MEMORY LANE
Barry Horn's Childhood
For the population of Gilling, the '50s was a decade of big changes. Thirty two new houses were built by the local Council, thus increasing housing by nearly one third. This brought in many new faces and facilities - such as water supplied direct to houses thus doing away with the old strategically placed communal taps. Because of mechanisation on the local farms - at one time they had made employment for those living in the Village, menfolk were finding other employment mainly in the building trades at Catterick Garrison. Most of the womenfolk still stayed at home, but some were starting to take up other employment.
The Church was overseen by the Revd. Spurrier aided by Mr. Colin Day, Verger who was also the local cobbler. The School was run by a Mr. Bonus, ably assisted by Mrs. Bonus, Miss Vaise, Mr. Chambers and Mrs Pawsey, whose husband was the agent for Skelton & Gilling Estates. Mr. Maurice Lambert ran the Village Post Office and one of the shops, while Mrs. Ellands ran the other. The safety of the Village for most of the decade was in the hands of Pc. Ralph Southey, who whizzed round the area on his 3-speed Rayleigh push-bike. The two pubs were run by Mrs. Nancy Caygill - "The Angel" and "The White Swan" by Mr. Jim Groughty and later on by Mr. Reg. Edgar. The blacksmith was Mr. Hutchinson and the saddler Mr. Les. Peart. The 2 market gardens were nurtured by Mr. Percy Charlton and Mr. Stan Wallis. The Village also had very good football and cricket teams, winning many trophies between them over the decade.
Throughout the '50s many of the young men carried out National Service and it was not an uncommon sight seeing someone marching around in uniform. The Village also had Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Brownie troops. The Scouts were run by Mr. Albert Caygill and then by Mr. Doug Deighton. The Village Gala - held on the old cricket field and the Gymkhana on the football field, were big days in the Village calendar, as was the annual Village outing to one of the North-East's seaside towns.
The Beck during the summer months was a big attraction and people spent many hours in the mens' or womens' bathing pools. During the winter the Village was well served by Mr. John Wilson, who operated the snow-plough and our own gang of Council workmen.
I hope this brings back many happy memories.