100 Years Ago

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.

January 1966

Births and anniversaries announced – Mabel and Eddie Bond; Hold; Jane and Jack Eastmond, a son, Christopher John; Janet and Geoffrey Fanson, a daughter, Tracey Jane; Verna and Roger Frayne, a son, Richard; Betty and John Lawrence, a son, Keith William; Rosemary and Christopher May, a daughter, Tonia Louise; Fiona and Gerald Tolley, a brother for Jeremy, Christopher Paul; Jill and Michael Jewell, a son, brother for Karen and Clare; Angela and Robert Moore, a son, Brian John; Dawn and Billy Raymond, a son, Christopher; Walter and Yvonne Wyborn, a son, Bruce Walter; Jennifer and Michael Evans, a daughter, Jayne Caroline; Hazel and David Harvey, a son, Francis Edward Victor; Claudine and Molwyn Jones, a sister for Joanne and Suzanne; Sylvia and John Langdon, a son, Timothy James, brother for Martyn and Jeremy; Sandra and Terry Prouse, a son, Jeremy Sinclair; Jean and William Tailyour, a son, Jonathon William Gordon; Ruth and Peter Wise, a daughter.

A £200,000 order for a new fire-fighting tug has been placed by J H Pigott and Son Ltd with Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd.

When the 1st Appledore Company of the Boys' Brigade recently disbanded it seemed that Appledore would also lose its band which had been built up over the past 15 years by the Brigade with the late Mr H Matthews as bandmaster. Happily a new Appledore Silver Band has been formed to carry on the tradition, using the same instruments and largely composed of players associated with the former band.

Ubiquitus writes - How pleasant it is to begin a new year with an old custom – the annual New Year’s Day distribution of loaves at the nearby Town Hall. The charitable aspect has become pleasantly combined with the opportunity to make it something of a minor social occasion, and the exchange of good wishes for the new year with the town’s chief citizen.

Mr Roger Chope has been elected a trustee of the John Andrew Charity of Bideford, in place of his late uncle, Mr Norman H Chope. Thirty years ago when Mr N H Chope was elected at the age of 29, he was the youngest trustee. Mr Roger Chope is 29 and also the youngest trustee. Now head of the Bideford drapery firm, Chopes, of High Street, he has, like his late father, Mr Arthur K Chope, been a keen rugby football man locally.

Matrimonial quiz.

Before workmen demolishing a dozen houses in Willett Street, Bideford, have moved out, cars have moved in. The site is destined to become an official car park but although the cottages have gone there is still clearing up to be done. The possibility of allocating spaces to business people on an annual rental has been suggested. But use of the site as a car park is somewhat complicated by narrow approaches and the fact that two properties remain. One is Lavington Cottage, and the other No. 6. Unlike these two, the 12 were unfit for human habitation and incapable of being made to fit at reasonable cost. Other clearance schemes carried through by the Council were at Torridge Street and Rectory Cottages at the top of High Street. Under preparation from the point of view of legal formalities is the biggest yet, affecting Pimlico, Providence Row and Honestone Street.

Interest in Bideford’s need for relief to its famous and historic Long Bridge, to meet modern traffic conditions, grows. Mr P Booker Cooke, MSIA, writes “I receive the Gazette regularly through my wife’s mother who lives in Appledore. Your issue of October 15th gave a brief description of the plans ahead. I drew a sketch plan which, at the time, looked to have great possibility, both from a common sense and economical angle.”

One by one those things outside Mr and Mrs Dan Crosta’s home at 22 Old Town, Bideford, are disappearing. But at least one will remain, Bideford Town Council decided.

Miss Penny Vousden, an Old Girl of West Bank School, whose home is Kenwith Barton, Bideford, has recently formed her own secretarial and typing agency in London, where she has been working for a market research organisation for the past five years.

Bideford Grammar School sixth formers have added GCE O Level subjects taken at Christmas to those already passed: J N Bennett, M Budge, E A Colegate, G M Granger, K J Hunkin, G Jones, J E Lott, P D Martin, A S McKenzie, P C Nicholls, G A Oliver, A Robinson, C D Short, J F Short, R R Shute, R J Smart, G Staddon, P A Waters and R G Young.

