Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1936

General Frederick Heath-Caldwell CB aged 77/78

Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell aged 67/68 

Capt. the Rev. Cuthert H. Heath-Caldwell DSO aged 46/47 

Violet Heath-Caldwell (ne Palmer) - aged 50/51 

Patricia C.M. Heath-Caldwell - aged 15/16 

Diana Heath-Caldwell - aged 14/15 

Rosamond Heath-Caldwell - aged 10/11

James A. Heath-Caldwell aged 5/6

Memoirs of J.A.Heath-Caldwell

Now having completed his training he got he was sent to a parish in the Salisbury Diocese, and there he became Rector and stayed in that position for 12 years

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. 

The Rectory at Brixton Deverill

And there when they actually moved into the Rectory at Brixton Deverill, away from Fareham in Hampshire I was sent for six weeks to the daughter of the previous rector who had died whose name was Richardson, I think, and there she had a riding school at a place called Crocherton, which is near the Bath estate, Longleat estate, and there I spent six weeks with her. I remember her teaching me English through the prayer book, she was of course a vicar’s daughter and I think she had horses at the rectory whilst her father was the previous rector to mine. And she had a riding school when he died, which had to move out, and that was where she lived I suppose, and there she taught me to read the common prayer book and I was also had six weeks to learn to ride a horse with her which was rather nice and then having done that my parents had settled into the rectory I was then sent to the Parish school in Kingston Deverill, that was about the age of six and there I stayed for two years.

The parish school run by the church with government fed in as well, it was not entirely financed by the church. There I can remember I used to ride to school on a bicycle, and it was about two miles away, and there I had a bicycle and I learnt to ride it in Fareham.

My father’s Rectory was at Brixton Deverill in the Deverill Valley, so called because the river Ryl went underground in the drier months just like the wadi’s do in Northern Africa. And my father had this walled garden in his Rectory which was just like a farm house complete with farm cottage, pig sties, barn, a shed part for the milking cows, a carriage room, and stable for about 8 horses.

Barns and stables at Brixton Deverill

And in 1938 we had a horse or two in the stables, coal in an old loose box and a gardener from the Manor farm who had been a groom. But the coming of the motor car had made him redundant at the Manor farm and out of a sense of charity my father put him and his wife in the Rectory Cottage semi-detached from the tythe barn. 

And all was pretty well for a time. Bill Ladd was good at hoeing the Rectory garden paths and the drive way. He understood it but he was not a gardener.

And then my father found amongst his parishioners and living in Monckton Deverill a middle aged, red haired lady who was not unattractive and she was a skilled gardener. So Bill Ladd was swiftly evicted by Solicitor’s letter and he and his wife went to live in Sutton Very with his daughter-in-law.

And Kit Proctor Simms (Tatham-Warter) was put into the Rectory Cottage. This allowed my father to see to his four bee hives, look after his two goats, a Nanny and a Billy who were Platonic friends and never produced, luckily because I can’t imagine my father ever milking a goat. And there really wasn’t room for a kid. 

My father’s neighbours, Mabel and Walter did not live in Holy Matrimony but cohabited next door and they had two mentally incapacitated offspring, Percy and his sister. And she died and was buried in the churchyard and Percy pumped the organ when my sister Pat played, or learnt to play the organ. And Mabel came across from next door where she milked about three cows on fifteen acres cross leased from the Manor farm. And they had an Earth Closet and the compost was dug into Mabel’s vege garden just the other side of the Rectory Tennis Court. And when a tame rabbit or two produced by Flotsam and Jetsam was required for the Rectory table, Mabel obliged by ringing their necks. 

And in Deverill Valley in Hill Deverill Jack Houghton-Brown had his big manor farm. And I, on occasion, watched shearing of his sheep going on in the big barn. And Jack’s wife, and she may have been called Monica, had sugar diabetes I suppose. And it affected her mentally and Jack divorced her and he and my father crossed swords over that matter because he thought Jack was wrong to do that. 

And the Allards were farmers in Brixton Deverill and they lived up Allard’s Lane and the house was situated by an old cross roads and it was on an old Roman Road above the marshes in the valley, and there were the ruins of a fairly big house and the gypsies lived in these lanes and gathered nuts which grew on many trees besides the lanes and they were overgrown and my father tethered his goats there to eat the black berries and general undergrowth.

