Secondary education was completed at both Teignmouth Secondary School and Teignmouth Grammar School in 1975, with a place secured at Seale-Hayne Agricultural College. The 'practical' year was spent at 'Shute Farm', Bishopsteignton, although school holidays had allowed...
Born and Raised in Bishopsteignton
Stories and reminiscences of people who have grown up in our parish.
Dave Robbins Part 1: The Early Years
I was born in Newton Abbot hospital on February 22nd 1958, and whisked back to ‘Bishop’ quick enough to earn the privilege of being called a Bishop boy! Mum was Sheila Robbins, (a consequence being that later in life I was press-ganged into the village pantomimes...
Colin Back: Part 8 – Lasting memories
The village had a very active scout troop and cub pack, 1st Bishopsteignton. Scouty (Fred Pawlett) was a dedicated scout leader and gave all his spare time to ensure the scouting movement succeeded in the village. It had a good following from both the scouts and the...
Colin Back: Part 7 – Leisure Times
The meeting of the hounds; was quite a sight. The horses, riders and dogs met outside the ‘Ring of Bells’. When Farmer Isaac from Cockhaven Farm rode up, the pack of hounds were released from the lorry. It was quite a sight with all the dogs running around yet...
Colin Back Part 6: Village Hall and Vicarage
In the cottage on the opposite side of Dove's (grocery shop) lived Mr and Mrs Northam. Mrs Northam was well known for her ‘Devonshire Readings’ (stories spoken in old Devon dialect). The village hall would be full when she was appearing. As a child, I remember the...
Colin Back Part 5: Friends and Businesses
Next door to us was (grandad) Nilson; he had a grinding stone in the form of a wheel for sharpening tools and knives. It had a handle to turn the wheel with the stone going through a reservoir of water. If I did exactly as I was told i.e. fast or slow, I could turn...
Colin Back Part 4: Scars and other aides-mémoires
I still have two physical scars from my time at Bishopsteignton School. One from a burn when I put my arm over the rail that surrounded the ‘tortoise’ coke stove next to Miss Hawkins desk, the stove was for heating the infants classroom; the other is a scar under the...
Colin Back Part 3: Education and Environment
Most of the men in the village grew produce for their families. If they did not have a garden then a corner of a field would do or like my father, many had an allotment in Forder Lane. As well as vegetables for every season, many of the men also grew rows of Sweet...
Colin Back Part 2: visitors, neighbours and games
Fore Street was always the hub of the village with mum’s walking their children to and from school then joining grans, aunties and other ladies, shopping and generally chatting and catching up on the latest family news. It was so relaxed and friendly, everyone knew...
Colin Back Part 1: family and childhood
Being born and brought up in Bishopsteignton was a unique experience, I suppose partly because in those days there was nothing else to compare it with. I am Colin William Back. Son of William (Bill) Back (1913 - 1985) who was born at 9 Radway Hill, Bishopsteignton and...