Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 30 Jul 1960
Page 2 Column 7
Raised £3,000 Since 1945
Now North Petherton Has Play-Field
Fifteen years of local efforts among villages of North Petherton culminated on Saturday in the opening of the Memorial Playing Field by Mrs. E. F. W. NELSON, who lived at Shovel House with her late husband, General NELSON, for many years.
Since 1945 £3,000 has been raised, and of this sum £725 was used for acquiring the field: £300 on fences: and about £450 on levelling and providing equipment.
The British Legion paraded with their colours for the ceremony. The Vicar (Canon B. Freer SHEPPARD) who was accompanied by a surpliced choir from the Parish Church, dedicated a memorial stone which was unveiled by Mrs. NELSON. Assisting was the Congregational Minister (Rev. W. G. LATHAM).
Target Set
Mrs. NELSON was introduced by the Chairman of the Playing Field Committee (Major C. DEYERMOND), who paid tribute to all who had worked together towards providing the field. He said the idea of a memorial fund was first mooted at a meeting of the Parish Council in 1945, when a committee was appointed. Mr. E. ROGERS was appointed Chairman and a target of £5,000 was set. The same year Mr. Tom CLATWORTHY organised a gymkhana which produced £600 for the fund and another gymkhana the following year realised £100.
These efforts were followed by numerous whist drives and concerts, and the form that the memorial should take was agreed upon in 1946, but it was not until 1955 that the present field was purchased. Next came the task of converting the ground into a reasonable playing field.
Hedges were moved, fences erected and in 1957 a start was made on levelling, but bad weather prevented the work being completed until the following year.
Greatest Need
Owing to limited resources available it was decided to provide facilities for children only. Equipment was purchased and swings were expected by next month. Various village organizations had promised seats, and it was hoped to have eight by the end of the year.
Opening the field, Mrs. NELSON hoped that children would make good use of it and wished the effort every success in the future.
Among those at the ceremony was the Chairman of the County Playing Fields Association (Mr. Russell THORLBY), who hoped that local people would not sit back now that the field had been opened, but continue in their efforts on behalf of young people.
He said there was a lot of talk these days about gangs and irresponsibility of youth, but it was the duty of the elder people to see that gangs were turned into teams. One of the greatest needs in the playing field organization was leadership, and by doing that the village would be providing a worth-while service.
After the opening ceremony tea was provided by the Civil Defence Corps which was demonstrating emergency feeding equipment on the ground.