Denis Marshall Pickles
Norfolk
Saturday, August 10, 2013 11:52 |
Sutton-in-Craven C. P. School. A History in Words and Pictures 1873 -1996
It appeared from nowhere! This glossy booklet turned up among various other papers during a session of my never ending decluttering exercise. I couldn't remember reading it before so after checking the period when I was a pupil at the establishment and finding absolutely no reference to my illustrious presence, I set about reading it from cover to cover.
Two things caught my eye. Firstly a reference to the fact that at the very beginning of the First World War, the school caretaker (curator) Mr Arnold Huley had enlisted in the army. And another reference a couple of months later that he had been killed by the Germans. This intrigued me. I could recall no reference to a Arnold Huley on the War Memorial. I wondered whether he was not a Suttoner. However a check against Andrew Monkhouse's excellent research revealed that the caretakers name was Heeley, not Huley. He'd been in the army during the Boer War and had been decorated. That was the reason he'd enlisted so quickly after the outbreak of war. Perhaps the person making the entry in the School Log Book wasn't such a good writer and whoever was compiling the chapter couldn't read it properly.
The other entry, made on the same page, makes reference to the fact that by October 1914 "over 40 Belgian refugees were now living in the district" This seems an awfully large number to be directed to a small village in the West Riding. But that had me thinking. I'm pretty sure that we had a Belgian refugee at school with us shortly after the war started in 1939. His name was Pedro de la Rue and he was billeted with Miss Maggie, Miss Jessie and Raymond Clough who lived at the bottom of Gordon Street. He wasn't in the village long before he moved on. Perhaps his family had been in Sutton during the First World war. I think that as a young man, he may have visited the Clough's after the war. Can anyone elighten me?
Anyway, I enjoyed reading the booklet, particularly the section relating to the war years. |
Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Saturday, August 10, 2013 16:04 |
That's a great find Denis, and a fascinating story!
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Howard Barrett
Silsden
Saturday, August 10, 2013 21:12 |
Dennis,
My wife, Christine (nee Hardaker), who lived in King Edward St during her Primary School years, says that the surname of Maggie, Jessie and Raymond was Whitaker, not Clough.
Thought I'd get in there before Brenda reprimands you! |
Howard Barrett
Silsden
Saturday, August 10, 2013 21:16 |
Apologies: Denis, not Dennis. |
Denis Marshall Pickles
Norfolk
Saturday, August 10, 2013 21:35 |
Of course it was! I seem to make so many of these simple mistakes these days. But it was a long time ago and I have been left the village for sixty years - almost. Memories fade! I'm not even sure that the Whittakers lived at the bottom of Gordon Street, but I seem to remember it was down that way some where. |
Brenda Whitaker
Queensland Australia
Saturday, August 10, 2013 22:49 |
Hi folks - yes Howard I would reprimand him this time - the same mistake is in another missive calling Raymond 'Clough' however, it didn't really spoil the story so I left it. Dennis you are correct though - Pedro did visit later in life as I remember him and, playing tennis with him so he must have been an older teenager at least during that time. Being such a young thing I was only one year old when the war started so my memory of Pedro cannot be of his first stay with the Whitakers. They did indeed live at the bottom of Gordon Street with a large windowless wall facing the road - they were the most tolerant people I can ever imagine, we played hitting the tennis balls against that wall for hours on end and were never shooed away. Their back yard faced the back of King Edward directly opposite us and Miss Jessie used to have children in there or sitting on her wall just about every day. They were so so good to all the children in the street.
I'm interested in your publication about the school Dennis, Mr Walker was headmaster when I was there and I just loved that school. Do you have more titbits to share?
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Brenda Whitaker
Queensland Australia
Saturday, August 10, 2013 22:51 |
oooopppps - I did it too, sorry DENIS.
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Andrew Monkhouse
Hanoi, Vietnam
Sunday, August 11, 2013 01:14 |
Hi Denis (I know how to spell your name!)
Your post got me dashing for my copy of the school book in question and whilst I’m sorry to hear that there was absolutely no reference to your illustrious presence at the school, I can happily report that my name does get a mention ,-)
I did attempt to reply to your message around mid-night last night, but alas I must have hit the wrong button and my message vapourised, so I went back to watching the cricket (wish I hadn’t!)
The crux of my reply concerned the caretaker of the council school in 1914 Arnold Heeley who had the ominous recognition of being the first Suttoner to be killed during the Great War in October 1914. But it was the apparent misspelling of his surname as Huley that caught my attention because this is not the first time I have come across this anomaly within the Heeley family.
