CHRISTMAS DAY, 1956, When St. Petrock's December and Christmas Services Went Global (Again)
Title
CHRISTMAS DAY, 1956, When St. Petrock's December and Christmas Services Went Global (Again)
Subject
Description
In 1952, the 9:30 AM Christmas Morning Service at the Timberscombe parish church, St. Petrock's, was broadcast around the world by the British Home Service, the national radio station that in September 1967 was renamed BBC4 (1). It was a momentous event and even local Somerset newspapers, such as the Evening World, printed-- almost in disbelief-- that Timberscombe was a "little West country village whose choir and congregation have the honour of bringing the message of Christmas to millions of radio listeners...." (2).
One might have thought that the 1952 broadcast would be a one time event, yet it was not. Although less well remembered, four years later not only was the 1956 Christmas Day Service at St. Petrock's also broadcast globally, so were all of the Sunday morning Timberscombe church services throughout that month of December. On air, the British Home Service presented them as "The People's Services" (3).
No doubt, a major factor in St. Petrock's Church being singled out for these very public services was its vicar from 1951 to 1960, the Rev. Canon Sidney Ernest (but known as "Robin") Swann and his professional relationship with the Rev. Martin Willson, the West Regional Religious Broadcasting Organiser for the BBC since 1946 and a producer of "The Faith of the West", a religious programme on the BBC's West of England Home Service (4). The two men would have likely known each other by 1937, when Rev. Swann had been named as the Vicar of St. Mary Redcliffe at Bristol (5). Swann had been a public personality since 1912, when he was the only Cambridge man on a rowing crew awarded a Gold Medal for Great Britain during the Stockholm Summer Olympics. In 1941 Rev. Swann was appointed Chaplain to King George VI and became a Canon Emeritus of Bristol Cathedral (6). During World War II, special services were broadcast from St. Mary Radcliffe, featuring Rev. Swann and promoted by Rev. Willson. The men stayed in touch when Canon Swann retired, moved to Dunster and decided to become the Vicar at Timberscombe after the sudden and premature death in 1951 of the previous Vicar, the Rev. David John Cockle (7).
The 1956 Christmas Day broadcast differed from the 1952 broadcast in that it was not heard at 9:30 AM on the British Home Service Channel. In 1956 that honour went to The Broome Parish Church, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (8). As seen in an inset on the top photograph, the St. Petrock's Christmas Service was played at 11:30 AM on another BBC channel called the "Light Programme", which had been launched on 29 July 1945, replacing the General Forces Programme, which had run during the war. The new service was introduced as an alternative, promising post war entertainment, premiering with "Transatlantic Quiz", followed later in the day with the beloved entertainer, Frankie Howerd, in "Variety Bandbox". The Light Programme quickly became the most popular service, attracting 66 percent of listeners. While the 9:30 Christmas Day slot on the Home Service may have been a touch more prestigious, St. Petrock's probably had more listeners at 11:30. In 1967, the Light Programme became Radio 2 (9).
The second photograph depicts page 25 of the December 21, 1956 edition of RADIO TIMES, where the full Christmas Day Light Programme schedule was printed. The "11:30 PEOPLE'S SERVICE " was listed (highlighted here in green) as at "the Parish Church of Timberscombe, conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. Canon S. E. Swann", preceded on air by "well-remembered" Christmas morning tunes played by Victor Silvester and his Ballroom Orchestra. Below, an up-to-date photograph of Queen Elizabeth II reminded the readers that her Christmas Message would be heard at 3:00 PM. Also the Duke of Edinburgh would be speaking from the Royal Yacht Britannica, "currently in the South Pacific Waters".
