War Memories by Bung Taylor 

I remember coming into contact with Edmund and Teresa in the years immediately following the War.  My parents owned the Sawyers Arms pub in Preston Street, which was more or less opposite Forte's Ice Cream factory.  It was bordered by Robertson's workshop (Plumbers) and Sid Taylor's tea chests and boxes sales, with the Cat's Meat shop at the front.

Our first association, however, was with Mr & Mrs Morelli and my purchase at the age of 6/7 was in respect of two ice cream cones (one penny each) - one for me and one for a friend who lived about half a mile away.  Rather than consume mine first I held one in each of my grubby hands and proceeded to walk.  Well it was a very sunny day and nothing much was left to savour when I got there!!  Later it was possible to buy a glass bowl from the shop and it would be filled with ice cream for 2d(old money) - the same price as a wafer.  Later still you could get things called "ice lollies" which had juice in them but would still be ice when all the juice had gone so they were a double treat. Later - much later - came 'choc' bars.

Fortes had a very large 'walk-in freezer and we were always worried that somebody would be shut in there (including us for bad behaviour) and be frozen to death.  A man called Arthur seemed to be in charge and we would always count the minutes (seemed more like hours to us) before he emerged with smiling face and to our great relief.

I remember our playtimes with Edmund and Teresa in and around the area of such magical names as Mermaid Yard, Grendon Buildings, Rack Street and Stepcot Hill. There were no parks but we had something far more exciting - bombsites! 

The area all around and particularly the Old Market had been extensively damaged during "The Blitz" of 4th May 1942.  What better than to play amongst the bricks and rubble or to go "underground" or climb up into 1st and 2nd storey damaged buildings? The Old Market was a playground all of its own - with cellars, hide-a-ways, climbs of adventure, which mountaineers would probably call 'dangerous'.  However if someone 'dared you' to do something you would do it - regardless of the consequences rather than be called a coward. So many bricks were lying around that you could build you own shelters/houses - with cuts and bruises - if not worse - when you realised that also needed cement!  With plenty of wood lying around November 5th was always celebrated in style with enormous bonfires - although you would have to protect yours in the build-up in dens from all the rival 'gangs' who would take great delight in trying to steal yours from you. Bricks and slates were used in fights, which rivalled the “Wars of the Roses”, but no one got hurt (as far as I know!).

We must mention 'Tredwins' paper shop which was situated on the ground floor of the Masonic Hall - after his real shop was bombed.  No counter or shelves but long forms arrayed with sweets, papers and comics.  You had to purchase sweets with Coupons but you could get a bar of Mars and the Beano/Dandy for 6d, which was your pocket money for the week.

When it was rebuilt later it never had the same magic, on the first floor of the Masonic Hall there was always, on Wednesdays, a 'Magic Lantern' show, depicting some Bible story.  All the kids from around would cram into this - have our cards stamped (for end -of-year prizes) and be enthralled by the story for the night.  Each slide would change at the sound of a 'clicker' but we soon found out that the top of a jam jars would make the same sound so you can imagine the chaos that sometimes occurred.

The bombed-sites were excellent for parking (no yellow lines then) and vehicles and lorries were all over the place.  Not many cars could be seen, as people were too poor to own them. 

However, one vehicle took 'pride of place' and that was Aunt Mina's Jowett Javelin" - what a beauty - what power - fantastic.  We all thought she must be very, very rich.  It held the No 1 spot in our affections till the Ford Consul and Zodiac appeared - I know which one I would prefer to have now though!! .

Archaeologists, led by Lady Fox came and dug trenches all around as of course the sites dated from over 2000 years ago. These were further 'Adventure Grounds' for us to play at wars or more 'dares'. Large lorries were parked around and these proved to be wonderful for climbing on or hiding away so you couldn't be found at bed-time - only "Dick Barton - Special Agent" would succeed in that. 

The annual treat for most of us was the visit to 'Fairy Land' (Where there were 'real' Fairies to greet us - or so we thought) at Christmas time.  You queued, for ages, on or at the iron steps at the back of Walton's and then you gazed in wonder at the visual displays of assorted Nursery Rhymes/characters arrayed (remember this was before T.V.) before emerging into the Toy Department (Devilishly cunning of Waltons), If you were lucky you might get a Pre-Christmas toy - Mrs Lemon - Lem - to us would 'do the honours' most years!