Methodist headquarters have agreed that there ‘certain irregularities’ over the closing of the Bideford Bridge Street Church. It is for that reason that the property has not been offered for sale and that the whole matter is being held up until after the meeting of Conference. This was alleged by Miss Jean Hannaford, a trustee, and an opponent from the beginning of the amalgamation of the former Bridge Street and High Street Societies.

Members of well-known contractor families, Mr Michael Ralph Fishleigh and Miss Shirley Mary Wooldridge, were married at Woodacott Methodist Church, Thornbury. The bride, a member of Thornbury WI is the only daughter of Mr and Mrs W J Wooldridge, of Windy Cross, and the bridegroom is the second son of Mr and Mrs M J Fishleigh of Estate Works, Galsworthy, Buckland Brewer.

Clovelly ‘back road’ battle.

The Mothers’ Union of All Saints Church, Clovelly, organised a whist drive towards the renovation of Parkham Church which was recently damaged by lightning. The Rev R O H Eppingstone was MC and the door steward was Mr K Hesketh. There were 12 tables in play. Mrs T Jones, the Enrolling Member, presented the prizes too Mrs J Stoneman, Mrs J Beer, Mrs P Littlejohns, Mrs A Johns, Mr J Stoneman, Mrs L May. Highest scores were Mrs K Braund, Miss Spanswick, Mrs Goaman, Mr V Stoneman. Booby prizes were won by Mrs R Stoneman and Rev Eppingstone. Draw winners were Mrs R Stoneman, Mr J Stoneman and Mrs Tridgell. The event raised ten guineas.

Numbers limit could stop village dances at Frithelstock Village Hall Mr J H Allin told Torrington justices.

Last spring a photograph was published of a senior group of ‘Les Girls’ of Hartland, who provided one of the highlights of a concert in aid of Cancer Campaign Funds. The younger generation is gracefully maintaining the theme, as these schoolgirls of Hartland demonstrated at the end of term concert.

As there appeared to be a shortage at Hartland of building sites in acceptable positions the suggestion has been to Bideford Rural Council that they should consider purchasing some land, provide it with necessary services and then sell off sites for private development. The suggestion was made in connection with the application for proposed development at Ball Hill for Mr R Prouse. The application was refused.

For 30 years a priest in North Devon, the Rev H L Hustwayte, who is now 73, is retiring at Easter as Rector of Instow, which appointment he has held for the past ten years. He will not be leaving North Devon but, as a semi-retirement post, will have charge of the little church of St Anne’s, Saunton. An authority on beekeeping, he has taken many premier awards with his exhibits of honey at Devon County Show. Mrs Hustwayte was for some years enrolling member of Instow Mothers’ Union and also takes a keen interest in the Women’s Institute.

Representatives of the local organisations in which he had taken an interest were among the large congregation at the funeral at Instow parish church of Mr Sidney George Nancekivell, of Rock Cottage, Instow. The Rector, Rev J I Hustwayte, officiated and Mrs C Atwood was at the organ.

Twelve year old Vivienne Brewer who inherited from her father an interest in rabbit breeding and showing has beaten him at his own game. She took up the hobby three years ago and now one of her Silver Fox rabbits has become a champion. Vivienne, who lives with her parents at Merton – her father is head forester there to the Clinton Devon Estate – and who attends Torrington County Secondary School, is seen with one of her pets. Stephen, Vivienne’s brother, also bred and showed rabbits but none of his ever achieved a championship.

The funeral has taken place at Monkleigh Parish Church of Miss Bessie Bissett, of Elm Grove, Bideford, and formerly of Monkleigh. The Vicar, Rev L Budge, officiated and Miss M Redcliffe at the organ accompanied the hymns. Attending included: Mr and Mrs C Beer, Mr and Mrs G Nicholls, Messrs C Nicholls and W Porter; Mesdames T Inch and W Prouse, L Steer (also representing Mrs L Baglow), W Whitlock, E Nicholls and T Blight.

Mrs Winifred Jane Bradford, wife of the late Mr C G Bradford, who for 25 years was associated with her husband in the family butcher’s business at Northam Square, has died. Mrs Bradford was a member of Northam Mothers’ Union.