The top photograph of St. Petrock's tower and the third (and likely the fourth) photographs of the Timberscombe choir were taken by Herbert Henry Hole for an article entitled "JOIN IN WHEN THEY SING", published in the December 21, 1956 issue of THE FARMERS WEEKLY, written about St. Petrock's Church, the upcoming Christmas Day Service but particularly about the Timberscombe choir. Mr. Hole also took the bottom photograph of Jennifer Bond, the 15-year-old organist who played for the Christmas Service as well as all of "The People's Services" broadcast throughout that December. Herbert Henry Hole would have known St. Petrock's well. Born in 1919, he was a professional photographer operating out of the same studio on 20 Long Street in Williton that his grandfather, also named Herbert Henry Hole, had opened in 1860. The elder Mr. Hole passed away in 1900, succeeded by his son, Herbert John ( Bert) Hole, a renowned photographer (married at St. Petrock's), who lived from 1871 to 1915. Bert had a half-brother, Walter Groves Hole, born in 1880, also a photographer who took over the Long Street studio in 1903 (9). Walter's son was the Herbert Henry Hole who took the photographs seen here. He died in 1995 and at least, still in 1967, maintained the family studio at 20 Long Street (10).
The author of "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING" is not clearly identified. In the same issue, Mr. John Listener is credited for writing the "Christmas in Church and Home Section" for THE FARMERS WEEKLY but does not seem to be the author of "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING". In April 2023, Jennifer (Jenny) Hansford, wrote from her home in Dorchester that she strongly believed its author was Canon S.E. Swann himself, writing "the way the article was written I am sure it could only have been written by him", also noting the vicar kept a low profile and perhaps chose not to take due credit. Jenny Hansford would likely know as she grew up in Timberscombe and is seen here as Jennifer Bond, the teenage organist featured in the bottom photograph.
Whoever wrote "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING" was quite taken with the choir, describing its nineteen members as united in the determination to sing well not just for The British Home Service but for the local folk as well. The only difference being the vestry would be full of the "instruments of broadcasting" at Christmas and the choir members would have to use the belfry for their changing room.
In the third photograph, the nineteen members have changed and all are included in the picture. Amazingly in 2022, almost all members were identified by Jenny Hansford.
The two boys in the front, from left to right, are brothers, Malvin and Alan Loveridge. Later in life both emigrated, Malvin to Canada and later Georgia and Florida in the USA and Alan to Australia (11). The girl to the right of (and almost eclipsed by) Alan is not identified but the next three are Jean Stenner, Mary Olwen French and Sheila Stenner. Jean and Sheila were sisters and lived in 1956 at No. 5 Willow Bank (12).
Two boys stand behind the Loveridge boys. On the left is Peter Atkins, whose parents ran the Lion Inn at Timberscombe when Peter enrolled at Timberscombe School in 1946. By the time of this photograph his family had moved to Minehead, although Peter returned to Timberscombe every Friday night to practice with the choir and Sunday morning and evenings to sing (13). To his right is William (Bill) French, the brother of Mary Olwen. They lived in Stowey Cottage at Stowey Farm (14).
The two slightly older boys behind them are Michael Hooper and Derek Poole. Derek, who lived at Devonia Cottage at Cowbridge (15), had sung with the choir during the 1952 broadcast, when his picture was on the front page of the Evening World (as seen at SP-220).
To the right of Derek is Kathleen Willis, also the Choir Mistress and Head Teacher of the Timberscombe School from 1935 to 1967 (16). To the right of Mrs. Willis, Jennifer Bond identified herself and finishing the row is Constance Bond, Jennifer's mum.
The woman wearing the black coat and hat, standing behind Mrs. Willis and Jennifer Bond is Grace Yeandle, who ran a village shop on Jubilee Terrace, remembered only as "Mrs. Yeandle's Shop". She and her husband, Arthur E. Yeandle, also ran a boarding house at their home, Rosslyn, in Cowbridge. The woman to her right is Ellen Kate (Nellie) Brewer, who lived at Sunnyside (17).
A cluster of men are in the back, From the left, the first is Bertie Stevens , who farmed and was a shepherd at East Harwood Cottages and also a long-time bellringer at St. Petrock's (18). To the right of Mr. Stevens and partly obscured is George Hall, who lived on Brook Street at The Retreat, later renamed Ivy Cottage (19). At the very back is William Henry (Harry) Willis, the (rarely photographed) husband of Mrs. Willis (20). In front of him, wearing spectacles, is Mr. (likely Peter) Sizer, who came over from Wootton Courtenay to sing, very much appreciated as the choir needed a bass (21). The final man on the right was Fred Bond, father of Jennifer and husband of Constance, also the Captain of the Bell Ringers, a professional Gardener and Sub Postmaster at the Timberscombe Post Office, ably assisted by his wife. Indeed Jennifer recalled her father was very much an outdoor man and the post office work was truly handled by her mother (22).
