RETURN TO LOOKING BACK WITH MALCOLM TUCKER MAIN PAGE
At a time when jobs were at a premium an occupation centre for the unemployed was opened in North Road in 1933. The premises I am informed were on the present Village Hub site and were leased to the group by Mr. Golding, a shoemaker. Boot repairing outfits and leather were obtained, tools and timber were presented by residents of the village and before long a boot-mending scheme was under way. The initiative made speedy progress and before long it became clear that larger premises were needed. Lord Weymouth. M.P. for the Frome Division took an active interest and was very impressed with what he saw.
Timsbury Girls Club celebrated its first anniversary by putting on a one-act play, ”The Birthday Party” in the Church Room. It was written and produced by Mrs. I. Kemp of Rennys who had founded the Girls Club to promote friendliness and social unity among members. The Secretary was Miss Nancy Smith (later Mrs. Abbott) who it was reported gave an excellent report. A social followed to the music of Mr. A.W. Parker’s band of Radstock.
There were a number of other organizations in Timsbury which are no longer with us. Meetings of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood used to take place in the Temperance Hall while there was a Timsbury branch of the Hospital Contributory League Scheme with the Secretary Mr. G. Hasell and the Chairman Mr. A. Lewis. Mr. Hasell was also Captain of the village tennis club with Mr. S. Holbrook as Vice-captain, Mr. F. Short Treasurer and Miss Stabbins the Secretary.
The first monthly meeting since the revival of the Timsbury branch of the British Legion was held at Pendogget Cottage. The branch Chairman Mr. C. Ruddock said that through the generosity of Major Addlington who lived in Parish’s House they would have the use of that room on 2 evenings a week for social purposes. It was also decided to revive the Women’s Section of the British Legion.
The village Dramatic Society was launched in 1933 under the auspices of the local branch of the Workers Educational Association. The Chairman was Mr. I. Roberts, the Secretary Miss E. Stabbins and the Treasurer Mrs. Perrett. The first public performance came in June with 3 one-act plays in the Church Room – “The Followers”, “The Bishop’s Candlesticks” and “Birds of a Feather”. Amongst those taking part were Mr. G. Dyer, Mr. R. Dyer, Mr. R. Pickford and Mr. A. Ashley.
Members of Timsbury Cricket Club stood in silence at their A.G.M. in memory of former Somerset batsman Lionel Palairet who had been described as “the world’s most stylish batsman”. Captain of Somerset in 1933 was Mr. Reg Ingle who was later to make Timsbury his home. He was congratulated by County officials for an excellent playing record and as an amateur was thanked for keeping expenses to a minimum. You just wonder what those officials would make of the huge sums being paid to the top players these days! My grandfather was re-elected as Captain of Timsbury for the seventh successive season with Mr. Bernard Adams his Vice-captain. Mr. F. Sims (Snr.) was Captain of the 2nd.XI with Mr. F. Sims (Jnr.) as Vice-captain.
Many villagers will remember the hairdressing salon run in the Square by Mr. Sidney Sims. In 1933 Mr. Sims suffered a serious accident at Kingwell Crossroads when his motor-cycle and side-car were in collision with two lorries. He was taking his father to work and suffered a compound fracture of the thigh, abrasions and shock while his father who was thrown from the side-car was unhurt.
Finally Somerset County Council at last approved the building of a new elementary senior school at Timsbury costing £13,275. It would be for senior pupils not only in Timsbury but from surrounding parishes. The school served that purpose until the introduction of Comprehensive education in the early 1970s when it became the site for the village Primary school.