100 Years Ago

Years Ago - May

May 1922

The first thing that caught our eye this month was a meeting of the Bideford and District Rescue and Preventive Association. It has links to the Diocese of Exeter and looks to be a forerunner of the Women’s Refuge movement. There is a report from the Barnstaple Shelter, where the costs are 8 shillings a week for a girl and 10 shillings and 6 pence for a mother and child.

Picking up on a story from last month, the new motor lifeboat for Appledore station was expected to arrive under her own power on or around 3 May. She has not yet been named. It seems she did arrive as expected because on 23 May she was called out to help the crew of the motor trawler Unity from Milford Haven. The Unity caught fire in the bay between Clovelly and Appledore while under the control of Coxswain Craner. All the crew were rescued by the lifeboat and the vessel subsequently wrecked near Rock’s Nose. Does anyone know what this new lifeboat was named?

In national news, there was a Budget on 1 May where 1 shilling was taken off Income Tax. Postage on letters is to be 1½d and postcards will be 1d. There is to be a new basis for tax on agricultural land. Ahead of the forthcoming General Election, Bideford Conservatives have been addressed by prospective candidate Mr W H Hewins. The speeches were interspersed with songs from Mr Johns and Mr Routley, Miss Short presiding at the piano.

There are protests at the continuing delay in moving forward the Torrington to Halwill railway scheme. This scheme would provide much needed work, meanwhile thousands of pounds are being paid out in unemployment benefit.

Mr Rendell of the Bideford District Employment Committee complains that six trucks of stone for road mending at Instow have come from Tavistock, when local quarries could be reopened and men employed there. The prospect of work on the railway is drawing tramps to the locality. There were 35 casuals at Bideford Workhouse at the beginning of the month compared to 11 at the same time last year. Torrington Guardians report an intake of 70 rather than 8 last year. Around half of these are regarded as genuine working men.

Messrs Yeo Brothers have guaranteed to build 6 or 8 houses at Instow if the council would extend the sewer to within 100 feet of the highest house. This would give employment to several men.

Fishermen in Appledore report that salmon fishing is very slack at present, possibly due to the recent heavy rainfall.

A concert by the Musical Festival Society in aid of Bideford Hospital features soloists Miss Hetty Gent, Mr J Northcote and Mr McWhinnie together with an orchestra of 35 performers. The event – held at the Market Hall – was attended by an audience of around 800 people. Meanwhile the Pierrotland Concert Party continues to thrive with a one-night-only appearance at Lewis’s Café in Westward Ho! The keynote of future programmes will be comedy combined with refinement.

Mr Will Pfounds, who is with the Pierrotland Party, is a comedian producer with a large and varied experience. He has come to Bideford direct from London Hippodrome and London Coliseum, where he has been playing responsible parts and producing in Messrs De Courville and Wylie and Tates' big West End productions. He has a quiet, spontaneous humour which is highly appreciated and he is an established favourite with Pierrotland. No one should miss this opportunity of seeing him which he is with the party. Mr Ron Currie, at present appearing at Pierrotland, Bideford, is a comedian well known in the London area, likewise the North of England, having recently terminated a successful pantomime season as Widow Twankey in Aladdin at the Opera House, Leicester. He is only in Bideford for a few weeks and those who appreciate 'spontaneous subtlety' should not miss seeing him.

Mr William Heard of Shop, Morwenstow, has retired as rural postman after more than 30 years’ service. It is reported that he has “fulfilled his postal duties most faithfully, with real consideration to the convenience and needs of the people on his daily round”.

In food related stories, Wyatt’s Stores in Westward Ho! offer Boar’s Head Brawn and Galantines of Chicken alongside the usual ham and tongue. Eggs for pickling are available from L D Moseley, Staddon Poultry Farm, Appledore, while Mr Reynolds of Velly, Clovelly, will buy Bacon Pigs on behalf of the Central Wiltshire Bacon Co of Devizes. There's a battle of the bread producers - whose bread is best? - Reed's of Appledore lays claim!

There are several lost and found items this month:

4 sheep have been lost from Stibb Cross Auctions; they are marked blue on the off pin (leg?) and are the property of H Tucker, Commons Farm, Northam.

A dark blue blanket edged in red has been lost between Bucks Mills and Westward Ho! A reward for recovery can be claimed at Sea Vista, Westward Ho!

Several head of poultry have been lost at Parkham. It is not known whether a 2 legged or 4 legged Reynard (fox) is to blame.

Mr A G Davis, 30 Geneva Place, Bideford, offers a 10-shilling reward for information leading to the conviction of a person who stole 12 spring cabbages from his allotment.

Finally, it is reported that Major A Windham, formerly of The Balconies, Instow, was killed by his own spear while out boar hunting. Does anyone know where this happened?

May 1972

Bideford Round Table raised over £576 for charitable purposes in what had been an active year, the annual meeting was told. Of this amount, over £260 had been raised by the Christmas carol project which was to become an annual event with a target next Christmas of over £300. A go-kart meeting had raised £140 and £100 had been raised by a barn dance. Donations included £100 to Abbeyfield, £200 for multiple sclerosis research and £67 for Cheshire Homes. Mr Martin Burdick is the new chairman with Mr Graham Grant as vice-chairman. Secretary, Mr Peter Crossley; treasurer, Mr Peter Morris; social committee chairman, Mr Graham Binnie; projects committee chairman, Mr Alan Slater; community service chairman, Mr Brian Redmore; area representatives, Mr Grant and Mr Geoff Day; auditor, Mr Peter Jackson.