The fourth photograph is identified as being taken at the time of the 1956 broadcast (23), perhaps a final Friday night practice. Kathleen Willis is conducting with Michael Hooper singing most prominently. Michael, the son of Doris (nee Bircham) Hooper and stepson of William Frederick Hooper, who adopted him, may have been home for Christmas (or traveling a lot) as he had been accepted to the Bridgwater Technical School on the 23rd of March 1956 (24). Bill French is to Michael's left, with Derek Poole behind and between them. Malvin Loveridge, Peter Atkins and Alan Loveridge sing to their right. Grace Yeandle stands behind Michael, with Nellie Brewer and Constance Bond on the right end of the second row. (Michael Hooper's mother, Doris, died when she was 36-years-old, with her death recorded in January 1958. In October 1960, Michael's stepfather, William Frederick married Nellie Brewer, thus becoming Michael's stepmother.) Mostly obscured on the back row are six men, one more than before. Perhaps a guest singer joined the rehearsal.
During the previous 1952 Christmas Day broadcast from St. Petrock's, the organist heard around the world was 16-year-old Barbara Bond, the older sister of Jennifer Bond. Barbara was not available for the 1956 broadcast. While she was not identified in "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING", the author mentioned that the previous "young organist" had played for the Timberscombe choir since she was fourteen but had "left Timberscombe for London and for marriage". The article also does not name Fred Bond but identified him as a "choirman" who pointed to the current organist saying that, like the1952 organist, she was his daughter, adding "We took no chances this time. We started this one at eleven!"
"this one" was of course Jennifer Bond, who in 2022 presented the St. Petrock's History Group with an original copy of the December 21, 1956 THE FARMER'S WEEKLY", featuring Herbert Henry Hole's photograph of her sitting at the organ. As Jenny Hansford, she still maintains a rigorous schedule playing the organ, mostly around Dorchester yet still sometimes happily at St. Petrock's.
Also in 2022, Jenny still had the autograph of Rev. Martin Willson in her autograph book, as well as a copy of the letter he sent Canon Rev. S.E. Swann after the broadcast of 1956, reading:
"My dear Robin,
Thank you all for a splendid broadcast - a model of what things should be in its preparation (remote and immediate) and its offering. The ringers and Mr. Bond, the choir and Mrs. Willis, and Miss Bond and indeed all of the congregation are to be congratulated on the support they gave you - and what an admirable lead you gave them!
Sorry to sound fulsome - but I am enthusiastic and grateful.
Love to you all, Yours ever, Martin".
One might have thought that the 1952 broadcast would be a one time event, yet it was not. Although less well remembered, four years later not only was the 1956 Christmas Day Service at St. Petrock's also broadcast globally, so were all of the Sunday morning Timberscombe church services throughout that month of December. On air, the British Home Service presented them as "The People's Services" (3).
No doubt, a major factor in St. Petrock's Church being singled out for these very public services was its vicar from 1951 to 1960, the Rev. Canon Sidney Ernest (but known as "Robin") Swann and his professional relationship with the Rev. Martin Willson, the West Regional Religious Broadcasting Organiser for the BBC since 1946 and a producer of "The Faith of the West", a religious programme on the BBC's West of England Home Service (4). The two men would have likely known each other by 1937, when Rev. Swann had been named as the Vicar of St. Mary Redcliffe at Bristol (5). Swann had been a public personality since 1912, when he was the only Cambridge man on a rowing crew awarded a Gold Medal for Great Britain during the Stockholm Summer Olympics. In 1941 Rev. Swann was appointed Chaplain to King George VI and became a Canon Emeritus of Bristol Cathedral (6). During World War II, special services were broadcast from St. Mary Radcliffe, featuring Rev. Swann and promoted by Rev. Willson. The men stayed in touch when Canon Swann retired, moved to Dunster and decided to become the Vicar at Timberscombe after the sudden and premature death in 1951 of the previous Vicar, the Rev. David John Cockle (7).
