Mrs A Evans, Caretaker Exwick School
Mr Brian Snell
Mrs & Mrs W Evans, Caretakers Exwick School
Mr Brian Snell
Brian's parents in the School House garden
Brian Snell
Queen Elizabeth 11 Coronation Day. June 2, 1953
Brian Snell
Flooding at Station Road
Brian Snell
A family of caretakers
By Project Co-Ordinator Living Here
Brian Snell kindly gave permission to publish these photographs and recount some of his memories of Exwick.
He was born and grew up in Exwick with only a short time away from the area. He always was, and continues to be, an active member of Exwick community life.
Brian's recollections of Exwick School are vivid with particular memories of the Old School House, where members of his family were caretakers for many years. He remembers clearly the house as a home, complete with outside privy, a large kitchen range, an ornate fireplace in the front parlour and a well stocked vegetable garden by the road side with chickens to the back.
He recalls the school being the centre of the community with farmland and open countryside all around. One very big community celebration was the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11. Celebrations took place in the pleasure field behind the school on the 2nd of June, 1953. Here; many residents attended the meal and joined in the dancing late into the night.
Were you there?
Flooding was a regular occurence at Exwick School. School logbooks from the 30's and 40's recount occassions when the school was closed in the morning as the river overflowed its banks. The school was then swept and cleaned by mistress's, masters and pupils alike ready for lessons the next day. The caretakers dreaded seeing the river rise, this meant flooded school and home.
Brian describes dealing with regular floods as 'a way of life this side of the river'. Providing hours of fun and entertainment in his childhood but as an adult it became beyond a joke.