And Mr Bourne farmed a small farm near the Allards and he employed Gregory and his family lived in a thatched cottage between Mabel’s few acres on a bend in the road which skirted the water meadows. And in Bourne’s small farm was a very big rabbit ware and I think rabbits were trapped there by trappers who made quite sure that they did not kill all the rabbits to eradicate them. And you saw bundles of dead rabbits on railway station platforms. Maybe they were being ‘exported’ to London, 140 miles away by the Great Western Railway Company.

And further up the Valley, just under cold Kitch (Kitchen?) Hill was another longish farm and they farmed the hills and there were more rabbit warers. And at the top of Cold Kitch Hill round barrows from the Celtic times and the hills were escarpmented into the original Celtic field  system pre-dating the Roman Occupation of England from AD55 to AD 480 (was it) with the fall of Rome to the Vandels and Germanic Tribes and the Romans became Italians – great engineering and road builders generally.

The school was about 100 yards from the old abandoned rectory and there was school teacher there, one school teacher, a lady, who taught us, and I can remember such things as on Empire Day we all dressed up in the various dresses of various parts of the British Empire, and they sent me to school as an Eskimo.

And I remember another time an aeroplane flying overhead and its engines stopped. I heard it when I was biking to school and this aeroplane came down in a corn field about quarter of a mile from the road that I was bicycling on and I remember playing truant for a bit to run off and have a look at it. The pilot of it, the Swordfish, the aircraft did a complete somersault when it hit soft ploughed land and it came to rest up side down and the pilot released his parachute harness and had a bit of a sore neck after that because he fell on his head, and that was all the damage that he did to himself, and it was an interesting thing as it was the first plane that I ever saw crash.

And the great thing about a bicycle is you are truly independent, your parents can’t be overseeing what you do. Now I stayed in that school, Miss Hawley was the principal of that school and I stayed there about two years. Kingston Deverill Parish School was situated over a lane separating it from the “Old Vicarage,” a very big mansion which the Army took over at the outbreak of WWII. And all was well until 1,000 G.I.’s were stationed at the Rectory prior to “D” Day, 6th June 1944. Then Miss Hawley was ‘in love’ with a G.I. and as she was “properly brought up” she knew nothing about the Birds and Bees (nor did her pupils) and may have believed we came alive in a cabbage patch. Whatever, she became pregnant to a G.I. 

I suppose I should describe the rectory. The rectory had three storeys, ground floor, the main floor and then up in the attic were two rooms just under the roof, and one room was used for my sisters, and there were five other rooms, one in the second floor, and my sisters, there were room for them, and there were two bathrooms, my father put in a second bathroom. My three sisters went to a boarding school and come 1938 (I went to this school that my father had been to forty years before I had 1938, and two years later WWII started) My sisters were all in their teens at that age, they had been to boarding school. My eldest sister went into the ATS, my middle sister went into the WAAFS, and my youngest went sister, when she was old enough, about 17 or 18 joined the WRENS. 

My father’s first job, was rector of this parish. Now the church was an old church built around about the 1500s 1600s and leaning against the front door of the church was what I suppose or have since found out must have been an ossuary. It was a large bit of stone which had a recess carved in it which could have been for the body of a person and the round bit at the end could have been for the end where the skull of the person could have laid.

This was hit by a farmer whilst he was ploughing over some ancient Celtic barrows on the hills on both sides of the parish, the valley in which the parish was. This sort of intrigued me, they did not know quite what to do with the object and they thought it had to do with dead people and funerals and so they took it down to the parish church and leaned it up against the front bell tower side. The Ossuary was put in a recess in the wall, it was 6 feet high and I often stood in it for fun and God knows how many time a Chiefly Celtic cadaver had been put in it to rot so that after some months when the ants, worms, etc had had a good feed nothing remained except the white skeleton and the Celtic people believed the skeletons had more lasting substance than the body’s they had originally been inside, so they were treated as sacred. And this happened in the cave systems we were shown in Malta too when we visited in the Training Cruiser Devonshire when I was a Sea Going Cadet. 

Another thing that happened in this parish was that one day my mother, who must have been getting on in her years, we all went up for a walk on the downs above the valley to look for artifacts, We were wondering if we could not in fact find some bits of pottery and things which there were very much evidence of on top of the downs. The Celtic people who once lived there lived on top of the downs whilst the valleys below them while the parish below them was probably all marsh at that time.

