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.

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

Retirement presentations to Bideford Employment Exchange official

To mark his retirement as deputy manger at the Bideford office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service,

Mr G.F. Dickie and his wife were guests of honour at a staff party on Thursday of last week.

Mr Dickie, to whose retirement reference was made in our last issue, was presented with an umbrella and a travelling case by Mr J. Sillman, the senior member of the staff, who recalled that Mr Dickie had been at the Bideford office for twelve years and had spent the two previous years at Barnstaple. “We are very sorry to see him go and I believe Mr Dickie, himself, is sorry that he is going,” said Mr Sillman. “The public is sorry to lose him,too, because he has made a name for himself in Bideford for always doing his job thoroughly and well, and he is well respected by employers and tradespeople and by members of the Local Employment Committee and the Youth Employment Committee. He is respected too, not only by every member of the staff here but by colleagues at Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and Bude, none of whom has forgotten him. They all join with us in wishing him a long life and a happy retirement.”

In his reply, Mr Dickie, who had been toasted with musical honours, recalled some of the highlights of his 35 years’ service with the Ministry and referred to the days of the depression and the gigantic task facing officials in those days in the shape of new and repeat unemployment claims.

Thanking friends and colleagues for their kind thought in arranging the party, Mr Dickie went on to say how grateful he was for the kindness and co-operation he had always received from the civic authorities, the press, employers and the general public.

Adding her personal tribute when she presented a bouquet to Mrs Dickie, the Exchange Manager (Mrs O.F. Griffiths) mentioned that Mr Dickie had held the post until the office had been up-graded a short while ago. “It is not easy for a man to step down to a woman,” she said, “but never at any time has Mr Dickie been anything but the most loyal of colleagues and I thank him for it.”

Gazette article dated 8 July 1955