STOKE SUNDAY HISTORY SPOT
Investigating the Past, to Understand the Present, to Plan for the Future
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Playing Field 75th Anniversary 2026
In 1944, villagers began to plan for a celebration of the end of the war. A Welcome Home Fund was started by the British Legion, with a view to provide facilities for ex service people, and possible gifts. A Victory Fund had also been started by the Parish Council as part of a more National Initiative. On Saturday 13 January 1945 the local paper announced that, “at a committee meeting, Stoke had a target of £3,000 for a playing field and the necessary equipment, and the amount raised to date was £71 10s. A subscription-list was already open and collectors will be calling on the residents shortly”. So basically get your cash and cheque books ready. A Social Committee was formed with Mr Geoffery Musgrove as convenor, Mr Hugh Chedzoy the chairman, Mr. Frank Chedzoy secretary, and Mr. Tom Patten treasurer.
The two groups held fund raising events at regular intervals, all reported in the local paper, the Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser. February 1945 saw a dance to the music of Mrs. Jones' Regal Band from Bridgwater in aid of the Forces Welcome Home Fund, and the Victory Fund held a whist drive with 14 tables, which also finished with a dance - to a radiogram.
In May 1945 it was decided to amalgamate the two groups, and the events continued to raise funds. It was reported that the total now stood at £455. and that £348 of this had been obtained by dances, concerts and whist drives.
In the mean time Stoke had reformed a football team. Nowhere to play of course but for farm fields, no doubt having being recently stocked. This was the first attempt to form a team in 1945. From the left: Frank Chedzoy, Maurice Patten, Eric Hembrow, Cliff Miller, Eddie Dare, Arthur Patten, Bill Brewer, Edgar Garland, Mr Burrows (Headmaster - in a suit so I wonder if he was manager?), Sid Dare, Alan Hector.In the mean time Stoke had reformed a football team. Nowhere to play of course but for farm fields, no doubt having being recently stocked. This was the first attempt to form a team in 1945. From the left: Frank Chedzoy, Maurice Patten, Eric Hembrow, Cliff Miller, Eddie Dare, Arthur Patten, Bill Brewer, Edgar Garland, Mr Burrows (Headmaster - in a suit so I wonder if he was manager?), Sid Dare, Alan Hector.
Dances and whist drives continued alongside appeals, sites having already been earmarked for a public recreation ground and an Institute for the Service men and women from the village. (We don’t know what happened to the idea of an institute - it just seems to fizzle out from the reporting). In July 1945 a fete was held in the Half Yard field (behind Crossways Farm, Griggs Hill), loaned by Mr. W. Broom, and opened by Miss Teresa Hooley, the well-known Somerset poet. Mr. Hugh Chedzoy, who presided at the opening ceremony, said he was confident that the financial target was not beyond the scope the parish. Although the recreation ground would chiefly be for the young people, for whom they wanted to make village life attractive, it would not be solely a sports field, but would be adapted as a place where the older people could spend their leisure hours.
And so the years went on, whist drives, dances and gymkhanas, with one drive in December 1950, raising over £35 (that’s £1556 in today’s money), with an amazing reported 41 tables packed into the old village hall.
And finally the new playing field was opened in 1951. The photo shows Stan Chedzoy, Cecil Hector, Met Morris (top of head), Clifford House, Leslie Hembrow, Harry Chapman, Harry Badge, John Burrows, Henry Hopkinson MP, Hugh Chedzoy, Mrs Alice Hopkinson. Back to the Playing Field later.
In 2005, to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Nick Sloan, local letter cutter, kindly produced this new memorial in Purbeck stone. The font is what Nick calls 'Stoke Sans'. In the photo is Sue Hembrow with Pete and Sue Nicholas' daughter, Anne.
It would be good to build a collection recording events on our playing fields over the years. If you have any photos please get in touch gregorystoke@aol.com or contact Dave Evans.