HISTORY FROM PARISHIONERS
The Honeyball Tapes
Chapter 1
Marjorie's early years and school
This has been taken from
articles in the Leigh Post, the Parish Magazine 1993 & 1994.
The notes below are a summary of the Honeyball Tapes.
Marjorie's father was the village policeman. She lived with her parents, three brothers and her sister in the Police House in Clayhill Road (in 2005 the Eason's house). She went to school when she was five in the Old School (now a private house) as the new school was being built. There were three rooms: one for infants, the larger main room for the oldest children, and the room for the 7-11 year olds is the kitchen of the present house. The Headmaster (Mr Tickner?) lived where Miss Walker used to live, and his daughters taught in the school as well. Shortly after her arrival, they all moved into the new school.
A normal school day had the following pattern. Outdoor clothes were hung in the cloakroom before assembly in the big hall with hymns and prayers. The register was then called to which they answered "Yes teacher". In the winter there were big open fires in the hall and classrooms. Mr & Mrs Flint were the caretakers. After that it was back to the classroom with the door firmly shut. They sat at their desks, and nobody moved until playtime. There was absolute quiet.
Everyone walked to school, even from as far away as Norwood Hill; and,
though most went home to dinner, some brought sandwiches.
Marjorie remembers the first Armistice Day, 11 November 1918. It was not
a day of celebrations since they all had the terrible 1918 influenza.
When her brothers had recovered they all rode up and down the village on their
bicycles carrying and waving flags.
The Vicar was literally the centre of the village. He had a telephone and had one of the very few cars. It was he who would telephone for the doctor if you were ill, and it was he who would take you to hospital in his car. Marjorie remembers that the doctor made all his calls by pony trap.
There was
always a Village outing to the Derby at Epsom, when they would all pile into
the charabanc.
Picture provided by Caryl Brain.
To enlarge, click on the picture
There was a half holiday for Empire Day which was celebrated with
national dancing, songs and the maypole dancing.
At Christmas Sir Henry Bell gave a big party at Mynthurst House for all the
children. They walked up from the village, and once inside had the time
of their lives trying to stay upright on all those polished floors. Each
child went home with a present. Marjorie has memories of Sir Henry Bell.
Click here for further notes.