I concluded my memories of the characters of Axminster (Part Two) with Mister Axminster – Frank Rowe. I will now start Part Three by considering some of Frank Rowe's contemporaries (partners in crime!).

JACK NEWBERY

Jack Newbery was probably Frank Rowe's best mate.

Jack was a handsome man, with a small moustache, typical of his era – in the style of Clark Gable. His wife Sheila was also a very attractive and smart lady, even into her twilight years, living at the Oak House Care Home.

Jack and Sheila had four sons, who I remember well, growing up in Axminster. There was Terry, a teacher at Allhallows School – now living at Southleigh. The late Barry Newbery was in the same year as me at school and in later years I believe he worked as an administrator for the police force in Exeter. Michael went abroad – I have a thought that he may now be in Australia, whilst Philip emigrated some years ago and is now living in America.

Jack Newbery was the proprietor of West End Garage, just behind the Guildhall, which served the town as one of the taxi businesses as well as motor sales and services. The other taxi operator in the town was Mr Spurway, father of current Axminster Town councillor, Martin Spurway.

Jack Newbery was very much part of the music scene, and was a drummer with a number of bands. His party trick at social events and parties was to play (quite brilliantly) the "comb and brown paper"!

MARTIN BRIGHT

Martin Bright was Frank Rowe's brother-in-law – and another "partner in crime"! Henry and Minnie Bright had six children and lived at Coaxdon Farm, on the outskirts of Axminster, in the parish of All Saints. The Bright family comprised Elsie (mother of Robert Seward, who owned "Economy Freeze" in South Street), George, who lived at Battleford, Miriam Bartlett (wife of Leslie Bartlett, Estate Agent), Marjorie (married to Frank Rowe), Patsy (who lived in Winchester) and Martin (who Jim Rowe termed- the Cider Baby!)

Martin farmed with his father at Coaxdon, which included acquiring a taste for the farmhouse cider produced via the farm's apple press. He particularly enjoyed market days in Axminster – usually in the Axminster Inn. He was a real character and up to all sorts of nonsense. I have previously related the tale of Martin and his bet with one of Axminster's ne'er do wells, which culminated in the man being locked out of the pub, with doors locked and the poor man in a state of total nudity!

When the market office closed on the corner of South Street (now Cinnamons restaurant), it was taken over as a café by Hettie Salisbury and not always seen as the most salubrious eating place in town! The next tenant was Bob Coe (known as scouse, for obvious reasons). Scouse converted the property to become "Reynard's Bistro", with fairly relaxed opening and closing hours. Martin Bright enjoyed frequenting the bistro, probably due to the flexible opening hours and could often be seen making his way out of the pub, swaying around, with a great big grin on his face.

There was a classic example (I am led to believe) of Martin's sense of humour, when he suddenly appeared from the first floor of the bistro, wearing no clothes, with his "tackle" laid out on a tray – and the immortal words "dinner is served"!

That was Martin Bright!

TED DAVIS – the man who really ran the cattle market.

Ted Davis was born in 1910 – from a large Axminster family. He worked for a while as a farm-hand at Wykeleigh, before Brigadier Farwell and his family bought the property. He then worked at the bottom of Castle Hill for the Coates Brush Factory. This was convenient for Ted as by now he was bringing up a family at Broadway Cottages on the Membury Road.

When the brush factory closed, Frank Rowe enlisted Ted Davis to help as a general factotum for R&C Snell – Axminster Cattle Market, Farm Sales, Furniture Sales and the Pannier Market.

This was the perfect role for Ted, who very soon used his position to control the goods in and goods out for the firm. Market days were priceless, with a succession of banter between Ted and the auctioneers, whether that was Frank Rowe, John Kent, Brian Terry, Andy Middleton or Jim Rowe. I don't believe Ted could read or write, but he knew a good deal, or a real bargain, when he saw one.

The Axminster Inn was Ted's favourite haunt, where photographs of Ted, with his wicked grin, were displayed. He was always known as Harum (or Aarum) – (not sure where he got that name from). Ted could be positively rude, but if you knew him well, you couldn't find a more helpful person, if you were visiting one of the sales.

His helpful nature was personified by the many years he served as a retained fireman with the Axminster Fire Service. Ted loved his "clattting" for eels in the river Axe. He would often be seen in years gone by, with a bucket of eels for sale.

In later years Ted lived at Gamberlake where he had his moments – it was well-renowned that a certain lady-friend would signal that her partner was away by putting a candle in the window – and with that familiar smile, Ted would be on his way.

As some of us older statesman would say – we don't seem to get characters like Ted Davis these days.

However, the next group were also real characters of Axminster:

STAN TRENCHARD

My abiding memory of Stan Trenchard is with his decorated pram and trademark wellies, competing in Axminster Carnival on an annual basis. He loved the carnivals and would often be invited to judge at Chard Carnival or other local towns.

Stan was an early resident of Millwey Rise, a small man, who seemed to live in his wellies; but he was community spirited.

Stan was an ardent supporter of Millwey Rise Football Club – president for many years, where his son Henry, who was surprisingly tall, marshalled the defence.