And the only ground that could be lived on was the top of the hill, and we walked up on top of the hill, which was about half an hours walk and my mother stood in the middle and she was a bit puffed and tired and said well you spread out and have a look around here and see if you can find any bits of pottery or anything interesting, and we sort of walked up and down and around and there was some patches of earth that looked as if there had been many fires lit on them at one time and lots of broken pottery was on the ground and the grass did not grow and we spent a bit of time there and none of us found anything worthwhile picking up, and then my mother looked down between her feet and saw something bluey greenish. So she picked up this little thing and when we rubbed it we saw that it was actually a Roman coin made of bronze and it had a picture on one side of the Emperor Claudius and on the other side a picture of depiction of the god Aries, we found that out later when it was checked over by the local museum in Warminster.

So that was really quite an excitement that was, and it gave me more things to think about. That obviously the Romans had been there or had traded with those people and that roman coin had obviously been dropped, possibly 2000 years earlier, and it had just stayed on that piece of land on top of the downs until my mother picked it up. And that was the last time that she had a really good walk. 

The next thing that happened was that I went to school at the age of eight, having spent a period of about one year in the local parish school at Kingston Deverill. During the war the old rectory situated in Kingston Deverill had been occupied by soldiers. Finally, in about 1942/43 the Americans occupied it, and it was a large rectory surplus to the Church’s requirements but it did very well as an army camp. It happened that the school lady who taught the children lived in the parish school about 50 yards below the rectory, I was on my holidays, my father said to me when he was opening his mail at breakfast one morning, “this is interesting,’ he said, “I’ve got a poison pen letter here” and the letter said  that the school lady who was in charge of the parish school  was pregnant, and my father thought it was just a poison pen letter and that is all it was.

However, as the months went by it became obvious that the news in that letter was a one hundred percent correct. And the school lady had to leave and another lady took her place. So I saw the result of possibly soldiers child causing a big change to the life of a women who I had great respect for. It taught me a lesson not to do what some American soldier had done. Nobody admitted to writing the letter. It was anonymous. 


We left Fareham and I went with my family to inhabit the rectory in South Wiltshire. It was a very peaceful place to be in the war later on. But my parents had arrived there with two cars. My mother had a car and my father had a car and they told me at the time it gave the impression to other people that we were quite well off, but in fact we were not all that well off and he told me, he said ‘In those council houses down the road the combined wages coming into a council house is probably greater than what I can provide for my own family in the church.”

My first introduction to the church was being looked after for three weeks by the daughter of the previous clergyman who had been the previous rector in the parish. Miss Richardson was her name and she was a spinster and she managed and had a riding school with ponies. I think she had also had used the stables at the rectory when she was there and had her riding school. The Richardsons were farming families, all related. When her father died, he had moved to Crockerton, a place near Lord Bath’s Longleat estate. She taught me to read the Lord’s prayer in the C.of E. book of Prayer. And I learnt to ride horses there as well and we rode in the woods of the Longleat estate which was a very nice part of the country to be in.

There was a lake there. Later on I was to visit that lake, first of all before the war, and anybody was allowed to bath in this lake provided they were clear of it at 9 o’clock in the morning. Early morning bathers were acceptable but after 9 o’clock nobody was allowed to bathe in the lake at Longleat. But later when the Americans came they were given an open sesame to swimming in the lake and they spent some of their recreation time there. It was very crowded during the war years when the Americans were stationed nearby. 

Crewe Chronicle
Saturday 18 January 1936
An Engagement is announced between James Derek Poole, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Harry Poole of Woore, Shropshire, and Winifred Joyce Holden, residing with Major-General and Mrs Heath-Caldwell of Linley Wood, Talke, Staffordshire, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Edward Holden of Brockhurst, near Rugby.

Staffordshire Advertiser
Saturday 18 January 1936

Death of Lady Dobson - Loss to Seighford and Burslem

We regret to record the death, which occured on Sunday night, of Lady (Alice) Dobson, wife of Col. Sir William Warrington Dobson, of Seighford Hall, in this county. Lady Dobson, who was 74 years of age, had been in failing health for a considerable time, and her condition had been critical for about a week. By her death Staffordshire has lost a benevolent lady whose kindness to others less fortunate then herself had become proverbial in the neighbourhood in which she had resided for many years and in the town of Burslem - - - (continues) - - - 

Floral Tributes - - - - (continues) - - -  General and Mrs Heath-Caldwell - - - (continues) - - - 

Staffordshire Sentinel

Thursday 20 February 1936

Tunstall Guides and Brownies

Seven Brownies and one Guide were enrolledat a special meeting on the 6th (Tunstall) Company of Girl Guides, which is connected with the Jubilee Methodist Church, Tunstall. The enrolment was conducted by the District Commissioner (Mrs F.C.Heath-Caldwell). During the evening a Second Class Badge was presented to Brownie Doris Ford

Crewe Chronicle
Saturday 29 February 1936

The Late Major Royds. 

