1950's Village Memories from the Police House

I recently met up with Marian Cottrell, nee Moore, whose father served as the Bickleigh Policeman who shared her memories of village life with me over coffee at the Fisherman's Cot. Always pleased to hear and record other local memories

June 2026 Bickleigh Memories - Marion Cottrell, nee Moore, younger daughter of PC Moore, serving at Bickleigh on Exe 1953 to 1963 and previously at Clovelly and Holcombe Rogus.

I was 4 when we came to Bickleigh to live in the Police House along the main Exeter Tiverton Road. Police Houses were built to the same design and included a room for storage of uniforms and police equipment..

I attended Bickleigh old school near the church until leaving in 1959 to attend Tiverton Grammar School. The Headteacher was Mrs Scott who came to school in an old Landrover. All ages were taught together in the same class. Midday meals were delivered by van and in winter milk was heated on the black stove. At one time we were given milk tablets instead of bottles, presumably when proper milk was in short supply. Toilets were outdoors and a section of the road outside was our playground. First aid was administered by a parent, Mrs Fairchild, who lived near the church. We enjoyed country dancing in the Rectory field and going up to the top of the Church Tower on Ascension Day. We were joined by Cadeleigh School pupils and teacher Mrs Houghton when their school closed.

My father was responsible for a wide area to Chilton Cross and over to Butterleigh.but not Cadeleigh. He was on call 24 hours a day. The telephone number was Bickleigh 233.

I was always taught to behave properly being the Policeman’s daughter. My father would sort out problems, under age drinkers in the Trout Inn would be collared, taken outside and told not to be seen there again!

Our near neighbours were the Reader family. Mrs Reader was the District nurse and with her daughter settled in Australia. Mr Reader kept a cow and taught me how to milk it. Nearby lived Mrs Britton, Miss Lily Crocker.and the Townsend family at Willis Farm. We visited Mrs Gold in her dark bungalow and spent time with the Vearncombes at Exeland, the Greenslades at Way and Hawkins family at Tray Mill.

With my good friend Sylvia Fairchild we were often chased around the village by the Wheeler brothers. Sylvia now lives in Portugal and is soon to celebrate her 80th birthday.

Father was involved in flooding at Bickleigh. On one occasion I remember Miss Roberts from the Little Dart Cottage being led to safe ground by adults linking arms to get through the water.

A highlight of each year was looking forward to the hot cross buns made Good Friday morning only at Boundy’s Bakery. Happy days!