Memories of my Alphington childhood 1935–1949 – Chapter 17

Time to move on
By Philip Miller

Nineteen forty-nine and my young life was to change again. My father came home from the office with good news and bad news. The good news was that he was to be promoted and that was welcome news as I am sure my parents had need for the extra money with two growing children. The bad news however was that his new position was to be in Bristol. How I hated that prospect.

The sadness of leaving

I remember walking around all my childhood haunts with tears in my eyes. I was very happy in Alphington and I just didn't want to move. I was 13 when I was told and settled at school with friends that I had grown up with.

The war was still having its influence on life. There was still a massive shortage of houses. Families were still living in the nissan huts in Matford Lane anxious for a proper home of their own. Any hint of a house becoming vacant would soon attract the desperate squatters looking for somewhere to live and who could blame them. So my sister and I were sworn to secrecy.

It followed therefore with us in rented accommodation in Alphington we were going to have a big problem finding a home in Bristol. My father made several visits to Bristol and met with the housing authorities. Nothing was available.

Swopping houses

Then we learnt of a family having to make the reverse move. An employee of the electricity board was being deployed to Exeter and he was living in a council house in Fishponds, Bristol. The Bristol authorities agreed on an exchange and so a date was set for us to leave Alphington in December 1949.

We were still not able to tell anyone only our landlord Mr. Moxey knew and the last thing he wanted was to have squatters in the house.

The rumours fly around the village

Neighbours must have sensed that something was happening in the Miller household, my parents were making much more use of the not very private phone in the Cross View Post Office and my father's visits away I guess caused some suspicion.

My Saturday job at the Bakery took me to Cross View where much to my amusement one lady would do her best to pump me for information until one day she couldn't contain her inquisitiveness any longer, as she opened the door to me she asked if I was looking forward to having a baby brother or sister! She had put two and two together and made five ... that's how rumours get started I presume! My mother was incandescent when I told her!

Today it sounds rather petty the reason why we couldn't tell our friends, only those who could appreciate the climate in post war Britain at that time would understand. Three years after we left Alphington homeless families were still living in the huts in Matford Lane.

So on the 30th December 1949. The furniture van arrived, we moved out of 17 Devonia Terrace and a new family moved in.

The Living Here, Alphington Old Resident's Re-union Day is being held on Saturday 6th June, see the events category for further details

This page was added by Philip Miller on 18/11/2008.

Comments about this page

Thank you Phil, I really enjoyed the few days it took me to read your memories. and what a memory!
While reading it, I kept thinking of a friend called Terry Gazzard who I was friendly with, and how he may like to read it. When I reached your chapter about swopping house with someone from Bristol who worked for the Electricity Board I knew it was Terry's father, what a co-incidence.

By Doug Lake
On 17/12/2008

Hello Philip. My Name is Alan Baker.- Son of Bill and Hilda Baker and brother of Sheila. I have just read your memories of Alphington, and I was instantly transported back to 1940 - 1945 I would love to contact you and reminise about those years.- I remember Maud and Ron and my playmate Wendy. I have a soft spot in my heart for Wendy as she was my first friend I would have loved to stay in touch with her.-My Mother -Hilda told me that she had a marrige breakup but that was the last I heard.
I Know my mum was a great friend of Maud and Ron and they were at my wedding to Pam at Burnham on sea church. Anyway would love to here from you and I will update you on all the Baker news. Regards.- Alan Baker

By Alan Baker
On 21/12/2008

Hello Philip.
Thank you for the fascinating account. I can identify with all of it. I am slightly younger than you , but remember you well - you may not remember me. I lived on Shillingford Rd., started school in 1943 and joined the cubs in 1945/6 (I think) and finished up as both Scout and Cubmaster. Yes of course we all remember the Tulip tree in the Rectory Field. On that subject - I don't know if there was a Scoutmaster called Jordan, but the one in your picture pulling the Trek cart is Don Norman, who married Molly (Akela). She sadly passed away a few years ago but he is alive and well, living in Crediton. I still exchange Christmas Cards. One other thing you probably don't know is that I married one of the girls on Mr Touts cart - Barbara Melhuish
Congratulations on the article
Edward Gigg

By Edward Gigg
On 22/04/2009

Hello Philip - this is your erstwhile neighbour Jill Hancox (as was), living next-door at 16 Devonia Terrace, later 33 Church Road. I remember your family with affection and especially Wendy who was a playmate; best wishes to her. You mention the police removal van which I knew well as the Alphington house was my sixth house and I was still under nine when we moved there. Remember the poster in our front garden about the Colerado Beetle? We lived there until Dad retired after 30 years in the Force in 1956 and moved into St Thomas, but Dad then worked for Harry Webb in the Garage until 1971. I was married and my son christened at St Michael and All Angels. Edward Gigg put me in touch with this website. Philip, you have invoked so many memories. Happy Days!

By Jill Flowerday
On 26/04/2009

Hi Philip, I am the son of Sheila Baker - Nephew to Alan (above), I could not believe this article when I stumbled upon it. I heard many a story about your parents from my nan Hilda when she was alive. one day i will go down and take a look at the old house, where my mum was born :-)

all the best Mark Ferris

By mark ferris
On 27/08/2009

I can only appreciate what is written here from the oral accounts of my Grandmother Lucy Full nee Stone of Flint Cottage (now Cartwheels). She would tell tales of the Rectory and the Rev Dupre (Dupuis). My Great Grandfather was the gardener at the Rectory. My Grandmother told of her first experience of the ghost of Flint Cottage when she was a child, imagine my surprise reading that a human skeleton had been unearthed at the cottage in the 70s. My Grandfather was chauffeur to Captain Plenderleith who also had a house in Alphinton I understand. Thank you for the article.

By Christopher Charles Whitlock
On 31/03/2011

Add a comment about this page





Organised by RAMM Exeter City Council Funded by Heritage Lottery Fund Renaissance Southwest MLA Supported by Northcott Theatre Exeter Phoenix Arts and Media Exeter