Wearing the badge presented to her for 15 years’ service to WRVS by the Mayor of Bideford, Mr Pat Hughes, is Mrs D Shortridge. The plaque held by Miss J Phillips (rural organiser) was sent by 234 Signals Squadron, Malta, in gratitude for many parcels of magazines and books she has dispatched to them. Also in the picture are Mrs P T Keene (centre organiser) and Mrs J Mosley (County organiser).

May 1972 Mrs Shortridge and Pat Hughes

Peter Druce is Bideford’s Player of the Year. Pictured are the players who have provided Bideford’s first team squad in their 1971-72 championship season. They are: John Mock, Colin Rowe, Steve Snell, Trevor Burnell, Russell Petersen, Derek May, Trevor Morris, Micky Hillson, David Ainscough, Trevor Anthony, Ben Murphy, Peter Druce, John Gauntlett, Brent Howard.

Bideford YC challengers once for the championship of Division III of North Devon League, can still win a trophy if they beat Shapland and Petter in the final of the North Devon Challenge Cup. The picture shows – Grenville Thisby, Brian Popham, Ron Screech, Chris Taylor, Ken Lloyd, Danny Oke, Pat Riley, Bob Way (trainer), Brian Hillman, Geoff Butler, Geoff Fanson, David Allen, Mike Tkaczuk, John Coote.

Pictured with their trophies are the chief winners at Bideford and District Darts League’s finals night held at the Bideford Centre. The Lamb Chops, winners of the sixes and threes in Division I and pairs and champion of champions cups pose with Mrs G Andrews, wife of the licensee of the Lamb – K Keen, O Trick, R Neale, D Heaman, K Hopkins, C Davey, I Warman. Singles winner Mervyn Parrish is congratulated by runner-up Herbie Smale as the Darts Queen, Mrs Beryl Sleigh, presents the trophy.

Two teams who have had a successful season in the Bideford Women’s Skittles League are the Tornadoes and the Coasters. The Tornadoes, who play at Bideford Liberal Club, won the champion of champions trophy and the Division II championship in their first year together. They are Mesdames E Beer, C Conebear, S Spry, M Clements, Miss E Jones and Mrs J Bell. The Coasters were runners-up in Division I and took the J Venus Cup for the highest away aggregate as well as the Sally Braddick and Mother’s Pride knock-out trophies. But winning trophies is no new thing for the Coasters. In the past six years they have won the J Venus cup six times, the Mother’s Pride cup three times, the Sally Braddick Rosebowl twice and the Gladys Fulford fruitbowl once. In this period, too, they have been champion of champions twice, Division I champion three times, and runners-up twice. And one of their members, Mrs G Redclift, has taken the individual trophy for the highest away scores. They are Miss J Copp, Mrs V Headon, Miss D Copp, Mrs G Redclift, and Mrs F Copp. Missing is Mrs D Woolridge.

About two in five of Bideford Town Council tenants qualified for rent rebates the Mayor, Mr Pat Hughes, told members. Of the 806 tenants, 524 had applied for rebates and 339 had qualified. They were receiving on average of £1. The Borough Treasurer, Mr T W Frankland, explained that after the Housing Finance Bill became law it would be necessary to publish details of the proposed fair rents and to notify tenants so that they could appeal in writing against the Council’s proposals.

All smiles as one of the eight coachloads of children and teachers from Bideford Westcroft Junior School, and parents, prepare to set off on a day trip to the Dart Valley. They enjoyed what for many of the children was a novelty – a ride on the Dart Valley Railway – with lunch at Staverton Bridge. A steamer trip up the Dart followed. The 200 children were on their way home before a jinx revealed itself. Inexplicably a windscreen on one coach shattered and then another coach broke down. A relief vehicle arrived, passengers transferred and then that coach also broke down. The second relief arrived home about 11.30pm – three hours after the other passengers. But all voted it a great day.

Girls will be attending Bideford Grammar School for the first time in the school’s long history when it re-assembles after the summer holidays. Devon County Education Committee have brought forward their plans for co-education because of the high proportion of girls who have been selected for grammar school courses this year with the result that there are more girls than places for them at Edgehill College and Stella Maris School. About 16 to 20 girls are expected to form the first group at the Grammar School.

Six Torridgeside Councils – Bideford Borough and Rural, Torrington Borough and Rural, Northam Urban and Holsworthy Rural - are likely to oppose the Boundary Commission’s proposal to set up one giant North Devon Council. At a lengthy meeting it was felt that such a large unit would be unwieldly in terms of decision making and local interests would not be clearly represented. How interested would a man in Lynton be in the affairs of a man at Hartland?

Identical in looks and dress – 11 year old twins Tony and Terry Gilbert, who added colour to Torrington’s May Fair ceremony.

The three Cramp sisters have the finishing touches deftly applied by the Mayoress, Mrs Dorothy Pollard and the dressmaker, Mrs Pat Martin, before taking part in May Fair celebrations.

So far Torrington Rural Council have not been inundated with Council house tenants wanting to buy their own houses. Until that happened the question of whether there should be a limitation on the number of houses sold did not arise, suggested the Clerk, Mr Bernard Leatt. At the moment, all applications to purchase were considered as they arose. There would be no difficulty, for instance, if the tenants of a pair of houses on the outskirts of an estate wanted to buy, but there might be a problems in dealing with an application for a house in the centre of a Council estate. Mr C H Trace raised the question about the limitation on selling on the grounds that there would always be a large number of people who could not raise mortgages and who had to rent houses.