Stan also loved running jumble sales, where he would book the hall and ensure that local jumble enthusiasts came along. He had an engaging way of calling them "Jumbo" Sales! They were popular events and always for the benefit of a good cause, probably for the football club, Axminster Hospital or a current worthy charity.

RICHARD 'DICKIE' PARKER

Richard Parker's father worked for Charles Snell, who was the owner of Cloakham House between the two great wars. There was a rumour that Mr Parker was batman to Lawrence of Arabia!

Cloakham House is a landmark on the outskirts of Axminster. It was built in 1832 for Edward Smith, a Quaker. After a number of owners and occupiers, the house, along with the Manor of Axminster passed to Charles Snell. He and his family lived there until at least 1939. Cloakham House was subsequently bought by Harry Dutfield, who re-created Axminster Carpets.

Charles Snell had come to an agreement with Mr Parker Senior that his son Richard could live at the Lodge at the end of Cloakham Drive, where the drive meets Chard Road, as long as he was alive.

However, Richard lived in extraordinarily primitive conditions. I don't believe anyone ever entered the Lodge other than Richard. I bought the site next to the Lodge, known as Elm Close – but although we talked to Richard through the boundary fence, we kept well clear of his bungalow.

Dickie Parker was not the cleanest. His clothes were black, his wellies were black, his cap was black, his hands were black and his face was black. Yes – he was filthy!

He would walk into Axminster every day, always pushing an old vintage pram, probably carrying his prize possessions – but I don't think anyone ventured near enough to look inside. He helped at the market and walked back to Cloakham Lodge with a few bits and bobs.

Sadly, in his older years, he was taken seriously ill and rushed to hospital. Fortunately he recovered and of course during his treatment in hospital, he had a bath.

When he arrived back in Axminster, he was hardly recognisable. Apparently, he enjoyed being cleaned up whilst he was in hospital and on his return he stayed clean for a while – but quite soon he was black again.

He was a harmless, quiet man, who kept himself to himself – and was certainly a character!

GEOREGE PYE

It was my intention whilst looking back on characters of Axminster, to only compile memories of those characters who have sadly passed away. However, the next character of Axminster is still alive and going strong at the ripe old age of 89.

Georgie Pye was a Box House boy, who spent his early years at St Mary's Hospital.

My first recollection of George Pye and other Box House boys was as a 12 or 13-year-old, having started playing football for the Axminster Tigers youth team. Occasional matches were played by the youngsters of Axminster Football Club against Box House, whose team was made up of a number of inpatients, plus some of the hospital male nurses. I remember Colin Shaw as one of the nurses, who was an excellent footballer and played for the Axminster Senior First XI. Colin also played cricket for Axminster.

However, playing against the Box House boys themselves was an experience, especially Georgie Pye who kicked anyone and everything that came anywhere near him. He appeared to have massive size 12 football boots, which occasionally kicked the ball, but more often than not, kicked you. Some of the patients were better footballers than George. I remember Ernie Phillips, a Box House patient, who also played for the Axminster senior team.

In due course, government policy dictated that St Mary's Hospital should close and where possible, patients should reside in local accommodation. Fortunately for Georgie Pye, a house was acquired in Boxfield Road, just down the road from the hospital, where George lived with another patient who I remember, Ernie Coles. Ernie had a strange gait and swayed from side to side as he walked along the road. My children, when very young, called Ernie "The Wobbly Man".

Georgie Pye was a most amiable man and soon became a most valuable and respected member of the local community, as he had acquired the role of the Axminster road sweeper. He worked for the council for many decades and was the most conscientious road sweeper that a town could ever have. His work went way beyond the call of duty, particularly following carnival or other events in the town when he would be up at the crack of dawn to make sure the roads were cleaned up before the residents of Axminster were up and about.

The time eventually came when George reached the age of retirement, which seemed to coincide with the council's reduction in the road sweeping service. George hated the roads looking untidy and so until quite recently, during his retirement, he voluntarily cleaned the roads that he had kept tidy for so many years.

There was a hidden benefit in George's vocation as a road sweeper, as he always smoked "roll-ups". He could often be seen picking up unfinished cigarette ends from the pavement; not only to keep the footways tidy, but to recover some tobacco for the next "roll-up", which my father used to call "kerb stone twist".

In retirement, Georgie Pye was a great help to my dear friend, Geoff Enticott, the caretaker at the Guildhall, in helping to keep the Guildhall clean after Saturday night discos, or the like. Geoff always ensured that George had a good Sunday lunch following his assistance.

Three or four years ago mGeorge was unwell and taken into hospital where at 85 years-old he had a triple heart by-pass operation. However, he has recovered remarkably well and lives comfortably in a sheltered flat in Poplar Mount.

Keep fit George, you have been a great servant to Axminster.

