Characters of Axminster - Part Four

My memories of the characters of Axminster (Part Three) concluded with the redoubtable Douglas Hull, former mayor and supporter of everything associated with Axminster.

However, in considering my first memory of acclaimed supporters of Axminster, it has to be the Queen of Dawkins - Emmy Sheppard.

EMMY SHEPPARD

Emmy grew up in Axminster with her family and after school she started working with the renowned department store of Edwin Dawkins and Sons in Victoria Place. She soon demonstrated her numerous skills and rose to the position of company secretary. When Howard Dawkins sought retirement, Emmy purchased the business and ran the store for over 30 years.

Miss Sheppard was an attractive lady. She was tall and upright and walked with small quick steps, an enchanting lady, always smartly dressed and never without a hat! Apparently, she had several marriage proposals, but remained a spinster.

She greeted everyone who entered the shop, always with the prefix "m'dear". How are you m'dear? How can we help you m'dear? Customers adored her – and her staff adored her.

Emmy Sheppard was particularly fond of young people and helped a number of budding entrepreneurs to start businesses in the town. She loved Axminster and was very much involved in everything in the town. She was a founder member of the Chamber of Trade, she sang with the operatic society, she was a regular worshipper at the Congregational Church and was president of Axminster Carnival for many years.

Miss Sheppard was always on stage for the crowning of the Axminster Carnival Queen and was affectionately known as the Queen Mother. The girls were dressed by Edwin Dawkins and always looked resplendent.

I remember Emmy Sheppard with great endearment, which I know is mutually agreed by many people who knew her until she left our lives in 1989.

VICARS OF AXMINSTER

I was christened at St Mary's Church, Axminster, attended Sunday School (initially at the Congregational church) and was confirmed at St Mary's Church, Axminster, at about 13 years-old. I don't remember too much about the ministers at the Congregational, Methodist, Catholic Church or the Gospel Hall, but I have clear recollections of the vicars of the Minster Church.

THE REVEREND SANDERS

I have to go well back to remember The Reverend Sanders as he retired in 1953. I assume that he christened me and my sister and I seem to recall that he was a tall man, bald, with glasses attending the annual crowning of the carnival queen in Trinity Square. He was very active on the committee of the Axminster Workhouse, when it converted to the Box House Mental Hospital.

THE REVEREND NOEL CAREY POTTER

Noel Carey Potter was a direct descendant of Dr John Potter, who was Archbishop of Canterbury in the early 18th century. The Rev Carey Potter was a very tall slim man, who was not always easy to understand when delivering a sermon in church. However, he was the Axminster vicar for 18 years.

The Rev Carey Potter ran confirmation classes for a group of young teenagers, including his daughter Juliette, who was in the same class as me at school. It seemed a good thing to do at the time - so together with a number of my friends I was confirmed, although in the years to follow I rarely took Holy Communion.

The Rev Noel and his wife Sylvia would often enjoy weekends away, leaving daughter Juliette in charge. This was an opportunity for Juliette to hold excellent parties at the Vicarage, which proved to be extremely popular.

Juliette had a full life until sadly she passed away in 2012, having made a name for herself in the world of motor racing. In 1971 she won the Women British Racing Drivers' Club and in 1978 she became the first female to take part in the Le Mans Sports Car Race since 1951. She won the 1979 class section at Brands Hatch 6 Hours in a Porsche 924 and 1980 she won the Sports 2000 class in a Lola T492

I have mentioned in a previous edition of Moulding's memories that the Reverend Noel Carey Potter ran the youth club at the Church Rooms in West Street. We all used to arrive at the due time, the Vicar gave us access to the record player and away we went. A few romances were certainly spawned from the youth club at the church rooms, with Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers and Peggy Lee in the background. I often wondered whether the Vicar REALLY realised what went on at the Church Rooms Youth Club?