Constance sends flowers.

Staffordshire Sentinel
Wednesday 27 May 1936

County Nursing Association President - Countess of Harrowby Elected - Appeal for More Support.
Appealing for increased financial assistance for the Staffordshire County Nursing Assocation at the annual meeting yesterday, the Countess of Harrowby, who was elected President in succession to the late Earl of Dartmouth, observed that in the past the support given by the county as a whole had been disappointing.

She said she had sent out an appeal to people who had never subscribed to the Assocation and up to the present £45 had been received. She was not satisfied with this, however, and hoped that those who had not yet responded would send generous subscriptions.
- - - (continues) - - - 

Among apologies for absence were those of the Earl of Harrowby, the Countess of Lichfield, the Countess of Dartmouth, Sir G. Percival Heywood Bart., Lady Dorothy Meynell, Lady Noreeen Bass, Mr G.H. Downing (HIgh Sheriff of Staffordshire), Lady Joseph, Miss R.M. Harrison O.B.E., M.F.H., Major W. Moat, Mrs Llewellyn Twentyman, Mrs C.C. Dennis, Colonel E.S.P. Wolferstan, Miss Parker Jervis, Major-General Heath-Caldwell, Major C. Longstaff. - - - (continues) - - - 

Staffordshire Sentinel
Friday 5 June 1936

Domestic Servants Wanted

Wanted by General and Mrs Heath-Caldwell of Linley Wood, Talke, N.Staffs., a good Cook; also Kitchen Maid; or married couple, wife good cook, husband kitchenman. Linley Wood is in the country with easy access by bus to Pottery towns Newcastle, Hanley, &c. Staff kept. Three in family.

Hampshire Telegraph & Post
The Week's Happenings

Holy Trinity Fete - The winners of the competitions at the annual fete in aid of the funds of Holy Trinity Church, at Bishopswood on Wednesday of last week, were as follows: - - - -The pipe was presented to Admiral Napier by Master James Heath-Caldwell, the small son of Capt. and Mrs Heath-Caldwell R.N.

Staffordshire Sentinel
Friday 24 July 1936

Dispute Over a Footpath - Alsager Council to Undertake a Survey
Sequel to Resident's Letter - Stile Problem

"It has been time well spent" commented Mr. S.Elsby, Chairman of Alsager Urban District Council, at the conclusion of a special meetingof the Counci last night at which the question of local footpaths and public rights of way was reviewed.

The decision to hold a special meeting of the Council to discuss this matter fully was reached following the receipt of a letter from a new resident of Alsager inquiring if the footpath leading from Talke Rd to Audley Rd and Linley Rd was a public right of way. The writer stated that he had been stopped and turned back when using this footpath although one of the Council's stiles was erected on it.
Mr.Elsby presided at the meeting and there were also present Mr. R.H.Timmis (Vice Chariman), Mr W. Holland, Mr A. Alexander, Mr R. Arrowsmith, Mr J. Quinton and Mr C.E.Moulton, the Clerk to the Council (Mr J.J. Nelson) and the Surveyor (Mr H.V.Lynam).

The Clerk, after defining the legal poistion with regard to the establishment of public rights of way, read a letter from Major-General F. Heath-Caldwell of Linley Hall. Major-General Heath-Caldwell wrote, "I understand some question is being raised regarding a footpath over my land. I thought this matter was decided once and for all some three years ago when I point out that, so far as my land is concerned, no footpath was ever used except by sufferance, permission, or by my tenants. If any attempt is made to reopen the footpath I shall resist it. It would seem unwise for a Council to spend the rate-payers money on what I understand is a neighbour's quarrel."

