Up High at Uphill

This is one of my very favourite local destinations.  To climb the hill to the old church of St. Nicholas and photograph the headstones in the little churchyard is wonderful.  But then there is the added bonus of the stunning view across the bay to Worlebury Hill.  What beautiful places my search for graves (and loos) take me too.  

For those who tread in my footsteps and who may need a place to “Spend a Penny” without buying a lunch in a local restaurant or a pint in the local pub there is a place to head for.  Along Links Road, just on from the boatyard, the public convenience has recently been refurbished.  The gleaming colours of blue and white bear testimony to the fact that this facility is now operated by Weston Town Council.  

In the quaint churchyard atop the hill can be found the grave of a famous detective from New Scotland Yard.  It was the search for this grave which first took me to Uphill.  In a former, much younger life, I spent many years working in that iconic police building and I return occasionally to give talks to the Metropolitan Police History Society.  Perhaps one day I may tell the story of Frank C. Froest and show the photographs which I have taken in the churchyard of St. Nicholas.

Very briefly, Frank C. Froest spent a 34 year career with the Metropolitan Police working his way up through the ranks from Constable to Superintendent. 

 Sgt. Frank Froest

During this time he dealt with some very high profile cases – and got into some scraps. His body bore the scar of a knife wound given to him by a murderous Italian, but on retirement in 1912 he was described as being “in perfect physical condition, his muscles like steel and his sinews like whipcord”.

It was at the Ascot races that news of Supt. Froest’s retirement reached the King.  People were waiting to see the Royal party leave but suddenly messengers were seen darting left, right and centre in search of the Superintendent.  “The King wants him at once in the Royal Box – he will not go until he has seen him”.  Had there been a robbery?  Had there been an assassination attempt?  No - nothing like that at all.  Somebody had mentioned to His Majesty that Supt. Froest was about to retire and the King wanted to make certain that he was able to shake his hand and bid him a long and happy life.

Froest retired to Weston-super-Mare and took up a second career as Hon. Superintendent of the Royal West of England Sanatorium.  His wife died shortly after his retirement and is buried in Yatton along with their young son who had died back in the 1880s.  Frank Castle Froest MVO JP died on 7^th. January 1930 after an operation in Weston Hospital. 

On the day of the funeral it was snowing heavily as the memorial service was held in the Sanatorium Chapel.  Following the service the coffin was borne from the chapel by four Police Sergeants and two Constables.  In the midst of the snowstorm the cortege made its way up to Uphill Old Church where the coffin was laid in a grave lined with ivy and white asters.  There were many floral tributes amongst which was one which read “With deep sympathy from the Criminal Investigation Department, New Scotland Yard”. 

A few months later details of Mr. Froest’s will were published in the local newspaper.  His medals were left to his daughter to be retained in her family as heirlooms.  An anecdote to this story is that some 70 years later the medals were put for auction and made £1500.  Such is life in the 21^st. century. 

If on some winter’s day you should notice a lone figure making her way up the hill to the churchyard amidst a snowstorm then it might be me.  My photo archive is sorely in need of pictures of Mr. Froest’s grave with large sparkling snowflakes falling all around!!

Weston-super-Mare Museum - the past in the present

Shortly after starting this blog I was asked whether I had tried the loos in the Museum as they were reported as being rather nice.  To my shame I have to admit that although I have lived in Weston for 2 years it was a place not yet visited.  A situation which had to be rectified.

This afternoon seemed as good a time as any – and what a very pleasant time was had.  There is an entrance charge for the museum itself but free entry is provided to the Palm Court Café and current exhibition gallery.  How lovely it was to be transported back to the seaside of my childhood – old turnstiles to bathing facilities and best of all “Jolly Jack Tar” who would make me laugh till the tears ran down my cheeks.

Clara’s Cottage was fitted out as a home of the 1900s and I was delighted to spot the chamber pot peeking out from under the bed quilt.  

There was far too much of interest to take in on just one visit so I do promise to return in the very near future.   

I can highly recommend the Palm Court Café – an oasis of calm in the heart of this bustling seaside town.   

And the toilet facilities are probably the best I have found in recent weeks.  Very clean and modern but with a feel of Victorian times.

 How lucky are we to have this museum.

Bristol - Nipper the HMV Dog

This is one dog who is famous throughout the world.  Even those too young to remember the old wind-up gramophones will have seen the image of this little dog trademarked by HMV.  

The puppy was born in Bristol in 1884 and adopted by Mark Henry Barraud, a scenery designer employed at the Princes Theatre in Park Row.  He was named Nipper because of his tendency to nip at the heels of those passing by.  In 1887 his owner died but he had the good fortune to be taken to Liverpool to live with Mark’s brother, Francis, who was an artist.  Francis would play music on the phonograph which fascinated Nipper.  He would sit with his head cocked to one side listening intentively as the notes floated out. 

Nipper died in 1895 by which time his owner had moved south to Kingston-upon-Thames.  It is said that Nipper was buried in a park surrounded by magnolia trees.  It was a few years after Nipper’s death that Francis painted the picture “Dog looking at and listening to Phonograph”.  The Royal Academy turned it down and it seemed no-one else was interested in the painting either.  Then a friend suggested that Francis change the black horn on the painting for a nice shiny brass one – perhaps this would grab peoples attention.  So Francis went along to a small phonograph manufacturer, The Gramophone Company, and asked if he could borrow a nice shiny horn.  The manager liked the painting and offered to buy it IF Francis would change the phonograph in the picture for one of the new Berliner gramophones.  Francis did just that and later the modified picture became the trademark of Victor & RCA Records and later HMV Records.

Many years later a branch of Lloyds TSB was built on the site of the park where Nipper had been buried and a brass plaque was added commemorating the famous terrier who lies beneath the building.  In 2010 a small road in Kingston upon Thames was named Nipper Alley in commemoration of the dog.

But back to Bristol where in the year 2000 Nipper was honoured with his very own Blue Plaque on Merchant Venturers Building.  

His statue looks down from the plinth above the doorway – but did you know he was there?

A little further down the road I found Nipper in yet another incarnation – in the window of a Violin shop.

After the search for Nipper I wandered down to one of my favourite rest stops in Bristol – the Cathedral Coffee Shop.  To my surprise at the main entrance I was stopped by two burly security guys.  They were both wearing ear pieces and looked quite menacing.  What had I stumbled in on?  Was some head of state visiting?  Did I look like an assassin?  Nothing so exciting – apparently the Cathedral was closed for graduation ceremonies.  “But I was hoping to visit the coffee shop” says I looking down at the sign which clearly stated that the Coffee Shop was open !  I was courteously directed to the back entrance where I was able to walk through the cloisters to the watering hole.

The café also provides a very good loo stop if you are in the area – but better still is the enchanting garden in the churchyard.  The headstones hide beneath luxuriant shrubs and flowers

and the seagull I met TODAY was much better behaved and just wanted to pose for my camera.