The 1956 Christmas Day broadcast differed from the 1952 broadcast in that it was not heard at 9:30 AM on the British Home Service Channel. In 1956 that honour went to The Broome Parish Church, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (8). As seen in an inset on the top photograph, the St. Petrock's Christmas Service was played at 11:30 AM on another BBC channel called the "Light Programme", which had been launched on 29 July 1945, replacing the General Forces Programme, which had run during the war. The new service was introduced as an alternative, promising post war entertainment, premiering with "Transatlantic Quiz", followed later in the day with the beloved entertainer, Frankie Howerd, in "Variety Bandbox". The Light Programme quickly became the most popular service, attracting 66 percent of listeners. While the 9:30 Christmas Day slot on the Home Service may have been a touch more prestigious, St. Petrock's probably had more listeners at 11:30. In 1967, the Light Programme became Radio 2 (9).
The second photograph depicts page 25 of the December 21, 1956 edition of RADIO TIMES, where the full Christmas Day Light Programme schedule was printed. The "11:30 PEOPLE'S SERVICE " was listed (highlighted here in green) as at "the Parish Church of Timberscombe, conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. Canon S. E. Swann", preceded on air by "well-remembered" Christmas morning tunes played by Victor Silvester and his Ballroom Orchestra. Below, an up-to-date photograph of Queen Elizabeth II reminded the readers that her Christmas Message would be heard at 3:00 PM. Also the Duke of Edinburgh would be speaking from the Royal Yacht Britannica, "currently in the South Pacific Waters".
The top photograph of St. Petrock's tower and the third (and likely the fourth) photographs of the Timberscombe choir were taken by Herbert Henry Hole for an article entitled "JOIN IN WHEN THEY SING", published in the December 21, 1956 issue of THE FARMERS WEEKLY, written about St. Petrock's Church, the upcoming Christmas Day Service but particularly about the Timberscombe choir. Mr. Hole also took the bottom photograph of Jennifer Bond, the 15-year-old organist who played for the Christmas Service as well as all of "The People's Services" broadcast throughout that December. Herbert Henry Hole would have known St. Petrock's well. Born in 1919, he was a professional photographer operating out of the same studio on 20 Long Street in Williton that his grandfather, also named Herbert Henry Hole, had opened in 1860. The elder Mr. Hole passed away in 1900, succeeded by his son, Herbert John ( Bert) Hole, a renowned photographer (married at St. Petrock's), who lived from 1871 to 1915. Bert had a half-brother, Walter Groves Hole, born in 1880, also a photographer who took over the Long Street studio in 1903 (9). Walter's son was the Herbert Henry Hole who took the photographs seen here. He died in 1995 and at least, still in 1967, maintained the family studio at 20 Long Street (10).
The author of "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING" is not clearly identified. In the same issue, Mr. John Listener is credited for writing the "Christmas in Church and Home Section" for THE FARMERS WEEKLY but does not seem to be the author of "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING". In April 2023, Jennifer (Jenny) Hansford, wrote from her home in Dorchester that she strongly believed its author was Canon S.E. Swann himself, writing "the way the article was written I am sure it could only have been written by him", also noting the vicar kept a low profile and perhaps chose not to take due credit. Jenny Hansford would likely know as she grew up in Timberscombe and is seen here as Jennifer Bond, the teenage organist featured in the bottom photograph.
Whoever wrote "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING" was quite taken with the choir, describing its nineteen members as united in the determination to sing well not just for The British Home Service but for the local folk as well. The only difference being the vestry would be full of the "instruments of broadcasting" at Christmas and the choir members would have to use the belfry for their changing room.
In the third photograph, the nineteen members have changed and all are included in the picture. Amazingly in 2022, almost all members were identified by Jenny Hansford.
The two boys in the front, from left to right, are brothers, Malvin and Alan Loveridge. Later in life both emigrated, Malvin to Canada and later Georgia and Florida in the USA and Alan to Australia (11). The girl to the right of (and almost eclipsed by) Alan is not identified but the next three are Jean Stenner, Mary Olwen French and Sheila Stenner. Jean and Sheila were sisters and lived in 1956 at No. 5 Willow Bank (12).