Northam WI commemorated the golden jubilee of the Women’s Institute movement by presenting a seat for use of the public. The chairman of Northam Urban Council, Mr A C Saunders, seen sitting in the centre of the seat, accepted the gift on behalf of the community. Sitting on the right is the Clerk to the Council, Mr Alan Gardner.

Mr Donald Honey of Oliver House, Parkham, and the three passengers he had in his car had narrow escapes for they were driving past the church at the time the lightning struck.

A chimney at Church Ford, Little Torrington, fell and crashed through the roof of a garage smashing a car and causing damage estimated at £600 during the recent storms. The owner of the building, Mr and Mrs Robert Page, were both asleep at the time and no one in the vicinity apparently heard a crash, but Mrs Page thinks the accident occurred between five and six o’clock.

Farmer friends – Messrs C Britton, R Lowe, H Hunkin, G Hookway, J Hookway and S Cook - were bearers at the funeral at Torrington of Mrs Florence Gertrude Hobbs, widow of Mr Frederick Hobbs. Mrs Hobbs died at her home, 5 Calf Street. The service at Howe Congregational Church was conducted by the Rev W Oriel James and the organist was Mrs T Squire.

Appreciation of the work of their teachers was expressed in gift form at the annual Christmas party of the children of St Michael’s, Torrington Sunday School. Refreshments were prepared by the Torrington Mothers’ Union, and the music provided by Mr Sid cRees and his band. The MC was Mr Ralph Mitchell. Father Christmas was played by Mr Edward Harrison, son of the Vicar, Rev P G Harrison. A variety concert was given by young members of the choir. Sunday School teachers Mr Walter Webber, Miss L Mathews, Misses Wendy Lugg, Sally Darch, Judith Downing, Daphne Moore and Jean Wheeler were presented with boxes of chocolates. These were handed to them by Neil and Robert Plows, Robert Briggs, Malcolm Trimm and Caroline Camp. On leaving the hall after a most enjoyable time, each child received bags of sweets from Father Christmas.

Nearly 300 adults and children attended the children’s annual party given by the Sports and Social Club of Unigate Dairy, Torrington, and held in the factory canteen on Saturday. As usual the highlight was the delicious tea prepared by the canteen staff. Party games were enjoyed and on leaving the children, whose ages ranged from months to 15 years, received sweets, an orange and a balloon. The Club provided buses to carry the guest to and from town.

Westleigh County Primary School plans for a swimming pool.

Bideford builders Messrs Acford and Waldron have won an appeal against the refusal of Northam Urban Council, acting for the County Council, to approve plans for the erection of three terraced bungalows and garages at ‘Aysha’ off Golf Links Road, Westward Ho!

The Follies present ‘Dick Whittington’ written and produced by Ada Powell. Leading parts are taken by: Judy Kelly, Marion Owen, Bill Thisby, Geraldine Jewell, Stephen Shortridge, Anthony Eagle, Jean Moon, Lee Lancaster, Janette Moon, Doris Thisby, Vicky Hosegood, Jacqueline Turner, Arthur Eagle, Muriel Eagle, David Clegg, Phyllis Stevens, Ruth Smallridge and David Eveleigh.

To mark the golden jubilee of the Women’s Institute movement, Westward Ho! WI are to give to the district an outdoor electric clock. They had suggested that it might be sited at the main putting green. When this was reported to Northam Urban Council, the chairman, Mr A C Saunders, expressing gratitude, recalled that the Council recently received a public seat, a gift from Northam WI.

A 16 year old Edgehill College sixth-former was one of over 1,000 young people from 44 countries including Vietnam, Korea and the Congo, who attended a special ‘peace’ conference at Caux, near Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The trip cost Joy Leach, of The Pottery, Yelland Manor, Yelland, just £22. Joy went to Switzerland a week before the conference began and earned her keep in the kitchens and waiting in the mansion where the conference was held. During the conference she sang in a 200 strong international chorus and this summer she intends to return to rehearse with the choir for a tour of Europe.

December 1968

Do you remember Tiffen’s Taxi Service at Sunnyside, Appledore?

