Good Sussex cement spans the Tamar

AFTER what appeared to be a successful Fish Festival, thoughts then had to turn to a slide show to be held at Denton that very evening.

Fortunately, there is a fair amount of material about, concerning the village and, hopefully, the audience was satisfied.

One subject which I would have liked to expand on was the connection Ralph Reader had with the area.

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Most people are aware of his involvement with the Boy Scouts, here and universally. Also quite well known is the fact that he lived in the village and at one time was a boy clerk at the Heighton Cement Works, had been a telegram boy at Newhaven Post Office during or soon after the Great War and possibly worked in one of the High Street stores.

His connection with the cement works saw him move to Ireland in the same business and then cross the Atlantic, there to fall into his real delight, show business.

On his return to this country he had to be back on stage and somehow found time to organise and maintain his wonderful Scout Gang Shows for which he is remembered countrywide.

Controlling large numbers on stage was one of his gifts and after World War II, for a time he directed the Remembrance ceremonies at the Royal Albert Hall.

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Most of my connection with him had been between 1937-39 when he was recording at the Fortune Theatre, London, for a weekly 30-minute programme for Lifebuoy Soap with George Scott Wood and his Orchestra and with Betty Driver, the young brunette vocalist (Betty of the hotpot in Coronation Street). This all went out from Radio Normandy in those days.

To join the Scout movement or any other similar group had not been encouraged in my boyhood, but Ralph was still kind enough to extend an invitation to me in 1938 to attend the London Palladium. Here the Gang Show was to be incorporated with the other George Black stars of the week who were Evelyn Laye, Florence Desmond, Vic Oliver, Ted Ray and a few others.

I had a seat in the wings for the whole performance and then unwound with a champagne party in Evelyn Laye's dressing room.

I met Ralph only once after the last war, but in his final letter to me he spoke of just being able to read the keys of his typewriter, but unable to see what he had written.

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A sad ending for a man who had been so active and full of life. The letter and the Palladium programme are filed at the museum.

Our picture is of the Heighton Cement Works (the museum has a photo of Ralph outside of his office) at, I would imagine, the peak of its development.

Not only, it is claimed, did it provide the cement for the Newhaven Breakwater but among other achievements, supplied the best quality for the famous Calstock Viaduct which spans the River Tamar separating Devon from Cornwall. What a rail crossing that must be!

Recently, I was privileged to view a person's research and photo collection of this impressive construction, most interesting.

I will endeavour to include a photo next week.

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In our vast photographic collection we hold a fine view of the large pond seen a little left of the centre of today's picture. Children lean against the white railings looking at a large carthorse and handler, the horse cooling off in the water after a hard day's work.

Also, the works had their very own steam tank engine named Edith.

Finally, the munitions works were there during the First World War. There is very much to talk about.

PETER BAILEY

Peter Bailey is curator of the Newhaven Local and Maritime Museum based in its own fascinating premises in the grounds of Paradise Park in Avis Road, Newhaven. Summer opening hours are daily, 2-4pm or by arrangement. Admission 1 (accompanied children free). Contact the curator on 01273 514760. Log on to the website at www.newhavenmuseum.co.uk

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