Memories of my Alphington childhood 1935–1949 – Chapter 14
Alphington Bakery
Private Collection
Royal Enfield Delivery Bike
RoyalEnfield Cycles
Philip Miller Age 12 at John Stocker School
Miller family
The Bakery/Cafe and Cox's Newsagents
Devon County Council Chapman Collection
A new school and growing up
By Philip Miller
Changes at school
The education system changed when I was 11 years old at about the time that the 11+ system came into being. Alphington Village school became a primary school. All children over the age of 11 continued their education in Exeter, either at a Grammar school or Secondary Modern.
For some reason I was told to make my way to a school in Dawlish to sit the 11+ exam, nobody else from Alphington had to go to Dawlish and to this day I never found out why. I caught the Devon General bus by the church and made my way to Dawlish, fortunately the bus stopped near the school. I sat the exam with the Dawlish children and failed.
I was allocated to John Stoker Secondary Modern School in Exeter. I must say that I enjoyed John Stocker very much, my form Master Mr. Dawson was an excellent teacher and I was seriously learning for the first time. It was devastating when I had to move to Bristol at the age of 14.
Leaving Alphington school
When it was time to leave the Village School and move to John Stocker there was no such thing as school transport or mums in 'Chelsea Tractors' doing the school run. We had to cycle in all winds and weathers. We were given 7/6d (37½p) a term to maintain our bicycles. Once a term we were given a form to take with our bikes to a cycle shop in Cowick Street. There our bikes were given an MOT and the form stamped and signed. The completed form was taken to the School Secretary who reimbursed the 7/6d. I though I was so wealthy!
Although as I say we cycled to school in Exeter in all winds and weather there was no excuse for arriving late. All late comers had to line up outside the study of headmaster, Mr Gore. Each were given a stroke of the cane across the palm of the hand.
Working at the bakery
It was about then that I thought it time I started to earn some pocket money. I saw a notice in the bakers shop window 'Boy Wanted'. I got the job.
How well I remember the Bakery. From about the age of 11 to 14 I earned my pocket money, 9d (3¾p) per hour,(Official Union Rate according to the chart hanging on the Bakery wall) doing various chores for the then Barker, Mr. Percy Carr. Percy Carr had taken over from the Pollards, I guess this was about 1946. He had been a baker in the Navy during the war. From memory the business then was purely a Bakery, I do not recall the tea room. Was the tea room/café earlier or later?
Each evening after school I greased and prepared the bread tins and trays ready for the bakers who started work early the following morning. On Saturday mornings my first job was 'spud bashing' what looked like a mountain of potatoes. They had to be peeled ready for pasty making. I hasten to add this was not by hand! There was a primitive machine housed in the back yard that scraped the potatoes and washed them. In wintertime the water was freezing and my hands numb with the cold. My reward for that was a lovely hot bun and a mug of tea in the beautiful warm bakery afterwards.
Hot cross buns
Highlight of the year was waiting for the first batch of hot cross buns to come out of the oven on Good Friday, no buns have tasted so good since. In those days hot cross buns were only sold on Good Friday unlike today when supermarkets sell a pale imitation of the real thing 365 days of the year. The ladies of the village would order in advance and there would be quite a festive feel Good Friday morning as families collected their buns! It was all part of the celebration of Easter.
My next task on Saturday morning was a bread round on a bike with a massive basket on the front full of bread, identical to the delivery bike ridden by David Jason in the TV series, 'Open all Hours'. I was only a little 'tacker' and my feet barely reached the peddles! My route took me down the village, to Devonia Terrace, Cross View and Blenheim Road. Not only did I deliver I had to collect the customers weekly bill. I still remember the prices. Large loaf six and a half old pence! I certainly earned my 9d per hour.
I do not know if it is a fact but I was always told that during air raids the then family climbed inside the old brick coal fired oven for shelter! It must have been lovely and warm!
Philip Miller's memories continue in chapter 15.