Two boys stand behind the Loveridge boys. On the left is Peter Atkins, whose parents ran the Lion Inn at Timberscombe when Peter enrolled at Timberscombe School in 1946. By the time of this photograph his family had moved to Minehead, although Peter returned to Timberscombe every Friday night to practice with the choir and Sunday morning and evenings to sing (13). To his right is William (Bill) French, the brother of Mary Olwen. They lived in Stowey Cottage at Stowey Farm (14).
The two slightly older boys behind them are Michael Hooper and Derek Poole. Derek, who lived at Devonia Cottage at Cowbridge (15), had sung with the choir during the 1952 broadcast, when his picture was on the front page of the Evening World (as seen at SP-220).
To the right of Derek is Kathleen Willis, also the Choir Mistress and Head Teacher of the Timberscombe School from 1935 to 1967 (16). To the right of Mrs. Willis, Jennifer Bond identified herself and finishing the row is Constance Bond, Jennifer's mum.
The woman wearing the black coat and hat, standing behind Mrs. Willis and Jennifer Bond is Grace Yeandle, who ran a village shop on Jubilee Terrace, remembered only as "Mrs. Yeandle's Shop". She and her husband, Arthur E. Yeandle, also ran a boarding house at their home, Rosslyn, in Cowbridge. The woman to her right is Ellen Kate (Nellie) Brewer, who lived at Sunnyside (17).
A cluster of men are in the back, From the left, the first is Bertie Stevens , who farmed and was a shepherd at East Harwood Cottages and also a long-time bellringer at St. Petrock's (18). To the right of Mr. Stevens and partly obscured is George Hall, who lived on Brook Street at The Retreat, later renamed Ivy Cottage (19). At the very back is William Henry (Harry) Willis, the (rarely photographed) husband of Mrs. Willis (20). In front of him, wearing spectacles, is Mr. (likely Peter) Sizer, who came over from Wootton Courtenay to sing, very much appreciated as the choir needed a bass (21). The final man on the right was Fred Bond, father of Jennifer and husband of Constance, also the Captain of the Bell Ringers, a professional Gardener and Sub Postmaster at the Timberscombe Post Office, ably assisted by his wife. Indeed Jennifer recalled her father was very much an outdoor man and the post office work was truly handled by her mother (22).
The fourth photograph is identified as being taken at the time of the 1956 broadcast (23), perhaps a final Friday night practice. Kathleen Willis is conducting with Michael Hooper singing most prominently. Michael, the son of Doris (nee Bircham) Hooper and stepson of William Frederick Hooper, who adopted him, may have been home for Christmas (or traveling a lot) as he had been accepted to the Bridgwater Technical School on the 23rd of March 1956 (24). Bill French is to Michael's left, with Derek Poole behind and between them. Malvin Loveridge, Peter Atkins and Alan Loveridge sing to their right. Grace Yeandle stands behind Michael, with Nellie Brewer and Constance Bond on the right end of the second row. (Michael Hooper's mother, Doris, died when she was 36-years-old, with her death recorded in January 1958. In October 1960, Michael's stepfather, William Frederick married Nellie Brewer, thus becoming Michael's stepmother.) Mostly obscured on the back row are six men, one more than before. Perhaps a guest singer joined the rehearsal.
During the previous 1952 Christmas Day broadcast from St. Petrock's, the organist heard around the world was 16-year-old Barbara Bond, the older sister of Jennifer Bond. Barbara was not available for the 1956 broadcast. While she was not identified in "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING", the author mentioned that the previous "young organist" had played for the Timberscombe choir since she was fourteen but had "left Timberscombe for London and for marriage". The article also does not name Fred Bond but identified him as a "choirman" who pointed to the current organist saying that, like the1952 organist, she was his daughter, adding "We took no chances this time. We started this one at eleven!"
