Featured Articles

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.

Oldest club of its kind in the world,

Northam Golf Club celebrated its diamond jubilee with a golf meeting followed by a dinner in the evening.

Front row: William Puncher, Tom Geen, Ernest Cawsey, Richard Burch, Charlie Cook, Jesse Braund, Louis Chapple, and John Penhorwood

Middle row: Alfred Stevens, Sidney Dymond, E J Labbett, Jack Hutchings, Richard Davis, Charlie Cower, William Worth, William Pursey, George Cann, J H Taylor (holding three clubs), and T Metherell

Back row: William Hutchings, Harry Williams, William Davis, Ernest Way, Jack Rowe, William Hearn, William Fulford, Samuel Fulford

It has been truly said “Fine men and great golfers have come out of Northam by way of Westward Ho!” Perhaps the one most widely known is Mr J H Taylor. Who could be better chosen to relate the first beginnings of the Artisans’ Club than Mr Taylor, himself a founder member and now its president?

On the occasion of the Club’s golden jubilee he wrote “Golf had been played on the Burrows since 1864 by members of the Royal North Devon and West of England Golf Club, the second oldest club in the country, a stalwart pioneer that golfing history records with gratitude.”

The first secretary of the Club was Mr Louis Chapple who, with Capt William Beer (who lived at the old farm at Pimpley), Capt Brooks (of Sea View, Northam), Mr W Philpot (who later became professional at the Mitcham Golf Club) and Mr Samuel Fulford, formed a nucleus of the first Artisan Golf Club. Mr Philip Andrews, who will be long remembered as the Steward at the Royal North Devon Golf Club for some 56 years, carried on the duties of secretary for many years. Then followed Mr Charles Gibson, junr, Mr F Webber and Mr Tom Shutt, who still holds the office.

There has always been an annual match against the RNDGC and in the old days Mr J H Taylor played top man and was always placed to play against Mr Horace Hutchinson, the Royal North Devon’s greatest player. Mr Philip Andrews frequently played against the late Mr C S Carnegie, of Clevelands.

Publication of the photograph of golfing stalwarts of sixty years ago, together with their names, was made possible by the ever willing assistance of Mr Philip Andrews and other golfing friends on the occasion of the Club’s golden jubilee ten years ago. Those in the picture are:

Standing in the doorway at the rear is T Glover, and the peeping head on the right belongs to J W Fulford.

Article dated 1948

Bell to be re-hung on Lundy?

Members of Appledore bellringers,

led by their captain, Mr Peter Dixon, had a special task when they visited Lundy at the weekend - to make a reconnaissance of the church tower and its bells.

The eight bells of St Helens were taken down after the tower was declared unsafe, but now one bell has been hoisted part-way and the Appledore ringers explored the possibility of having the single bell properly re-hung.

The ringers were among some 640 people, mainly from Appledore and Bideford, who visited Lundy on the "Balmoral" as a money-raising venture for the RNLI.

Gazette article 2 May 1975

Bear and forbear with each other

Bideford-Woolsery-Clovelly Golden Wedding Links

Throughout the 50 years that they have been married, Mr and Mrs Herbert Burrow, of “Hillcrest,” 88, Clovelly Road, Bideford, have always kept two “bears” in their home. To a Bideford Gazette reporter Mrs Burrow, who is 74, explained: “When we were married one piece of advice given to us was to have two “bears” in the house – bear and forbear with each other – and we have always tried to live up to that.”

They were married at St Anne’s Church, Bucks Mills, on February 12^th 1908 by the late Rev. David Hughes and to mark their golden wedding anniversary a small gathering of relatives and friends was held on Wednesday at their home. They have no children.

Mr Burrow, who is 78, was the son of the late Mr and Mrs Joseph Burrow, of Town Farm, Woolsery. He was the youngest of a family of 12. Before her marriage, Mrs Burrow was Miss Florence Elizabeth Harding, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs John Harding, of Walland Farm, Bucks Cross.

Both Mr and Mrs Burrow left school at an early age and worked on their parents’ farms. Said Mr Burrow: “I can remember when I was about 11 coming home from school every day and having to milk the cows.” After they were married Mr and Mrs Burrow farmed Highworthy at Clovelly but 13 years later they were forced to give up their way of life because of Mr Burrow’s health. He said: “Although I really retired 37 years ago some people may think I had made a fortune but I didn’t.” Then they made their home in Bideford and have been here ever since.

Mr Burrow’s main hobby has been gardening – “I loved my allotments,” he said. Until he retired a few years ago, Mr Burrow was a keen bowler, having been a member of the Bideford (Strand) Bowling Club. He was also an enthusiastic skittler. For many years Mrs Burrow played the organ at Bucks Mills Chapel and after their marriage both regularly attended Woolsery Chapel. They are now members of High Street Methodist Church, Bideford and Mrs Burrow is also a member of the church’s Women’s Own, and she helps in the Women’s Missionary work.

Both Mr and Mrs Burrow were critical of present-day conditions. Said Mrs Burrow: “People these days don’t seem at all grateful for anything; the more they have the more they want – there is too much greed in the world.” Pointing to a clock on the mantelpiece of their dining room, Mr Burrow declared: “That cost only seventeen shillings and it was one of our wedding presents – that wouldn’t be much of a wedding present these days.” He added: “Coal cost only 8d. a cwt. when we were first married and just look what it is today – about nine shillings.”

Mr and Mrs Burrow now share their household chores. Said Mrs Burrow: “Father does most of the cleaning in the house while I do the cooking and dusting.” She continued; “You know we have been very comfortable and happy in our lives and I would not change my partner if I could go back over my life again.”

Both have been non-smokers and teetotallers all their lives.

Mr Burrow has been an enthusiastic supporter of Woolsery Agricultural Show since it began. He said: “I don’t think I have missed more than two since it began over 60 years ago.” He added: “And my seat’s booked again for this year.”

Gazette article dated 14 February 1958