Miss Margaret Heywood, of Broad Parkham Farm, Parkham, chosen as Buckland Brewer YFC dairy queen. At Barnstaple she competes for the area title.

When MP Mr Kenneth McIver, of Northam, Western Australia, presented in Northam, Devon, a plaque bearing the coat of arms of his town there was a direct family link. In the photograph – Mr Kenneth McIver, Mrs Reynolds, Dr Reynolds, Mr James Paterson and Council chairman Mr R H K Evers.

Skipper Mike Lloyd laces his boots before he and his Appledore Primary School team take the field for one of their important games of the season – against their mothers, who are also seen. Challengers were the mums – after the fathers had been beaten.

Although this has not been the best of seasons for Appledore Minors there is no doubt that they have footballing talent and some of the youngsters have already been making their mark in the higher grade. In the photo – Tom Waters (Club coach), Dave Smith, Alec Green, Paul Cook, Keith Peake, Ian Lamont, Chris Drayton, Len White (Club official), Geoff Giddy, Paul Barratt, Brian Cook, Micky Prouse and Alan Morse.

Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd are looking forward to £1,000,000 profits this year, announced Mr John Young, the managing director of Court Line.

The £2 million holiday complex scheme for Westward Ho! proposed by a private firm of developers has been turned down by Northam Urban Council. After taking the advice of the County Planning Officer, Mr Phipps Turnbull, and the Divisional Planning Officer, Mr J Sims, the Council considered the plan to be ‘premature’. But Mr John smith, chairman of the Council’s Highways and Amenities Committee, which considered the project, told the Council meeting “I personally feel rather sorry that a scheme of this magnitude could not be agreed by this Council.” He said it was a scheme which was quite comparable with the original scheme over 100 years ago which formed Westward Ho! Mr Smith said it would be “a great shame” if a company which had imagination and money and which, in vulgar terms, were prepared to put their money where their mouth was, was frightened away from the area.

May 1997

At the age of 70 Barbara Wearne of Instow is preparing for her last ‘big effort’ for charity – a near 500 mile bike ride through a mountainous region of Malawi. She is due to start her two-week ride on May 24 in an attempt to raise £1,050 for LEPRA, the British Leprosy Relief Association. This time Barbara will be a member of a group of 18 British cyclists taking part in the sponsored event through remote areas of Africa; they will travel up to 60 miles a day over often hilly terrain and dirt tracks. But first Barbara has been practicing hard on the hills of North Devon to get accustomed to the gears of the ladies’ mountain bike given to her by a member of Instow Church. “I am not really a bike rider and have been told just to use the five gears on one side or it might get too complicated” she said.

Wesley Withey of Torrington has been voted Hatherleigh Cricket Club’s best batsman for 1996.

Tadworthy House in Northam is a highly individual property with a detached tower house which provides self-contained two-bedroomed accommodation. The main house was built in the 16th century and has Georgian and Victorian extensions. It offers spacious six-bedroomed accommodation and was once run as a family hotel. An extensive programme of improvements has been undertaken in the past few years. Terraced and landscaped gardens extend to about a third of an acre.

Chapel House, Northam, is for sale.

Roy Bezzina of Ethelwynne Brown Close, Bideford, presented coins collected in milk bottles to Tarka Home Trust boosting their appeal to over £25,000. The Trust provides residential facilities for local people with autism. Weare Giffard Hall is hosting another fund raising event this month.

Sir Bobby Charlton was a proud president of Shamwickshire Rovers (East-the-Water). Yes, it was him of Manchester United and England fame! Do you know the story behind that? The Rovers had just won the North Devon League Premier Division title for the first time in nearly 80 years.

Retiring Mayor of Bideford, Hugo Barton, showed his support for a ‘forgotten group’ when he handed £670 to Bideford and Torridgeside Carers Support Group. The presentation was one of Mr Barton’s final acts as Mayor, and the money was raised at the annual Civic Ball, the town’s carol concert and from donations received from visitors taking part in recently established guided town trails. The picture shows Mr Babb and fellow support group members receiving the cheque.

Appledore’s lifeboat’s Coxswain, Michael Bowden, presented a painting of the Lifeboat Station to Dave Garrett who has served for 30 years.

Advertising wars between Tesco and Sainbury’s – according to this Tesco advert, the same items would have cost £45.02 at J Sainsbury’s.

News from May 1964

The news in May 1964

Mr Short, or Captain as he was well known to many, was paid respects from bell ringing colleagues throughout the Hartland Deanery assembled at Littleham Parish Church. His bearers were Messrs F Daniel, F Baily, H Smale, Hillman, K Poole and R Daniel – of Alwington tower.

Sixteen year old Miss Delys Gent was chosen to be this year’s Queen of Torrington May Fair carnival which takes place Saturday May 9^th. Chosen as her four attendants were Mrs Yvonne Squire, Miss Loveday Tucker, Miss Rosemary Badcock and Miss Dawn Sanders. The crowning ceremony was performed by Mrs B Whittaker of Dolton. The other competitors were Misses Jennifer Wickett, Anne Gill, Carmela Atard, Diane Hearn, Linda Bryant, Margaret Rose, Margaret Keenor, Barbara Hookway, Margaret Harris, Shirley Tuach, Beryl Trathen, Maureen Luxton, Beryl Tucker and Susan Jewell.