Richard Back of 8a Market Street, Appledore, received three awards at the presentation of incentive bonuses to apprentices of Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd at the Appledore Hall. He has been employed as a joiner for four and a half years, and has won the Shipyard’s carpentry and joinery bonus, the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers’ annual award for the best woodworking apprentice employed outside the building industry. Last year this award was won by another Appledore Shipyard apprentice, Norman Harris. Teamwork bonuses went to G R Thisby, C J Cloke, P Williams, D J Harkness, R S Stevens, M G Tkaczuk; M Stevens, J O Gordon, P H Mugford, R Ford, A R Johnson, N J Meadows, B R Skinner, R G Beal, S McMurray, J Alexander, B C Fisher, R Dowding, D Bliman, A M Bedlar, R James, A J Newcombe, R A Cawsey, R T Gubb, P Martin, A W Back, N W Harris, R Back, A Powe, P M Stojic, R J Harris, G White, D Godfrey, K Reeve, S Schiller, A R Johnson, N R Meadows, C Edwards and D Bowden.

The Women’s Section of Appledore British Legion held a very successful social evening at Appledore Hall. Over 90 sat down to dinner, presided over by the president Mrs A Valentine. Chairman Mrs W Hare welcomed the members and their guests and the branch chairman, Mr W Lamey, moved a vote of thanks to the women’s section committee members who were responsible for the food, most of which was given. Miss Shirley Hocking organised the games and dancing. Mrs W Eastman was pianist for community singing.

When Mr W E V Cooke, of Kilrenny, Raleigh Hill, Bideford, entered his car to drive to work on Friday he found it had bald tyres – and that certainly had not been the case the night before. Further examination showed that the wheels were not the originals either. His garage is situated a short distance from the house and the doors had been removed some time ago. The thieves may have noted this, or may have seized the opportunity when their Corsair developed a puncture around 3am on Friday. “They were very cheeky” Mrs Cooke told the Gazette. “And they were not in any hurry”. Not only did they exchange the four tyres, they even replaced the hub caps on Mr Cooke’s car.

Mrs Wynne Olley and staff wish you a very happy Christmas.

The residents of Copps Close in Bideford have held their Christmas party with the Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr and Mrs P J V Fulford among those visiting. Entertainment was provided by Mrs E M Brown, Mrs E M Hoare, Mr D French, Mr R Colome, Mr J Coonam and Mr Hibbers, with Mrs F Hicks as the accompanist. Mr W Bennett was the compere.

AMP to expand at Bideford. More good news of the prospect of more jobs locally. Since they opened their new factory premises at East-the-Water last April, after operating a pilot factory at Appledore, the firm of Aircraft Marine Products (Great Britain) Ltd have doubled their labour force and at present employ 160. Now it is planned to spend an estimated £120,000 on extending the factory premises. This is expected to provide another 75 jobs. The news of the development follows closely on the announcement that the M.P.J factory, which is only a short distance away, is also to be re-opened early in the New Year.

Off they dash! Three miles of countryside faced this group of boys from Bideford County Secondary School. In the photograph, alongside the individual winner, Michael Hawkins is seen with three of his team mates from Kingsley House. They are Colin Found, David Schiller and Philip Cornish. In the junior boys’ event Drake House came first, Kingsley second and Grenville third. The first four individual placings were 1. Graham Boddy; 2, John Slee; 3, Geoffrey Edwards; 4. John Balfour.

Bideford Blues Reserves who are around the mid-way mark in Junior Division II. They are Dave Hooper, Eddie Nicholls, John Coote, Tom Richardson, Dave Baglow, John Berry, Brian Jones, Ossie Williams, Pat Riley, John Brimacombe, Geoff Fanson and Bob Barter.

Bideford Grammar School win the Bideford area contest in a road safety quiz. The team consisted of Bryan Cooks, David Bradford, Peter Cooper and John West. Winners of the Barnstaple area contest was Marist Convent School and Petronela Pokoj received a trophy from Mrs Ethelwynne Brown.

