student teacher in charge, but I can't remember her name. Up the grand staircase, to the left was what I think must have been the nuns' quarters. I know Sister Superior's room was there. Dead ahead was a large statue of the Virgin Mary. To the left of this was a row of classrooms. Sister Sebastian's was the first in the row, she took the older children. Sister St John was in the middle, took the lower juniors, and at the front of the house was Sister St Alphie's infant class. Each doorway had a place to dip one's finger in holy water and cross oneself (strange to a non-Catholic child). The classrooms had a picture of a 'stairway to heaven' where if you brought a penny (old money 1d) your paper image could rise a step upwards until eventually your 'paper child' reached heaven.
Top Class, probably Summer 1949: L-R Standing: Elaine Cruchet, Jill Hayte, Rosemary Wall, Valerie Parker, Anne Collins, Sister Superior, Beryl Reid, Sister Sebastian, Beryl O'Shea, Unknown, Mary Hodges, Unknown, Monica ?, Unknown, Alisha Ramsdon. Kneeling: Janet ?, Heather Roxburgh, Judith Bridle, Bridget Matthews, Anne Milne, Josephine ?, Hilary ?, Hazel Smith, Geraldine Roberts, Brenda Lewis, Janet ?, Jennifer Pepperel, Cynthia Kirk The unnamed girls to the right in the back row were a year older than Rosemary.
On various days we went to a service in the Sacred Heart Church. I can remember being taken back to the school feeling faint from the cold and being given the old fashioned 'SOL VALATILE' by Sister Camelia in her warm kitchen. Not a lot of heating available with wartime fuel rationing. There were various places to play at the back of the house, but in the summer we had the joys of the field to the side of the house and behind the church. This was also used for fêtes. The nuns were excellent at craft-work and made lovely things from very little, as during wartime and for some time afterwards, everything was on ration. Occasionally we went to Palace Gate School by bus from Heavitree to Exeter Centre for 1d (one old penny) return. This was to enable us to use their 'proper gym'. The only school outing I can remember was towards the end of my time there when we were taken to Bristol Zoo - see photo of myself with Julie Kirton. This shows our school summer uniform. Blue and white checked dress, navy blazer with school badge and a straw hat with band and badge on it. In winter, I think we had a navy tunic and white blouse and tie, and probably a jumper or a navy cardigan. I particularly enjoyed Friday afternoons, it was reading and handicraft work. The reading books were graded, and you usually had a new book for the weekend (what an incentive to get on). We learned joined-up writing with old fashioned copy books, and multiplication tables by rote. The nuns were very dedicated and helped us 'get on' in many ways. Discipline was certainly there but not in a heavy-handed way. If only that were true today!! I later became a primary school teacher and corresponded with Sister Sebastian each Christmas until her death at a convent in Hudsen, America, a region from where she originated, I believe.
I enclose a photo of Sister Sebastian's class taken about 1949 in front of the school. I have been able to name most but apologise to anyone I've missed out or mis-named. It was taken 70 years ago! The other photo is of myself and Julie Kirton at Bristol School outing. I am not on the
internet but if anyone feels inclined, I would love to hear what happened to you after leaving Rosary House. Sally Robinson (email: [email protected]) would be very happy to pass on any replies.
Heavitree’s Sporting Connections Members at our December meeting quickly built up an impressive list of sports people with Heavitree connections. The discussion on that subject took place in the absence of the expected speaker. Among those mentioned were: • Cliff Bastin: Exeter City, Arsenal and England Footballer. He lived on Pinhoe
Road and attended Ladysmith Road Council School. After retiring from the game, he returned to Heavitree where he was Landlord of the Horse and Groom in Fore Street.
• Dick Manley: Exeter and England Rugby player. Born in Heavitree and has lived almost all his life here. Attended Ladysmith Schools. See newsletters 40 & 41.
• Liam Tancock: World Champion swimmer. Lived in Sweetbriar Lane and went to Ladysmith and St Luke’s Schools.
• Sid Thomas: Exeter City football player, Secretary, Chairman and President. Lived in Stanwey. Buried in Higher Cemetery.
• Percy Fender: Sussex, Surrey and England cricketer. Buried in Higher Cemetery. See newsletter 19.
• Louis Devereux: Middlesex, Worcestershire and Glamorgan cricketer and England table tennis international. Born in Heavitree. See newsletter 19.
• Ron Crabb: Football League referee. Recently awarded Freedom of City of Exeter. Lives in Heavitree. Ron will be speaking at the Society AGM on Tuesday 4th September.