The Battle of Trafalgar caused almost as much chaos in Torrington as it did in the French navy way back in history. Two 30-foot three masted galleons fully rigged and in full sail, left a trail of damage and a litter-strewn ‘battlefield’ as they re-enacted Nelson’s famous victory of 1805. The galleons were one of the most ambitious entries ever seen in a May Fair Carnival. They were entered jointly by two Torrington building firms – Messrs Alexander Bros and W H Tolley – and a firm of plumbers, Messrs Sing and Gist. A later article stated that the builders were disappointed about the judges’ decision to award Yarnscombe Women’s Institute the award for best entry.

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government has accepted Torrington Town Council’s proposals for the erection of old people’s flats on the site of the old Clinton almshouses in New Street. The flats will be in two blocks, one of six and the other of four. The Town Clerk, Mr S J Parkes, told the Council’s General Purposes Committee that builders in the neighbourhood were being invited to tender for the work. The number of outpatient attendances during February and March at Torrington Cottage Hospital was 134, which was good for a hospital of that size.

Items from Darracott Farm, Torrington, are for sale.

Gush and Dent Ltd, of Hampshire has applied for a factory site in Castle Gardens, New Road, Torrington.

Do you remember the Rendezvous Grill Bar at the Globe Hotel in Torrington?

New Roman Catholic chapels for Hartland and Torrington.

Local smiths at Hartland, Mr T H Conibear and his merry men, son Jimmy and assistant Dennis Jeffery, strike hard and well.

Among bequests by Mr Peter Francis Carew Stucley, who died on March 7^th, aged 54, is £500 upon trust for the repair and upkeep of St Nectan’s Church, Hartland, so long as they keep in good order the tablet to his late brother, Major Lewis R C Stucley, in that church, and the cross in the churchyard commemorating his parents. Mr Stucley, an underwriting member of Lloyds, left his home, the Old Parsonage, Buscot, Faringdon, Berks, to the National Trust, with furniture and effects not otherwise bequeathed. In his will he expressed the hope that any future tenant should be ‘a citizen of the USA engaged in academic, artistic or literary studies.’ His estate amounted to £73,528 gross.

Bungalows at Northgate, Hartland, will each cost £400 more according to the firm of Sellick Nicholls Williams Ltd.

Mr Herbert Smith, who has been stationed at Hartland lighthouse for nearly 10 years, is shortly leaving to take up a similar post at Dungeness lighthouse – one of Britain’s newest lighthouses.

The Church Hall underwent a transformation scene on Thursday evening. Immediately after the WI entertainment was over all traces of it were swiftly removed and the stage was taken by Graham and his Green Echoes who provided music for the Hartland Young Farmers’ Club dance. This was very well attended, over £40 being taken at the door.

Market raises £64 for School funds in Clovelly.

A call for medical help from the British ship Belvedere, a mile out in the Bristol Channel, was answered by Dr W K Somerton, of Hartland. He set off from Clovelly in a small open boat crewed by Clovelly lifeboat coxswain, Mr William Braund, and the mechanic, Mr Charles Shackson. On reaching the Belvedere he found Pat Donovan, of Kinsale, County Cork, had sustained a badly gashed face. The doctor returned after having inserted five stitches.

A clear run for lifeboat and sand on Clovelly shore!

Devon County Council has refused to remove ‘dangerous’ bottlenecks on the road leading from the trunk road to Clovelly.

Buckland Brewer B had the best record of any of the 80 teams competing in the five divisions of Bideford and District Skittles League last season. It brought them the division II title. Buckland were skippered by Cyril Babb, at 54 the ‘old man’ of the side. The rest of the team’s ages range from 18-21. Pictured with their trophies at the annual dinner of the Skittles League held at Westward Ho! the team comprises John Prance, John Babb, Brian Jeffery, Graham Rowland, Cyril Babb and Ernest Dennis. Regular player Ivan Rowland could not be in the picture as he was ill as the time.

Buckland Brewer Young Farmers’ Club have been credited with 15 proficiency certificates. Chairman Mr M Poole welcomed four new members – R Ley, B Mills, J Pickard and B Brown.

Police Constable Brimble came across 12 goats belonging to Mrs Edith Mary Brimacombe, of Higher Twitchen, Buckland Brewer.

A group of young men who have been redecorating the parish room at Buckland Brewer have offered to do the same to the Parish Church. Reporting this in the current issue of Hartland Deanery Magazine, the Vicar of Buckland Brewer, Rev R G Richards, says that the offer has been gratefully accepted, adding ‘This is a tremendous undertaking and entails the thorough spring-cleaning of the building. There will be much work required from a team to do the clearing up when the main work has been accomplished. Any volunteers?’ The notes also refer to work on the parish room and the fact that expenditure of some hundreds of pounds will be needed fairly soon. The Church Council is reported as unanimous in a desire to hand over their rights as managing trustees to a properly constituted Village Hall Committee.

An Appledore motorist, Lawrence William Bunn, of 13 Meeting Street, who was fined £4 for failing to comply with a traffic sign, told the magistrates in a letter that he was being followed by a police car. He was travelling slowly and remarked to his passenger he would not be caught speeding, but he did not notice the red traffic light until it was too late.

A new chapter in the use of Appledore Hall is expected to begin soon.

Bellringers from the parish and Holsworthy district, and other church friends, gathered at Bradworthy Church Hall for the presentation of a watch and cheque to Mr Richard Grills Collacott, on his 80^th birthday and in recognition of his 61 years’ service as a bellringer at Bradworthy Parish Church.

