I am David Corbin, grandson of George & Patience Clark, who lived at Malthouse. My Gran used to go to church most Sundays. I think the Vicar’s name was Charles. She loved the Church so much we had to go. This was in the 1950’s.We used to come to Chard Junction by steam train, and Mr Partridge used to pick us up in a taxi and take us to the village. Back then, it was just me and my two sisters, Sylvia and Shirley and Mum (Irene Corbin nee Clark)-she was borne in the village. When my Mum was younger, she worked at Chard Junction at the cream factory.

We all loved Winsham; we had a lovely walks, and we used to play down at the River Axe.

I also remember playing with other children in Farmer Dommit’s field. He had a hayrick and we had so much fun. We were throwing hay about when all of a sudden we saw the farmer coming. It was too late! He told us all to get down-he let the girls go-but gave us boys a smack on the backside. Then he asked me when I was going home. I said that I was due to go home the next day. He said “We’ll see about that”! I was so worried.

I also remember going to the Jubilee Hall to watch a film. The film broke, and all the children started to stamp their feet on the floorboards. It was so funny.

Another time, some boys and me were outside Daisy Boait. There were cobwebs on the windows, and we dared each other to go in. The bell rang above the door, and Daisy Boait came out. She looked very wild. I gave her my sixpence for some sweets that were at the bottom of the jar. There was nothing else for sale-we all rushed out as fast as we could!

Illustration by Paul Smith for the Web Museum