RETURN TO LOOKING BACK WITH MALCOLM TUCKER MAIN PAGE
It was always said that expertise at snooker was sign of a misspent youth. I don’t claim any outstanding talent at the sport but I certainly spent many happy years during my teens playing the game at the Miners Welfare Hall which was demolished in 1973 to make way for the Conygre Hall car park. The Miners Welfare Hall was in fact built in 1931 and was erected and equipped at a total cost of £300!
The project was made possible by a grant from the central Miners Welfare fund and followed on an earlier allocation of funds which had enabled the Miners Welfare committee to buy what is now the recreation field. The Miners Welfare Hall was to be used as a centre of social activities in the village and contained a main hall, offices and a modern heating system. There were complaints, however, of inadequate toilet facilities!
1931 saw the death of Dr George Bevir at Clifton Nursing Home at the age of 51. Dr Bevir had been a popular G.P. in the village and lived at The Laurels for over 25 years. He was described as a man of charm and personality who endeared himself to all who came under his skill and care. As a mark of respect nearly every blind in the village was drawn on the occasion of his funeral.
In June 1931 filming took place at Camerton of “The Ghost Train” by Arnold Ridley. The railway station used by the film company at Camerton was no longer used for passenger traffic. National film stars such as Cicely Courtneidge featured in the production and Mr. Bobby Thatcher of Greenvale recalled how he and many other youngsters were used on the train as extras. He said that they had to rush from church to make sure they didn’t miss out on the chance of a lifetime although he admitted that the train went so fast no-one would have picked them out on the film. Camerton was described as “this shy little village which has for so long demurely tucked itself away in a hidden nook of lovely Somerset”.
Mr. J.S.P. Sambourne of Timsbury House presented the church with a piece of land in 1931 adjoining the existing church burial ground. This gift enabled the extension of the burial ground and the extension was consecrated on September 15 1931 by the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, Dr.Wynne Wilson. The plot of land already used for burials had earlier been donated by Mr. Sambourne’s father.
A literary evening was held in the Wesleyan schoolroom at South Road presided over by Mr. Benson Smith. Amongst those taking part were villagers Mrs. Nancy Abbott who as Miss Nancy Smith sang a duet with Miss Doris Nash and Mrs. Joyce Padfield (Miss Joyce Wedlake) who was the accompanist. Meanwhile in the Temperance Hall in North Road regular meetings of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood took place. The president was Mr. Oliver Lewis and one of the soloists was a young lad called Wilf Bridges who was to serve Tabor Church with such loyalty and distinction over the years.
On the sports front it was announced that Timsbury Cricket Club had enjoyed a very successful season. The talented Len Pickford who was later to become a postman in the village headed the batting averages while George Ford was top bowler. My grandfather Wilfrid Tucker was re-elected as captain with H. Barnes his vice-captain. J. Greenland was captain of the 2nd. XI with F. Sims his deputy. The meeting was presided over by the President, Rev. C.A. Meade-King and was held in the Church Room.
Finally at the monthly meeting of the Somerset Football Association it was announced that a player who had been reported to them for being sent off had recently got married. Mr. W.M. Jones commented, “Don’t you think one was a sufficient punishment without the other!”