Battersea Central School

HAWKLEY REUNION 2006

Saturday 8th July 2006

 

Another year has passed we wonder where?

So we that is all 40 of us are back in the Hawkley Inn remembering those years back in the early 40's period when we “found” Hawkley under the control of Doc Raine the headmaster of the Battersea Central School contingent sent to Hawkley and the surrounding villages and later additions from Portsmouth and later still some local lads . In fact the village accepted in that first batch 80 boys a few girls and of course the staff of Battersea Central School and their families, this was a bit of surprise for the villagers who had anticipate 80 nice pretty girls rather than us boys. It is a reflection of time that on this day in the year 2006 only six of that number managed the reunion, that is Dick Raine the headmaster’s son, John Dickeson, Cyril Brigden, Charlie Burcham, Cliff Douthwaite and Hugh Leutchford who is confined to a wheelchair. Sadly in the past year three more of our contingent have been called home, that is Charles Sammonds the scribe amongst us, if you have not read his memories on the website then read on, all 28 pages in Memories, also Jim Checkley a stalwart supporter of these reunions and Ted Douthwaite an occasional visitor due to the fact that he lived for the last 60 years in Edinburgh.

We shall miss them all.

Later we had the evacuee contingent from Portsmouth when this became a target for the German bombers and today we had the Phillips family present that is Des, John and Jim and finally the local boys who joined Battersea Central School mainly due to the fact that many Battersea boys returned home when the blitz had finished, this left spare capacity at Battersea Central School. Today we had Bill Dorey, Eric Hobbs, George Dance, Bill Bleach, Don Clark and Joe Simpson representing the “locals” but are in fact full members!

Whilst we have two boys from Battersea in Australia that is Bill Checkley and Jack Douthwaite they did not attend because they find the journey rather long and costly, but we welcome our associate Ron Wallace from down under, he is our adopted evacuee. We had greetings from Tom Cowell one of the originals who is resident in Canada and says he was with us in spirit. Likewise Kerrigan Bryant son of an original evacuee Michael Bryant CBE, Kerrigan says he is working in Bahrain and wishes us all well.

The Hawkley Inn under the new ownership of Nick Troh is undergoing a rebuilding refurbishment, is this the first since 1939? it looks like it and when finished will enhance the rather drab appearances of the pub. Certainly the speed of food orders was much improved and the staffs most helpful, the Inn is also a non smoking zone an excellent move.

The Vicar the Rev. David Heatley joined us in the Inn and also later for the tea, we much appreciate his continued attendance and the interest he shows, thank you David.

Over our meals and drinks many memories and latest gossip and thoughts were exchanged. We must not forget the three wise men of Battersea Central School who whilst not evacuees had been pupils at Battersea Central School just prior to 1939, they are more than welcome at our reunions, some appear in the PT team photograph on the website, we welcomed Bill Applebee, Vic Meyers and Alex Cadogan who seemed to be in close conversation throughout the day catching up with the last 67 years perhaps?

We must not forget the wives and ladies who support this function, thank you ladies, especially those folk who drive to Hawkley as some are finding driving a problem.

A group photograph was taken precisely at noon, but many had not arrived on the stroke of the clock but the photographer could not wait so it will be interesting how many of the 39 listed below made the shot.

After refreshments and a very nice range of delicious food well prepared and served at the Hawkley Inn we moved to the Village Hall where the ladies lead by Doris Barber had prepared an excellent tea, thank you ladies. Just prior to our departure we had our annual group meeting, our AGM, where we discusses the future and although we are gradually getting smaller in number as the grim reaper catches up with us, the feeling was that we should hold another reunion in 2007.

Due to the holiday traffic build up on Saturday it was agreed a Wednesday meeting would be acceptable to all those present, but if this causes problems for Harry Withers and a Saturday was imperative then perhaps a June date would relieve the holiday traffic concerns (both at Hindhead A3 where the delay was 50 minutes and also on the Isle of Wight ferry service), please note the 18 th June 2007 this is the Hawkley Festival so we must keep clear of this day, so watch this site for a confirmed date.

