Christmas holds lots of memories for everyone but living in our village helps us to make it even more special. Not only do we celebrate with family but also with the church, school and village community. It seems that these have also been important factors for many others living in Tipton over the years.
Christmas parties were a big part of how the village came together for the children. The Womens Institute would decorate the church hall, including a tree “lit by electric fairy lamps”! “After tea games were played and carols sung” with the vicar Rev Cornish Watkins “doing the Father Christmas honours” in 1931. When the children left the hall they were all given chocolate, an orange and a cracker! In 1939 the evacuees were all invited to the party too with Santas sleigh “bringing whoops of joy and a right merry time was had by all". In 1935 a woman had to take the part of Santa, Mrs Tamlin successfully convinced the children with her role-play skills. Another year floods added excitement by making the road either side of the railway line impassable and some people having to walk through the fields to reach their destination after the festivities. A big dance would be held on Boxing Day with music from the village band.
Carol singing around the village was arranged by the church, the WI and in 1904 the “Brass Band played at all the principal residences in the village”. That must have been quite something, to have them playing outside your front door. The photograph of the carol singers was taken in 1952 outside Willow (Dolphin) cottage.
The church would be decorated with flowers, evergreens and berries grown and donated by people from all around the village to give a beautiful display for the seasonal services. I remember the excitement of staying up late for Midnight Mass, then listening to the choir singing and watching the lit candles illuminate the church windows. On Christmas day we would bring a wrapped present to put under the tree that would be given to children less fortunate than yourself.
The school would put on Christmas concerts to entertain parents and villagers and nativity plays were an important part of the school year, being chosen for parts and learning songs to tell the Christmas story in church. The part of Joseph and Mary was particularly exciting when I was at school because it meant that you would be able to sit on the model donkey (on wheels!) Alas, I never got the part of Mary and only got to touch the donkey at rehearsals!
The photograph shown was taken in 1950 of Len Baker and Pam Searle (Joseph and Mary) stood at the manger in church.
Maybe you have some Tipton Christmas memories that you would like to share. You can view Tipton st John Memories on Facebook or there is also a Venn Ottery/ Tipton history Blog.
Merry Christmas everyone and a very Happy New Year. I hope you make some special memories together.
Thanks to Len Baker, Marilyn Berry for the photographs and the reports from The British Newspaper Archives.
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