Westward Ho! does not need a new hall. This point was made by Mr A Owen at the annual meeting of the Community Association held in the Kingsley Hall. Mr Morgan is replaced by Mr W Powell as President; Mr Gold as chairman; Mrs Eagle as secretary; Mrs Ingrouille, treasurer; Mr Clark, auditor; Mrs Feron, membership secretary; committee members, Mr and Mrs W Westoby, Mrs T Ayres, Mr and Mrs J P Anderson, Mr and MRs Pope, Mrs D Hudson, Mrs E M Hilder, Mrs W Powell, Messrs A Feron, A Owen and F C Twose.

As a memorial to her husband who died almost two years ago, Mrs M E Salmons, of 5 Nelson Terrace, Westward Ho! has just completed an altar frontal for the church there. What has been a labour of love has occupied her for two winters – in the summer she is busy running her store. It has been a mammoth undertaking which Mrs Salmons also designed, is made up of 132 individual pieces of material in three shades of green. Help has been forthcoming from Mrs Shelby, who teaches at Bideford Art School. The altar frontal is to be dedicated by the curate, the Rev H Winters, next Sunday.

Plan produced by Northam Chamber of Commerce for the redevelopment of the slipway area at Westward Ho! was being misunderstood by some local people, it was suggested. The main bone of contention, said Mr R H K Evers, was the bowling alley because it was thought it would cause noise and lead to late nights. The chamber should make it known that the bowling alley was only a minor portion of the scheme – it was ‘not all that important’.

Over £1,000 to stage Instow Horse Show.

Abbotsham election – After 27 years as Abbotsham’s representative on Bideford Rural Council Mr C W M Turner lost his seat at Monday’s election to Mr R B Richardson. In the only contested election in that rural area, the result was R B Richardson, 68; C W M Turner, 47; Major G J E Lomas, 32.

Kenwith Castle Residential Country Club at Abbotsham is opening Wednesday May 13^th 1964.

Borough Farm, Alverdiscott, is sold to Mr E G Dunn.

A gift sale of sheep, conducted by Messrs Kivell and Sons realised £238 towards the cost of redecorating Alverdiscott Methodist Chapel and adjoining schoolrooms. With a further £74 received in donations, the trustees needed only £20 more to meet their expenses, and this they soon had when the chapel was officially reopened last week. Introduced by the Rev J R Legg, Mrs Annie Friend – a former member of the chapel who now lives at Dawlish – unlocked the door with the key handed to her by Mr Frank Ford. A bouquet was presented to Mrs Friend by four year old Thelma Ford. Members of several other places of worship were among the large congregation who packed the newly decorated chapel for a service conducted by the Rev Wilfred J Tyrer, a former minister of the Bideford Methodist Circuit and of the Alverdiscott Chapel. Mr Tyrer addressed a capacity congregation at a thanksgiving meeting held in the evening under the chairmanship of the Rev J Owen Clutterbuck. Past and present women members served tea in the schoolroom. Before the evening meeting Mr David Reed led the congregation in community hymn singing. Mrs G Ford and Mrs R Moore provided organ accompaniment.

Woolsery and District Agricultural Show has a new president, Mr George Jacob, succeeding Sir Dennis Stucley, Mr J Paton of Foxdown, Parkham, and the late Mr P F C Elwes of Walland Carey.

Peppercombe road gate, near Horns Cross must be kept unlocked.

Mr and Mrs Isaac Luxton, of North View, Shebbear, celebrate their golden wedding anniversary with three of their four bridesmaids – Mrs Gertie Bridgman, Mrs Olive Leonard and Mrs Ada Johns. The best man, Mr John Gilbert, of Torrington, could not be there.

At 91 Mrs Louisa Hearn of 15 North Street, Northam, proves that she still has ‘plenty of puff’. At a party given by the WVS Over-60s club to mark the recent birthday of its oldest member and the 10^th anniversary of the founding of the club, she not only blew out the candles in fine style, but she also gave a spirited performance of an old ballad. After an excellent tea served at tables decorated with camellias provided by Mr Palmer, entertainment was given by Mrs W Powell and members of the Westward Ho! Follies with music by Mrs and the Misses Houldridge. Guests included Mrs Turner, Miss A E Lee, Mrs E M Hilder, the Rev A E Green, the Rev M and Mrs Lucas, Miss Phillips, Mrs Crompton, Miss Adamson and residents of Fairlea and The Chalet.

Northam Football Club’s first dinner, held at the Ring o’ Bells Hotel, Bideford, was a profitable one – the club received a £40 cheque from their Supporters’ Club which was formed just a few months ago. In the picture Mrs Frances Gale is seen handing the cheque to Mr Ray Aggett. Looking on are Mr Fred Patt, Mrs Patt, Mrs E Lloyd, Mr Alan Gale, Mrs Aggett, Miss M Inniss and Mr Leslie Patt. Over 90 attended the dinner.

Bideford Town Silver Band finds itself facing the music of something that approaches a crisis in its declining numbers.

A Bideford boxer is a likely choice for Olympics. On the night of April 13^th 1959 at Bideford’s Pannier Market a raw, 16 year old stepped into the boxing ring for his first fight. It did not last long. In the second round the referee stopped the contest to save the youngster from further punishment. What the referee and the big crowd watching did not realise was that they had just had their first glimpse of a youngster who, in the space of five short years, was to boost Bideford’s prestige in the world of amateur boxing to unprecedented heights. The lad who took so much punishment in that, his first fight, was Tony Brogan. In just a few months time Brogan expects to be packing his bags for a trip to Tokyo and the Olympic Games. The young man, now farming in Okehampton, had indeed ‘done Bideford proud.’ And quiet Tony will not let himself forget the help he received.

