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.

A local sand yachting club may be revived

as a result of the holding of the first Westcountry sand yachting championships at Westward Ho! sands on Sunday. Among those inquiring about plans were members of the North Devon Yacht Club and there was a general feeling that a local club would be well supported. Twenty years ago the first national sand yachting championships were held on this beach. A local club existed then but interest waned and the sport gradually declined here.

On Saturday a total of 21 yachts arrived at Westward Ho! Six races were scheduled but only five completed due to the rising tide.

The races comprised a varying number of laps (slipway to Sandymere and back) and in the gusty easterly wind a number of yachts overturned as they reached speeds of up to 45 m.p.h. One yacht sped into the sea and was carried about 100 yards along the beach before it could be recovered. Northam Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event and the president Mr Jeremy Ferguson said the interest shown had been encouraging and it was hoped to make it an annual event.

Gazette article 28 November 1969

Ten local schools represented at art exhibition

Bideford’s first schools’ art exhibition

opened at the Burton Art Gallery last week and attracted some 240 exhibits from 10 local schools

The exhibition was officially opened by the Mayor of Bideford (Mr C.G. Metherell) and sponsored by the Association of Friends of the Burton Art Gallery.

The artists, ranging from five to 17 years, have used a wide range of media and have greatly varied styles. Most numerous are brightly-painted watercolours but also featured are oil paintings, designs, pottery, sculpture, collage, lino and other prints. It is hoped to make the exhibition an annual event.

While confessing that he was no art expert, the Mayor said it could be seen that there was a good range and variety of exhibits and that the standard of the work was high. He personally hoped that the young artists would become budding Turners and not Picassos!

Gazette article 14 November 1969

Bideford wishing well pixielated

Wishing well is pixielated

On Tuesday morning it was found that Bideford Rotary Club’s recently erected charity wishing well, situated between the bottom of Bridgeland Street and Bideford Head Post Office, had become liberally festooned with model pixies, gnomes, rabbits, ducks, an owl, a lion and a mermaid.

Mr George Latham, president of Bideford Rotary Club said it was news to him and he was mystified by what had happened. Later police removed the pixies, gnomes etc. to the police station to await identification, having apparently been mischievously taken from gardens over a wide area.

Mr Latham, asked if the wishing well was not “gimmicky” agreed that this could be said but added “we have seen the idea used elsewhere and decided to try it ourselves to help local charitable causes”. When a Gazette reporter looked in the well on Monday afternoon there was quite a spattering of coins, mostly pennies, at the bottom, but there were also a few cigarette ends and an empty packet or so.

Gazette article 7 November 1969