What other magic delights thrilled our hearts - Victory Parades by the Armed Services, Illuminated Shop signs and window displays suddenly replaced the 'Black-out', "spivs" on bomb-sites, selling everything at 'knock-down' prices to gullible kids/adults, massive bonfires everywhere- there was so much wood and old tyres around to burn!  Every street seemed to have a 'gang/mob' protecting the rights of the kids who lived at Mermaid Yard, Grendon and Follets buildings, Rack Street, Stepcot Hill, etc. What amazing names - miles better than 'Coronation Street' or 'East Enders' - where were the T.V. writers then!  Fights, raids for bonfires and pitched battles with stones/slates and even bricks, which could rival any skirmish in History.  Life was never dull nor was it 'deprived' even if it was in a poor neighbourhood and we did not have many 'worldly goods'.   Probably and hopefully it was a 'never to be repeated or forgotten era. 

And then - "It was all over" During the time it seemed endless but now it seems just a passing moment.  Somehow we survived!  We all grew up and went our separate ways - some we meet from time to time and some like you, Edmund, after 60 years - what a pleasant surprise.  I hope that this may give you some ideas for your "History Site".   

AILEEN FOX.

 Aileen - a pioneering archaeologist. v+204 pages, 30 b&w photographs. 2000. Leominster: Gracewing; 0-85244-523-7 paperback £12.99.
Lady Fox together with her sons and husband, Sir Cyril, in his study at Rhiwbina. Oil painting by Alan Sorrell

Archaeological autobiographies have a crucial role in the history of the discipline, providing all the background concerning people, places and institutions which one does not find in excavation reports or even in period or thematic syntheses. Those of Wheeler, Daniel, Barley and Grinsell are notable contributions in recent decades. Aileen Fox's contribution to this genre is, in my view, the best since Wheeler's classic Still digging. At 93, she is the oldest active archaeologist in this country, though now restricted to writing. It is fortunate that she has been also a diarist, so is able to give us an astonishingly complete account of a very full and successful life. She takes my generation back to the formative days of modern archaeology, to the 1930s, telling us of her dealings with legendary figures such as Bushe-Fox, O'Neil, Reginald Smith, Leeds, Myres, Hawkes and Radford.

She was born in 1907 into a privileged and wealthy family. After a happy childhood, she went on to read English Literature at Newnham College, Cambridge. Aileen was introduced to archaeology in 1928, studying rock art while holidaying in the Alps. She later visited Yorkshire, where (at Rievaulx) she spoke to 'someone who was digging and recovering potsherds' (p. 46). She thought that to go on a dig 'might be an agreeable way of spending August' (p. 46). Thus do great careers begin! Jocelyn Toynbee recommended her to go to dig for Bushe-Fox at Richborough. She rapidly made herself invaluable there; in 1930 they were 'pioneering a new technique - area excavation, not trenching: scraping not digging' (p. 55): a harbinger indeed.

In 1932 she met Cyril Fox, and heard his seminal lecture on 'The Personality of Britain'. Soon after, his first wife Olive was drowned on holiday. Cyril responded to Aileen's condolences with a copy of his famous book of the same name, and friendship deepened. She was doubtful as to the wisdom of marrying a man twice her age, and taking on his two young daughters; but they were married in 1933. She had three sons with Cyril. Her marriage brought her right into the centre of archaeology as wife of the director of the National Museum of Wales at Cardiff; as well as working there, she began to direct digs herself, and taught archaeology at University College. The war years were difficult for them, but by 1944 it was evident that Germany was going to be beaten. Aileen describes how in that year there was a momentous occasion for the future of archaeology in Britain - a conference hosted by the Institute of Archaeology in London, attended by 280 people. In retrospect, we can see that this foresaw the birth of Research Agendas and SMRs. Also in that year the Council for British Archaeology was founded, and the publication of Aileen's first paper for Antiquity, 'The place of archaeology in British education'.

