Part 4 - August 1941

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I’ve only just noticed that it is over a year now, since I put up the previous post here.

I always intended to do this as a ‘background’ job, but I did not intend to get quite so far behind as this. 

I also noticed that I mentioned ‘Wedding’ in that post and so I thought I had better carry on along those lines. Other people’s Wedding photos can get a wee bit boring at times, but it appears that taking these photos of groups of previously unrelated families is still in vogue. I am pleased to say that I have no such photographs of large wedding groups.

My mother and father were married during the War years, and from what I can gather, it was a modest affair with just a ‘handful‘ of relations present.

In my early days, the Bournville village was spread out over many square miles, but its ‘heart’ was formed by a compact grouping around the Village Green. The Church, the Quaker Meeting House, the Schools and the shops, all nestled comfortably and peacefully around the small three sided Green, and snuggled up to, the massive Cadbury factory alongside. 

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The triangular green was ‘balanced’ on one of it’s points, with the Church of St Francis of Assisi at this southern tip. 

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Church of St Francis - Linden Rd., Bournville

Up the west side, were the three School buildings, the Kindergarten, the Infants and the Junior, or ’Big School‘ as it was called. 

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Bournville Rest House with Junior School behind.

Along the north side we had the Friends (Quaker) Meeting House and, the colleges for ‘day release’ students from the factory. This was called, in those days, the Day Continuation School. 

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Bournville Quaker Meeting House

The third side was made up of a row of shops and of course - the Bank

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I have been using the past tense here, 

as I have no knowledge of any changes 

that may have occurred in the last sixty years.

Perhaps I should go back and check

 that it is all still there?

In the very centre of the village green, stood the Rest House, as it was known. 

This was built in 1913 and was modelled on the original Yarn Market Hall in Dunster. 

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The Yarn Market - Dunster

The Bournville Rest House, being literally at the centre of the village, was naturally the focal point to which residents gathered at times of celebration. They gathered here in large numbers for the outdoor Christmas Carol singing and also, in slightly lesser numbers to ‘see in’ the New Year. All this singing in those days was to the accompaniment of the bells from the carillon on top of the Junior School tower. 

I remember singing my heart out there at many Christmas’s long ago. I also remember seeing in, many New Years; we all joined hands in one vast circle around the Rest House and sang Auld Lang Syne.   In future ramblings I hope to revive memories of some, if not all, of these building that here I have only mentioned briefly.

So, having set the scene, now for the action. 

It was the ninth of August 1941. 

My Father was home on leave from the RAF for his wedding, and waiting in the Church with his best man. I do not know for certain who his best man was, but my guess would be, that it was my Uncle Stan. My Mother does not appear to have a Bridesmaid as all photos I have, show her arriving with just ‘Pop’, my Grandad.

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Mom & Grandad, or Pop, as he was always known as.

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Bournville Church interior.

Ten years later, I was to be a choirboy here. Sitting on the left-hand side. My back to the organ. Just a whisper, and you would get a thump on the head from the organist with a ‘not so light’  version of ‘Hymns Ancient and Modern’!

Of course at times of austerity, proper wedding dresses were out of the question. It was all ‘clothing coupons’ and ‘Make do and Mend’. 

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I read somewhere that real wedding cakes were unheard of. People cut out cardboard shapes which were then coated with icing just to look the part on the ‘Wedding Photos‘.

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And lastly, just for the family records, a line up in the back garden at Linden Road. Mom, Dad, Uncle Stan and (?) - I have to be honest - I’m not sure.

It could be our Aunty Meg. Uncle Stan’s girlfriend and later wife. I need to check dates. So much to do - so little time.

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Whoever took this photo, may have had a bit too much 'Bubbly',
It was all 'wonky' and I had to straighten it up! hic!

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I was born thirteen months later, in the following September.

A result of Dad being home for Christmas I expect.

I'm afraid I may have to include the ubiquitous 'Baby' photos next time.

(Just for the records, you understand.)

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