During the late 60’s the P.T.A. were challenged by the Headmaster, Mr Ozzie Yates to produce a Christmas show, and it was decided to put on a Pantomime at St Anne’s Hall in Babbacombe. This proved very successful as the children saw their parents dressed up in pantomime gear and the cast made fun of the teachers. Mr Yates prepared the shows, and there were the usual pantomime characters, the most popular with the children being the Ugly Sisters.
After two years it was decided to put on an Old Time Music Hall and Mr Yates was in the chair. There were many hilarious skits performed by the parents such as, a Pakistani selling nylons and dirty postcards, (mostly in a Welsh accent!) and three men with glasses – one to drink, one to gargle and one to spit out! These shows were performed for four years.
The P.T.A. organised a fete every Tuesday in the summer in Coronation Park, and raised money for a swimming pool at the school in the mid 70’s.
JB
From the time I was 5 years old I was ushered out from the security of my dear nan’s cottage and dumped at Babbacombe school, where I was told to sit with the “buttercups” on their table. I was so traumatized but had my wits about me even then, as at playtime I spied the open gate and high- tailed it out of there back to the safety of nan’s arms. Alas they caught up with me and made me go back. In later years I was always accused of talking when it wasn’t me and had to pay the price for the culprits time and time again. I even received punishment with a ruler across my palm. I imagine that today, that would be considered child abuse.
Every Wednesday we crocodiled off to Babbacombe church where we were up and down like yoyos all morning as we kneeled to pray and smelled the reek of incense as they strolled past with the burners. I shirked even at that age when they told us from the pulpit not to bother putting our pennies into the collection plate. Those were our prized possessions and taught us to have a giving heart. What was that story about the widows mite?
The boys got a real cane across the back of their legs, (ouch). I’d rather have had the piece of chalk or the board rubber thrown at me.
We were berated for chewing gum in school. No calculators allowed. How would they have reacted in today’s techie world, I wonder.
At age 11 it became even worse as we were shunted off to Audley Park School, girls only on our side of the fence!!!
There were one two teachers who were very sympathetic to us girls, but others who could be considered “old maids’ in those days. All screamed of Victorianism, and was akin to being imprisoned. Again we were bullied by our peers and made to “pay.” Up until a few years ago, I had a recurring nightmare, in which everyone had left school and I wasn’t allowed to leave as they were awaiting my CSE and GCE results, (now GCSE.) I was about 47 when I had a reunion with some special school friends. It was after this that the nightmare ended, never to return. I was free!
We had some really lovely times too. I won first prize at Babbacombe for collecting wildflowers on Walls Hill and at Audley I ran a hurdle race alone. I won of course! My my mugshot in the Torquay Times to. My Head mistress called me down to her office and I thought “oh boy, what have I done now”, but all was well as she congratulated me on my performance!
Memories of both Babbacombe Primary and Audley Park from Christine Hawkins