DOUGLAS HULL

During the time that I served on Axminster Town Council there have been a number of town mayors, who have made a considerable contribution to the town. I became a town councillor for Axminster in 1987, when Michael Steer was mayor. Since then we have been well represented by Michael Steer, Barry Draper, John Jeffery, David Hallett, Don Self, Sue Spiller, Mervyn Symes, Thelma Collier, Ron Jones, Jeremy Walden, Paul Hayward and Anni Young. They have all served Axminster with distinction. I have left out myself as mayor from 2011 to 2013 and the late Douglas Hull, who was Town Mayor from 1989 to 1991, 2003 to 2005 and 2015 to 2016 – three terms.

In my early years – in fact until I was in my thirties, I took very little interest in community affairs and local politics – I was probably too busy bringing up a family, running my business and playing football and cricket!

However, I had joined the Rotary Club of Axminster and a good friend in Rotary, Michael Olof from Hawkchurch, persuaded me to become a governor of Axminster Secondary School. This was my first active interest into community activities. My building company worked extensively at the school, so I was always careful about declarations of interest and doing the right thing for the school.

In a particularly bad winter, the school's toilets (all outside toilets at the time) were totally frozen up and my firm's plumbers were repairing dozens of leaks every day. To cut a long story short, my firm was blamed for keeping children queuing up to use the toilets and an article appeared on the front page of Pulman's Weekly News (probably written by a certain Philip Evans!). It transpired that this news had reached the chairman of the Education Committee at the County Council, who decided that there should be no more work at Axminster Secondary School for R Moulding & Sons Ltd. I vowed at that time that I would seek every opportunity to gain more knowledge regarding the work of local authorities.

I didn't have to wait too long for in 1987 I received news that the conservative party was looking for two candidates to stand for the East Devon District Council elections. The sitting candidates for the liberals were the long-standing Douglas Hull and Peter Brough. A client and good friend, Colonel Tony Drake from Musbury had recently retired from the army and was keen to get involved in local affairs. Neither of us had been involved in local government before. However, we talked it through and decided to stand for election.

It was a good time for the conservatives and we were both elected, with a substantial majority. Douglas and I were political opponents from the time of those elections to the day that Douglas sadly passed away, earlier this year.

Four years later, Tony Drake decided to stand for the Newbridges ward, where he lived and Douglas Hull was re-elected to East Devon District Council. From 1991 to 2019, Douglas and I had been re-elected to represent the town, which is rather strange, as for all that time Axminster had voted for one conservative and one liberal democrat. However there was a great deal of mutual respect between us, as we both mellowed over the years.

Douglas was seen as flamboyant, even eccentric at times, but what was not in doubt was the compassion and empathy that he had for others. His speeches at all levels of Local Government made others listen, and were passionate and heartfelt.

Douglas was a Devon County Councillor for many years, where he was a former vice-chairman and became an Honorary Alderman. He was also made an Alderman of East Devon District Council in December 2019. Douglas had given over 50 years' service on town, district and county councils.

Of all the things achieved, during his time as a county councillor, the one of which he was most proud was the establishment of the Millwey industrial estate, without which Axminster would be a much less prosperous and viable community.

Douglas was a keen supporter of our local schools, to which he and Joy donated a number of awards for prize-giving days. They both took a particular interest in initiatives to oercome dyslexia, which had blighted Douglas' own schooling.

As well as local charities and the United Reform Church, Douglas took a strong interest in Axminster Museum, where he organised many temporary exhibitions over the years, He acted as a steward, welcoming members of the public to the museum and he raised considerable funds by running a second-hand bookstall.

When Axminster Museum and Axminster Heritage joined forces, and the museum moved to Thomas Whitty House on Silver Street (in 2015/16), Douglas served for a time as a trustee, and for several years as vice-chairman of the Collections Sub-Committee, and as one of the regular stewards.

Douglas Hull worked tirelessly for many local groups and charitable organisations. He enjoyed dressing up to collect at the local carnivals and often entertained crowds with his traditional "hobby-hoss". He was immediately recognisable with his trademark beard, which assumed different colours and styles.

Some of you will remember another Axminster character, Lionel (Chalky) White, a good friend to Axminster, when he was chief engineer of the Rural District Council and then East Devon District Council. Chalky was also an excellent cricketer for Axminster and a natural comic.

Following his retirement, Chalky still took an interest in Axminster affairs and on one particular occasion he attended an important meeting at the Guildhall, which was actually to debate the future of the Guildhall.

Douglas Hull was in the chair as he was Town Mayor at the time and due to the importance of the meeting, over 200 Axminster residents were in attendance. The meeting had lasted for at least two hours and Douglas rose to his feet to enquire if there were any final questions. Chalky White put up his hand and said "Yes, Mr Mayor – I have a final question". "Yes", said Douglas "please go ahead Mr White and ask your question".

"Well Mr Mayor" said Chalky "This is a question which everyone in the audience wants to know. When you're in bed, do you have your beard inside the sheets or outside?" The crowd erupted.

Douglas laughed with the audience. When Douglas Hull passed away, Axminster lost one of its longest-serving supporters.

FURTHER CHARACTERS OF AXMINSTER IN THE NEXT EDITION OF "Moulding's Memories"