Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1933

General Frederick Heath-Caldwell CB aged 74/75

Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell aged 64/65 

Lt Cmdr Cuthert H. Heath-Caldwell DSO aged 43/44

Violet Heath-Caldwell (ne Palmer) - aged 47/48 

Patricia C.M. Heath-Caldwell - aged 12/13 

Diana Heath-Caldwell - aged 11/12 

Rosamond Heath-Caldwell - aged 7/8

James A. Heath-Caldwell aged 2/3

Memoirs of J.A. Heath-Caldwell

When they (Parents) came back (from Hong Kong)  they settled in a house in Fareham, Woodcroft House, Southampton Rd, where my father worked in the HMS Victory or in the Gas School, in Portsmouth.

Danny, Violet, James, Pat behind, Cuthbert and Ros. 1933

Woodcroft was originally two houses joined into one but still with a wall up the middle of the garden. We were there until he was axed in about 1934 1935. This was when the Navy was cut back because the Government, in peace time, people did not expect another war and they wanted to save money and by then he had made up his mind that he wanted to become a clergyman in the Church of England, partly because while he was out in Hong Kong, a young curate called Henry Bains there talked with my father and my father said he had a religious experience, and that is all he said. I would have liked to have been more detailed account of his experience but he never got around to telling me that. 

My father joined the Church and went to a theological college, I don’t know where he went, which one it was, but his remarks to me was that he thought that around about Easter time with the Crucifixion, he said that there was a lot of mental illness amongst the young students that he trained with. He did not have the set curriculum that the other theological students had, he was given a list of books to read and let loose amongst the books more or less, that was his training. 

In many parts of the world of course, particularly in NZ when things have been handed down they have all been fragmented in a great degree. Uncle Caldwell appeared to Grandma (a ghost). I saw nothing of that but heard about it. And I think it as being as Uncle Caldwell willed Linley Wood to go to the youngest son and it did not. Maybe Uncle Martin’s death prevented that and my father inherited Linley Wood but did not want to be a glorified estate agent so sold L.W. and bought the Pound House with the money. That was sold to him by Booth, Shepherd and Co Real Estate Agents in Dorchester in 1946.c. 

I then went to a nursery somewhere in Southampton Road in Fareham and all I can remember about it is that I kicked and screamed under the table, and apparently that was not a good thing to do, and I don’t know how long that lasted.

But then following that they sent me to another kindergarten place school and there I can remember a French teacher who taught us French, she showed us pictures of things and said what they were and I can remember her showing us a picture of the moon and her saying “Au Clare de la Lune” means by moonlight. And that was one thing I can remember from there, where I would have been five or six.

And then my father took over this rectory in South Wiltshire in the Salisbury Diocese and he became rector there, it was a small village and there were three other villages that were in his parish, one of them had been a separate parish in the years before, it had a huge rectory in it, and that was empty when he went there in 1936. 

Fareham. I used to sit on the wall at the end of the garden that overlooked some classrooms of a school which was just the other side of the wall, and I found if I made faces at the pupils in the classroom just down below me things happened. So what happened was that they put glass on the wall so that I could no longer do that.

Another thing that happened there was that I played with matches in a woodshed and it was a lean to wood shed and I ignited the wood in a box in the shed and then I went up on top the roof of the shed on top of the fire underneath and said look what I’ve done. They managed to put the fire out and no harm was done to me, but that was playing with matches.

And in Fareham when I suppose I was about 5 years old my father would take me for walks along the creek going by Farham and there were rubbish dumps there and on one occasion he picked up a wounded seagull which he brought home to Woodcroft in Southampton Road and he reared his rescued birds until they were able to take flight again.

And sailing ships used to tie up at Fareham’s quays. I saw them. And I also saw steam trucks powered by a boiler under the cab and they left trails of red and white hot embers on the road. And I can remember seeing them on the road under the arches of the railway viaduct crossing the town. 

My father left the navy after we had been in Fareham for a period of about five years. There I went to a nursery school where I was taught a little bit of French. I also used to listen to my father’s stories. He used to take me for walks and one of the stories was how the sea became salt because a magic mill that produced anything that people wanted to produce, produced salt on board a ship that these people were on, and the ship began to sink because of the weight of salt so they had to chuck the magic mill overboard, salt of course in those days was quite a vital commodity in some places, it was not like it is today, more expensive the further away you got from the salt deposits. Anyway that was one of the stories he told me.