Three Bideford girls stole the show at the National Judo Championship in London. At the request of Masutaro Otani and National coach to the British Judo Council, the girls Jacqueline Francis of 6 Mill Street, Sally Ellis of Highfield Place, and Gillian Hooper of Stucley Road, gave a performance of the demonstration which formed part of the North Devon Judo Academy’s display at Bideford’s Trades Exhibition earlier this year.

Mrs Joan Davis, assistant matron at the Torridge Hospital, Bideford, is presented with a cheque for £800 at her home by ‘Guards Girl’ Pat Stevens. Mrs David, of 6 Glenburnie House, won a Ford Escort GT in a Guards Competition – Date the Guards – run in the West Country during the summer. But her husband, Mr Philip Davis, had recently bought a new car so she decided to have the money instead.

Celebrate New Year at Tanton’s Hotel with Egon Rix and the Country Club Four.

Giant of the bay at Clovelly – one that did not get away but caused damage to herring fishing nets. This giant basking shark, 23 feet long and 12 feet around the middle, is believed to be the largest every caught at Clovelly. It was caught by 18 year old Mervyn Mountjoy, of 23 Bridgeland Street, Bideford, and 17 year old Bernard Braund, of 25 High Street, Clovelly, when Mervyn was using his new 14½ foot boat for the first time.

Children of Instow County Primary School om the colourful costumes of their end of term Christmas production. It was a pantomime entitled ‘Elise and the Wild Swans’, the script being by Mrs Parsons and Miss Humphreys. Both performances were played to packed houses.

Littleham Colts – R Bryant, B Beer, C Huxtable, M Huxtable, R Smale, and P Wood - highly-placed in Division IV of Bideford Skittles League, were jolted out of the first round of the Starkey Cup Competition. They were given a 48-pin hammering by First Division title contenders Alwington – Les Wonnacott, Fred Leverton, Les Elston, Bill Branch, Arthur Bailey and Brian Metherall.

To pay around £30,000 for Burrows? No public poll having been demanded within the statutory seven days of the public meeting approving the Parliamentary Bill by which Northam Urban Council are to buy the freehold of the Burrows, the only problem would appear to be the agreement with the Royal North Devon Golf Club. The question of the agreement with the club has to be settled and the club have also said they will petition against the inclusion in the Bill of certain matters concerning golf. But if all goes well the Bill, now deposited, will become law by October and the Council then expect to pay into court around £30,000 which will buy them the freehold. This sum will be the subject of a claim by the heirs of the Melhuish estate, to which the Burrows would have reverted in 1970 at the expiry of a 200-year lease.

This wrought iron lectern, made by Andrew Howard, a pupil of Grenville College, Bideford, has been given for use in Northam’s new Church School. Seen with the lectern, which is temporarily housed in Northam Parish Church until the new school is completed, are the headmaster of Northam School, Mr George Harrison, with head boy Roger Harris and head girl Helen Price alongside him, and a group of other pupils. The lectern was designed by Mr Eric Locker and incorporates the traditional eagle.

Chris Boon, the son of Mr and Mrs H W Boon of Windmill Lane, Northam, strikes again! Ever since the 15 year old Bideford Grammar School pupil joined the Bideford and District Angling Club earlier this year, he has been beating the veterans of the sport. Now he has capped it all by smashing the club conger record with a fish of 26lb – double the weight of the previous best. The fish was caught when Chris was fishing from the rocks at Westward Ho!

Jim Long, the Royal North Devon golfer, has joined the Watford driving range as a teaching professional. Jim played for England boys when living in Gloucestershire, and on moving to Devon quickly established himself, and this year played for the South-West against the Midlands, and finished joint second in the Devon open.

