ODDS AND ENDS...

snippets that don't really fit anywhere else..yet!..

Here is the place for those fascinating little bits and pieces that don't really fit into one of the other categories at present. As we acquire more information, we shall doubtless need more categories, so some of these items may well find a new home in the future.  For the moment though...

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Michael Stead has sent some Moordown (and Winton!) snippets from the 'Bournemouth Echo' in the 1970s....

 

 
 
 
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Our Chairman Michael Stead has made some fascinating notes on those Bournemouth Mayors from the past with Moordown connections.

Just click on the button below to see who's who....

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The shop at 925/927 Wimborne Rd is closing down, and the removal of the current shop sign reveals evidence of signs from the past, as you can see here:

A quick look through Kelly's shows that the two shops changed hands (and use) many times over the years.  Some of the signs like 'Vitreous Resurfacing Ltd' above 925 were only in use for a couple of years (1969/70 in this case). Others were in use for longer. At the moment, there doesn't seem to be any evidence for the shop at 927 selling 'Toys', as shown on the corner sign......a grocer, a greencrocer .. but no toy shop (so far!).. investigations continue....

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Here's one from Jill Cutler. The interior of the 'The Hollies' Hotel.. believed to have been taken in the late 30s...

Not sure how similar it is to the layout today......I seems to remember there was an 'off sales' in the middle....and the public bar was moved from one end to the other, at some stage?......

 

An interesting one next from Jill King. The bill for her wedding flowers in 1958. The Coronation Ave address suggests more trading in the community in those days..... 

 

This next one is from Eileen Barker, and shows the copy of a 'Billett Bill' from 1941, when Mrs. Moss (Eileen's mother) had RAF personnel billeted at her home in Brassey Rd.

The amounts may seem pretty insignificant figures by todays' standards of course but, to pinch a phrase from those pre 'Tesco' times ..'every little helps!'

 

Another momento of wartime Moordown shown below. This RAF 'Family Allowance' form - brought in by Enid Way - shows the kind of money mum might expect to receive to help support her family.

Those extra funds must have been absolutely essential - especially if dad was serving in the forces, and away from home....and as with the billeting form above, the sums may not seem much in todays' money, but I'm sure it made a big difference then......

And talking of those serving abroad in the forces.....well, if you can't find a Christmas card to buy -- make one!

This lovely handwritten card from Ted Saunders, sent home to the family in Coronation Ave from Italy, near the end of the war in 1944....

 

Some of you may remember Saunders removals, run from no.17 Coronation Ave.  One of their lorries shown here....date anyone?....

Thanks to Enid Way for the 'Saunders' items above..

 

 

This next 'snippet'... a copy of the program from the amateur dramatics group at St. John's Church, in 1952..

 

Not sure what all those comments mean..obviously quite a lot of  'in' jokes, I suspect. The next image shows the cast list..

Do any of those names mean anything to anyone? 

And here, a review of the play...

 

The St John's players carried on at least into the 1960s... maybe later?....does anyone remember any of their productions.... or any of their members?

 

And now for something completely different!

This extract from the Bournemoth Observer, from September 1900, decribes a meeting held 'in Mr. Burt's meadow' by the prospective Christchurch parliamentary candidate, Major Balfour. (No Bournemouth MPS in those days!) . Major Balfour was duly elected (he stood against the Liberal, Mr. Brassey) and served as MP from 1900 to 1906.

I had always thought that 'Balfour Rd' had been named after Arthur Balfour, the Foreign Secretary during the First World War?

Probably not then...

 

 

 

This next item is a copy of the notes issued during the centenary of Winton School, in 1977.  

The school in Coronation Avenue, opened in 1911 was of course 'Winton & Moordown' School, but 'Winton' School had both preceded, and succeeded that school.  The text explains....(a copy  below in 'normal' script, if you don't have your gothic script reading glasses on!...)

" Winton School Centenary 1877 - 1977"

"1877, September 20th The new British School at Winton, in the parish of Holdenhurst, is officially opened.

Extensions to the Congregational Church on Peter's Hill have cost over £150, and a certified teacher is appointed.

From January 1904 the premises are leased by the Education Committee, as Winton Council School.

1911. Winton and Moordown Council School is opened on a site in Evelyn Rd, 3 years before, in 1914, it's new entrance is made in Coronation Ave. The building is to accomodate 1250, in separate schools for boys, girls and infants, from age 5 to leaving age - 13.

1957, Winton Secondary Bilateral School for Boys is established at Coronation Ave, with an Oswald Rd annexe, the Girls' School having moved to it's Glenmoor site.
The new Winton School is for boys from age 11 to leaving age - 15 - and, like all Bournemouth Secondary Schools will provide GCE 'O' level Courses.

1977. With 730 boys between 11 and 17, a qualified teaching staff of over 40, additional buildings on both sites, and long established 'O' level and CSE courses, Winton School celebrates it's 100th birthday.

Now in Dorset, we look forward confidently to strengthening the reputation and identity of........ WINTON SCHOOL "
 
 
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The next item is an interesting curiosity from the 1930s.....a copy of the opening night program for the Moderne Cinema in 1935.

Just click on the image to open the document... complete with an autograph from Denis O'Neil, the star of the first film shown, who was there in person during the first week.....
...thanks to Vic La Breche for this little gem....
 
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