"Not a Neighbour's Quarrel." The Chairman: I do not appreciate this letter at all. With due respect to Major-Generall Heath-Caldwell, I think that the Council is quite competent to safeguard the ratepayers' money. The question of the right of way over the footpath in question is also not a neighbour's quarrel. There is a stile on the footpath bearing the words "A.U.D.C." and we have either to substantiate the public right of way over this footpath or remove the stile. That is the position we have to face.
Continuing, the Chairman said that many year ago an order diverting the footpath leading from Talke Rd to Audley Rd and Linley Rd was made by the Quarter Sessions. This order, he pointed out, would never have been made had a public right of way over the footpath in question not existed at that time.
Mr. Elsby suggested that the plan attached to the Quarter Sessions order should be obtained by the Council as evidence in support of its claims that the footpath in question was a public right of way.
Mr W.Holland urged that the time had arrived when the Council should establish one way or another whether the footpath in question was a public right of way or not. Evidence, he suggested, should be available on this issue, and the Council should not be deterred from going forward in the matter.
"Undignified Postion." The Chairman: At the moment the Council is occupying a very undignified position. If we cannot establish a public right of way over this footpath we must remove the stile which the Council has erected.

On the proposition of Mr A. Alexander, seconded by Mr J. Quinlon, it was unanimously agreed that all available evidence should be collected together with the plan attached to the Quarter Sessions order with a view to establishing a public right of way over the footpath under discussion.
The Surveyor afterwards reported on the whole of the footpaths in the Alsager district and said that the Talke Rd, Audley Rd and Linley Rd footpath was the only case in which the publicl right of way appeared to be in question.

Mr Alexander: Then the subject is not so complex as was at first imagined.
After futher discussion it was agreed on the proposition of Mr J.Quintin, seconded by Mr C.E.Moulton, that a large scale map showing the footpaths in the district should be publicly exhibited in the village for the benefit of visitors and newcomers to the locality.
It was further agreed, following a suggestion by Mr W. Holland that the local footpaths should be marked with notices where necessary, and also that new stiles should be erected by the Council in approved cases.
In concluding the meeting the Chairman pointed out that the Council was not concerned with any neighbours' quarrels, but only with the protection of the rights of the public.

Staffordshire Sentinel
Monday 10 August 1936

Ambulance Cadets' Effort

In support of the Talke St. John Amulance Cadets, a garden party will be held on Thursday in the grounds of Linley Wood, Talke, by permission of Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B., and Mrs Heath-Caldwell to provide funds towards the cost of uniform and equipment for the cadets. The attractions will include ambulance and dancing displays, a tennis tournament and garden games

Staffordshire Sentinel

Friday 14 August 1936

Talke Garden Party - Effort for St.John Ambulance Cadets

In support of the St.John Ambulance Cadets, a garden party was held in the grounds of Linley Wood, Talke, yesterday, by permission of Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B., and Mrs Heath-Caldwell to provide funds towards the cost of uniform and equipment for the cadets.
Lady Baker-Wilbraham of Rode Hall, who was introduced by the Rev. J.H.L. Edwards (Rector of Talke), formally opened the fete, and spoke of the useful voluntary work done by the St.John Ambulance Brigade.

There were also present Miss Holden, Mr Derek Poole (Market Drayton), Dr W.A. McDonald and Mrs MacDonald, Dr Henderson Peters and Mrs Peters, Mr H. Wood and Mrs Wood, Dr Thompson and Mrs Thompson (Hanley), Mrs Ashton, Miss Proctor (Audley), Mrs S. Boulton, Mrs C. Rowe and Miss Rowe, and Mr H. Wright.

Bouquets were presented to Lady Baker-Wilbraham, Mrs Heath-Caldwell and Miss Holden by the Misses Alma Powell and Joyce Boulton, and buttonholes to Major-General Heath-Caldwell and tothe Rector of Talke, by Misses Jean Broadhurst and May Simpkin.

A vote of thanks to Lady Baker-WIlbraham was proposed by Mr H. Wood, seconded by District Ambulance Officer E. Dudley


Dancing Displays

A feature of the outdoor events was the dancing displays by pupils of Miss Joyce Holden, of Linley Wood, Talke. Solo dances were contributed by the Misses Jean Hancock, Barbare Stanfield, Avis Taylor, Gwenyth Vaughan and Margaret Kellett, all of Congleton. The pionoforte accompanimehnts were played by Miss C.M. Sutton, A.R.C.M., of Talke.

The Blythe Bridge St.John Ambulance Cup Team under the direction of District Officer E. Dudley gave an interesting display, and the Talke St. John Ambulance Cadets, under Mr Kenneth Brooks gave an exhibition of Swedish drill, &c.

