Jess Sowman (nee Turkington)
A Few Memories of the 1930's and Early 1940's
Thanks to Dr. Marion Jepson, 1 have been able to read and enjoy the 'Totley Independent', in recent months. Reading about all the activities now and, seemingly, a new look in the area, brings back my memories of the Old Days, places, people, and activities. Several articles in which the Cherry Tree Orphanage was mentioned: J. Handley on, '50 Years Ago - Totley at War'; also, mention of earlier days brought back to me a few memories of my schooling in the 1930's, and of my friends throughout that period until I left in December 1941.
Mention was made of Iris Benton, well, I went to school with her and her sister, Edith, along with their brother (he joined the Navy as a cadet at the age of 13, I believe 1938/39); also Cynthia and Sonia Mills, to name a few. The then leader of the Orphanage children took me to school on my first day after the Xmas holiday in 1932 living at 45 Mickley Lane, was easy for her to pick me up. It was a day to remember as the snow was thick on the ground, and heavy snow-drifts created a wearisome trudge to the C of E School.
During my sojourn at school, I cannot recollect any orphanage boy or girl passing examinations for Grammar School - like so many of us. I do recall, however, the Matron allowing each child to invite a friend to tea and evening games. She also 'opened up' the orphanage to the locals to see how the place was I run and the conditions under which they lived. The teachers at the C of E throughout my schooling were, Miss Marsden, Miss Wilson, Miss Benton, Mr. Shirt, Mr. Wylie, Mr. Ramsden and Mrs. Housley.
Perhaps Doug Turner and others will remember some of these names. I do remember Miss Marsden retiring about 2 years after I started school; Mr. Shirt went to the Spanish Civil War in 1938; and Mr. Ramsden was sacked for beating an orphanage boy in 1940. Mr. Wylie went into the Army in 1939.
At this juncture, I would like to mention some of my school mates who maybe will be remembered by some Totleyites. Jean and Sylvia Kirby, George Fisher, the Hassell brothers, the Chapman twins, Eileen Unwin, Alan Firth, Roy Ward, Della Dronfield, Doris Hill, also Kath Pearson, Kath Barrett, Margaret Marsh, Rita Cross, Edith Summerfield, Barbara and Barry Kendal, Jean and Jackie Marshal, Margaret Glossop, Rueben Adlington , . . and so on.
At this juncture and for readers' interest, Margaret Glossop was one of the few who passed for Grammar School - High Storrs; then to Bedford College; eventually a Gym Teacher at Nottingham High School. Late 1940's and early 1950's she played hockey for the English Women's Team and had a great following of pupils from the Sheffield area. I am sure Bill Turner will recall Percy Hassell, Don Chambers and Jim Turkington (my brother). Don Chambers' father had the Fishmongers at Totley Rise. Before 1935 the School Dental Service was performed at the Primary School, Dronfield, travelling by train from Dore & Totley station. After that year, this service was at Lowfields School, Heeley Bottom.
This same year saw the occasion of George V's and Queen Mary's 25 years on the throne. To celebrate, a Sports Day was arranged at the United Football Ground, when children from many schools were invited including C of E, and at which mugs and/or tins of chocolates were handed out to each child. I know that for 2 consecutive years, in the summer school holidays, a Fair came to Totley and Abbeydale Park was the venue (the years possibly 1937 and 1938). This was for one week, possibly two, but 1 know it was a great treat for us, not only for the locals but the buses from Sheffield were packed with eager holiday makers. It was so-well patronised that it was a shoulder-to-shoulder affair.
The wireless was also a pleasure, especially the Children's Hour, each night between 5 & 6 p.m. I know it was a talking point. Can anyone remember Uncle Mac, Romany &. his dog, Larry the Lamb and there was Georgina, Pauline and Pinky, and a pianist. One of these young actresses was Doris Speed, the pianist, Violet Carson (both, of course, latterly of Coronation Street) .
Another talking point was the day off school for a trip to Cheddar Gorge, Somerset on 4th September, 1939, but was cancelled because of the outbreak of war. I cannot seem to remember any previous outing ever having been arranged before this time whilst I was at school. It was not long after this period that home schooling came into being. I know I only did a half-day's schooling for a few months until normal schooling resumed.