An Irishman who joined the Royal Irish Rifles at the age of 16 to serve in the First World War, was seriously wounded and has carried a piece of shrapnel in his head for the past 51 years, celebrated his golden wedding at Torrington. He is Mr David James Atchison, of 115 New Street, a retired turf accountant, who met his wife Gwen Short when he was convalescing at the Sydney House, Torrington, after being invalided home from France. Mr and Mrs Atchison were married at the Baptist Church by the Rev J Mayo on December 22nd 1918. There are three children – Miss Beryl Atchison; Mrs Sylvia Symons and Mr Gerald Atchison who lives in Bideford. There are five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Many local English guests, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Torrington, Mr and Mrs W S Hutchings, and parties from Dartington Hall and the Beaford Arts Centre, joined Swedish employees at the Torrington factory of Dartington Glass Ltd in celebrating with a party on St Lucia Day, an ancient Swedish custom observed in mid-December. The attendance of about 200 included Swedish employees and their families numbering 35. The main festivities were in the glass blowing shed where the Swedish craftsmen fashion glass which is now exported all over the world. There were Swedish songs and dances around the Christmas tree, led by Mr E Vilhelmsson, the manager. In reply the English guests taught the Swedes some group dances and Christmas carols.

Did you go to The Atlanta Hotel at Westward Ho! for Christmas and New Year celebrations when Dave Spear increased by one from a trio to a quartet?

Junior Lance-Corporal Clarence Dunn, aged 17, of 6 Sunnyside, Woolsery, receives a farewell handshake from his commanding officer, Lieut-Col John O’Brien, after the autumn term passing-out parade of the Junior Leaders’ Regiment, at Taunton. Clarence was one of 49 Junior Leaders graduating to adult service at the end of two years’ training.

An evening of hymn singing was held at All Hallows Church, Woolsery, when the selection included hymns from the Methodist and Ancient and Modern hymn books. Solos were sung by Mr French, and the organist was Mr C B Griffiths. The Vicar, Rev S Roy Northmore, introduced the hymns. Following the service a hot pasty supper was held in the parish hall. Helpers were Mesdames N Gorrell, A C Perkins, D Braund, H Thomas, R Peard, J Raffe, T Braund, J Gorrell, and Miss J Kemble and others. A stall was run by Mrs and Miss Paddon.

December 1922 Christmas Shopping

Local shops and their wares

If you were short of ideas for Christmas presents 100 years ago, Bideford traders have plenty of suggestions to help you:

A W Bennett of Market Place urges readers to give presents that will be APPRECIATED, including table lamps, coal vases and bird cages.

A Lewis of 43 Mill Street offers high class slippers and footwear, also a large selection of toys.

Slippers can also be bought from Watts' in Mill Street.

And there's already a 'great Xmas bargain sale' at B A Wilcox in the High Street.

Heywood & Cock have a special show of choice but inexpensive fabrics, including Crepe-de-Chene at 5/11d a yard and coloured Jap Silks at 2/11d. If you want to redecorate for Christmas, The Central Paint Warehouse at 27 High Street Bideford has a choice selection of paper hangings and paint. Also in Bideford, your bumpy mattress can be remade and returned the same day by G Lang of 7 Grenville Street; new furniture is available from G H Passmore of Allhalland Street and Bishops of 16 Market Place, both shops having clearance sales of chairs and settees.

For gifts for gentlemen, visit William Short in Mill Street.

Useful articles for Yuletide gifts can be purchased from W J Cording & Son in Grenville Street. And if you want to buy something for chlidren, go to W Wood's in Meddon Street.

After securing a personal visit to the largest Factory in England, Braddick's Store has a 'Christmas Show' and for you can buy a Fairy Cycle and build the Eiffel Tower with Meccano:

Obviously pot pourri and incense burners aren't a modern phenomenon as they can be purchased from Hopson's Stores in Allhalland Street, along with the 'most confortable chair sold today' the LAXELAIZY.

Do you need a gong? Go to H I Meredith in the High Street.

Thinking of our tummies, you can get 'Calafornian fruits', pine apple, apricotts and other specialities from The London Central Meat Co. Ltd in Mill Street and Christmas cakes can be purchased from Brooks' Cafe.

Something that has lasted is Atora suet but a comepetitor, Sueflakes, doesn't seem to have.

If your budget stretched to something more expensive, a large advert from Heard Brothers garage in Bideford caught our eye this month. The Buick and Chevrolet names are recognised but not those of Calcott and Oakland - the former was based in Coventry and began as a bicycle manufacturer; the latter, Oakland, was American, a short-lived brand owned by General Motors.

Ford cars were more affordable but still beyond the reach of most people as the average weekly wage was around £2-10-0 to £3 in 1922 and you could buy a house for £600.