EVENTS, STORIES AND OTHER RECOLLECTIONS BY DEAF PEOPLE

 
SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHER FACTS
July 1931. Deaf children and some adults, under the care of Mr. Blount, (superintendent) and some of the executive members were invited by naval lieutenant commanders of the naval barracks, to travel by Tramcar to Devonport to enjoy a game of cricket, flat races, tug of war, chariot races and other games. Most Thursdays during the summer, the men played cricket at Central Park.
5th JUNE 1953. The Queens Coronation day. The coronation dinner and entertainment was held at the Connought rooms in Stoke. Some of the eighty people who attended remember the meal being a big disappointment, very much due to last minute arrangements; many of the local hotels and restaurants had been booked well ahead.
1940 to 1945. During the Second World War, there were limited social activities and church services due to blackouts, air raids and bomb damage to the building. Some members moved away from the city and the deaf children were evacuated to Brent Moor House, near South Brent.
During those years, due to the shortage of labour, many deaf people proved themselves working in the industries. There had been little difficulty keeping them all employed.
Two deaf ladies, Miss K. Bowden and Miss W. Davies were killed by enemy action. Twelve children were born to deaf couples. Another twelve couples married during the war years.
In the early stages of the war, a war savings group was set up in the mission to the amount of £5000. This being one of the few ways in which the deaf could help with the war effort. Deaf members responded to their utmost, not only bringing in their own savings, but also those of relatives and friends.
 
PLYMOUTH, DEVON AND CORNWALL NEWS
The following are extracts from the "PLYMOUTH, DEVON AND CORNWALL NEWS", This magazine written, edited and printed by Mr. Archer every month for 20 years, with a circulation of approx. 300, contained news, views, comments, sport's news, including the Devon County Games and other issues of the deaf community in the south west.
DECEMBER 1948
A congregation of twelve attended the Christmas morning service at 11 .00.am., then about thirty people went to St. Luke's church in the afternoon to see the nativity play. Over fifty sat down to tea. This number then increased to about sixty by 6.30.pm. for the service.
Next came the children's party on New Year’s Eve when forty children attended there were two Xmas trees laden with toys and games. Mr. Archer said "we hardly managed to get our breath back in time for the party on new years day when there were about fifty people, including a few from Exeter".
FEBRUARY 1949
A party of deaf people from Cornwall came on a shopping trip to Plymouth while others went to watch Argyle's match, later in the evening, they played a match against Plymouth (at Portland Square) of snooker and darts (Plymouth won). They had supper before returning to Cornwall.
JUNE 1949
The editor had heard that Mrs. Nile, a deaf lady, had been falling over at her home, and wondered if the price of whiskey had gone down?
DECEMBER 1949
Tothill Community Centre gave a party for the pupils of the Hartley House School for the deaf and provided transport for the children, who enjoyed games, a conjurer and a film show.
OCTOBER 1952
A party of 69 people from Plymouth, travelled to St. Austell in two coaches for the Devon and Cornwall Rally, and to give a welcome to Miss U. Porter who was to be the new missionary for Cornwall. 120 people attended the congregation.
JULY 1953
Mr. Fred Mann had one of the quickest appendicitis "operations" on record in the club, he walked up to the hospital on a Saturday evening and the following
Saturday, he was in the club again!
FEBRUARY 1954
A total of 95 people went to the Brown, Wills and Nicholson canteen hall at Prince Rock for the annual party and high tea at 6.00.pm. (meat sandwiches or pasty and a cup of tea) at a cost of 3A each (15p). After tea an evening of games and entertainment.
JULY1954
A group of deaf people from Gloucester visited Plymouth over the Whit weekend. After a look around the city with local deaf guides, a cricket match was held at B.W.N. sports field at Efford, (now a housing estate) where Gloucester won by 12 runs. On Sunday, they visited "Navy Days" then joined us in a service at St. Mathias church on North Hill. On the Monday they joined us on a trip up the river Tamar before making their way back to Gloucester in the afternoon.
MAY1955
At the annual general meeting of the social committee, a recount was made before Mr. Pengelly was elected as chairman with 50 votes, Mr. Rundle with 48 votes, Miss Stibbs with 47 votes, Miss Stott with 43 votes, Mr. Crocker with 39 votes, Mr. Short with 28 votes and Mr. Scoles with 25.
DECEMBER 1955
A Christmas Eve party was held at Portland Square for the first time when 72 people attended, and it was impossible for everyone to join in because the overflow had to be accommodated in the billiard room upstairs. The evening was very successful with lots of prizes for games and competitions. Messrs. Pengelly, Tucker and Rundle came in dressed up as Christmas waifs, complete with lanterns and signed Christmas carols.
FEBRUARY 1957
A deaf married couple named "Hamble' (deceased) had at last been able to move from their old haunts in Stonehouse to a nice flat in the Clare buildings, North Road West. They were living in such an isolated spot with the demolishing of war damaged buildings taking place all around them.
MARCH 1957
Dancing classes were held at Portland Square for about 20 deaf members to learn the waltz, quick step etc. They were very successful under the tuition of Mr. Herbert Rowe who was a qualified dancer.
FEBRUARY 1958
The members tried out their dancing skills at the first dinner and dance at the Magnet restaurant in Cornwall Street, (owned by Mr. Stafford William's, President of the executive committee), the cost to the dinner dance was 12/6 (62 1/2p) each. With a band and a conjurer.
JULY1958
The beach hut at Bovisand was officially opened by the chairman of the executive committee. Mr. C. Prance, and he presented them with a first aid kit. (He himself was a surgeon).
JULY1959
About a dozen deaf members distributed handbills for Popham's store (now Lloyd's bank) at £1 .00 per thousand, because the Evening Herald printers were on strike, and Pophams needed to advertise their "Summer sale".
APRIL 1960
Throughout the whole of lent, a total of 5 Guineas (£5.25p) was collected for the world refugee year fund.
APRIL 1960
The oldest deaf member, Mrs. Lethbridge, died on 16th March 1960 at the age of 92.
MAY 1960
A weekend rally of the South Regional Council of the British Deaf and Dumb Association was held in Plymouth for the first time. More than 100 people went on a steamer trip from the barbican up to Saltash Bridge. A dinner and dance was held on the Saturday evening at the Guildhall where 385 people sat down for dinner. There was a Sunday morning service, then an afternoon coach trip to Dartmeet.
APRIL1961
The social committee decided to sell the beach hut at Bovisand for £130.
 