Fareham was quite close to the hills overlooking Portsmouth where there were lots of forts. We passed those things. There was a Fleet Review in about 1933, 1934, and there my parents took me in the car to look at the lights of the fleet all lit up at Spit Head. An incident that happened there was that a radio commentator, one of the first doing that sort of thing, this was very early in the age of broadcasting said “The Fleet was all lit up” and he was absolutely drunk at the time and there was a bit of a stir about that. 

When I went out to Hong Kong with my parents in 1932-34, my three sisters were left behind living in their holidays from school with my grandparents and a governess had been retained to look after them at my grandparents place. When I came back from Hong Kong and set eyes on them I hadn’t realized I had sisters, and they called my father, ‘Our father’ whether this was sort of playing on the first words of the lords prayer. 


 Staffordshire Sentinel
Monday 13 February 1933
For Royal Infirmary - Talke Hospital Committee's Dance.
Under the auspices of the Ladies' Sub-Committee of the Talke and Butt Lane Hospital Committee, a well attended dance was held on Saturday evening in the Victoria Hall, Kidsgrove. It was the first of the present year's series of efforts by the local committee on behalf of the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary. Last year the committee sent £68 to the Infirmary.
 - - - -(Continues) - - - 
The following have been elected officers of the newly-constituted Committee for the ensuing year:-
President. Dr W.A. McDonald; Vice-Presidents, Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B., Captain H.E. McGowan, Dr A.E.B. Duncan, Mr D. Pace, Mr Frank Riley - - - -(Continues) - - - 

 Staffordshire Sentinel

Wednesday 1 March 1933

Shrovetide Sale of Work - Reducing Clergy Fund Debt at Talke

The fourth annual Shrovetide sale of work and dance, which has become a popular social event in connection with St.Saviour's Church,Talke, was held yesterday in the Schoolroom. 

- - - -(Continues) - - - 

The Rev. J.H.L. Edwards M.A. (Rector of Talke and Rural Dean of Newscastle) presided at the opening, and was supported by Mrs Lilwall Edwards, the Rev. J.W. Mellor and Mrs Mellor, the Rev. J. Atkinson, Miss N. Chute (Churchwarden), and Miss E.S. Raby (Secretary). Also present were Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B., and Mrs Heath-Caldwell and Miss Holden of Linley Hall, Mrs Duncan (Kidsgrove), Mrs Peters, Mrs H. Wright, Mrs G. Broadhurst and others.

- - - -(Continues) - - - 

The dance held in the evening was well attended. Mr William Dale of Butt Lane being M.C. 

- - - -(Continues) - - - (stall holders)

 Staffordshire Sentinel

Friday 3 March 1933

North Staffordshire Hunt - "John Peel" Dance at Market Drayton.

There was a very large gathering of the Hunting community of North Staffordshire at the annual John Peel dance, held in the Corbett Arms Hotel, Market Drayton, last night, about 200 being present.

Mr. T. Swire and Mr W.H. Shipley were M.C.'s and Mrs Mollineaux's band, of Hanley, provided the music for dancing.

Among those who attended were Miss R.M. Harrision O.B.E. (Master); Mr James Cadman D.S.C., Mr J Cadman junior, Miss Nancy Cadman, Major Millson, MR J.J. Heathcote, Mrs Heath-Caldwell and party, Miss Gregory (Trentham) and party, Mr  and Mrs William C. Jones, Mrs Clive and party, Captain Thompson, the Misses Mackenzie, Mr J. Nield, Mr J.S. Wilkinson andparty and Mr W.H. Shipley and party.

Staffordshire Sentinel 

Friday 17 March 1933

"The Ghost Train" - Talke Amateur's Success in Comedy

Formed four years ago, the Talke St.Saviour's Amateur Dramatic Society of which Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B., is the President, gave evidence of their talent and virility in the performance of the three-act comedy "The Ghost Train" before a large audience last evening in St.Saviour's School, Talke.
It was the best performance of any of the plays staged by the Society, and credit is due to the Honorary Producer (Mr Sydney C.L. Gingell of Kidsgrove) and the capable company of amateurs for the success achieved. 

- - - -(Continues) - - - 

Staffordshire Sentinel

Monday 20 March 1933

For Sale, 1931 Greater Morris Oxford six, tourer, excellent condition, one owner, tax paid, General Heath-Caldwell, Linley Wood, Talke, Staffs.