"this one" was of course Jennifer Bond, who in 2022 presented the St. Petrock's History Group with an original copy of the December 21, 1956 THE FARMER'S WEEKLY", featuring Herbert Henry Hole's photograph of her sitting at the organ. As Jenny Hansford, she still maintains a rigorous schedule playing the organ, mostly around Dorchester yet still sometimes happily at St. Petrock's.
Also in 2022, Jenny still had the autograph of Rev. Martin Willson in her autograph book, as well as a copy of the letter he sent Canon Rev. S.E. Swann after the broadcast of 1956, reading:
"My dear Robin,
Thank you all for a splendid broadcast - a model of what things should be in its preparation (remote and immediate) and its offering. The ringers and Mr. Bond, the choir and Mrs. Willis, and Miss Bond and indeed all of the congregation are to be congratulated on the support they gave you - and what an admirable lead you gave them!
Sorry to sound fulsome - but I am enthusiastic and grateful.
Love to you all, Yours ever, Martin".
Creator
Herbert Henry Hole /
Radio Times /
Herbert Henry Hole /
likely Herbert Henry Hole /
Herbert Henry Hole
Radio Times /
Herbert Henry Hole /
likely Herbert Henry Hole /
Herbert Henry Hole
Publisher
THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956
BBC Home Service
THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956
VILLAGE HERITAGE BOOK, 1975, created by the Timberscombe WI
THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956
BBC Home Service
THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956
VILLAGE HERITAGE BOOK, 1975, created by the Timberscombe WI
THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956
Date
December 21, 1956
December 21, 1956
December 21, 1956
December 1956
December 21, 1956
December 21, 1956
December 21, 1956
December 1956
December 21, 1956
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
two photographs by Herbert Henry Hole, one featuring the tower of St. Petrock's and the other, 15-year-old Jennifer Bond playing the St. Petrock's Church organ, both featured in THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956 / page 25 of RADIO TIMES, December 21, 1956, featuring a listing of the 1956 Light Programme broadcast at St. Petrock's Church / a 1956 photograph by Herbert Henry Hole featuring the Timberscombe choir and donated in 2022 by Jennifer Hansford / a photograph labelled as 1956, of the Timberscombe Choir featured in VILLAGE HERITAGE BOOK, 1975, created by the Timberscombe WI / Timberscombe / village centre
Acquisition Date
2022
2023
2022
2022
2022
2023
2022
2022
2022
Acquisition Method
Gift
Research
Gift
Gift
Gift
Research
Gift
Gift
Gift
Category
PLACES: Churches and Chapels / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Occupations / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Occupations / Timberscombe
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2023
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
13.5 X 11
20.5 X 15.5
15.5 X 20
14 X 19
24 x 19
20.5 X 15.5
15.5 X 20
14 X 19
24 x 19
Institution Name
ST. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) genre,ch.bbc.co.uk (2) as printed by the Evening World on its front page, December 24, 1952 (3) THE FARMERS WEEKLY, CHRISTMAS FEATURES FOR FARM AND FAMILY (registered at the G.P.O. as a newspaper), December 21, 1956, the caption for a photograph of the interior of St. Petrock's Church, taken by Herbert Henry Hole and featured on "TO HEAR AND SEE... Religious broadcasting-both on sound and vision, by John Listener " (4) as recalled on 28 January 2023 by Jennifer Hansford and written to Alan Hines and Church Mice and Men, Church Times.co.uk>articles>news>UK (5) List of Vicars at St. Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol, England, alamy.com (6) olympic.org/sidney-swann, en.wikipedia.org/sidney_swann and The London Gazette, Friday, 17 March 1941 (7) Rev. Cockle died unexpectedly on 29 June 1951 at The Quay, Minehead, when he leaned over to lift the luggage of arriving guests, as recalled in 2022 by Jennifer Hansford and England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995 (8) THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956, "TO HEAR AND SEE... Religious broadcasting-both on sound and vision, by John Listener
(9) Start of The Light Programme, 29 July 1945, bbc.com/history of the bbc/anniversaries/july/start-of-the-light-programme (10) "Secure the shadow: Somerset Photographers 1839-1939," by Robin Ansell , Allan Collier and Phil Nichols, The Somerset & Dorset Family History Society, 2018, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 and British Phone Books, 1880 -1984 (11) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, 1944-2012, Nos. 821 and 798, Canada Voter's List, 1935-1980, Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current and US, Index to Public Records, 1994-2019 (12) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, 1944-2012, Nos. 812 and 800 (13) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, No. 872 and THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956, "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING" (14) Timberscombe