STORIES AND OTHER RECOLLECTIONS BY DEAF PEOPLE.
Mrs. Beatrice Foster Beatrice, who will be 87 years old in 1997 and is
presently the oldest deaf member in Plymouth, says that when she was a child, she attended a deaf school, firstly at Salisbury Road, (Temporary) then in a hall at the rear of. St Jude’s church. Tuition was mainly oral and lip-reading, no sig were allowed. When the number of deaf children increased, they were moved Hartley House School for the deaf in Mannamead. When she left school, s attended the deaf Institute at Portland Square, and remembers Mr. Blount’s children very well, one of them, Sam, was very popular with the deaf, often giving support when he was on leave from university in Durham.
Beatrice say's the executive committee used to give a Christmas party for de children every year, and that the presents given were mostly books, which why she is still a habitual reader.
'On a summer bank holiday, we had a day trip on an open top bus, and WI would be glad for dry weather, because if it rained, we would have to help the driver pull a canvas cover over the top of the bus". "On another day we agree to meet at the Yelverton rocks. Those who had bicycles rode there, and those without bicycles caught the Train from the Mutley station to Yelverton to me the others there"
Her late husband was Cohn Foster who went to Margate deaf school and the have two sons. Some members might remember Cohn's sister, Dorothy Massey
Mr. George Robinson. Won £4000. On the football pools in 1949. He then provided two free coach trips for the members to Widecombe-In-the-moor, he also gave a silver cup to the Portland Square Institute for the darts championships every year.
Mrs. Doreen Borlace, Mrs. Catherine Camp, Mrs. Amy Anstis and Mrs. Phyllis Brown.
All recall the enjoyment they had when they were in the Girl Guides and camping at Maker, near Torpoint. Catherine recall's one day when the Guide leader gave her a penny to go home on a bus to Stoke, Catherine decided to save the penny and walk all the way, Unfortunately, when the Guide leader later heard about it, she demanded her penny back.!

The Scottish Tour-August 16th to 21st 1937.
Nineteen members of the Plymouth Deaf and Dumb Mission, including Mr. Archer who organized the trip, and Mr. Jack Clinnick of Exeter, who is now aged 80, left Plymouth at 6.30.am. Arriving firstly at Gloucestershire then onto the Wye valley, through Wales then Chester and Liverpool. Glasgow was reached via Lancaster and Carlisle. They passed Loch Lomond and Loch Long on their way to Crieff where a "raid" was made on one of the shops for Highland souvenirs. On reaching Aberdeen, the party were guest's of the Aberdeen Deaf and Dumb Benevolent Society. On the way back, heading south along the coast to Perth then Edinburgh and across the border to Newcastle where there was a special service at the Newcastle mission to the deaf.
The journey continued on to Leeds, through Sherwood Forest and Leicester and on to Oxford to see the University. The last stop was at Bath for their last meal before going on to Plymouth. The total cost of the whole six day trip, with accommodation, was £6. 7/6d. (£6.371/2) each.

The Evening Herald and other journals reported the trip, commenting on the idea of the deaf getting together for a holiday.
1939- A CHRISTMAS DAY SWIM ON THE HOE.

From left to right: Fred Cundy, Gordon Anstis, Doreen Borlace, Amy Anstis, George Shapcott, George Robinson, Cyril Anstis and a hearing friend behind Cyril.
 
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SPONSORED EVENTS BY THE DEAF.
24 Hour Snooker marathon. Twice arranged by Mr. M. Kelly in 1979 and 1985, raising £100 and £500 respectively.
Swimming marathon by Mrs. Lesley Davidson, who did a total of 30 lengths in twenty minutes at the Naval Barracks pool in 1984, raising £172.
Bed Push arranged by Mr. Dennis Knight and helpers on an autumn Sunday morning in 1986, from Blake Lodge through the City centre, the Barbican and back to Blake lodge, raising £820.

Blake Lodge Para's

Parachute jump. At St. Merran, North Cornwall, in May 1986, arranged by Mr. Dennis Knight, 15 persons (11 men and 4 women) jumped from 2500 feet, raising £3200. The oldest jumper was 48 years old. (Dennis himself). Toshiba also donated a television to the club.

THE PLYMOUTH DEAF SCHOOL.
The first Plymouth deaf school was held, temporarily, at Salisbury Road, St. Judes, then it moved to a hall at the rear of St. Judes church in Beaumont Road.

In the early 1930's, the school moved to Hartley House in Eggbuckland Road, (near Henders Corner) with about 20 deaf children attending.

In 1941, shortly after the onset of world war two, the deaf children were evacuated to Brent Moor House at Shipley Bridge, near South Brent, remaining there for four years, returning to Hartley House after the war.

The local education authority closed Hartley House School in July 1986 and opened a Partially hearing unit at the Eggbuckland Comprehensive school, (now a community college) in September 1986. and transferred the pupils there.