Our organiser Harry Withers could not be with us due to a major operation, but the latest report is that he is on the road to full recovery and we sent our best wishes to him and his wife Sylvia.

A few regulars could not make the occasion those being Arthur Govus, Bob Blackie, Stan Creed, Peggy Carpenter, Peggy’s sister is very ill so could not come, but if you have news about Arthur, Stan or Bob please tell me.

We also have some new faces, we welcomed Sue and Agnes Bettley who are friends of Zoe May from Hawkley, Zoe came to the 2005 reunion, Zoe was a Windsor before marriage and Daphne Windsor was their mum who would have been around during the evacuation, not sure if she had boys billeted with her, she has passed onwards.

Also Ron Jones and daughter Sally, I think he was not an evacuee but a local lad, said he was in the Army in 1940 so was not from Battersea.

We were sorry that both of our historians could not make the occasion, they are in much demand, Sean Creighton (Battersea) says “The reunion clashes with the first day of the Lambeth Riverside Festival which I co-o-ordinate. Hope the day goes well.”

And David Jeffery (Petersfield and district) says “I am afraid I shan't be able to make this year's do. I was very sad to hear about Charlie Sammonds - he was a great help to me when I wrote about Emanuel's experiences in Petersfield. Contemporaries of yours may be keen to hear that my next book (Post-war Petersfield) will be out in August this year.”

A collection was taken to cover the cost of the hall/teas and incidentals, and then with much reluctance we went our different ways.

See YOU ALL in 2007 God Willing

Regards Cliff Douthwaite

List of attendees 2006

APPLEBEE, Bill

BARBER, Doris

BETTLEY, Sue and Agnes

BLEACH, Joan and Bill

BRIDGEN Cyril

BURCHAM Charlie

CARDOGAN Alex

CLARK, Don and son Brian

CROFTS, Jean and Glenda

DANCE, George and Renee

DAWSON, Margaret

DICKESON, Peggy and John

DOREY, Doreen and Bill

DOUTHWAITE, Cliff

HOBBS, Peggy and Eric

JONES Ron and daughter Sally

JORDAN, Christine

KNOWLES Doris

LEUTCHFORD, Hugh and daughter

MAY, Zoë

MYERS, Vic

PHILLIPS, Des

PHILLIPS, Joan and Jim

PHILLIPS, Lill and John

RAINE Dick

SIMPSON, Esme and Joe

WALLACE Ron

Below is a photo sequence of some of those present enjoying themselves, the quality and size has been reduced otherwise it take fore ever to down load unless you are on broadband, if you wish for any shot in a larger file size please ask, note the second time round are faster as the files will be saved on your computer.

Show the sequence

Saturday 8th July 2006

This reminder is a little later than normal, so my apologies I am hopeful you had already marked your diaries appropriately.

Usual arrangements this year, that is to say, from 12 noon assemble at the Hawkley Inn; the landlord has been alerted to the forthcoming invasion.

Tea and cakes later during the afternoon will be provided by our indomitable ladies in the Village Hall where there will be further opportunity to chin-wag and learn more about each other. Very likely that will be the time the Press Photographers will snap you, they have been given the details.

This year the 'YOURS' magazine has been generous (or may be forgetful) by inserting our Reunion notice in two consecutive issues of their monthly periodical but I have to tell you there have been no additional takers to date.

I have to confess, I will not be in attendance this year and will greatly miss meeting-you all, nothing disastrous, just a commitment I cannot avoid. Perhaps this is also the time for you to consider a replacement to take from me the continuity of our Reunions; it is desirable to keep them going as long as is feasible and desirous.

