School Holidays in Exmouth - 1950's and 1960's

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03/08/2006, 11:04 AM

Rob is not online. Last active: 19/05/2008 14:22:55 Rob

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School Holidays in Exmouth - 1950's and 1960's

Oh what a delight it was to know as a boy that the School holidays were about to begin. Back in the 50's and 60's, Summer was a Summer and Winter a Winter. Thinking back on how I had to amuse myself and not get into trouble (which as an imp of a boy, that was hard to do!) I can honestly say, the simple everday life was a real joy, compared to today.

Summer holidays in Exmouth back then, didn't leave one much, but we did have our fun and entertainment, despite the lack of a lot of activity for youngsters. The old swimming baths on the seafront was a haven to quell the boredom of six weeks of no school, so one had to make the most of it. Apart from the swimming baths, we did have four cinemas back then, The Grand (later The Royal) in Exeter Road, The Forum in The Parade, The Savoy in Rolle Street and one in St.Andrews Road, which name I cannot remember. At least, Saturday morning matinee in The Savoy or The Forum did help to kill time, 3d in the front row and 6d for the back. Either one bought a bag of Crisps, couple of 'Gob-Stoppers' or an 'Everlasting Strip' to munch during the show. It was, however, a complete disaster not to find the little blue bag of salt in the crisps, as without that, they didn't taste nice at all!

If one wasn't in the Swimming Baths, then our Golden Beach was to place to be. At hourly intervals, you could go and watch 'The Punch and Judy Show', kindly operated by Mr Winteridge directly opposite the Landing Stage for the boats (opposite The Clock Tower) or, if that wasn't any fun, an afternoon at 'The Fun Fair', then situated on the old Pier. Mr Jimmy Nash had his Bumper Cars there, as well as the Arcade where you could play the slot mashines for a 1d a time. I have to admit, I did succeed in winning some ciggys from one machine, and then going under the pier for a quick smoke, till Mum found me there and gave me a good hiding! Sadly, it didn't quell my desire for another ciggy and, sometimes, I wish it had!.

When I wasn't at the baths, the beach or the pier, I spent most of my time helping out on two farms in Littleham, one was Bill Prunty's at Littleham Cross and the other at Henry Marks' on the Salterton Road, then called 'Mountain Farm' and that did keep me out of mischief.

Yes, dear old Exmouth was a happy place as a boy, but having visited it last in 1998, I didn't hardly recognise it. So much had changed and in my opinion, not for the better either. I suppose one can not hope that towns will always remain as they were when growing up, but the picturesque and homely atmosphere wasn't there anymore. Some call it 'progress', I would classify that as 'regress'.

Rob.

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25/02/2010, 1:32 AM

Dixydarling is not online. Last active: 25/02/2010 00:54:12 Dixydarling

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Re: School Holidays in Exmouth - 1950's and 1960's

Smile [:)] Big Smile [:D]

24th Feb 2010

Hello Rob

I have just read ur account of school holidays in Exmouth. I also holidayed at Littleham Cross in September1961, I was 13 years old. We stayed in a railway carraige converted to a holiday home at the side of the track, next to Broadway Farm, Bill Prunty's farm.

I was with my friend's family who were British Rail employees. It was there I met my very first boyfriend who worked on the farm there, Tony.

I have been back to the area with my husband and 3 daughters since those memorable days and like you was saddened to see the changes, unbelievable, my daughters did not believe there was once a railway line and a farm there, I wished I had not gone back. We had a family holiday at Devon Cliffs in 1995 and I could not resist going to Littleham to see the place I had stayed in 61, memories of first love etc. Did you stay in the railway carriage too? We used to walk over the huge hillside to the sea, now I don't even think the hill side is there now or is it when were young everything is different to how we see things now and maybe the hill side wasn't so big.

We lived in Orpington, Kent in those days, our journey to Littleham was by rail of course, in a fantastic steam train. Such an unusual holiday I shall never forget 16th -23rd September 1961.

Carol

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