After the war, she was asked by Richmond to dig in bomb-damaged Exeter. She also agreed to re-arrange the collection and display at the Corinium Museum at Cirencester. In another persona, as Studio Rahtz, I worked with her photographing the mosaics and sculpture!

When Cyril retired, they moved to Exeter, and she became a lecturer at the then University College. In trying to raise the profile of archaeology at Exeter in what was then a History Department, she was opposed by Prof. Frank Barlow, who is severely castigated in her book, with epithets surprisingly bitter. When, in 1955, Exeter achieved University status, archaeology had gradually become stronger, but Aileen did not get the Chair she should have had. Proposals to found a separate Department of Archaeology were again opposed by Barlow; and, surprisingly, by Martin Biddle, then on the staff.

Cyril died in 1967, and Aileen tried unsuccessfully for the chair at Leicester. Retirement followed in 1972, and amazingly she now embarked on another career in New Zealand, where she had been invited to be a visiting lecturer; she had been interested in Maori archaeology since she had read about it in an article by Raymond Firth in the first number of ANTIQUITY in 1927. She became heavily involved in Maori studies, doing extensive fieldwork and excavation, and making very positive contributions to the archaeology of this part of the Pacific.

In 1983, now 76, Aileen returned to Exeter, resuming friendships and interests and becoming involved again in Devon archaeological circles. She was travelling extensively up to her 90th birthday, very satisfied by 'a good and happy life . . . with tenacity of purpose once I had discovered archaeology . . . I had been a rebel against a wealthy idle society and its values in the 1920s' (p. 188).

Although most of her autobiography is about archaeology, its practice and politics, we find also much about her other passion, flowers, especially in the Alps; and a considerable sensitivity to music and other arts.

This book is a delight to read, and to relive in her words the whole period during which archaeology came of age.
PHILIP RAHTZ

Department of Archaeology, University of York 

 

 DICK BARTON SPECIAL AGENT

The beloved star of the BBC's first daily radio serial, private investigator and sometime special agent Dick Barton appeared in 711 episodes between 1946 and 1951 on the Light Programme beginning at 6.45 pm on Monday, 7 October 1946. With his two best mates by his side, Jock Anderson and Snowey White, and a slew of crime-busting gadgets that would make Dick Tracy envious, Dick managed to get into (and eventually out of) some pretty tight spots, much to the delight of thousands, not to mention the stern disapproval of various "educationalists and clergymen." And all that disapproval despite the scriptwriters strict adherence to 13 codes of conduct, such as: no sex, no booze, no bad language and all violence must be limited to "clean socks on the jaw."

Nevertheless, the radio show was a huge success, and the former Captain Richard Barton of the Commandos became a national hero, right up there with Churchill. In post-war Britain, the fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek adventures were exactly what the doctor ordered. At his peak, over 15 million listeners tuned in to his adventures, broadcast in the early evening, right after the news.

Dick's Girlfriend (all too soon to be written out of the series for ever!) was Jean Hunter, played by Lorna Dermott, and the current villain, Manoel Garcia, was played by Brian Worth. The announcer who rapped out 'Dick Barton...Special Agent!' was Hamilton Humphries.

Although Geoffrey Webb and Edward J. Mason wrote the radio scripts, Barton was actually created by BBC producer Norman Collins, who had visions of a "cloak and dagger soap opera" every evening. The producer was Neil Tuson.

The first series ended on 30 May 1947, but Dick was back on 6 October in a new serial. The third, 'The JB Case', started 20 September 1948. The serial beginning 26 September 1949 introduced a new Dick Barton, Duncan Carse, a real-life adventurer and oceanographer. The announcer was changed, too: John Fitchen.

Another Dick, Gordon Davies, took over from 3 October 1950, with a new producer, Archie Campbell. The final episode was broadcast on 30 March 1951. There was a two-week, 10 part revival for the BBC's Jubilee, starting 6 November 1972. Noel Johnson and John Mann were back - in stereo!.

Starring Noel Johnson as Dick Barton
(later replaced by Duncan Carse and Gordon Davis)
with Alex McCrindle as Jock
and John Mann as Snowey 

We are currently creating content for this section. In order to be able to keep up with our high standards of service, we need a little more time. Please stop by again. Thank you for your interest!