On 20th November 1915, James Henry Lund of Devonshire St, Keighley married Nellie Heeley (sister of the late Pte Arnold Heeley) at a ceremony in Sutton. However the marriage record transcript records her name as Huley! So this is twice a member of the Heeley family has been referred to as Huley and I’m at a loss to offer an explanation. There are numerous records on-line referring to Arnold Heeley’s army service stretching from the Boer War through to WW1 and he is never once referred to as Huley.
James Henry Lund was later killed in action in 1917, so Nellie suffered 2 losses during the Great War, her brother and her husband. |
Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Sunday, August 11, 2013 16:02 |
Tony Ingham spotted a photo of some Belgian refugees in Cross Hills in the Glyn Whiteoak collection in the gallery.
Tony and Joan Tindale also emailed me another photo of "Refugees de Belgique" which should be in the gallery tomorrow.
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Lynda Blundell nee Phillips
Vancouver, Canada
Sunday, August 11, 2013 19:16 |
My mother, Connie Phillips (nee Tingle) was related to the Heeleys. I remember visiting Nellie and her sister Doris at their home on Main Street in the late 1960s on a trip to England. |
Howard Barrett
Silsden
Sunday, August 11, 2013 21:32 |
Which war was that Brenda? |
Josie Walsh
Denholme
Sunday, August 11, 2013 22:44 |
This might not be relevant to the posting about Pedro De La Rue, there is a gravestone in St Thomas graveyard with the following inscription.
Treasured Memories of Pierre De La Rue
Born Bruges 16th June 1867 Died 2nd July 1944
Here in a corner of an English shire far from the homeland that he loved so well a Belgian Captain sleeps.
The grave is in the right hand plot at the side of the church.
Note to Paul, I no longer live in Cononley, but in Denholme.
Josie
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Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Monday, August 12, 2013 09:20 |
The photographs of Belgian refugees are now on a page in the gallery.
I think the Heeley/ Huley mystery is down to transcription errors - two consecutive joined-up lower-case letter 'e's can easily be misread as a single letter 'u', especially if the 'e's are tall with a thin loop. Try it and see!
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Joan M. Tindale
Cowling
Monday, August 12, 2013 11:21 |
More likely to be Pierre and not Pedro would think - Pedro could have been an affectionate nickname for Pierre? Maybe older residents in the village or surrounding villages would remember him from the group photos? He might be on other photos, or there might be his obituary in local papers? Would be nice if someone could find out a bit more. |
Maurice Atkinson
Keighley
Monday, August 12, 2013 12:19 |
Joan is probably right...Pedro is Spanish for Peter, Pierre is French for Peter. Any one remember the late Peter Dawson? When we were kids he used to be called "Pedro" by some of us. |
Brenda Whitaker
Queensland Australia
Monday, August 12, 2013 21:37 |
For Howard - my mother would say - ''you'll get a clip over yer ear 'ole lad !!" Actually I reach my 3/4 century status tomorrow so I am a going to be a bit more considerate and just smile !!!
For Paul - I agree with the double 'e' suggestion I typed a message yesterday saying the same thing but somehow lost it so decided that in my dotage I would leave it alone - it is the old....joined-up... writing that does it.
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David Laycock
Tuesday, August 13, 2013 06:13 |
Many Happy returns Brenda while they are still asleep ower there.
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Denis Marshall Pickles
Norfolk
Tuesday, August 13, 2013 09:12 |
Happy Birthday Brenda. We are not old enough to be as old as we are, are we?
You ask if I have any more titbits to share from the School History. I'm sure that you'd find the whole publication interesting and maybe someone with far more skill than I could download the book into the History section. But for the time being I will list another three items which made me raise my eyebrows.
Feb 27 1873 One of our school scholars, Alice Ramsden died today by falling into boiling water.
July 2 1928 Silence was observed for one minute today in memory of two scholars in the infant class (George and Arthur Johnson) who lost their lives in the river on Friday night last, the 29th June.
March 27 1986 Peter Barsby, who was a pupil at the school when I was there and a dab hand at filling ink wells, retired from the post as Headmaster after 18 years at the school. He must have succeeded Sidney Laycock!
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Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Tuesday, August 13, 2013 10:03 |
Congratulations Brenda and many happy returns!
