BH continues in its endeavours to educate and benefit the community within its heritage facility. The website is constantly being updated with village stories, photographs and anecdotes. Only this very morning I read articles regarding fungi and spiders that clearly want to live in Bishopsteignton too!
I would recommend taking a look at our online articles – I hadn’t done for a couple of months and was genuinely surprised with all the brand new articles and photographs – a big pat on the back for James Hooper, Dawn Rogers, Mel Deeks and all of the traditional, too many to mention, contributors.
As Xmas approaches, I remember when I was a kid the festive time in the 1960s and 70s was always marked by No.13 Clanage Street’s Christmas snowscape in the window, beautifully made by Mrs Cummings. Many a child (including me) would stand on a dark night, staring in wonder, excited by the scene and the simple lighting… waiting for Christmas day.
So, as the festive season draws nearer, and the dark atmospheric nights bear down on us as mature adults (yeah right), we are holding an open afternoon in the Hawkins room at the Community Centre on December 12 th 2pm – 5pm. There will be mulled wine and mince pies, possibly resulting in BH resident family tree expert Colin Back singing “Walking in a winter wonderland” and on a slightly more far reaching note will also allow discussion regarding plans for the new museum that will be going into that room, hopefully in the spring.
News from a different time –
The Daily Mail December 11th 1950 reported that a Mr Dickie Dyer from Bishopsteignton and his wife were keeping ‘Felix’ – a nineteen month old goose they were fattening up ready for their scrumptious Christmas day meal. Felix lived off the fat of the land until Xmas eve when Mr Dyer proclaimed to his wife:
“It’s no good, mother, I can’t kill him, I’m too fond of him”
So Felix became a pet.
“He was so clever” said Mr Dyer “that he’d become almost human……He knows every word I say to him. … When he’s hungry he definitely goes around saying ‘Yum-yum’ and he always quacks goodnight. I have long conversations with him…..When I clean out the chickens there is one that perches on my shoulder. Felix goes mad jealousy. He spreads his wings and shouts until I put it down. If anyone touched me he would go for them”
Felix loves listening to the wireless, so Dickie has run an extension speaker into the garden. If the wind is howling outside and Felix can’t hear he goes into the parlour and listens there. A military band makes him happy, “It’s his favourite radio music” says Dickie. “He’s only got to nip me once though and off comes his head” said Mrs Dyer ominously.
Happy days!
Dave Robbins
Dave and all the team at Bishopsteignton Heritage would like to take the opportunity to wish a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
In the meantime, please come and see us in the Hub at the community centre on Fridays 11 – 4 and Saturdays 10 – 12. You will always be welcome!