Jubilant player-manager Ken Whitfield raises his arms in triumph as he is chaired by excited team mates after Bideford’s win over Weston which gave them the points to cinch the Western League championship. In the photo are Lol Chappell, Roy Burnett, Tony Long, John Penny, Alan Marsh, Barry Kelland, Peter Bennett, Tony Irons, Derek May, trainer Bill Finn. Graham Bond and John Gauntlett.

Players want to pay more to ease rugby Club’s finance problems.

Members of Bideford Labour Party learned with regret that their chairman, Mr E C J Batstone, is leaving the district owing to business commitments. He made the announcement at a successful dance at the Moose Hall organised by the Party and Young Socialists and at which he was MC. Constituency Party chairman, Mr F Dennis, of Torrington, thanked him for all he had done for the movement locally. In a draw Mr L Mullholland won a chicken dinner and Mr K McKenzie fruity. Refreshments were served by the women’s social committee and Mr T Davis (Young Socialists chairman) thanked all responsible for the success of the evening.

At 2am on Monday, Mr Jack Morrish, of 2 Torridge Place, Bideford, awoke to the noise of flames from a conservatory downstairs. The family fought the outbreak with buckets of water until the arrival of two fire appliances from the Bideford station. It took almost an hour to deal with the outbreak in which a cupboard and some furniture burned fiercely.

The Whitsun weekend gale, which had Appledore and Clovelly lifeboats and an RAF helicopter out searching for a boat with three young men on board, might also have had the mfv Training Ship Bideford, with nine Sea Cadets and four officers on board, in trouble. The training ship had been scheduled to spend the Saturday night in Bideford Bay but Lt-Cmdr T Rowe, unhappy about weather conditions decided to cross the bar and moor at Appledore. Under Lt-Cmdr Rowe’s command were Sub-Lt D Blackman, Mr V Pike, Mn, and cadets D Thisby, J Butler, R Ellis, M Langmead, P Selley, P Downing, R Mellows and D Chapman. On Monday the vessel berthed in its usual position alongside Bideford quay.

Did you hear the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Sir Alec Douglas-Home, KT, MP in the Pannier Market in Bideford?

A steam yacht belonging to Capt Miller of Padstow arrived at Bideford where she is to be converted from coal firing to oil firing boilers at the Band End shipyard.

Mr Harold Walter saves his son, Michael Walter, and Graham Jones.

News from March 1964

March 1964

Mr and Mrs John Prouse celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary; for many years they farmed Lower Deptford, Hartland.

A later article: Surrounded by flowers and many cards and other greetings, Mr and Mrs John Prouse are marking their diamond wedding. They were married at Bideford Methodist Church on March 19th 1904. Mr Prouse, whose hearing was affected in the First World War, joined the Hussars in 1896. For many years he and Mrs Prouse farmed at Lower Deptford, Hartland, but three years ago they left North Devon to live with they daughter, Annie, at Osmo House, Solsboro Road, Torquay. A churchwarden at St Martin’s Church, Bursdon Moor, for fifty years, Mr Prouse, now aged 86, was also a special constable well into his seventies. They have been staying with their daughter, Mrs A Bragg, of Meddon, Hartland.

The most successful variety concert held in Hartland for many years raised £56 for the Hartland and Welcombe cancer campaign. All 250 tickets were sold and even though orange boxes were pressed into service for seats the Church Hall could not accommodate all who wished to attend and a repeat performance has been arranged for Tuesday. The audience could not have been more enthusiastic and although every item was well received ‘Les Girls’ undoubtedly provided the hit of the evening. In the feature ‘Dancing the year away’ ‘Mamselles’ J Fanson, H Dayman, J Goaman, N Beer, R Heard and P Burrow certainly gave a revealing show that, in old-time terminology’ brought the house down. Backed by the local rock group, the Lektrons, they began with a stately minuet, but the audience reaction changed with the music when they broke into the can-can. This was followed successively by the Charleston, shake, twist and jive. So insistent was the audience that the whole had to be given again as an encore. But not all the programme was as noisy. There was some delightful singing by a choir and by the Rev F C Diffey, and ballet by young dancers, including C Jeffery and J Thorne is an excerpt from ‘Les Sylphides’. Items by Hartland Girl Guides were also well received. Devonshire dialect monologues having been ably provided by Mrs A Burrow, the rest of the evening was devoted to drama – a 45 minute play ‘Parlour Game’. Mrs M V Pitman as an Ena Sharples character scored a personal triumph but she was well supported by the remainder of the cast and not least by Paul King and Pauline O’Donnell. Mr W M Pitman made a fine mayor and Mrs Anne Mugford and Mrs Peggy Jeffery also gave excellent interpretations, as did Mr R Mugford as a cleric. On these occasions equally important work is done back stage and the presentation revealed skilled direction as well as painstaking stage management for which Mr J A Jeffery was responsible. Other neat touches were provided by the Vicar, the Rev Andrew Jones, as compere. All responsible for the success of the concert were thanked by committee chairman Mr H Kings.

Docton Mill House, occupied by Miss B P Duncan and her mother, Mrs E Duncan, was flooded as a watercourse broke its banks.

Parting gift to Woolsery Church by the Vicar’s wife who, with her husband, the Rev P F H How, is leaving the parish. The death of Mr G E Mullard was acknowledged.

