Melton Constable in the 1920s
A. John (Jack) E. Gaskin

The recent publishing of the so-called 'sordid outlook' of Melton Constable has caused me to cast my memory back to the Melton of the 1920's-the activities engaged in and above all the people who lived there. There will be many who will share these memories and if I revive a spark in their minds, I will be very pleased.

First of all, the Midland and Great Northern Railway and the "works" were the predominant feature and heart-throb of the place: When all went well at the "works" everyone rejoiced and when things did not go well the whole area suffered, as in the general strike of 1926. The workshops and the railway, which was the great joy of the chief engineer Mr. William Marriott, employed many men both from Melton and from the surrounding villages. When the buzzer blew for leaving-off time the men seemed to pour over the bridge and as a little lad I was taught to keep out of the way in case I was knocked down in the rush. With the decline and closure of the railway works Melton lost its vital driving force and today we see a valiant struggle by the inhabitants to keep the village alive. An inquest as to why the works closed will serve no useful purpose; time has proved that it was but a pattern of things to come all over the country.

Secondly, the school played an important part in the life of Melton. Many will recall Boss Hanner, whose theory was, "If I cannot knock it into you one way, I will another". (Many of us had it knocked into us one way or the other, with a thump on the back.)

The higher standard school, as it was called then, situated between Melton and Briston, was under the able headship of Mr. Harry May. He was a stern disciplinarian but he was a born teacher and could command good order simply by the great interest he created in the subject he was dealing with; this could range from the piloting of one of the early aeroplanes to maths, from the Bible to yacht racing at Overy Staithe. Then there were the various places of worship: the "tin" church, the Railway Mission and Avondale House (meeting place of the Brethren). Quite a number of Melton folk went to Briston for services and the Salvation Army had many followers from Melton. Of Briston congregational chapel, many will remember the Rev. Hales (Cakes and buns'), who as a preacher left much to be desired but whose church was full every Sunday. There were also two Methodist chapels, Hall Street and the central chapel, which were supported by Melton people. The Railway Mission had many faithful workers. One can recall names like Freddie Copp, Walter Watling, Bob Masters, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Jarrat, "Pa" Tomblin and Mr. Wolsey who used to deliver the Railway Signal from door to door on the first Sunday in every month; this he did in all weathers, summer and winter.

One of the outstanding characters was G. B. Clarke, who was secretary of the Mission for a number of years. "G.B." as he was affectionately called, always expected and took it for granted that a person could and would do whatever he asked of them-and it usually worked. One can recall G.B.'s brilliant conducting of the Melton Constable choral society in their various performances and his conducting of the Mission choir; the rendering of the "Children's Messiah" being outstanding. His love of music was shared by his wife, who accompanied most of the performances at the piano and played the organ for the services.

I can remember one day calling upon Mr. and Mrs. Clarke; as I approached the door I could hear a programme of music and singing being broadcast on the wireless. I knocked, opened the door and at that moment Mrs. Clarke rushed from the living room and into the front room, struck a note on the piano and shouted, "George - she got a top A!"

G.B. will be remembered by his faithful work in the Mission Sunday School, his teaching in the Bible class and the able manner in which he conducted a service. There must be countless men and women who will remember the help he gave then for their daily lives. It is fitting that the clock in the present Mission is inscribed, G. B. Clarke.

The institute (secretary A. Q. Newman: was a place to which we all went for our various pursuits: The library, billiards, night classes, to pay the club, concerts, the reading room, dancing and whist drives and even for a bath. The main hall was used on a Sunday for services and Sunday school and on Wednesday evenings for Bible study. It was packed to capacity every Sunday evening when many a stirring sermon was preached by men and sometimes women, drawn from the various denominations in the area. This work is continuing at the present Gospel Hall, which is the oldest building in Melton. Originally built as two cottages in the late 1880's, it was later made into a drill hall. There the church lads met: the bands marched down the hill, bugles at full blast, drums rolling; sometimes headed by the Rechabites' banner, at other times there would be a procession led by Hindolveston silver band and headed by the "Union Banner". All stirred the hearts of the people, young and old, as they lined the pavements watching the procession go past. The Scouts and Cubs also flourished under the able leadership of Mr. Langley and other helpers. Another of the outstanding characters (at least in size) was Dooney Prvke ... he weighed nearly 20 stone and had tremendous strength ... at lunch time he would eat for an hour ... he was so strong that he could hold part of the bogey of the engine up whilst his mate either bolted or riveted it into position … no wonder they called him "The Human Crane". Anything that was large was called "A DOONEY". I had a number of Tops ... the largest one was called a DOONEY.

