When I was 16 I took up a General Engineering apprenticeship with a large manufacturing company and was placed with a foundryman for a few months. The Works Manager, an impressive figure, processed through the factory, rotund with a prominent Read more »
In 1882, legislation was started to enable Somerset County Council to acquire land for smallholdings. But it was not until the passing of the Smallholdings and Allotments Act of 1908 that Somerset began to create a smallholdings estate. Margery Hookings’ Read more »
As a youngster, I was what my mother described as ‘soccer-mad’. I’d wake in the morning wishing I could dribble like George Best and shoot like Bobby Charlton. And by the time I got to bed in the evening—after a Read more »
‘My parents, Jane Galbraith and Michael Barbour, were born in the early ‘20s and joined the services when war came. My mother became a meteorologist in the WAAF, and my father a submariner in the Navy. They were both keenly Read more »
On Chris Chapman’s 40th birthday he handed in his notice at work and returned home to his wife Steff. Cheerfully walking in through the door, he called out, “I’m home, 40 and unemployed”. He had been wanting to set up Read more »
‘Frenchie’ has never been called James, he’s been Frenchie from the start, as long as he can remember. A local lad, who grew up in Litton Cheney, he has lived in Bath for a bit and Italy for a while, Read more »
This year The Marshwood Arts Awards & John Hubbard Prize is again being brought to the attention of Art collectors who will look at the exhibited work and award a prize to their chosen winners. Jasper Conran, OBE, will be Read more »
September is the real beginning of summer handing over to autumn, and although it is still a time of harvest, the cooler temperatures, shorter days and damper soils bring a different feel to work in the garden. It is a Read more »
At the time of writing, we are having a wet end to the summer, although I’m hoping that, just by stating that, the weather Gods will wake up and deliver us an ‘Indian Summer’ to balance out all the August Read more »
A regular contributor to The Marshwood Vale Magazine, Ron Frampton’s contribution to recording the social history of the South West community was enormous. His son Magnus Frampton recalls Ron’s life and work. Marshwood Vale readers will be familiar with the Read more »