Major-General Heath-Caldwell distributed certificates to the following members of the Talke Ambulance Cadets: Frank Cooper, Terrance Bromley, Robert Beech, Reginald Holdcroft, Kenneth Phillips, William Woodward, Ernest Brookes, Sidney Hickson, Aflred Hilditch, Ernest Edwards, Arthur Benson, Arthur Breeze, Ronald Beech, Charles Evans and Jack Stevenson.

In the evening there was dancing on the lawn to music supplied by Mr. J. Goodwin's Dance Band. Harp solos were played by Miss Audrey Meredith of Alsager.

Stallholders.

Teas and refreshments - Mrs W. A McDonald. Mrs H.Wood, Mrs Ashton, Miss Hayes, Miss Stevenson, Miss P Osborne, Miss A Osborne, Mrs J. Sutton, Miss Sutton, Mrs Stevenson, Mrs J. Goodwin and Miss Beardmore.

Produce Stall - Miss Stevenson
Sweets Stall - Misses Kathleen Benson, Vera Turnock and Evelyn Hamlett.
Electric Speedway - Walter Hilditch and James Burgess
Rifle Range - Mr Higgins
Clock golf - Ronald Beech
Lemonade stall - Miss Hilda Brookes and Miss Annice Dale
Ice-cream - Nora Barrow
Fruit basket  competition - Miss Elaine WIlson and Miss Audrey Meredith
Flower stall - Miss May Gerrard
Skittles - Frank Evans
Cushion competition - Miss Stevenson (won by Mrs Wardle)
Treasure hunt - Miss Nancy Brocklehurst
Tennis tournament - Arranged by Miss Holden
Fete officers - Mr H. Wood (organiser), Mrs Ashton, Mrs H. Wood, Mrs J Goodwin, Mrs W.A.MaDonald, Miss Holden and Miss Gerrard.
Ground stewards - Messrs James Sutton, Barry Sherratt, J.H. Boulton and E. Whalley. 
Madame Cumberbatch also assisted.

Staffordshire Sentinel

Saturday 29 August 1936

Bartholomley Wedding - Miss W.J. Holden and Mr J.D. Poole

There were charming scenes at the wedding of Miss WInifred Joyce Holden, daughter of Mr and Mrs E. Holden of Monks Kirby, near Rugby, and Mr. James Derek Poole, son of Mr and Mrs Harry Poole of Woore, which took place at the beautiful old parish church of Bartholomley.

The service, which was choral, was conducted by the Rector, the Rev. E. Armistead.

The bride was attended by five bridesmaids, Miss Poole, Miss Diana Heath-Caldwell, Miss Rosamond Heath-Caldwell, Miss Kitty Hall and Miss Honor Holden. The best man was Mr Robert Poole. 

After the service a reception was held at Linley Wood, the residence of Major-General and Mrs F.C. Heath-Caldwell at which there were 130 guests. (A full report will appear in Monday's "Sentinel.")



Joyce Poole (ne Holden) and Gen. Frederick C. Heath-Caldwell going to her wedding at Bartholomey Church 

Staffordshire Sentinel

Monday 31 August 1936

Picturesque Wedding at Bartholomley - Mr J.D. Poole and Miss Holden - Distinguished Assembly.

There were charming scenes at the wedding on Saturday of Miss WInifred Joyce Holden, daughter of Mr and Mrs E. Holden of Monks Kirby, near Rugby and Mr James Dereck Poole, son of Mr and Mrs Harry Poole of Warren Height, Woore.

Mr Harry Poole is Clerk to the Newcastle Borough Magistrates and a principal in the firm of Messrs Knight and Sons, solicitors, Newcastle, and the bridegroom is also a solicitor with the firm. The bride has resided for some years with Major-General and Mrs F.C. Heath-Caldwell at Linley Wood, Talke. The bride founded six years ago the very successful Talke Company of Girl Guides and Brownies, of which she is Captain and these attended.

The wedding took place in the beautiful old Parish Church of Barthomley, and the service, which was fully choral, was conducted by the Rector, the Rev. Edward Armistead. As the bridge entered the church, the hymn, "Praise my soul the King of Heaven" was sung, and later the hymn "O Perfect Love" was rendered. 'Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" was played.

A Graceful Bride

The bridge, who was given away by Major-General Heath-Caldwell C.B., was a graceful figure in a simple gown of pearl coloured satin with Brussels net veil, lent by Mrs Heath-Caldwell. She wore a pearl necklace, the gift of the bridegroom, and carried a sheaf of lilies.

