Salcombe, Devon - NOT amateur radio

Several times before, I have mentioned that I spent my early childhood in Salcombe, Devon, UK. 

At the time it was just home. We just took it all for granted.

I think it now has the most expensive homes in the UK.  It is now dominated by second homes owned by the yachting crowd and rich bankers.

Times change: centuries back it was a ship building place and before that a home of smugglers.

Salcombe, Devon, UK - NOT amaeur radio

In my early childhood, I lived by the sea in Salcombe, Devon. A look on YouTube had loads of videos of the town. 

It is now a rich man's playground with many second homes. In my day, although we had plenty of tourists, it was still a town for locals.

View from my junior school - NOT amateur radio

This was the view from my junior school in Salcombe, Devon, UK. We just took it for granted and only realised years later just how special it was. It took me years to realise the odd patterns on the classroom ceiling on a sunny day were the sun being reflected on the water!

Nice pile - NOT amateur radio

As a young child, I spent my childhood living in Salcombe, Devon. 

This property is on the market not far from Salcombe, so I could move back. 

Just one problem!  It is on the market for £8.5 million, so I think I shall give it a miss!

Salcombe, Devon, UK - NOT amateur radio

As a child, I was brought up in Salcombe, Devon.  It is very beautiful and unspoilt, although it is very expensive nowadays! 

My views on visitors are changing. It is interesting to compare Salcombe, Dartmouth and Kingsbridge in Devon. Those that have attracted "up market" visitors seem to be thriving, whereas nearby Kingsbridge seemed a bit run-down further up the town. I hope I caught Kingsbridge on a bad day as it deserves to do well.

It is very important that these places do not lose the character people come to experience. Change always happens, but I hope it is still as beautiful for years to come.

One of the best YouTube videos on Salcombe I have found is attached.

Salcombe: last century - NOT amateur radio

This was where I lived as a young child. This photo was sometime in the last century.

Salcombe, Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows where I lived as a young child. At the time we just took it for granted. Salcombe is in the distance on the left.

Much later, I realised just how lovely it was. These days it is a very expensive place to live with many second homes. House prices are ridiculously high, so much so that locals are priced out.

Near Salcombe - NOT amateur radio

Before I was 10, I lived in Salcombe, Devon. This is Starehole Bay, just south of the town.

Where I was brought up as a child - NOT amateur radio

This is where I was brought up as a child. Salcombe, Devon.

Batson Creek near Salcombe - NOT amateur radio

This is near where I come from in South Devon. 

Where I come from in South Devon - NOT amateur radio

This is where I lived as a young child. 

Funny how we just took it all for granted. 

It is now the most expensive resort in the UK.  Salcombe.

Kingsbridge Estuary - NOT amateur radio

This photo of where I come from in Devon was on social media a little while ago. This not actually an estuary. It is actually a ria, a drowned river valley. One of my favourite walks was between Salcombe (bottom left) and Kingsbridge (top). It took me about 90 minutes then. It would take me hours now, if at all!

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ria .

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

This photo was posted on the internet yesterday and shows where I come from in South Devon. Salcombe is left and this shows the Kingsbridge Estuary as the main focus. It is still a very beautiful part of England, and still very rural.

Birthday - NOT amateur radio

Today is my birthday. I am 21 and (quite) a bit! One of my gifts was a voucher. I have bought an SDR with it.  

One of my presents is a signed book on the "History of Salcombe" by Roger Barrett. Salcombe is where I was brought up as a child. A good read over the holidays.

Another present from my son was champagne and a book on railway stations, again a good read. He always manages to choose presents people will like. 

Salcombe, Devon - NOT amateur radio

In the late 1960s, I worked as a barman in the Great Gates Hotel in Salcombe, Devon during my summer vacation from university.   This hotel was converted to flats many years ago. It had a great view, as you can see from the photo.

My future wife washed dishes. She reckons the person she worked with broke crockery worth more than she earned that summer!

Salcombe is where I was brought up as a child.

Devon walk - NOT amateur radio

Back in the summer I walked from my brother's house to Salcombe, about 3 miles. It was along what is known as "the old coach road". Perhaps it was the road taken by coaches a long time ago.

Salcombe harbour, Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo of Salcombe was taken yesterday I think .  As an earlier post today indicated, this was where I spent my childhood. 

On our primary school classroom ceiling, we could see the reflection of sunshine on the water reflecting on the ceiling. Funny how I can remember this and seeing the harbour from the playground. We just took it all for granted, not appreciating how lucky we were.  

Just 10 years before some of the landing craft in the Normandy landings of WW2 went from here. It must have been so different then.

Salcombe 1960s? - NOT amateur radio

Salcombe is where I lived as a young child. This photo probably dates from the early 1960s or even late 1950s. It shows the waterfront in Salcombe. 

Where I come from in South Devon - NOT amateur radio

This is where I come from in South Devon - Salcombe. I lived here until I was 9. We moved about 6 miles! 

Salcombe in the mist - NOT amateur radio

 

Salcombe, Devon is where I grew up as a child. The photo shows the harbour in the mist.