School Admission Register, 1944-2012, Nos. 868 and 867 (15) as recalled in 2022 by Gwynie Pole of Rice Barn and Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, No. 766 (16) Timberscombe School MINUTES BOOK, 3 April 1930-4 June 1974, Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, 21 April1947-2 April 1965 and THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956, "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING", where a photograph of Mrs. Willis by Herbert Henry Hole was published, captioned "The choir-leader, who has been the local schoolmistress for twenty-one years". (17) 1939 England and Wales Register and THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956, "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING", where a photograph of Mrs. Yeandle by Herbert Henry Hole was published, captioned " Mrs. G.A. Yeandle, serving in the village stores, is a member of the choir". (18) 1939 England and Wales Register and as recalled in 2022 by Jennifer Hansford (19) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 (20) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (21) as recalled in 2022 by Jennifer Hansford, UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current and THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956, "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING" (22) 1939 England and Wales Register and BBC Home Service, genome.ch.bbc.co.uk (23) this photograph, labelled as being taken during in 1956, was included in "VILLAGE HERITAGE BOOK, 1975", created by the Timberscombe WI and donated to the St. Petrock's History Group in 2022 by Ruth and Stephen Humphreys of Stowey Farm (24) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, 1944-2012, No. 777, England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 and TIMBERSCOMBE SCHOOL LOG BOOK, 21 April 1947-2 April 1965
(9) Start of The Light Programme, 29 July 1945, bbc.com/history of the bbc/anniversaries/july/start-of-the-light-programme (10) "Secure the shadow: Somerset Photographers 1839-1939," by Robin Ansell , Allan Collier and Phil Nichols, The Somerset & Dorset Family History Society, 2018, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 and British Phone Books, 1880 -1984 (11) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, 1944-2012, Nos. 821 and 798, Canada Voter's List, 1935-1980, Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current and US, Index to Public Records, 1994-2019 (12) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, 1944-2012, Nos. 812 and 800 (13) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, No. 872 and THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956, "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING" (14) Timberscombe School Admission Register, 1944-2012, Nos. 868 and 867 (15) as recalled in 2022 by Gwynie Pole of Rice Barn and Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, No. 766 (16) Timberscombe School MINUTES BOOK, 3 April 1930-4 June 1974, Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, 21 April1947-2 April 1965 and THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956, "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING", where a photograph of Mrs. Willis by Herbert Henry Hole was published, captioned "The choir-leader, who has been the local schoolmistress for twenty-one years". (17) 1939 England and Wales Register and THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956, "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING", where a photograph of Mrs. Yeandle by Herbert Henry Hole was published, captioned " Mrs. G.A. Yeandle, serving in the village stores, is a member of the choir". (18) 1939 England and Wales Register and as recalled in 2022 by Jennifer Hansford (19) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 (20) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (21) as recalled in 2022 by Jennifer Hansford, UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current and THE FARMERS WEEKLY, December 21, 1956, "JOIN IN WHILE THEY SING" (22) 1939 England and Wales Register and BBC Home Service, genome.ch.bbc.co.uk (23) this photograph, labelled as being taken during in 1956, was included in "VILLAGE HERITAGE BOOK, 1975", created by the Timberscombe WI and donated to the St. Petrock's History Group in 2022 by Ruth and Stephen Humphreys of Stowey Farm (24) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, 1944-2012, No. 777, England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 and TIMBERSCOMBE SCHOOL LOG BOOK, 21 April 1947-2 April 1965
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2023
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-221
Technique
Copies
Citation
Herbert Henry Hole /
Radio Times /
Herbert Henry Hole /
likely Herbert Henry Hole /
Herbert Henry Hole, “CHRISTMAS DAY, 1956, When St. Petrock's December and Christmas Services Went Global (Again),” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 2, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3606.
Comments