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Alan Pickles
Bingley
Tuesday, August 13, 2013 16:12 |
Big Brother DENIS,
I think that Harold Baker (he couldn't have held the position very long) succeeded Sidney Laycock and Peter 'Baz' Barsby would follow him. No doubt the birthday girl will correct me if I'm wrong. Keep searching through the attic you never know what might come out.
Happy birthday, Brenda.
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Andrew Monkhouse
Hanoi, Vietnam
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 00:47 |
I was at the school when Sidney Laycock retired around 1968 and I took a keen interest in events at the time. A collection from the teachers and the parents of the kids accumulated enough to buy him a petrol lawn mower as a retirement present.
On his final day the entire school lined up in the assembly hall (a bit like they used to do in Red Square, Moscow) and Sidney walked from the back of the hall to the front pushing this lawn mower for all to see. He'd actually cranked the thing up before he entered the hall and a big cheer went up with the sight and noise of the headmaster pushing his lawn mower to the front of the assembly ready to do a farewell speech and his tongue was hanging out to one side (funny the little things we notice as kids isn’t it!).
Then there was an air of calm in the school as Mrs Irene Baker who was Deputy Head at the time assumed the temporary role of Acting Head until the job was advertised and a replacement found. It was several weeks before the position was finally filled by somebody I’d never heard of - Peter Barsby. I was hoping at the time that Mrs Baker would get the job, but as it happened Peter Barsby turned out to be an excellent Head Master. His 3 children Lynne, Sharon and I forget the name of his third daughter all attended the school at the same time that Peter took over the reigns. Lynne was in my class.
So it was out with the old guard and in with the modern era. As for Harold Baker Alan, he was no longer at the school when I started there in 1965.
As an aside, I think you’re spot on Paul with your Heeley/Huley theory about the two consecutive joined-up lower-case letter 'e's being misread as the single letter 'u'. Great deduction because it had me stumped! |
Tony Ingham
Sutton
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 07:55 |
Andrew,with you now being an aussie, you would, be STUMPED. (cricket) |
Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 08:50 |
A third photo of the Belgian refugees (Refugees de Belgique 2nd batch) has been added to the page in the gallery, courtesy of Dr John Laycock.
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Brenda Whitaker
Queensland Australia
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 11:37 |
It was a great day for Sutton when Pete Barsby, an old scholar, took up the head master position - by this time I was already in the antipodes but my mother kept me up to date as our house looked across from King Edward Street towards the school gates and I am sure she accosted poor old Peter more than once to make sure he was doing his job properly - !!! Peter and Rita are still involved in the village as you all know through the Baptist Church.
Thanks guys for the birthday wishes - my birthday present from Stuart was a 1938 edition of the Yorkshire Times - as I was born on a Sunday it is the Monday edition - I have yet to go through it but should there be anything I feel of interest to Suttoners I will pass it on -
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Andrew Monkhouse
Hanoi, Vietnam
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 12:52 |
Tony, you can take a Yorkshireman out of Yorkshire, but you can’t take the Yorkshire out of a Yorkshireman. Even my son who was 6 when we arrived here in Oz is a die-hard England supporter in all sports and he’s 25 now!
Happy belated birthday Brenda, hope you had a good one. I always remember my dad’s brother Len Monkhouse on the last occasion I saw him which was on his birthday a couple of years before he died in 2002 aged 79. His sister (my Aunty Rose) hugged him and said “Happy birthday Len”, to which Len replied “Aye, one less to go”!
That's one way of looking at it I suppose! |
Joan M. Tindale
Cowling
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 20:00 |
Any more information on the Belgian refugees and Pierre de la Rue - found a site with lots of Belgian refugee photos on - very sad. Yes remember the late Peter Dawson - suppose he got the nickname Pedro cos of his very handsome dark looks!
Also Sydney Laycock used to be headmaster at Cowling before he escaped down to Sutton Parish around 1950/1. His wife Dorothy also taught at Cowling - we have a photo of their wedding on Cowling old photos, submitted by Winifred his niece. |
Joan M. Tindale
Cowling
Thursday, August 15, 2013 06:53 |
Correction -now been told by the hubby that Peter Dawson's nickname was "Pancho" and not Pedro? |
Maurice Atkinson
Keighley
Thursday, August 15, 2013 07:14 |
Jeez!...your hubby is correct Joan---must be my age!! Indeed it was Pancho. |
Joan M. Tindale
Cowling
Monday, August 19, 2013 21:33 |
Been to Keighley Library, but obituary/local news for Pierre de la Rue not in Keighley News July 1944, although Sutton and Cross Hills/Glusburn/Cowling news is in - probably in Craven Herald in Skipton Library? Anyone who gets there before me pls. let us all know.
