Societies

Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

Four Bidefordians Receive Certificates for Rescues

Four Bidefordians were on Monday presented with Royal Humane Society certificates on vellum in recognition of their prompt and courageous actions in local rescues.

The presentations took place at Bideford Borough Magistrates’ meeting and were made at the hand of the chairman, Mr. R.B. Blackmore, who on behalf of the magistrates and of the town warmly congratulated the recipients on their actions. “We are very proud to think that there are men in Bideford ready and able to maintain the traditions of courage which have characterised their predecessors in this ancient borough”, he said.

The awards were introduced by Police Inspector E.H. Turner.

The first award concerned a rescue from the River Torridge last August. The recipient of the testimonial in this instance, said the Inspector, was Mr. Charles Henry Davis, aged 22, a railway clerk, of 48, Torrington Street, Bideford. One summer night, at about 10.45, a certain soldier, who was subsequently convicted before that court, took a motor cycle from the Quay. In turning the Bridge corner while riding it, he collided with the parapet of the bridge with considerable force. The rider was thrown over the parapet into the river. Luckily for him Mr. Davis was near and immediately discarded his coat and shoes and waited until the man, who was semi-conscious, floated to a convenient position. He then jumped from the bridge into the water, a distance of some 15 feet, held the man up and did his utmost to bring him into shore. Against the strong tide he was unable to bring the soldier in near enough without further assistance and Able Seaman Wm. Quigley, of 106, Milton Terrance, Swansea (who is to receive a similar award at Swansea) jumped in and assisted Mr. Davis to bring the soldier to the steps. The soldier was brought safely ashore and was taken to hospital.

The other three awards arose out of the rescue of a child in difficulties at Abbotsham Cliffs in the summer of 1953. The recipients were Mr. Archie Mitchell, a 49-years-old mason, of 4, Stanhope Terrace, Bideford, and two 17-year-olds, Ian Rudkin, an apprentice compositor, of 3, Coldharbour, Bideford, and Eric Littlejohns, a glove worker, of 17, Lower Gunstone, Bideford.

The Inspector said a Mr. C.E. Hastings, his wife and their two sons, aged eight and five, were on the beach at Greencliffe, Abbotsham, when suddenly Mr. Hastings looked round and found that the two boys were attempting to climb the cliff. The younger boy was only a matter of a few feet up, but the older boy was some 30 feet up. The cliff at this point was roughly 70 feet high and was very dangerous, having loose soil. The older boy was in a distressed condition. His nerve had failed and he was beginning to panic. The parents endeavoured to get at the boy but were unsuccessful. Mr. Mitchell, who was nearby, prawning, endeavoured to make a direct ascent to rescue the boy and got up between 20 and 30 feet and then lost his foothold and slithered down, fracturing a muscle of his shoulder and receiving lacerations of both legs and an injury to his head. The two boys, Ian Rudkin and Eric Littlejohns, were also near at hand and they eventually got to the spot where the boy was and managed to get him down to safety without injury.

The facts of both rescues had teen reported to the Royal Humane Society, added the Inspector, and the Society had seen fit to recognise the actions of those concerned by making awards.

The chairman hoped the recipients would give their testimonials a place of honour in their home as a reminder of very courageous acts.

5 November 1954

Swansea Devonians At Bideford

Eighty visitors accorded civic reception

Some eighty members of the Swansea Devonian Society visited Bideford on Saturday as part of a day’s trip to North Devon, renewing old acquaintances, re-visiting familiar places and some generally recalling in happy vein their younger days spent in their home county.

At Bideford, as at other places, they were accorded a civic welcome by the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs W H Short.

Landing at Ilfracombe, the party went to Combe Martin, the birthplace of their president, Mr John Allen, where they were entertained to coffee. Later they went to Barnstaple where they lunched with the Mayor, Mr A C Blackmore and reached Bideford in time for tea at Mitchell’s Café when they were the guests of the Mayor and Mayoress

The Mayoress having been presented with a bouquet by Mrs Allen, the wife of the President, the Mayor welcomed the visitors. He said he was glad to recognise the faces of people who more recently left the area, and hoped that on their return to Swansea, they would each be able to say ‘I’ve been home; I’ve renewed old associations; my native county is as dear to me as the day I first left it’.

Mr F Lamerton, a past President of the Association at present residing in Exeter, who had come to Bideford to see some of his friends, entertained the company with a monologue in Devonshire dialect.

Mr F T Upton said he was glad to be able to return some of the hospitality that was shown to him and his wife when they visited Swansea during his term of office as Mayor three years ago.

The toast of ‘our visitors’ was proposed by the Town Clerk, Mr F C Backway. Mr A McTaggart Short, of Cardiff, brother of the Mayor, thanked the company for the opportunity of meeting the Swansea Devonians. He read an extract from a poem by Edward Capern.

Endorsing the president’s remarks, the president-elect, Mr W J Webber) said he had been most impressed with the welcome that had been received.

Mr F Drew, a past president of the Society, and the son of the founder, said that he had looked forward to this visit to Devon for a long time.

The singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and musical honours accorded to the Mayor, the visitors left for Ilfracombe to board the boat for home.

The full Gazette article is dated 1 September 1950

Whist drive for Garden Society

Hartland Cottage Garden Society

funds will benefit by £13 as a result of a whist drive held at Hartland Women’s Institute room on Tuesday night of last week. Mr L J Middle was MC and there were 15½ tables.

Mrs D Bomford, who has been elected vice-chairman of the society to replace the late Mr M Prouse, was in charge of refreshments. Mr Reg Hollis organised a competition for a bottle of wine which was won by Mr F Bragg. The second prize, twenty cigarettes, was won by Mr John Walter, of Philham.

Whist winners were: Mrs W Goaman, Mrs L Jeffery, Miss F Spanswick, Mr W Johns, Mrs A Mugford, Mrs F Bailey, Miss R Vanstone, Mr Curry, Mrs M Jeffery, Mr S Burrow, Mrs A Burrow, Mrs L Littlejohns, Mr T Westlake.

Gazette article dated 21 March 1958