The annual meeting of the local auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held at Woolsery Methodist Church. The chairman, the Rev F C Diffey, read the financial report on behalf of the local secretary, Mrs B Wonnacott, and thanked the collectors. Home boxes were sent in by Mrs and Miss Hooper, and by Mrs F Knight; parish collectors were Miss M Collings, Mrs F Dark, Miss E Cloke and Mrs A Hill, Mrs J Gorrell, Misses R and A Cann; village box, Mrs J Burrow. The chairman also thanked Mrs C J Andrew for her services as secretary for several years. The deputation was the Rev Andrew Jones, Vicar of Hartland, who was welcomed by Mr Diffey, together with the Vicar of Woolsery, Rev P F H How. Mr Jones told of the growth of the Bible Society from the days of Mary Jones, who walked many miles through Wales to buy a Bible. Mrs A Bray was the organist.

The Rev F C Diffey officiated at the funeral of Woolsery’s oldest inhabitant, Mrs Caroline Prouse, who has died at the age of 96. She lived at Sunnyside with her daughter.

Mr Harold Grills’ milk round in Clovelly will be taken over by Mr Geoffrey Symons, of South Down.

The wrangle over where Clovelly’s long awaited memorial hall shall be built continues – Wrinkleberry or Yellary.

Clovelly is unhappy about the liaison between the lifeboat and coastguard services as the RAF asks for Appledore lifeboat.

First of the prefabricated houses being constructed as a new venture by Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd. to be erected on site – at Staddon Hill – is rapidly going up. A start was made on Tuesday week and by Saturday the shell was completed, watertight and ready for tilers. Mr J Venus, a principal of the firm, told the Gazette that it was hoped that the house – a four bedroomed type with two bathrooms – would be ready in about a month. At this stage, he added, it was difficult to give an accurate figure, but it was anticipated that the price would be in the region of £3,500.

Dr Desmond S Valentine is retiring after 34 years in practice at Appledore.

An Appledore house that the occupant believed to be haunted has been peaceful since the Vicar, the Rev R C Dixon, conducted a service and blessing there. Mrs Margaret Ferguson, who has three children, moved into 11 Market Street, last June. A few months ago doors and windows that had been secure started to open and shut, electric lights switched on and off, door knobs rattled and footsteps were heard. The incidents usually happened after midnight, said Mrs Ferguson. Once she became too terrified that she fetched the local policeman. The Vicar told the Gazette, “I took a very simple service of blessing of the house and the people who live there in the hope of bringing assurance that God would protect them from all evil.”

The funeral of Mrs A E (Elsie) Wills, who for over 40 years lived in South Africa, took place at St Margaret’s Church, Northam. Mrs Wills, widow of Mr J G Wills, died age 82 at the home of her daughter, 2 North Street, Northam. The Rev J M Lucas officiated and Mr F Hutchings at the organ accompanied the hymns. Immediate mourners were: Mr and Mrs K Wills, Mr and Mrs J Eastman, Mrs H A Edwrds, Mrs G Popham, Misses G Wills and H Eastman, Mr H J Kivell, Mr F J Wilkinson, Mrs Wilkinson and Mrs A M Balsdon. Mrs G Edwards and Mrs R Lennard were unable to attend. Bearers were Messrs T Shutt, G Mounce, P Hocking and A Hearn. Others present included: Mr and Mrs A Williams, Messrs A Taylor, W J Shortridge, R Olde, Mesdames V Ford, C H Tuplin, H T Hancock, H Bailey (also rep. Mrs E Heuze), and Miss J Shutt.

Northam Council are justly proud of their offices in Windmill Lane, which were officially opened 30 years ago last Sunday. At tablet in the entrance hall recalls the day, March 22nd 1934, and those responsible: Councillor P K Harris, Cllr F Wilkey, Cllrs T A Blackford, J Heywood, E Cork, H Hinks, W C Friendship, R C Littlejohns, A Fulford, H Page, A Galsworthy, C E Palmer, F C Hamlyn, A Reed, H Tucker, W J Barnes, W G Champion and J L Harris. During the past two years, the Council offices have been extended and improved allowing for additional rooms upstairs, including new offices for the Clerk, Mr A Gardner, and Surveyor, Mr H J Bishop.

Torrington’s new Mayor is to be Councillor Reuben Henry Cotton, a member of the Town Council for the past five years and chief engineer of Torridge Vale Dairies (Devon) Ltd. Mr Cotton will succeed Ald H H Wightman. Both Mr and Mrs Cotton are natives of Birmingham. They have lived in Torrington since 1945 when Mr Cotton came to take up appointment as electrical engineer at the milk factory. Their home is Torridge House, Warren Lane. His election to the Town Council was Mr Cotton’s first venture into local government. He is a past master of Lodge Torridge (Torrington) Freemasons. Golf and gardening provide his hobby interests. He is a member of Torrington Golf Club. The Mayoress-designate, Mrs Ethel May Cotton, is at present president of Torrington Women’s Institute.

Torrington Town Council’s Finance and General Purposes Committee recommended that a 10-guinea donation was made to the Torridge Surf Lifesaving Club.

Saying that there was concern among some parents about the matters, Cllr W S Hutchings alleged at Monday night’s meeting of Torrington Town Council that girls in the domestic science classes at Torrington County Secondary School had to go down on their hands and knees to scrub floors with scouring pads. His daughter was one of those who had to do this, he said, adding “I don’t hold with it at all.” He also alleged that one boy had been issued with a wrong hacksaw blade and had broken it, and had since been sent home twice from school to get 3s 9d to pay for it. The boy’s father had wanted to know if his son ‘messed up’ a more expensive item, such as a big machine, whether he would be held responsible for that, too. Ald F R Hodge, a member of the school governors, asked if these points were heresay or facts and Cllr Hutchings replied “Facts.” Ald Hodge said one naturally had to be careful about allegations made, but if the facts were correct then those members of the Council who were on the school governing body would inquire into them. Cllr Mrs M E Patt said she thought the scrubbing of floors was part of the training in the domestic science class flat. “I quite agree that the children should clean up their mess” said Cllr Hutchings, but it seemed ridiculous to him to use such pads and he had heard there had been a ‘barney’ about how many pads were being used. Declining to make any comment next day, the headmaster of Torrington County Secondary School, Mr J W Bastin, said “There is a proper channel for these complaints.” Later that month, Mr Bastin responded.