(Cliff has agreed to be the stand in for Harry for this year, Harry is due to have a hip replacement in the week prior to the re-union)

I have a very sad piece of news to impart, our very own stalwart Charlie Sammonds, passed away early in the year after a long and painful illness. Unfortunately this news did not reach me in 'time to make arrangements for the Reunion to be represented in any way. I am certain that Ivy will understand.

Please return the postcards, the numbers they reveal are used by our ladies and the pub to provide sufficient succour

(If you have not received a postcard and intend to be there please phone or drop a line to Harry, details on the organisation page of this site)

 

Please have a good time; I will be with you in spirit!

Harry Withers, 2nd June, 2006

HAWKLEY REUNI0N 2006

This letter is rather belated for which I apologize but because it is close to the Festive Season, I can take advantage and wish you all a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year. When your parties have finished and you open your nice new diary for 2006, please enter:-

Saturday 8th July 2006, Hawkley Reunion

It has not been moved to a weekday as suggested but remains on the second Saturday in July.

I am reliably informed by Cliff Douthwaite who stood in for me at the shortest of notice that this year's gathering went off well. He also sent me the generous collection which was dispersed as usual to the ladies who as ever supplied tea and cakes and to the Village Hall Committee for their continued provision of the Hall for our use.

Thank you very much

and thank you Cliff for your efficient handling of a very precious occasion.

You may recall that I raised the matter of St. George's Church of England School from Battersea which is featured in the book "The Children's War", several of you offered information but thanks to Peggy Carpenter, the precise location was given as Stewart's Lane her father was the School's Caretaker! My interest was because I thought the school I attended namely St. John's which was in Usk Road was the only Church School in Battersea, I was wrong!

It seems that I missed some new faces which were unearthed this year, as they have had a taste of the pudding; I sincerely hope they will join us again next year. With next year in mind, if you have addresses for me to contact, I would be most pleased to hear from you.

Sadly our girls' school held its final reunion this year, for those who were unaware, they used to hold two gatherings each year, Peggy Carpenter was one of the stalwarts as was Vera Francis (Secretary), I have extended an open invitation through Peggy and Vera for any of the 'Old' girls to join us at Hawkley. We never co-habited in Surrey Lane, by order, the nearest we came was by a glimpse through the windows of the Carpentry building! It is never too late to become acquainted!

I wish to thank you all for the get-well card, and the wishes expressed therein, both seem to have worked in my favour!

I finish with the sad note that one of our stalwarts the likeable Jim Checkley passed away suddenly in August, both Bob Blackie and Arthur Govus attended with Bob saying a few words . A wreath was sent on behalf of the Reunion. Jim's son John has said he would like to attend our reunions in the place of his Dad, it was agreed on condition he brought Jim's Bush Hat for the collection!

With my very best wishes

Harry Withers, 11th December, 2005

HAWKLEY REUNI0N 2006

At the 2005 Re-union a show of hands indicated that all wished for another reunion in 2006, we also discussed about changing the day from a Saturday to a Wednesday, as the traffic on the weekend tend to be heavy, either from London or the Portsmouth area, this can doubled the travel time taken. This is especially true on the A3 route from London that passes through the bottle neck at Hindhead traffic lights just after the Devils Punchbowl. This is typical on the weekends from traffic going to shop in Guildford and folk heading for the coast, mid week outside of the rush hour this bottle neck is virtually heavy traffic free, hence those who have travelled this route at both those periods travelling south were much in favour of this suggestion.

So on a show of hands it was carried unanimously that 2006 should be on a Wednesday as this would help the London area folk who travel to arrive at midday; Doris Barber indicated the Hall would be free after lunch and the Vicar who conducts wedding services on Saturdays said it helps him.

HAWKLEY REUNI0N 2006 Saturday 8 th July

Subsequent to above Harry who was not at the meeting has decided that Saturday is the preferred day because he will find the change of day not really suitable for his travel commitments and as he is most important we remain as normal, so please note this day and time in your diary

Below to come

Below is a photo sequence of some of those present enjoying themselves, the quality and size has been reduced otherwise it take fore ever to down load unless you are on broadband, if you wish for any shot in a larger file size please ask, note the second time round are faster as the files will be saved on your computer.