Many years ago, my mother Beryl reminded me of a story which typified our popular vicar, when he attended a fete on behalf of Axminster Hospital. My mother was assisting with a stall which was offering the usual selection of home-made cakes, biscuits, jams, chutneys, etc. The Vicar selected a jar of pickled onions and he asked Beryl if she would put his purchase to one side whilst he perused the other stalls. Later in the afternoon, the Rev Carey Potter returned to pick up his onions, but couldn't find them at the place where he left them. "Good Lord", he exclaimed. "SAomeone's filched my b…..y pickled onions!"

PREBENDARY JOHN MOLLAND

John Molland was a typical country vicar – round-faced, balding with glasses. He christened our two sons in the early seventies, but I must say that I don't remember a great deal more about him. He was our resident minister for six years.

THE REVEREND HAROLD LOCKYER

Similarly, I don't remember that much about Harold Lockyer – but he loved a pint at the Axminster Inn, not too far away from the vicarage. My father (an Axminster Inn regular) used to engage in lengthy conversations with Harold Lockyer, which must have been quite interesting, as my father was an unashamed atheist.

FATHER BARRY SWIFT

When Barrie Swift arrived, he took Axminster by storm.

Barrie was larger than life, a Friar Tuck-type character, with a heart of gold, masses of energy and an infectious laugh …. and he wore an earring! If there was a good cause in the town that needed support, Father Barrie got stuck in.

For instance, a crane arrived, hovering over the vicarage garden. This was followed by a low-loader, transporting a portacabin – and bingo, the portacabin was offloaded into the garden. Barrie had become aware that there were a number of youngsters, hanging around the town, who just needed a place to meet, which they could call their own. Winter was looming and these kids needed somewhere to keep warm. So Barrie came up with the portacabin. However, in time, one or two of the young people came up with another idea of how to keep warm - they set fire to it!

Almost as soon as Barrie Swift had his feet under the table, the reordering of the Minster Church took place and several pews were removed from the body of the church. This was so that the church was opened up for civic events, choral recitals, school concerts, etc. This didn't suit everyone in the congregation who preferred traditional worship, but this was Barrie's way of opening up the church to the community. 

However, Axminster will be eternally indebted to Barrie Swift for his determination to provide a swimming pool for the town. Barrie's enthusiasm rubbed off on everybody. A committee was formed with a number of willing volunteers, some of whom are still involved with fund-raising and the well-being of the Flamingo Pool.

In the early days, Colin Chesterton was appointed as chairman of the committee and I became vice-chairman – but the drive came from Barrie Swift. Chairman of the fund-raising committee was Dave Swarbrick, an ideas man, with bags of good intentions, which often came to nothing. However, Dave had a vision of holding a gardening and crafts festival. He had identified a fantastic site by the river where the festival could be held. I recall a meeting when Colin and I met Dave Swarbrick in a pub.We told Dave that we didn't want this to be another of his hare-brained ideas, but we could see that the gardening festival idea "had some legs" and we decided that we would support him. However, if it lost money, we would have his "guts for garters".

The rest. of course. is history. Barrie Swift and the committee all supported the scheme and the festival has been a tremendous event for Axminster ever since – not only supporting the Flamingo Pool, raising many thousands of pounds, but also a large number of good causes in the town. Well done Dave Swarbrick.

Although fundraising was going well, there were still many hurdles to jump over before a pool for Axminster could become a reality. Although we had acquired £500,000 from East Devon District Council, we still needed a bid to the National Lottery to be successful. Amidst huge disappointment, the application to the National Lottery was turned down. Barrie Swift led Axminster to challenge this decision, by a campaign which involved a march in the town and included our MP Sir Peter Emery. We didn't have too long to wait – the decision was reversed, the Lottery funding was awarded and the pool became a reality. Without Barrie Swift's resolve, this would never have happened.

Whilst Barrie was our minister, a group of rehearsed singers had started to meet together, along with other interested voices, and formed the Axminster and District Choral Society, Barrie Swift was appointed as president and John Banner, the local dentist as chairman. The organist was Ruth Martin.