She was attended by five bridesmaids - Miss Poole (sister of the bridegroom), Miss Diana Heath-Caldwel, Miss Rosamund Heath-Caldwell, Miss Honor Holden (sister of the bride) and Miss Kitty Hall - who were attired in chiffon dresses of pale blue, with silver thread, and silver and pale pink sashes. They wore halos of pale blue and silver and carried bouquets of pale pink carnations.

The bride's mother had a gown of deep powder-blue, trimmed with a cascade of blue and salmon, with a pink hat to match. She carried a bouquet of Ophelia roses. The bridegroom's mother had chosen a dress of navy blue charmeuse, with petunia flowers and hat to match. Her bouquet was of stocks of the same colour.

The best man was Mr Robert Poole (brother of the bridegroom) and the groomsmen were Mr Lawrence Poole, Mr John Marshall, Mr Channing-Williams and Mr B.C. Bird.

The Reception

A reception was held at the residence of Major-General and Mrs Heath-Caldwell at which guests were: The Rev and Mrs E. Armitstead, Mr and Mrs Dudley Allen, Mr and Mrs Percy Adams, Sir Phillip and Lady Baker-Wilbraham and the Misses Wilbraham, Miss Barker, Mr Bird, The Rev and Mrs P.H.Bradley, MR and Mrs T.C. Bladen, Mr and Mrs Bullock, Mr and Mrs C. Bullock, Mrs Bowyer, The Rev and Mrs A.M. Coxon, Mr and Mrs Coghill, Mrs Challinor, Mr and Mrs Cole, Mr and Mrs Cadman, Mr and Mrs Crompton and the Misses Crompton, Colonel and Mrs Harry Clive and Miss Clive, Miss Dobson, Mr and Mrs Dean, the Rev. and Mrs J. Edwards, Mr and Mrs Finlow, Miss Hopkirk, Mr and Mrs Gaunt, the Misses Glennie, Mr and Mrs Heath, Mr R. Heath, Mr and Mrs Holden and Miss Holden, Mr and Mrs Hall, Mr and Mrs Lloyd Hall, Sir Francis and Lady Joseph, Colonel and Mrs Johnson and Miss Johnson, Mr and Mrs Johnson, Mr and Mrs Jarvis,  Major and Mrs Lees and Miss Lees, Mr and Mrs Stuart Maddock, the Misses Maddock, Dr and Mrs McDonald, Mrs Cavenagh-Mainwaring and Misses Cavenagh-Mainwaring, Mr John Marshall and Miss Baxter, Mr and Mrs Morris, the Misses Norcop, Mr and Mrs Marshall, Mr and Mrs Poole, Miss Poole and Mr Poole, the Rev and Mrs E. Peacock, the Misses Poole, Mr and Mrs Pidduck, Miss Royds, Mrs Ramsden, Mr and Mrs Richmond, Dr and Mrs Townshen, Mr Canning Wiliams, Miss Vickers, Mrs Wardle, MR and Mrs Wyatt, Mr and Mrs Wainwright, the Rev. and Mrs C.Way, Mr and Mrs Goodwyn, Mr B. Deacon.

Derek and Joyce Poole with the girl guides and probably J.A.Heath-Caldwell in front at Linley Wood for the wedding reception - 1936

The happy couple later left for the honeymoon, which is being spent motoring in Devon and Cornwall.

Wedding Presents.

The wedding presents were as follow:-

Bridegroom to bride - pearl necklace.

Bride of bridegroom - silver lighter.

Father to bridegroom - cheque.

Mother, sister and brothers of bridegroom - canteen of cutlery.

Mother of bride - linen.

Father of bride and General and Mrs Heath-Caldwell - baby grand piano.

Captain and Mrs Heath-Caldwell - cocktail table.

Miss R. Heath-Caldwell - sugar sifter.

Mr T. Holden - desert service.

Upper indoor staff, Linley Wood - Apostle tea spoons.

Outdoor staff - box cutlery.

Mrs Higgins - fruit dish.

Mr and Mrs Roden - linen basket.

Maids and Mrs Dunn, Warren House, water jug and tumblers.

Tenants, Linley Wood estate - dinner service.

Guides and Lieutenant Miss Bowyer - cut glass tumblers and jug.

Brownies and Tawny Owl, Miss Vickers - cut glass bottle.

Mothers of Guides and Brownies - cake fork and spoons.

Staff, Knight and Sons - illuminated clock.

Woore Cricket Club - clock -

The Rev. E. and Mrs Armstead - Thermos flask.