Evening Sentinel 

Monday 12 June 1933

Picture - subtitle

Garden Fetes - In support of the Personal Services League and the Talke Girl Guide troops, a fete was held at Linley Wood, Talke, the residence of Major-General F.C.Heath-Caldwell C.B., and Mrs Heath-Caldwell. This group includes Mr J.F. Fletcher-Twemlow, Mrs Harrison, Lady Joseph, Sir P. Baker-Wilbraham, Lady Baker-Wilbraham, Major-General Heath-Caldwell, Mrs Heath-Caldwell and Miss Holden. On the right, visitors to the fete held at the Groundslow Sanatorium, Tittensor, examining pelts secured from rabbits kept at the Sanatorium. 

Delightful Event at Linley Wood: 

A garden fete attended by many well-known visitors from various parts of Staffordshire and Cheshire was held in ideal surroundings on Saturday afternoon and evening, in the grounds at Linley Wood, Talke, by kind permission of Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B., and Mrs Heath-Caldwell
It was an effort held jointly in aid of the Personal Services League and the funds of the 1st and 2nd Talke Girl Guides and the 1st Talke Brownie Pack, and it was accorded good support.

The success of the effort was due in a large measure to the excellent organisation of the event by Miss Joyce Holden, of Linley Hall, and Major-General and Mrs Heath-Caldwell also took an active interest. Mrs Heath-Caldwell is the President of the local branch of the Personal Services League, which is doing commendable and excellent work in distressed areas by supplying materials for the repair and making of garments for distribution among necessitious families. In the Talke district there are two Women's Working Clubs, each having a membership of about sixty.

Interest in Movement

The 1st and 2nd Talke Girl Guides, of which Miss Joyce Holden is the Captain, and the 1st Talke Brownies Pack, commanded by Mrs. Hogg (Brown Owl), have spendidly equipped headquarters at Linley Wood, and are about 80 strong. Keen interest is takne in the movement by Major-General Heath-Caldwell and by Mrs Heath-Caldwell who is the District Commissioner of Girl Guides for the Talke and Tunstall area.

Among those present were Lady Joseph (Alsager), Sir Philip Baker-Wilbraham, Bart., and Lady Baker-Wilbraham (Rode Hall), Dr J. Steele and Mrs Steele (Willoughbridge), Mr and Mrs Fletcher Twemlow (Betley Hall), Mrs Stewart Johnson (Henshall Hall, Congleton), Mr and Mrs Armstead (Bathomley), Mrs Crampton and the Misses Crampton, Mr and Mrs R.W. Heath (Greenway Bank), Dr Bennett and Mrs Bennett (Sandbach), Captain Sausmarex, the Rev. J.H.L. Edwards M.A.,(Rector of Talke and Rural Dean of Newcastle) and Mrs Lilwall Edwards, Mrs Horace Wardle (County Commissioner, Girl Guides), the Rev. G.A.Hope (Rector of Odd Rode), Dr Peters and Mrs Peters, Captain H. McGowan, Dr Sayers (Alsager), Mr J.J. Nelson (Alsager), Mrs W.A. McDonald, the Rev. J.W.Mellor and Mrs Mellor, Mrs Gill (Barlaston), Miss Pidduck, Mr John Dickson, Mrs Sparrow, Mr and Mrs Stewart Maddock, Mrs Gaunt (Congleton), Mr Vargo, Miss Forbes, Mr Parsons (Lawton), and Miss Walley of Manchester.

Numerous and varied attractions were provided, and visitors found much to interest them in the beautiful flower gardens.

Picturesque Dancing

A feature of outstanding interest was a performance of a Greek ballet, "The Dawn," given by about 50 of the local Girl Guides trained by Miss Joyce Holden, who also designed the charming and effective dresses worn by the dancers. The production, which included eleven descriptive scenes was performed in an ideal and picturesque setting, and leading parts were taken by Miss Nora Boulton, Miss Evelyn Jenkinson and Miss Alic Knapper. The excellent performance was repeated in the evening and a number of other pretty dances were also given by local girls. Miss C.M. Sutton was the accompanist.
And interesting display was given by the 1st Talke Brownie Pack trained by Mrs Hogg.

Major-General Heath-Caldwell afterwards expressed the thanks of the Personal Services League and the local Guides and Brownies to all who had supported the effort.

Considerable interest was taken in the tennis tournament arranged by Mr R. W. Heath, and there was a large number of entries. The winners of the tournament were; 1 Captain Sourmarez and Miss Forbes; 2, the Rev. G.A. Hope and Mrs Gill.

