Comments

Thank you for adding this information.  I will take a look at those Scouting Photographs. 

This photo of Mr PARTRIDGE in his Canoe on the River Axe was included in the Scout Log Book for July 1941.  He was allowing members of St Paul's Troop to take turns in his canoe.

Thank you also for your article in Buckets and Spades.  My husband attended St John's at that time.  He tells me that he usually sat in the Balcony but unlike you he found the sermons of Rev BATTERSBY to be inspirational and thought provoking being about real situations.

N.G. Partridge, mentioned in Local Scouts, was Noel Partridge, who was a friend of my family, especially my grandfather, William Holder.  Mr. Partridge, as and when I knew him, was a gentle soul, a bachelor who lived in Maida Vale, London.  I had a bedsit in his house on Randolph Avenue for my first year as a student in 1960.  When I was twelve, he took Roger Bewley Bull and myself on a two-week canoe trip down the Thames from Oxford To Reading.(3 in a canoe!!)

I don't know anything else about Mr. Partridge, except that he must have known William Holder though scouting in the 1920s and 30s.  I have deposited a number of group scouting photographs, amongst other group photos, on a cd at the Weston Library and Somerset Heritage Center.  Can't tell you the call number, I'm afraid, but probably under my name.  Philip Clark

I'm pretty sure I can remember the collection of Rose Hips probably during WW2. Can only guess they went towards making Rose Hip Syrup which had quite a pleasant taste I remember.

Fascinating snippet about digging up wild crocuses, Pat - I knew about schoolchildren collecting conkers in 1917 because they helped make cordite for shells and bullets - but not about crocus corms.  Wonder if there is anything else that was collected (apart from paper and scrap iron) that we don't know about?

We hold the following in book form in our library

Army List 1992   MIL/WD/23

Army List 1995   MIL/WD/22

Army List 2004   MIL/WD/21

If you wish to peruse contact me

Brian Airey

Thanks for this useful information Pat. I have a newspaper cutting from 1861 that tells me the SYNGE bust was once in the Town Hall (assuming WSM town hall) opposite the bust of 'Admiral Blake'? It was presented to the town by Mrs SYNGE. As the painting of SYNGE from this time ended up in the Axbrigde Town Hall, I was hoping the bust too may still survive and be in a local hall. (or church) I am looking for some local knowledge on what may have happened to it or a contact to help explore further. Thanks for any help.