Our "Gentlemen's houses" as they were once known, like Berridon Hall and Westdown House never seemed to attract a family who stayed more then one generation. One of these families were the Critchley-Salmonson who lived for some years at Westdown. It was not until recently that I came across information that Mr. Critchley-Salmonson was one of the 1914-18 servicemen associated with Bradworthy, who served in the Royal Flying Corps. Prior to the War he inaugurated successfully a Scout Troop here and was the Scoutmaster. On the outbreak of War he returned to his regiment, being commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 7th Royal Munster Fusiliers. When the Royal Flying Corps was formed several young men serving in the Army applied to enter this new Force and Lieut. Critchley-Salmonson was seconded to the RFC at Farnborough for instruction for his pilot's certificate. There were three others in this RFC, now deceased and buried in our Churchyard. They are Capt. Cecil Griffin who was killed when his plane crashed on taking off for France in1917, (he was only 22 and had already served with the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders in the battles of the Marne, Aisne and Ypres, where he was wounded), Airman George Toy who died in 1922, age 27, and Lieut. George Holden who died in 1924, as a result of War service, age 32.
Mrs. Bessie Tremeer, formerly of Bradworthy, has died at Treliske Hospital in Cornwall at the age of 85 years, she was the widow of Mr. Gordon Tremeer and a daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Edward Hayman of Bradworthy and previously at Putford. Gordon and Bessie moved several years ago to Planet Park, Delabole to be near their family. Recently Bessie had been in Penclease House Residential Home at Camelford. In Bradworthy Gordon and Bessie were willing helpers in village affairs and she was a member of Bradworthy Young Liberal League, young people who supported and worked for the local Liberal Association which in those days was a very active political organisation here.
Mr. Albert Edward Stevens, member of an old Baradworthy farming family who were for many years at east Greadon, has died in Holsworthy Hospital at the age of 86 years. For a great number of years he had farmed at Belmont, Whimble Hall, Holsworthy. His wife, Olive, predeceased him, as also did his son Peter. He leaves two sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.
Miss Maureen Yeo died in Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. She was the daughter of the late Mr. & Mrs. Yeo and it was only comparatively recently that she left Littleford, Bradworthy to live in Plymouth. She was 70. Maureen was an active worker in the community here at Bradworthy, particularly in the Parish Church. For many years she supported the Royal British legion and for a very long time was a collector for the Annual Poppy Appeal. Popular and much esteemed, her funeral service in the Parish Church was largely attended. Following cremation the casket containing her ashes was deposited in the grave of her parents in the Churchyard.
It is remarkable how soon our attitudes to wild life have changed in the last century. Even when I was a boy country folk were inclined to kill anything which crawled. Newspapers at the turn of the 20th Century were regularly reporting the killing of snakes in their columns. Examples! "killed two vipers and one snake" and "a snake three feet long and four inches in girth was killed." Names of people who did the killing and places were included. Harmless lizards, including slow worms were also frequently killed. Were there more of these reptiles then? Today we rarely hear of one being seen. The regret now is that so much wild life is being lost to us.
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“Wistaria, experiment in verse” By Cecil Collacott £3.50 from Martins or the author Proceeds to Bradworthy Church Restoration and British heart Foundation |