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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.

Appledore carpenter claims world record

A self-employed Appledore carpenter claimed a world record this week. Mr Colin Cleaver contends that he has made the world’s largest ship in a bottle. His magnificent 16½ inch long scale replica of a triple-masted 16th century “Barbary Coast Pirate” is built inside a 10 gallon carboy that has a mouth only 2½ in. in diameter.

The method is that all the rigging on the vessel is completed before introduction into the bottle. The masts are “hinged” to the deck, holes are drilled through the bowsprit and thread passed through them enables the rigging to be pulled upright.

The model represents 350 hours of work and is valued at around £70.

Gazette article 3 October 1969

Devil gets marching orders

Devil sent packing from Shebbear

With a huge heave and a roar of relief the Devil was sent packing for a further year at Shebbear last night. In a ceremony dating back hundreds of years the village bellringers rolled over the famous half-ton Shebbear Stone to ward off evil spirits.

Only once in living memory has the stone not been turned on November 5. That was because Shebbear’s able-bodied men were all away at the war. But such was the concern over the omission that enough helpers were found to rectify matters the following night.

Postmaster Mr Michael Mill was in charge of last night’s ceremony, following a family tradition that has gone on for generations. He said: “It is not that anyone seriously believes this Devil business. In fact, we get a little upset that so many people these days refer to the Shebbear stone as the Devil Stone. It is, however, an ancient country custom unique to Shebbear and one which we thoroughly enjoy observing. Mind you, I would not say everyone would feel at ease if the stone were not turned. A lot of people not at the ceremony will be asking ‘Did you turn the stone? That’s all right, then!’ They like to be reassured you see.”

The stone itself is thought to have been held in ceremonial regard in Shebbear since Pagan times. When the parish council ordered a sample from it to be analysed experts could not place its origin. A theory that it could have been a chunk of metal from outer space has not been completely discounted. The tampering appears not to have brought any harm upon Shebbear as an isolated but thriving and friendly community. But to make doubly sure, the bellringers clanged their peal in Devil-defying discord last night before the annual turning of the stone.

Western Morning News article 6 November 1975

Fortieth anniversary new Lundy stamps

To mark the 40th anniversary of the first issue of Lundy stamps,

there will be a new issue by the island of five values of stamps on November 1st.

The stamps depicting the transport of mails to and from the island have been designed by Mr John Dyke. There will be 2,500 first day covers with a pictorial cachet, the greater portion will be mailed to Lundy on November 1st where they will be stamped. The price of the first day cover will be five shillings.

Four of the five new stamps are shown:

1 puffin (grey) depicts Postmaster F. Allday with a donkey awaiting the landing of the mail bags in 1912.
2 puffin (orange brown) shows the Lundy Gannet the vessel which now carries the Lundy mail.
6 puffin (pale blue) depicts the cutter Gannet which carried the mails from approximately 1887-1911.
9 puffin (turquoise-green) shows the Lerina in service from 1919 to 1950.

12 puffin(not illustrated) shows the Lundy mails arriving and being despatched by air.

Gazette article 24 October 1969