Sutton-in-Craven Village Website

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From	Subject/message
Paul Wilkinson webmaster Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:44	March 2008 Newsletter The March 2008 issue of Sutton Village News has now been printed and is available for download on the newsletter page (see link on the home page).
Diana C. Smith Godolphin Cross, Cornwall Friday, March 21, 2008 10:50	So many thanks for the march issue of Sutton village, and in particularly for the photograph of the inside of the village hall on the front page. It has notl changed since I was in it, and it brought back to many memories of nearly fifty years ago. Also the history if Sutton, which as yet I have only scanned, but l want to read every word of it Diana.
Paul Wilkinson webmaster Friday, March 21, 2008 13:10	Hi Diana. The following might bring back more memories about the hall, taken from Miss Doris Riley's "Local Venues" articles in the Dec 2004/ Mar 2005 newsletters. Paul... Local Venues No 8 & 9 Parish Hall and Dancing When built it was known as the Parish Hall, later St Thomas's Hall, now it is the Sutton-in-Craven Village Hall, run by a committee of villagers and employing a caretaker. Used for many functions, on hire for receptions, wedding anniversaries, parties, and used by many villagers and organisations. It was built app 1925, the foundation stone laid at a ceremony by Mr James Bairstow Esq. J.P. of the local mill T & M Bairstow. The mill is now demolished and is a housing estate. Situated on Main Street, many events were held to raise money by villagers. This was matched � for � by Mr Bairstow. It stands in lawned grounds, ornamental berry bearing trees have been planted in recent years. Dancing at "TOMMY HALL" has been and is a popular pastime. Band names, which were once well known, were the Savona; Ken Henderson; Craven Players; Del Rio. Advertisements for these events were in local newspapers and shops, giving day, date, time, cost, the band and master of ceremonies. Saturday nights 8.00 to 11.45. Fridays were Balls continuing to 1.00am. Tickets could be purchased from shops, members of the event organisers or at the ticket office to the left of the vestibule. Dances would be modern, old time, 50.50 or fancy dress. A corner of the ticket would be clipped off on entering the hall. The ladies and gents cloakrooms had an attendant who issued a raffle type ticket and a straight pin to pin half the ticket on the coats, the other half kept to be handed in for your coat on leaving. Outdoor shoes were left on the floor in a brown carrier bag and exchanged for dancing shoes. Often chilly in the hall, seats near radiators were soon in use. For Balls, attractive small folding programmes with a pencil attached had spaces for partners to reserve a dance. Wearing a dark suit, the M.C. had white gloves, a flower in his buttonhole and, if it was a posh "do", tails and also a pussy bow. When a dance was announced he led his partner to the floor and round the room. Then they each invited another person, so the floor began to fill. Each dance was played three times, with from four to perhaps eighteen players, a crooner, singer an cornet and saxophone solos. Waltzes, Foxtrots, Tangos, Quicksteps, Veleta, Doris Waltz, Barn Dance, Eva Threestep, Lancers, Polka, Polyglide, St Bernards, Military Two Step, Pride of Erin, Lambeth Walk, Hoky Koky - and with the Conga, the line was often led outside, round to the side or emergency exit and back onto the floor. In the "Charleston" era girls wore fringed slant hemmed dresses, lots of beads and hair bands (they were before my time). Passing Clouds When dances were held, men liked to support local Inns, arriving later to take partners for the supper dance. This meant an escort to walk her home. Plated suppers for 1/6d (7�p) had two sandwiches with a choice of boiled ham, cheese, potted meat or egg & cress; two or three cakes and tea. At a ball, fresh fruit salad in a saucer would be included in the admission price. Popular balls were the Farmers� in February (a new birthday dress for me), the Nursing Association�s, Amateur Dramatics� and the Blue Ball which was a �POSH DO� with men wearing evening dress and long dresses & furs on the ladies. These were held on Friday nights, finishing at 1am. The cricket club, football club and other village organisations held dances on Saturdays. Smoking was allowed, the oval shaped �Passing Clouds� popular with young ladies, pity they wouldn�t fit into cigarette holders. Programmes included ladies and gents� excuse-me�s, elimination waltz, spot dance. The raffle would also be drawn, shopkeepers and businesses would have given most prizes, and a net of balloons would be released. It was the duty of the village constable to attend at some point late evening, wearing his cloak and helmet with shining silver badge, and I believe the fire brigade had to be informed. During the 1939-45 war, soldiers were billeted there, benefit dances helped to provide funds for comforts and knitted items. They made friends and sweethearts, marrying at St Thomas� Church or the Baptist Chapel. Sadly, some never danced again. After the war when clothing coupons were no longer required, my first evening dress was a long black grass grain taffeta skirt which rustled, deep yellow blouse with frills and long sleeves, a Dorothy bag and black patent Cuban heeled shoes. Skirts were the �IN THING� and different tops, boleros and sequinned stoles could be worn. Men wore three piece suits, white or blue shirts, collar and tie, very smart. Some wore collar and matching �DIKKY FRONT�, fastened with an elastic loop and button to a backstud. Pullovers with a diamond design were fashionable and jackets were taken off during the dances. Fashions changed, calf length �NEW LOOK� dresses, then circular skirts with layers of sugar stiff underskirts; then the �MINI�, very short. Youths wore drainpipe trousers or flares, boot lace ties, suede shoes and elaborate hair do�s. Rock and rolling and jitterbugging to guitar and washboard skiffle music was all the rage. One young man was so supple he was known as rubber legs. In December a party and tea dance was held for pensioners. Two long rows of trestle tables and half again for the second sitting. Strange, we helped for many years, NOW WE ARE OLD there is nothing. Between the tea and concert party there were a few Waltzes, Veletas and St Bernard�s. Now it is casual wear, jeans, plain or designer or ragged fringe; unisex tee shirts with slogan prints, long drab black dresses or trouser-suits. A disc jockey plays loud taped music with psychedelic flashing lights, a bar in one corner and no smoking signs; but just as enjoyable for young people, shaved heads for youths and straightened hair for girls. Evenings ended with the last waltz, when partners chose whom to walk home. One young man in his teens had treat three girls to supper, much to the amusement of his mates who said �SITHER HE�S GETTEN THREE�. He waltzed of with another girl who lived near his home. Walking several miles was not unusual, the three girls all had escorts. Dances were often planned for a moonlit night. Cloakroom tickets were handed in, the pin carefully placed in a coat lapel seam as a protectative.
diana Godolphin Cross, Cornwall Saturday, March 22, 2008 12:41	I cannot thank you enoough for the trouble you have gone to getting this message down and replying to my letter. I am left in a nostalgic mood, and the writing of Miss Doris Riley helped me back through years. She writes so well and her work is so accurate in her descriptions, that it is a real aid to the grey cells. I do wish that I had met her, and am still trying to get hold of her books.
David L Sunday, March 23, 2008 04:56	Hi there, Don't forget it was a non alcholic venue and like most yung'ns we called at John Robert's selling out shop for a bottle of courage, woodpecker more often that not! Funny thing that woodpecker stuff, I remember my Dad used to stop of at JR's on Fridays on his way home from the mill to get his WP and it took him many years to realise it was actually highly alcholic!!! A pretty potent drop!!!!! In regards to "Rubber Legs" I remember him, came from Keighley I think. Would be at all the local Rock nights. Yes drainpipes, long jackets, big lapels, tony curtis haircut. Ask Ken and Barry Grosvener I think he was a mate of their's. While I on that era, any one remember a Peter Armstrong?

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