With the coming of the 1939/1940 winter, came the heavy snowfalls and bitter, cold days resulting in Beauchief Dam freezing over. I can remember several locals hurrying down for a chance of skating, and one or two of us were lucky enough to get steel blades put on our boots for the event. Though not lasting long, though, yet a time to remember the excitement it caused.
When gas masks were handed out to us at school it was practise time, and I like a few more, did not like them one bit breathing was difficult. The Public Shelter adjacent to the C of E school was used plenty of times when the sirens went off officially or for a practice run, when huddled together, gas masks on, feeling trapped, we could not wait for the All-Clear.
The Home Guard was mentioned in an article, but there was eventually an A.R.P. Contingent. I never knew what they did, nothing happened in Totley needing their services that I can remember, other than the Blitz on Sheffield. One thing I do know, their Headquarters was the Cross Scythes Pub, possibly for discussing their defence strategy. With rationing came queues. Queuing was a way of life and always the ration and clothing coupon books at the ready. Everything was rationed, including linenware, clothes, shoes; this was the time of conserving, patching, darning, alterations etc.
Eventually, the war time rations read:
Allowance, per person, per week:
Bacon and ham 4 ozs
Tea 2 ozs
Meat 10s 2d worth
Cheese 2 ozs
Butter 2 ozs
Margarine 4 ozs
Cooking Fat 2 ozs
Liquid Milk 2 X 1 pints
Shell Eggs 1 egg per 2 weeks
Dried Eggs 1 packet per 4 weeks
Sweets 12 ozs per 4 weeks
Anything else was a bonus, having to keep an I ear to the ground for extras, such as oranges and bananas, which were a luxury. Mentioning oranges reminds me of a time when my cousin was told to go and queue for them but, there being two queues he got into the wrong one and came out of the place inoculated for Diphtheria. I also remember there being a shortage of pipe cleaners for the smokers. These had been snatched by the women as hair curlers.
Social activities in Totley were minimal. The then Methodist Chapel had a Friday Night Club, and in 1942 a Youth Club was formed there, which eventually went from strength to strength after the war. I read that there is a Dramatic Society at the United Reformed Church. Well, in the early forties, the Minister at the time of the then known Congregational Church allowed this activity - a great success and well patronised. There was also Badminton and Dances were held fortnightly on a Saturday night. For how long a period I cannot remember, Eventually, the C of E church at Dore and Totley station opened its doors to a monthly musical evening. Anything apart was socialising in homes, sports or rambles; although I seem to recollect the Hall on the Main Road, just up from Mickley Lane being opened up once or twice for film shows, but this stopped suddenly.
The detachment of the Airborne Division at Totley Bents has been mentioned, and at this point I would like to recall Mac, the Officer-in-Charge, who eventually returned to Totley after the war, married a local girl and worked at Cherry Tree Orphanage. It seems to me that Totley has become a self~contained area, more of everything needed for a good community, and these jottings are just a few of my remembrances of the old Totley 50 and 60 years ago. May you go from strength to strength.
Jess Sowman (Mrs), (nee TURKINGTON)
17, Bathgate Street,
South Dunedin,
Otago,
New Zealand
P.S. I notice two correspondents, namely, J. Handley and D. MerrilL I wonder if J. Handley had, or has, a sister Dorothy; if so, I knew her very well. If D. Merrill is Duncan, well we were neighbours when I lived at Mickley Lane.
September 1993
Dear Ed,
Like me, I think a lot of your readers would have been interested in the letter from New Zealand in which J. Sowman recalled her childhood in Totley.
As I had arranged a holiday which included a tour of New Zealand with an overnight stop in Dunedin and having lived in Totley for 35 years and knowing some of the people mentioned, I immediately wrote and broached the possibility of a meeting. The suggestion was greeted with enthusiasm (a phone call at 12.30 a.m.) and we duly met up at my hotel.
Jess is happily settled in New Zealand but remembers Totley with great affection and sends greetings to all who remember her. The meeting was all too brief, but was another highlight in what was a wonderful trip.
Yours faithfully,
Mary Hanson
December 1993