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Beacon Villages Journal
Recent History Part 9

This page started when Andy White was doing a bit of clearing up and came across some old photos and parish magazines.
Those articles were used up but now, I am pleased to report, he has found some more (including our front page photo)!

On a visit from Australiia

MAN WHO WAS BORN AT ASHWATER
A MAN who, at the age of 25, sailed to Australia to seek his fortune, has returned to Okehampton for a short holiday and to see his relatives for the first time for 35 years. He Is Mr. Elliot Gerry, formerly of 33, Northfield Road Okehampton. On Tuesday he and his three brothers and four sisters sat down to a reunion dinner in the Plume of Feathers, Okehampton. With brother Frank of Germansweek, who was unable to attend, they are the nine survivors of the 13 children of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gerry, formerly of Langaford, Ashwater.

WAR SERVICE
Born at Ashwater, 60 years ago, Mr. Gerry began in business as a saddler in Okehampton, and after the First World War, during which he served with the 5th Devons and Machine Gun Corps. he resumed his job, this time at Halwill. His big moment came in 1923 when his godmother returned to England from Australia and so fired his ima,gination that Mr Gerry decided to emigrate.

Landing in Melbourpe, he lost no time in setting up a sadd1er's business in Upper Beaconsfield, Victoria, but was forced to give it up. Horses were few; his bad debts, more.

He then tried his hand at farming, but, disliking it intensely joined the Melbourne Mettopolitan Tramway Board, starting as a conductor and finishing, on retirement, as an inspector.

While in Australia Mr. Gerry married an English girl from Berkshire, and they have three, sons.


COMPARISONS

Mr. Gerry thinks English clothing is much cheaper than Australian. The lowest price for a tailor made suit "down under" is £27. Meat prices were about on a par. but England, again has the advantage when it comes to house rents. Australia's council house equivalent lets at £4 a week.

Would-be emigrants might care to know that there are good openings in general and electrical engineering, but Mr. Gerry warns young married couples about risking a passage if employment has not been secured at the other end.

To the young man "prepared ro take what comes" Australia holds a place, "but," adds Mr. Gerry, "he must not expect to pick gold off the trees."

Brothers and sisters at the reunion were Bill, of "Lynton House" Station Road, Okelhampton; Richard, Halwill; Walter, North Tawton: Mrs B. Meddleton, Torquay; Mrs A. Hubbard, Torquay; Mrs. B. Driscoll. Plymouth; and Mrs. J. Holman, South Zeal.



 

LEGAL ADVICE TO BE SOUGHT

South Tawton hall management

AT the monthly meeting of South Tawton Parish Council, presided over by Mr. G. W. Hocking. doubts were expressed about the proposed new Victory Hall Management Committee.

The council had been advised that grants towards Improvements of village halls were not normally given to local authorities. and the South Tawton Parish Council owns and manages the Victory Hall. The meeting, and the council expressed surprise at a statement therein which reads: "The Minister is not satisfied that the Victory Hall is a public room vested in the parish Council."

STREET LIGHTING

In reply to a query from Rear-Admiral K. M. Lawder, the chairman stated that the cost of the parish poll held on April 17. 1956. had been paid out of the rates - a sum amounting to £22.11s.5d.

The clerk informed the eouncil that the cost of additional lights in the village would be about £18 each and on the proposal of Mr. E. J. Kelly, it was decided that the local government electors of the lighting area should be asked if they wanted to pay for extra street lamps. three of the worst "black spots" being named as at Drybridge, in the Croft and at the lower end of South Tawton village.

The clerk reported that the existence of eight doubtful rights of way had been advertised, but no evidence had been forthcoming as to their legality, so the council agreed to inform the county council that it could not produce any proof that these paths were, in fact, public rights of way.

A PROTEST
A letter from the public health inspector of Okehampton Rural Council said that, in his opinion, two cottages at Hollowcombe Ford and two more at Park Cottages, South Tawton, are unfit for human habitation, and the tenants should be rehoused as soon as possible.

This raised a protest from councillors who were of the opinion that "many ot the council houses in South Tawton are unfit for human habitation," and yet the tenants were expected to pay the same rents as those occupying sound houses.

 

Bill Holman Carnival 1934 A Visit from Australia (see above)
Mr & Mrs Holman Carnival 1953

If any visitor to this site has any scraps of history

- old magazines, papers or photographs -

we would be delighted to scan them, tidy them up and publish them and return them to you with copies of the 'tidied up' versions if you would like them.