RETURN TO LOOKING BACK WITH MALCOLM TUCKER MAIN PAGE
Today trips abroad are an intrinsic part of school life. Forty years ago it was a revolutionary step and 1959 saw the first continental tour undertaken by Timsbury Secondary Modern School. Leaving Bath by train on July 25 the party arrived at the highland village of Hemberg in N.E. Switzerland the next day. During the week they were entertained to songs, yodelling and dances by the inhabitants and at one of these functions Gerard Young won a prize for blowing the Great Alp Horn. At the end of the holiday the whole Swiss village turned out in force to say goodbye.
In 1959 the Secondary school came second in the Midsomer Norton and District Schools’ Athletic Association annual sports event at the Grammar School in Midsomer Norton. Nick Cleaves was the outstanding competitor gaining first place in no less than five events. He broke the shot putt record with a throw of 42 feet 2 inches and raised the long jump record from 17 feet to 17 feet 4 inches.
It was a great season too for Timsbury table tennis team in the North Somerset League. They won both the First Division title and the Somer trophy and there were a number of individual successes. Brian Harris and Brian Newth won the senior doubles, Brian Newth won the handicap cup and Brian Harris was runner-up in the senior final. Brian Harris was described by chairman of the League Steve Taylor at the presentation night as “probably the best player the league had produced in recent years.”
Timsbury Football Club set out on the campaign that was ultimately to end in victory at the Somerset Junior Cup final the following year but there was a hiccup for the Reserves. At the monthly meeting of the Bath and District League it was reported that in the Chronicle Cup competition Timsbury Reserves had not registered any players. Therefore although they had beaten Waterside Sports 5-2 in the second round they were ruled out of the competition.
A joint presentation was made to Clarence Parfitt by the Football Club, the Cricket Club, the Sports’ Club and Football Carnival Committee. Clarence was leaving the village to take up a banking appointment in Aylesbury and making the presentation Steve Taylor paid tribute to Clarence’s invaluable services to sport in the village.
In 1959 both the football and cricket teams were still playing at the Glebe playing field However news was beginning to emerge of plans to develop the site. Residents raised objections and Mrs Gladys Smith one of Timsbury’s representatives on the Clutton Rural District Council said that the development of the playing field would seriously detract from the social amenities available to parishioners. Clutton R.D.C. agreed to try find an alternative site but as we all know it soon became part of a massive housing programme.
Plans were announced by the British Legion Chairman Major Bartelot to enlarge the headquarters in South Road. This would include washing up facilities and cloakroom accommodation and according to the chairman would increase the uses of the hut considerably. At the same meeting in February tribute was paid to three officials who had recently resigned after many years of service. They were Mr. Pullen (Chairman), Mr. Swansbury (Secretary) and Mr. Curtis (Treasurer). Later in 1959 the British Legion held its first dinner for 20 years at the Y.M.C.A. Hall with about 70 people in attendance.
A potentially serious fire broke out at the home of 76 year old Mrs. Martha Hicks at Rose Cottage Rectory Lane. A neighbour Mrs. Payne saw smoke pouring from the premises and when she entered the house she found Mrs Hicks in a state of collapse. Several neighbours helped and prevented flames spreading before the Fire Brigade arrived and Mrs Hicks was thankfully none the worse for the experience. Plumber Colin Packham was also a lucky man. He was working at the Bath Cold Storage and Ice Company when he fell through the roof. Colin who was carrying out repairs escaped with bruising, refused to go to hospital and reported for work the next day.