TR Wedlake was operating his "High Class Family Butcher Business" from
Church House, while Dewey Waters - designers and manufacturers of all types
of fibreglass mouldings, obviously had a good trade in garden pools and
waterfalls.

Shopping local meant getting your milk (not to mention your cream and eggs)
from TR Clements. Wrington Chemists had a page advertisement back in those
days, although the Bendalls were then behind the counter. "Always something
on offer" was their strapline.

SO Kingcott (Est 1924) were running the garage in School Road in those
days, and WE Clement & Sons was one place to get your housecoal together
with your fuel oils - oh, and your peat.

Antiques

Want you telly fixed? Then A Spalding & Sons were your men, while Ivor
Tincknell was but a phonecall away (Wrington 239) for all your timber,
ironmongery and decorators' supplies. Wrington Antiques were to be found in
Church Walk, while CW Temple, from their emporium in Broad Street, provided
the village with another fascinating combo of fruit, cut flowers, pot plans
and a selection of fine chocolates - the place to go for Mothers Day and a
visit to a friend in hospital.

Delivery was "a pleasure" for customers of BEJ Buglers, "Wrington's Wine
Shop" and Richards Garage is another fine Wrington name still operating.
E Parsley & Sons offered more competition on the oil and hardware front, but
Mr WA Rickard had all the piano tuning advertising to himself in those days.

Another enterprising Tincknell (FW this time, of Station Road) was patently
the place to go for building materials. High Class Family Grocer WH Cook
also had tobacco and confectionery on sale, and anyone wanting a fill of
their oil tank only had to give Butler Oil Products a call, although they
were a little further afield - in Avonmouth.

WG Bagley, Gentleman's Hairdresser of Broad Street, intriguingly offered a
"personal service", while Carol Anne (Prop: EE Barber) were the local
stockists of Gor-ray skirts, Maxton Blouses and KR Knitwear.

So that was where Wrington shopped all those years ago, but what was going
on in 1971?

Then, as now, the stated objectives of the new Journal were to "report on
all aspects of village activities, to offer a platform for readers to
express opinions, and to publish articles of general and village interest".

David A Miles welcomed the new publication and reported on the activities
of the Wrington Parish Council. We had two reports from Arthur Nipper - on
cricket and the Homing Society ("better known as the Pigeon Club"), and MR
Richards reported on all the happenings in the Mothers' Union. The Young
Wives' Group, as reported by Doreen Whittam, had a busy October in
prospect, with an "Any Questions" event in the Reading Room, a Baptism
Party and a visit to St Mary Redcliffe.

The then Rector, Christopher Lawson-Tancred, tackled the thorny question of
why the Parish Magazine was being subsumed within the new-look, more
secular Journal. "A thriving Church life depends on a thriving community
life. If the Journal can make more people prouder of the fact, more
interested in the past of the place and more concerned for its future, then
it will have fully justified its existence."

Local history

Indeed, the issue contained some really interesting pieces of local
history, supplied by Horace Ashman (Redhill) and Hugo Smith (Wrington).
Interestingly, Mr Ashman's piece also mentions two issues causing concern
to local residents.

One was the suggestion that the runway was to be extended to around 8,000
feet, involving a tunnel under the A38. The other concerned the proposal to
close Redhill School, "built in 1974, when pupils paid one penny a week,
and the plan to transport Redhill children to the new school to be built in
Wrington.

There was then, as now, a large representation from local church groups and
Arthur E Simmonds provided the editorial for the Congregational Church, and
W Smith a note on future Sunday School gatherings.

One report now sadly missing is that of the local tug of war goings-on. Mrs
MR Young reported that the Weston Farmers Club, which then trained at
Redhill, had been enjoying another successful season - and their many cups
were to be seen at the Club.

We all loved our gardening in those days too, with F Collyer reminding us
that October was the month for harvesting our fruit and vegetables - but
not to pick apples until they part from the tree easily.

There was a Personality of the Month feature then (could we revive this?)
with Mr Mackenzie Collins described as "Mr Wrington" - and his list of
credits more than justifies the description.

He was involved in the village cricket, hockey, British Legion, bell-ringing, the Church and the Parish Council.

The Wrington Men's Fellowship (contributor William Lord) encouraged male
readers to meet with them on the third Wednesday of each month, when they
could hear speakers on subjects as varied as Antarctic Exploration and
Taxidermy. "Lively discussion always follows". One evening, we read, "is
reserved to entertain the ladies".

Developments were progressing, we learned, for a new Primary School,
reported HN Dyke, the earliest date for the move being September 1974.

Redhill had its own school in those days, of course, and "MEH" proudly told
us of the previous month's highlight: Elementary Swimming Certificates
being gained by Gillian Lane, Carole Gladstone, Brenda Wear, Angela House,
Sharron Ward and - the sole male - Gary Robins.

Glaswegian

The Guides and Scouts had had an exciting Summer, holding a joint camp with
1st Glasgow Scouts at Morar. Dennis Hustwick's report includes details of
local childrens' first, and not entirely successful, encounter with a
haggis, but not what Glaswegian and Somerset children made of each other's
accents.

The Women's Bright Hour at the Congregational Church was being held, as it
had been ever since the dark days of September 1939. G Smith wrote that its
original aim had been to "give help and friendship to women of the village
and those evacuated from the towns".

Older residents could pop into the Darby & Joan Club, wrote Helen Campbell,
and enjoy whist and dominoes as well as film and coloured slide shows, not
to mention an annual afternoon's outing.

Wine and cheese

The two WI Groups had had a busy summer, with visits to the Bath & West
Show, an exchange visit from Cumberland, a wine and cheese party at
Tickenham and a visit to the Worcester Royal Porcelain Co. A warm welcome
awaits, wrote ED Millard.

The Redhill Ladies Skittle Team were - then as now - doing well, while the
Young Farmers Club, reported Angela Young, had 50 members and were
anticipating talks on sailing, SWEB, fashion and taxidermy. No wonder they
do it in wellies.

Some dates to remember in October 1971 included a meeting of the Wrington
WI, which would be a "Norwegian Fair"; a University of Bristol Course on
"The Country House in English Art & Landscape" at the John Locke Hall; a
Homecraft Service Course ("Cookery with a difference") at the Scout Hall;
and a Scouts Jumble Sale (how many woggles and billy-cans can one person
own?) at the Scout Hall.

Finally, we were asked to get our copy for next issue in by October 14th to
Joint Editors Mrs MM Collinson and Mrs JM Smith.

Interestingly, all this reading and valuable information on local
businesses, could be gained for just 5p an issue - or 50p for the year.

This was meant to be a round up of ALL the anniversary editions, but
there's been enough to write about on just one issue. So the clock will
wind back again next month!

Tony Watts