We would be delighted to hear about any further Heavitree sporting connections.
Heavitree Dolls' Hospital A discussion on the Exeter Memories Facebook page recently caught my attention. A member remembered taking her doll to be repaired at a shop in Fore Street, Heavitree, in the 1950s. The shop itself was a newsagents/confectioners, called The Topaz, that had The Dolls’ Hospital inside. The owner was called Mr Hollis. It occupied the building that is now Corals, and was next to Dr Tracy and Dr Lamb’s surgery in Homefield Place. One member remembers it having a large ice-cream cone outside; her mother would meet her from school every Wednesday (half day) and buy her an ice-cream there. Many ex-Heavitree residents had memories of this shop - a bear with a broken off head; a doll with perished elastic, and thus whose limbs had fallen off; a 'Tiny Tears' (who came back in a different dress) and a 'Chatty Cathy' (who still works now) were all patients at the hospital over the years! One lady remembered taking her doll there, and her being put on a shelf with dolls all lined up, waiting to be repaired. They must have been busy! Did you ever take a doll there? Members also remembered another dolls' hospital, two thirds of the way up Monkswell Road. Two elderly sisters repaired the dolls, also in the 1950s.
FORTHCOMING HLHS MEETINGS - WHAT'S IN STORE? Tue 6th Mar 2018 'Heavitree Stone and the Heavitree Quarries' - John Allan [joint meeting with Heavitree Squilometre as part of the Heavitree Quarry Trails community project] Tue 5th Jun 2018 'Alehouses and Drinking Culture' A look back at what was going on in our public houses in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, drawing on extensive research in Exeter and beyond to suggest what might have been happening in Heavitree's inns. - Dr Mark Hailwood (Bristol University) Sat 7th Jul 2018 Boundary Walk. Meet at Livery Dole at 9.00am. This year those who wish to stop half-way round at Honiton Road, can complete the route on the following Saturday (14th), when the second part will start at 10.00. The whole route is of 14.75 miles; doing it in two stages will be 7.75 miles and 7 miles, the speed of walk will be at the slowest walker’s pace. Tue 4th Sep 2018 AGM followed by talk by Ron Crabb, Heavitree resident and Freeman of the City of Exeter. Ron will speak about his varied career including as a Royal Marine, Prison Warder, Football League Referee and the City's Mace Sergeant. All meetings start at 7.30pm and are held in the Rifford Room at Heavitree Parish Church.
Non History Society Events
Alternate Fridays 10-12 - Heavitree Friendly Library - St Michael's Church. All welcome for books, tea, coffee cake and story time.
Sun 11th Mar 2018 - Friends of Higher Cemetery - Animals in War.
Wed 14th Mar 2018 - Exeter History Society - A walk around Newtown with a guide who will explain the history of the area.
Sun 1st Apr 2018 - Friends of Higher Cemetery - RAF Centenary: a tour of airmen's graves with Michael Parrott.
Tues 10th Apr 2018 - Friends of Higher Cemetery - Bandmaster Cox. A talk by Ruth Hawker.
Wed 11th Apr 2018 - Exeter History Society - The history of Exeter Cathedral by renowned archaeologist, John Allen.
Sat 12th May 2018 - Friends of Higher Cemetery - Cricket is a Funny Game. A talk by Clive Russell.
Tues 5th Jun 2018 - Friends of Higher Cemetery - Jan Stewer. A talk by Rev. Chris Pidsley about A.J. Coles and Jan Stewer.
Wed 13th Jun 2018 - Exeter History Society - Women and the Vote. A talk by Dr Julia Neville at Jurys Inn.
Tues 3rd Jul 2018 - Friends of Higher Cemetery - Sold by Force: A talk by David Force, estate agent.
Wed 8th Aug 2018 - Exeter History Society - Exeter Workmens' Dwellings. A talk by Richard Holladay.
Wed 8th Aug 2018 - Friends of Higher Cemetery - History of Sclater's Nurseries. A talk by Graham Sclater.
Sat 15th Sep 2018 - Friends of Higher Cemetery - The American Soldier. A talk by Michael Parrott.
Sat 6th Oct 2018 - Friends of Higher Cemetery - Walter Daw. A talk by Christine Trigger.
Sun 11th Nov 2018 - The End of World War 1. A talk by Todd Gray.
If you know of any events that you think members might appreciate, please contact me and I will include them in this section.
This Newsletter was published by the Heavitree Local History Society Editor : Sally Robinson, 48 Regent Square, Exeter, EX1 2RL