The Talke Paragon Follies Dance Band played for dancing on the lawn in the evening.
Stallholders

Fancy Stall - Miss Whalley (Manchester)
Crockery Stall - Mrs Peters.
Rummage Stall - Miss Holden, assisted by Mr P. Ball and Mr. Roydon.
Bagatelle - Miss Nancy Cooke
Wheel of Fortune - Mr Higgins
Plants and Pound Stall - Mrs Hogg
Sausage Machine - Miss Dorothy Vickers and Miss May Ball
Refreshments - Mrs Osborne, assisted by Girl Guides
Raffles - Mrs Jenkinson and Girl Guides
Clairvoyant - Madame Cumberbatch.
Ground Stewards - Messrs R. Brough, W. Millington and A. Hogg.

Staffordshire Sentinel

Monday 21 August 1933

OLD CONTEMPTIBLES - Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell inspecting the Stoke-on-Trent Branch of the Old Contemptible's Association at the annual Mons Sunday Parade in Hanleyimage 

Staffordshire Sentinel

Friday 18 August 1933

Old Contemptibles.

The annual church parade of the City of Stoke-on-Trent Old Contemptibles Association will be held on Sunday, when there will be a service at Shelton Parish Church, conducted by the Rev. Guy.H. Parkhouse, Chaplain. The parade will assemble in the Market Square, Hanley, and will be inspected by Major-General Heath-Caldwell who will also lay a wreath on the Hanley Cenotaph after the service. In addition to the members of the Association there will also be present members of the British Legion, the Ex-Naval and Marines Association, and other military organisations, the Red Cross, St John's Ambulance, and the South African Veterans Association.

Staffordshire Sentinel

Tuesday 21 November 1933

1,000 Girl Gudies in Great Stoke Rally - Movement's Part in Efforts for World Harmony.
More than 1,000 Girl Guides took part in the North West Staffordshire Divisional Rally in the King's Hall, Stoke, last night. The division includes the City of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle. Mrs Ronald Copeland M.P. for Stoke, is the Division Commissioner, and the division is divided into eight districts.

Attending the rally were Mrs Horace Wardle  - - - (continues) - - - Mrs Heath-Caldwell (Tunstall and Talke,

- - - (continues) - - - 

Lord Mayor's Tribute. The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent (Alderman Arthur Hollins) presided, accompanied by the officials of the division and Lady Guant (Division Commissioner for the Moorlands Division of Leek) Major-General Heath-Caldwell, the Arch-Deacon of Stoke-on-Trent (the Ven. D.H. Crick),Mr C. Marshall Amor (Secretary of the Stoke-on-Trent Boy Scouts Assocation) and Mr O.W.A.Oulton (Scout Commissioner for Tunstall). 

- - - (continues) - - - 

Staffordshire Sentinel

Saturday 2 December 1933

Regimental Ball - Of Fifth North Staffords - Brilliant Screne.

The annual ball of the 5th North Staffordshire Regiment, held at the King's Hall, Stoke, last night, again proved to be one of the most brilliant social events of the season in Stoke-on-Trent.

Prominent residents of North Staffordshire were numerously represented among the company of 400 and officers of the Battalion were able to welcome many distinguisted visitors, some well-known through their military activities, and others, outstanding in public or social life, who are warm suporters of the Territorial movement.

Colonel W.E. Cowlishaw M.C., T.D., Officer Commanding the 5th Battalion, and Mrs Cowlishaw brought a party and among the distinguished guests were the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lady Ursula Stewart, Sir Franice Joseph C.B.E., D.L., and Lady Joseph, Colonel Harry Clive O.B.E., Colonel T.L. Wenger, Major-General Heath-Caldwell and Mrs Heath-Caldwell.

Not many events of the kind can be made so spectacular as a Regimental ball, and the 5th North Staffords' function last night was notable in that respect. Not only the men and the gowns of the ladies ideally set off by an elaborate scheme of decoration, so that the Kintg's Hall presented an animated picture but there were touches of ceremonia that gave a special distinction to the proceedings. 
Touch of Ceremonial

While the company were assembling, the Drum and Fife Band of the Battalion played selections, and as they concluded the signal for dancing to start was given by the buglers sounding the "Advance."
The Colours, uncased, were in the hall, under a guard in pre-War full dress.

- - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Staffordshie Sentinel

Friday 15 December 1933

Bazaars to Swell Church Funds -ImageThe Countess of Harrowby opened Talke Parish Church bazaar yesterday afternoon. In the picture (seated) are Mrs Heath-Caldwell, Major-General Heath-Caldwell, the Countess of Harrowby and the Rev. J.H.L. Edwards