The recreation ground, known as the 'Rec', was the place where those of all ages spent many happy hours. Memories stir of frying the eggs and chips in the plantation, blocking up the 'river' and swimming in it ... (Duck Fulcher: "Me fort me was a duck; me fort me could swim".) There was also cricket with home-made bats and football which was of quite high standard, climbing the oak trees, making pop-guns and bows and arrows and flying homemade kites; taking our picnic teas wrapped in newspaper, which were partaken on the banks of the river and under the oak trees. The 'river' was really nothing more than a muddy little stream but to us it was "the river". The football team was good enough to play against such teams as Fakenham, Gorleston or Holt, etc. The "Puff-Puffs" were quite renowned and to be chosen for the team was an honour. The rules were that no-one under twentv-one and no married men were to be allowed in the team. Cricket was played on the 'Rec' but the important matches were held on the Melton Park ground which was situated near the Tower Club. The late Mr. Arthur Hammond of Bale gave me his score card for 1904 and 1905, which had been written by the immaculate hand of little Bob Long. In one match he had scored 132 runs and taken six wickets - test standard of today.

Bowls was played and still is at the nursery and tennis on the court near the "sands"; billiards and table tennis at the institute and marbles in the alleys and Colville road was the scene of tops in the Springtime. Most of the boys had iron hoops which had been made by a local blacksmith. We spent a great deal of time watching the horses being shod at the smithy near Burgh Hall farm and searching for beechnuts and chestnuts in the Autumn.

A highlight in the calendar was Guy Fawkes' Night: For weeks beforehand any material that would burn was taken to the sands and by the evening of November 5th a huge heap of rubbish would have accumulated. The lighting of the bonfire was a ceremony performed by a senior boy and tar was fetched in buckets from the gas-works and poured onto the flames, which soared high into the air. We boys and girls ran around with 'Jack O lanterns - swedes hollowed out and with slits cut for eyes, nose and mouth and a candle inside; an onlooker must have thought we looked like a lot of young dervishes. The smell of spent gunpowder smoke hung like a pall over the village and seemed to linger for days.

The allotments were the pride and joy of the men and women of Melton. Flowers bedecked the borders of the paths and there were bowers with seats. Perhaps more important, good crops were grown, fertilized with good, honest pig and chicken manure. There was a healthy pride in the tilling of the land and keeping of poultry and pigs and also rabbits, which had a certain effect on the produces ... In early summer, a man would produce from his pocket some new potatoes and say to his workmate, "Can you beat these?"

The village was well-provided for with shops and traders. On the station platform was the refreshments room; in the height of the summer season, when the Specials from the Midlands would be coming in every few minutes, the staff would be kept very busy serving teas and sandwiches for the hungry and thirsty travellers. I can vividly remember as it seemed to me at the time), fighting my way through the crowds to deliver the 4 lb. sandwich loaves to Miss Adams or to one of the assistants. A lad would meet the train with a tray of chocolates and cigarettes - Eric Dack from Briston had his first taste of business life in this capacity. Smiths had a bookstall and delivered newspapers around the village; Oscar Miles was manager for quite a long period. Proceeding down the hill, on the corner where Briningham Road branches off, was George and Peter Ekes' hairdressing salon. This was a rendezvous for several of the men and boys of the village; some for haircuts or shaves or for Woodbines (2d. for five). The world was put right in George and Peter's shop.

A few yards further down the road was (and still is) Mr. Coleman's cycle shop and petrol station: I guess many will, recall going to "Colemans" for a tin of carbide for the gas lamps, which gave out a marvellous light. Later there were batteries for cycle lamps and there was always a wide range of cycle accessories in the window, which had a good sale, as cycling was then the principal mode of transport. Almost adjacent to Mr. Coleman's was the Hastings Arms, which was kept by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Prestwood who must have done a good trade at that time, though we never patronised. The Prestwoods always bought their supplies of bread and cakes from us which, looking back, showed they had no prejudice for our being 'tee-total'.

On the opposite side of the road was, and again still is, Coleman's grocery shop. I can remember seeing Mr. Mallett weighing and packing tea and sugar on the flat: It would be difficult to find any grocery assistant who could do that today. Also, I remember Mr. Coleman having the kindness of heart to place a box of oranges in a corner of the school playground for us to help ourselves to an orange each. The post office was kept by Miss Nellie Linda - I can still hear her saying in an over-loud voice, "Close the door! What do you think the door is there for?" Also Nellie on the telephone shouting, "Holt! Can't you hear me Holt?" (It was Nellie who was deaf, not the folks at Holt). A telegraph boy resplendent in uniform sat astride a bicycle ready to deliver any telegrams that were received over the 'phone (this was the old candlestick type; museum pieces today but they gave good service and needed little attention). Although Nellie had a tongue like a razor blade, she had a heart of pure gold. I recall how one day she took a post card to my mother and said, "Here you are Mrs. Gaskin -Jack needs some clean collars; don't forget to send them." Two days later she said, "You haven't sent those collars yet to Jack."

Two jobbing gardeners came from Briston; Billy Balls and Bob Neale. They were rather like two old dogs both highly jealous of each other. Billy wore the shabby genteel, Bob - who had once been the village verger - wore a series of sacks; a sack around his shoulders, one around his middle and a sack around each leg. Bob would say, "Why, you never could dig, Billy Balls ! - Look at your spade - it's only like a seaside spade!" Still, in their own way they both did good work, as I remember.