Show the sequence

List of attendees 2006 to come

HAWKLEY REUNI0N 2006 Wednesday - pre Notice

We aim to renew again in 2006, TBA in July, so you folk far and near please put this date in your diaries and start saving for air fares if you live in far flung places. The usual pattern will be followed, that is to say, meet in the Hawkley Inn (left) from twelve onwards where sustenance and liquid refreshment will be available, but not free!

Below is a reporters view of the Hawkley Inn, we are not sure what day of the weekend he visited, it is assumed on Sunday, since in all our re-unions we have never had Hilly Billy live music, although on Saturday it can get crowded hence another reason to move to midweek. One cannot comprehend live music on a Sunday morning in the tranquil setting of Hawkley, perhaps authors license?

Suggest you park in the village hall car park, past the phone box.

This year will be the 67th since we first arrived in Hawkley on the 1 st of September 1939 and we are still arriving!
 

 Later in the afternoon we move along to the Village Hall where our Village lady members will provide tea. Then, sadly, departure after promising to meet again next year!

We are indebted again to that band of Hawkley lady villagers, who will provide a splendid tea and a vast selection of goodies and give us another chance to exchange yet more memories in the delightful surroundings of the village hall, a new addition since we were evacuees all those 66 years ago, where have all those years gone? There are no subscription for the Reunion but a voluntary collection will be taken to cover the hall hire and "thank you" bouquets for the ladies who supply and serve the tea ex gratia.

 

 

A Guide to Hawkley Inn by Adam Edwards 5 March 2005
Rural Hampshire is where the London .gentry shoot and fish and many of the pubs acknowledge this with their excellent displays of the taxidermist's art.
That said, it is unlikely that a weekend warrior was responsible for the large stuffed head hanging above the wooden fireplace in the Hawkley Inn. For there are no noble moose and, in particular, none in pork-pie hats roaming the happy hunting grounds south of Basingstoke.
A moose's head, unlike that of the stag, is not considered a serious sporting memento despite its grandeur and size. In fact it’s film and television legacy -Arthur, Annual House, Monty Python and, most notably, Family Towers -have turned it into a piece of decorating tomfoolery. This is presumably why a joker always puts a silly hat on the baleful-looking creature's head and stuffs an unlit cigarette in its mouth.
It was beneath just such a smoking elk that I sat with my pint of Ballard's bitter and smoky bacon crisps at the Hawkley free house (spelt "hoose") on the northern edge of the South Downs, it is a fine, open-plan, two-room pub, more southern county redneck than stiff upper shire lip, painted in nicotine yellow and furnished plainly. It sells six real ales, its own Swamp Donkey cider and, at the weekend, the Curst Sons play "Good-time hillbilly stompin' and hollerin'".
I only stayed for the one drink because the stompin' and hollerin' from the sound, system was not compatible with my fragile morning disposition.
Instead, I meandered off through several miles of narrow lanes to find a spot of lunch. The Bush Inn, in the pretty flint village of Ovington, was replete with sparkling copper and a sotto voce fitted carpet. The beams were low, the English mustard fresh and, above the fireplace, was a 15-point fallow buck's head.
It was a Monarch of the Glen of the sort immortalised by the great English painter Sir Edwin Landseer. One can only presume it is thanks to his enduring legacy that the locals at the Bush Inn have not embellished this lesser member of the deer family with a tweed cap and a Havana cigar.

Hawkley Inn, Hawkley, Hampshire 01730 827205

 

If you have old photos please bring, also if you have not produced your memories for this site, please bring either on a disk or typed copy.

ALL are welcome who have any interest in Battersea Central School located in Hawkley during the evacuation period of the second world war.

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