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.

Re-opening of Northam Methodist Church

So large was the attendance that forms had to be placed in the aisles to accommodate the congregation at the re-opening of Northam Methodist Church following extensive renovation. Eighty-six year old Mrs Ethel Griffey, one of the church’s oldest members, performed the opening ceremony. Mrs Griffey, who has been a member of the church ever since attending the Sunday School there as a young girl, recalled how in 1878, when the building was first opened, her mother and the mother of Miss J. Shutt, had scrubbed out the building.

The re-dedication was conducted by the Minister, the Rev. Dr W.H. Mildon and the Scriptures were read by the Rev. E.C. Elliott, a former minister of the church. The Rev. T.J. Smith, Superintendent Minister of Bideford Methodist Church congratulated the church on the completion of the renovation scheme.

L to R in photograph above: the Revs. E.C. Elliott and T.J. Smith, Mrs Ethel Griffey, Mrs L. Ford (daughter of Mrs Griffey) and the Rev. W.H. Mildon.

Gazette article dated 13 June 1969

Students help model St Sidwell

Students help model 14 ft. figure of St Sidwell at Bideford School of Art

Sculptor Fred Irving and Joyce Gilbert and Peter Harvey, students of Bideford School of Art are seen here working on a nearly thrice-life-size figure of St Sidwell, a Westcountry Celtic saint of the seventh century. The figure, commissioned by an Exeter firm of architects, is part of a panel that will measure 20 ft by 15 ft and will enrich with mediaeval colour a large new multiple store building with exterior surfaces of black brick, grey tiles, glass and silvered metal. The panel is designed by Mr Irving and modelled first in local clay, about one ton. The 14 ft-high figure will then be cast in coloured resin-bonded glass-fibre.

This is the largest project to be undertaken by the sculpture department of the School of Art, whose recent projects include the figure of St Anne for a Barnstaple building society; the new “Welcome to Torrington” signs and the lettering and sign for the newly-opened Bideford centre.

Gazette article dated 20 June 1969

Four sisters’ nostalgic reunion

Four sisters reunite in Bideford

Four sisters, average age 73, are staying together under one roof for the first time since girlhood. Mrs Alice Billings (78) now of Toronto, Canada, returned to North Devon last month which she first left in 1913, to be reunited with her sisters and brother.

Mrs Nellie Harris (70) of 17 Fore Street, Langree, and Mrs Edith Gerry (81) of Sutcombe, have temporarily moved in with Mrs Dora Hutchings (64) who lives at St Elvis, Northdown Road, Bideford. Their brother, Mr George Beal, lives at 2 Hillside Terrace, Pitt Lane, Bideford.

Born in Frithelstock, Mrs Billings emigrated to Canada 12 months after her fiancé and they were married. She returned home for a period during World War I in which her husband was fatally wounded and subsequently re-married. She last visited her family in 1951.

Bideford four sisters reunited

Left to right in photograph are: Mrs N. Harris, Mrs A. Billings, Mrs D. Hutchings, Mrs E. Gerry and Mr Beal.

Gazette article dated 20 June 1969