(Trouble is you always get sidetracked by other interesting local news you find -and very time consuming!) |
Joan M. Tindale
Cowling
Friday, August 23, 2013 18:05 |
Skipton Library have been very helpful, and I have now sent this fascinating story to Paul to put on site when he has the time! Thanks to Denis M.P. for sending the information! |
Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Friday, August 23, 2013 19:29 |
Hi Joan, your sleuthing has turned up a couple of gems! I'll update the gallery page but it will probably be after the bank holiday - in the meantime, below are transcripts of the articles in the Craven Herald, July 1944. Many thanks to you and the helpful staff at Skipton Library.
Sutton
Death of Belgian Commodore
An interesting personality, Commodore Pierre de la Rue was interred at Sutton Parish Church on Wednesday week, at the age of 77. He came from Ostend, and had been living in Sutton for about seven months. He was a member of a seafaring family and himself went to sea when 11 years old, and for 40 years was a ship's master for the same firm. At the age of 18 years he was a pilot on the River Congo. He continued at sea until 67 years of age, when he retired from active service.
He had three sons, all seafaring men and all skippers. One was Pedro de la Rue, who lost his life in June 1941 when his ship was torpedoed on its way from West Africa. His widow has been living in Sutton with other members of her family, who came from Belgium in the early days of the war. The other sons of the Commodore are Julien and his younger son Andre. The funeral service was at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Crosshills, and was taken by Father Vermiere, a Belgian priest from Dewsbury, assisted by Father Malone. The committal was in the graveyard at Sutton Parish Church.
Belgian Captain at Sutton
One of the men who was on the beaches on D-Day, on Thursday paid a visit to the grave of his father who had been interred in the Sutton Churchyard the previous week.
The visitor was Capt. Julien De La Rue who has family associations with the village where he stayed at the house of his sister-in-law, Madam Pedro De La Rue, one of a party of Belgian refugees who found a home at Manor Hall, Sutton-in-Craven during the last war, when she herself was a young lady.
Capt. de la Rue was one of the first to approach the shore in his little Belgian boat "Marcel". He brought his ship, loaded with petrol, to a point less than a mile from shore. The cargo was got off safely, with German shells and bombs dropping all around and Nazi snipers ashore putting up as hail of small arms fire. The "Marcel" returned to Britain for more cargo and then she returned to the French coast. With hatches open, her crew of 14 helped to unload the spirit.
"It was a miracle that nothing hit us. If it had, we should have been for it” was the skipper’s only comment. As Capt. de la Rue said, these little ships will have a big story in themselves when it can be told."
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Denis Marshall Pickles
Norfolk
Friday, August 23, 2013 20:43 |
So it would seem that the Pedro de la Rue that I remember would have been the son of the Pedro de la Rue who lost his life in 1941 when his ship was torpedoed off Africa and the grandson of Commadore Pierre de la Rue himself interred in Sutton churchyard. Thanks for your research Joan. You have uncovered a fascinating story. |
Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Tuesday, August 27, 2013 08:15 |
Josie Walsh has provided a 1928 portrait of Commodore Pierrre de la Rue, which I've added to the Belgian Refugee page in the gallery.
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Andrew Monkhouse
Hanoi, Vietnam
Friday, August 30, 2013 11:09 |
That's a wonderful portrait of Commodore Pierre de la Rue. You did well to dig this out Josie! Just for the record his Belgian medals as shown in the portrait are:
Left to right - top
Knight's grade in the Order of Leopold I
Knight's grade in the Order of Leopold II
Maritime Decoration for WW1
Left to right - bottom
Labour Decoration (First Class)
Belgian commemorative Medal for WW1 (with Anchor device on the ribbon)
Inter Allied Belgian Victory Medal for WW1 |
Josie Walsh
Denholme
Saturday, August 31, 2013 14:18 |
Hi everybody
Can't take credit for the portrait, I was in contact with a family member of Pierre De La Rue before I moved, and was thrilled that she sent it to me, I was only asking her how he came to be buried in Sutton, the grave has always been of interest and I was just being nosy and wanted to find a little bit more about him, but it seems that if the family were connected to the Belgiam refugees, that is why he was probably buried here.
Josie |