Mr F. Allardice and Miss Goss - cocktail shaker.

Mr and Mrs P. Adams - cream jub.

Mr and Mrs and Mr G. Bagguley - gentleman's dressing case.

Mr Eustace Bowles - luncheon case.

Mr and Mrs Bullock - silver dessert knives and forks.

Mr and Mrs Bullock - set of carvers.

Mr and Mrs Bladen - pyrex dish.

Miss Buntick - crumb brush.

Mr Billings - Worcester bowl.

Mr and Mrs Beard - ash tray.

The Rev. and Mrs Bradley - silver callender.

Miss Blashord - cut glass vase.

Mr Bacon - two thermos flasks. - - - -(continues) - - -- many more.

Staffordshire Sentinel
Friday 4 September 1936

Married coupled wanted, good cook and Working Butler. - Apply, Major-General or Mrs Heath-Caldwell, Linley Wood, Talke

Crewe Chronicle

Saturday 5 September 1936

Mr J.D. Poole and Miss W.J. Holden

Bartholomley Church near Crewe, was the scene of a charming wedding on Saturday. The bride was Miss WInifred Joyce Holden, whose parents live at Monks Kirby, near Rugby, but who has lived for several years with Major-General and Mrs Heath-Caldwell at Linley Wood, near Alsager.

During her stay in the district she has been identified with the work of several organisations and was very popular. She was responsible for the formation of a troupe of Girl Guides and Brownies at Talke.

The bridgegroom was Mr James Derek Poole, son of Mr and Mrs Harry Pool, Warren Height, Woore. Mr Harry Poole is clerk to the Newcastle Bench and his son is also a solicitor practising in the Potteries.

The Rector of Barthomley (the Rev. A Armistead) performed the ceremony. The bride was given away by Major-General Heath-Caldwell. She was a graceful figure in a gown of pearl coloured satin with Brussels net lace lent by Mrs Heath-Caldwell. She wore a necklace, the gift of the bridegroom, and carried a sheaf of lillies.

She was attended by five bridesmaids, Miss Poole (sister of the bridegroom), Miss Diana and Miss Rosamund Heath-Caldwell, Miss Honor Holden (sister), and Miss Kitty Hall. They all wore pale blue chiffon dresses with silver and pale pink sashes. They wore halos of pale blue and silver and carried bouquets of pink carnations. The best man was Mr Robert Poole (Brother of the bridegroom) and the groomsmen were Messrs L.Poole, J. Marshall, Channing-Williams and B.C. Bird. A reception was held at Linley Wood 

Staffordshire Sentinel
Monday 14 September 1936

Wanted, by General and Mrs Heath-Caldwell, Linley Wood, Talke, North Staffs., at once, a Trainer Under-Housemaid; good wages offered.

Staffordshire Sentinel
Friday 23 October 1936
Wanted at once, an experienced Kitchen Boy or Kitchenmaid. - Apply, General or Mrs Heath-Caldwell, Linley Wood, Talke, N. Staffs.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer
Tuesday 10 November 1936
Wanted, Kitchenmiad or Bay, age 19021; family 4, staff 8; help when required; personal reference essential - Address Mrs Heath-Caldwell, Linley Wood, Talke, Staffordshire, stating experience and wages.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer

Saturday 14 November 1936

Wanted, Kitchenmaid or Boy, aged 19-21; family 4, staff 8; help when required; personal reference essential - Address Mrs Heath-Caldwell, Linley Wood, Talke, Staffordshire, stating experience and wages. 

Stafffordshire Advertiser

Saturday 26 December 1936 (Crewe Chronicle also)
North Staffordshire Hunt

The North Staffordshire Hunt ball took place on Friday night at Maer Hall (by permission of Miss Harrison and the Master, Miss R.M.Harrison). The Clabon-West dance band played.

Among those present, many of whom brought parties were:-

Miss Harrison, Miss R.M.Harrison, Mr and Mrs C.C.Dennis, Mr W.Tellwright, Mr James Cadman, Mr and Mrs Staly Pidduck, Sir Francis and Lady Joseph, Mr and Mrs W. C. Jones, Mr N. Parrington, Major-General and Mrs Heath-Caldwell, Mr and Mrs H.A.Ramsden, Mr and Mrs R. Crompton, Mr and MRs Stuart Johnson, Mr and Mrs F.W. Carder,  Sir John and Lady Barlow, Mr and Mrs G.H. Downing
- - - -(continues) - - -