Devon Welfare committee is to build a four bedroomed house and garage for the Supt. and Matron of Torridge View Welfare Home, Torrington, despite strong criticism.

The death of a well known personality, Mr Ernest Minhinnett, is announced.

No ‘one-way’ say Instow Council.

Local pilots consider the permanent lighthouses at Instow as a ‘great improvement’ but Mr Trevor Davey, skipper of the Lundy Gannett, reserves judgement.

Nos 1 and 2 Broad Park, Bradworthy, are for sale.

Littleham A retained the President’s Cup of Bideford and District Skittles League. They beat Bucks Cross A in the final. The individual scores – (Bucks Cross) R Stoneman 46, W Lamey 43, L Waring 53, K Allen 45, B Bowles 49, R Dicken; (Littleham) H Headon 51, R Rawle 61, W Withecombe 55, J Cole 49, C Lyle 56.

For long the only woman member of the Royal Observer Corps in the area, Miss Maureen M Thomas, of Bucks Mills, was presented with a long service medal at a ceremony in the ATC hut, Park Lane, Bideford. Observer Ken Lewis, of Bideford, a bus driver, also received a similar award. Miss Thomas, an employee of the South Western Gas Board, served at the Horns Cross post for 12 years before being promoted to Leading Woman Observer and being transferred to Kilkhampton as an instructor. There is only one other woman in the sector and she joined about eight months ago. The presentation was made by Observer Commander W V Green, of Truro, who commands No 11 Group, in the presence of about 20 members including Group Officer W F J Bennett. His sector comprises the clusters of Horns Cross, Torrington and Kilkhampton; and Bude, Holsworthy and Davidstowe.

Miss Violet May Nichols was presented with a black retriever puppy on the occasion of her marriage to Motor Patrol Policeman Mr Roger David Willey. Bridesmaids were Misses Valerie Curtis, Valerie Kelly and Sally Willey, with best, Mr David Hodson. Ushers were Messrs G Curtis and R Willey.

Frithelstock Baptists’ 133rd anniversary.

Mr Frederick Roy Bryant, son of Mr and Mrs Bryant of Mill Street, Torrington, and Miss Marian Gorden, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs P Gorden, of Gartledge were married at Frithelstock Methodist Church. There were 3 attendants – Miss Elaine Waghorn, Miss Hazel Seymour and Brenna Hancock. Mr John Bryant was best man, and ushers Mr Terry Staddon and Mr Dennis Waghorn.

Mr Brian William Jeffery, eldest son of Mrs L R Jeffery and the late Mr T W Jeffery, of Buckland Brewer, and Miss Julia Mary Tanton, second daughter of Mr and Mrs A J Tanton, of Annery Homestead, Monkleigh, were married at St George’s Chapel.

Mrs Fay Harris of The Cottage, Buckland Brewer, has been giving informal Continental cooking lessons.

A toy manufacturing company has agreed, in principle, to establish a factory in Bideford, subject to financial and other assistance by the Board of Trade and Devon County Council.

First stage of the dual carriageway between Bideford and Northam will soon start, taking it from the bottom of Raleigh Hill to Limers Lane.

Quicker by rail to London

The funeral of Mrs Gertrude Vida Jacox, of 8 Providence Row, Bideford, has taken place at Lavington Congregational Church with the Rev Gladys Smith officiating.

Bideford artist, Mr Reginald Lloyd, in his studio at the back of his home in the High Street, is busy with his assistant, Mr Brian Stevens, on finishing the great West window of St Boniface’s Church, Whitechapel, London. The history of the Church can be found HERE - Saint Boniface Catholic Church

Councillor Eric Cleaton Hart, was chosen as Mayor-designate of Bideford. Aged 43, Cllr Hart, who lives at Tresillian, Raleigh Hill, Bideford, is an engineer and for the past six years has been working at the REME camp at Instow. Before moving to Bideford in 1957, he served with British Railway as an engineer on bridge design and erection. Cllr Hart’s wife, Ann, is a native of Salisbury. Their two daughters are being educated at Edgehill.

These jigsaw classrooms are being erected at Bideford County Secondary School as part of Devon Education Authority’s ‘crash’ programme in North Devon. The temporary classrooms are built in sections in the workshop and then pieced together and erected on the site. A spokesman for the firm building prefabs – Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd – said “It is like a jigsaw puzzle, except that every piece is the same shape.” Two prefab buildings are being made each containing two classrooms. Two single room classrooms are also to be erected by the firm at Bideford Grammar School. This is a new line for Appledore Shipbuilders, although they have already erected a prefab house. The firm’s spokesman commented “This has been quite a useful contribution in keeping the yards working during the past few months.”

The funeral of Mr Walter Roberts, of 5 Bowden Green, took place at the Higher Cemetery. He was known as ‘Bideford’s oldest working man’.

A 23 year old Bideford mother, Mrs Pamela Eastmond, has been placed second in the national Miss Rentaset competition. She lives at 42 Royston Road, Bideford, with her husband Mr Sidney Eastmond and a six year old daughter, Nicola.