Medical

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.

A Gold Badge for having given 50 pints of his blood

is presented to Mr Jack Sinclair at a blood transfusion service session at Bideford.

In the picture the Mayor of Bideford, Major E Hill, is seen presenting the badge, together with a certificate, to Mr Sinclair

Mr Sinclair, who lives in Geneva Place, Bideford, is caretaker of Bideford County Secondary School. He is a former Scoutmaster of the 2nd Bideford Group.

Fifty of the 168 donors at this latest session were new ones. Never before had they had so many new donors, said Miss P Durant, commandant of Devon 48 detachment of the Red Cross and for many years a local organiser for blood-doning sessions. “It is a most encouraging response, but we are looking for more” she added. “There is an opportunity for other new donors to come forward at Bideford at a session on March 7”.

In Red Cross uniform are Miss D Thomas, one of the local blood-doning session organisers, Miss P Durant and Miss P Gammon, North Devon area organiser.

Gazette article dated 1 February 1974

Mass Radiography Service

SAFEGUARD YOUR HEALTH

Have a chest x-ray
AT BIDEFORD – THE PILL CAR PARK
(By Strand Cinema)

THURSDAY 16TH SEPT. AND THURSDAY 30 SEPT.
From 2pm to 3pm every day

FREE CHEST X-RAYS FOR ALL OVER 15 YEARS

Gazette article dated 10 September 1965

Health Amenities Fund

Gifts to Bideford Hospital

Mr C H Stanbury, Mrs L Taylor, Sister Martin, Mrs Stanbury, Mr M J Pearce, Sister Squance, Mrs Arnold, Miss E M Botting and Mrs Martin

Last year, in its first year of operation, the Health Amenities Fund, sponsored by the Exeter and Western Counties Hospital Aid Society, raised £70 in this area and this is being distributed to local hospitals in the form of gifts to meet patients' needs.

Two Parker Knoll armchairs and an electric hair drier, to the value of £20, were presented to Bideford and District Hospital at a ceremony on Friday afternoon. Items valued at £40 are to be given to the Torridge Hospital and value £10 to the Torrington Cottage Hospital. The money has been raised by voluntary efforts, including jumble sales and competitions, and this year the area committee have set themselves a target of at least £100. A flag day is being held at the end of August to augment other efforts.

At Friday's presentation at Bideford Hospital, the gifts were handed over in the presence of members of the local committee by Mr M J Pearce, of Westleigh, the area chairman, and Mr C H Stanbury, of Bideford, area secretary. The armchairs are for use in the men's ward and the hair drier for use in the women's ward. The gifts were received on behalf of the hospital by the Matron,

Miss E M Botting, who thanked all associated with the fund for their generous and kindly gesture.

Gazette article dated 29 April 1955