We had all assumed that Barrie was a confirmed bachelor, but the relationship between the minister and the organist blossomed and it wasn't too long before Ruth Martin became the the Rev Barrie Swift's wife, with a grand wedding at The Minster. It was inevitable that the wedding would be described as two birds getting together – a "swift" and a "Martin"!

Barrie Swift was our first "Team Minister". The Axminster Team Ministry was formed and was initially made up of All Saints, Chardstock, Combpyne with Rousdon and the licensed Chapel in Woodbury Lane.

Barrie and Ruth went into well- deserved retirement in 1994 and I remember visiting them in Colaton Raleigh on a couple of occasions. Sadly, Barrie passed away in April of this year and I noticed these memories of Barrie on Facebook, which amplify the respect and love that Axminster people felt for him:

"What sad news - such a wonderful human being, he did so much for the young in particular and community as a whole. RIP Barrie and love to all the family and friends at this sad time"

"The friendliest vicar I have known – I can remember singing in the folk choir at his wedding"

THE REVEREND PREBENDARY JOHN GOOD

John Good was a "good" man, who was our rector for 14 years and enjoyed the town, the ministry and the church a great deal. When he moved from Axminster to the Dorchester area, he stated: "My wife Rebecca and I have had a wonderful time. Axminster is a good town, with a lot of wonderful people in it and I've enjoyed the association with the surrounding villages."

John good continued the philosophy that the church should be used, not only as a place of worship but as a centre of the Christian community in the town.

My wife Mary and I will always remember that John Good was so kind to us when our son Robert was in a coma, following brain surgery. John Good ensured that the church prayed regularly for Robert and family. Miraculously, Robert came out of the coma, following nearly nine months of amazing care at Frenchay Hospital and many said that it demonstrated the power of prayer. Only God knows.

THE REVEREND JOHN STREETING

The Reverend John Streeting was the Axminster Rector for five years. He succeeded the Reverend John Good in 2010 and was previously vicar of Sheerness and Queenborough in Kent. John and his wife Elizabeth soon felt very much at home in Axminster.

John Streeting was an inspiring and extremely talented musician and his love of music and composing continued and enhanced the musical tradition in the Minster and surrounding parishes. Father John became president of the Axminster and District Choral Society in 2012 after supporting the choir since his arrival in Axminster and indeed became musical director and conducted the society's concert in December 2011. I enjoyed John's company tremendously and remember my first meeting with him on a Christmas Festive Friday, soon after he had arrived in Axminster.

John Streeting had an unfortunate time in Axminster. He had hardly arrived in our town, when he was diagnosed with diabetes. Through a lack of blood supply to a foot, an infection set in and following an operation, John lost his foot. However, John's response to this was quite amazing. He was soon striding through the town with his prosthetic foot and carrying out his religious and musical activities with his customary commitment.

Late in the winter of 2014, John Streeting attended an Auction of Promises, as a fund-raising event for one of Axminster's worthwhile charities. Amongst other items that John had bid for, was a round of golf at Lyme Regis Golf Club that I had donated. We spoke about this after the event and arranged to wait until spring 2015 to honour John's auction acquisition. In the meantime, I wondered how John would manage on the golf course with his prosthetic foot. It transpired that John had played golf as a youngster; however, we decided to see how he would cope on the driving range at Lyme Regis. We had an absorbing two hours, which John thoroughly enjoyed and he soon got to grips with the golf, despite his foot.

Sadly, following a short illness, Father John Streeting died in October 2015 from pneumonia. One of my abiding memories of John was that following the district council elections in May of that year, John confided in me that he had voted for me at the elections – and that was the first time he had ever voted conservative. I took that as a sincere compliment.

THE REVEREND CLIVE SEDGEWICK

Axminster is indeed fortunate that the town now has such an endearing man as Clive Sedgewick as its minister. Together with his delightful wife Andrea, the Sedgewicks have become an integral part of our town and long may they continue the strong tradition of the rectors of the Minster Church.

Further characters and families of Axminster in the next edition of 'Moulding's Memories'