Commemorative

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.

New Queen flies home: Today’s Proclamation

The news was not broken to the wider world until 11:15 am when a BBC newsreader read the words "It is with the greatest sorrow that we make the following announcement..." on the radio. The news was repeated every fifteen minutes for seven occasions, before the broadcast went silent for five hours. As a mark of respect the Great Tom bell was tolled every minute for two hours, as well as the bells at Westminster Abbey. The Sebastopol bell, a Crimean War trophy at Windsor Castle that is rung only upon a royal death, was tolled 56 times, once for each year of George VI's life, between 1:27 and 2:22 pm.

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The whole Nation and Empire was plunged into deep and sudden sorrow by the news of the passing of King George VI, who died peacefully in his sleep at Sandringham that morning (6 February 1952). Princess Elizabeth, who immediately became Queen, was informed of her father’s death while she was at the Royal Hunting Lodge near Nyeri in Kenya. She flew home yesterday. The Canadian Cabinet on Wednesday proclaimed Princess Elizabeth as Queen Elizabeth II. of Canada. In London the public proclamation will be made today (Friday) at 11am. Tentative arrangements have been made for it to be read from the balcony of Bideford Town Hall at 2.30pm today.

News of the King’s death came as a stunning blow. The shock of surprise can hardly have been equalled in living memory. A hush fell on our cities, towns and villages as the unexpected, dread news filtered through. The groups talking in lowered tones in the streets had only one topic. Local civic leaders and officials began to consult their records – and the files of this newspaper were readily made available – for procedure likely to be observed. A number of local engagements were cancelled, postponed or held in subdued form in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion. Window displays were changed, black ties and armbands appeared, flags flew at half-mast…. the nation was in mourning.

In order that the Corporation should have the opportunity of recording its own expression of condolence in the passing of the King, the Mayor, Cllr W H Copp, called a special meeting of Bideford Town Council. A resolution was seconded by Ald W E Ellis and Rev Isaac Bond said a prayer.

The Proclamation

Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to call His mercy our late Sovereign Lord King George Sixth of blessed and glorious memory, by whose decease the Crown is solely and rightfully come to the high and mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary: we therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm, being here assisted with these his late Majesty’s Privy Council, with representatives of other members of the Commonwealth, with other principal gentlemen of quality, with the Lord Mayor, aldermen and citizens of London, do now hereby with one voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and proclaim that the high and mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is now by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory become Queen Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God, Queen of this Realm and of her other Realms and territories, head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom her lieges do acknowledge all faith and constant obedience with hearty and humble affection, beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess, Elizabeth the Second, with long and happy years to reign over us. God save the Queen.

A Second Great Elizabethan Era

“The history of Bideford is wrapped up with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and as the second Queen Elizabeth takes her place in the long line of men and women who have served this country so well as its leaders, the Burgesses of the town, casting their minds back to the old days, send a message of loyalty and good will and pray that her reign may be one of progress as that of her great ancestor was.”

Torrington also held a Proclamation ceremony at the Town Hall led by the Mayor, Ald R M Boyer. Within his speech, the Mayor said “But events move on – the cries goes up, the King is Dead, long live the Queen, and our hopes must now be centred on her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second who, in her hour of mourning, must don the mantle of her illustrious father. From this ancient Borough of Great Torrington in Devon, which for over a thousand years has paid homage to the Throne we sent to our Queen a humble message of loyalty and affection.” The ceremony concluded with the singing of ‘God Save the Queen.’

Torridge-side tributes

As the tragic news was confirmed and spread, flags already flying were lowered to half-mast while others were hoisted to the mast-head and then lowered. Ships alongside Bideford Quay wore their flags at half-mast. Skippers of vessels in the Bristol Channel told one another and when the m.v Flexity came up the river on the afternoon tide her flag was already at half-mast. The Stevenstone Hounds called off their hunt. Muffled peals were rung. Shops re-dressed their windows in sombre colours.

Special services were held and prayers offered at Buckland Brewer, Bucks Mills, Clovelly, Appledore, Northam, Weare Giffard and Torrington.

22.2.1952 Appledore

Queen Mother’s Thanks

A message from Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, in which she expresses to ‘a multitude of people’ her pride in the ‘wonderful tributes’ to ‘a great and noble King’ was issued from Buckingham Palace. It is learned that it is her Majesty’s wish that she shall be known a ‘Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’.

Funeral of a beloved Monarch

Civic insignia will be draped. On this sad day the coffin of King George VI will be taken from Westminster Hall, where in the past three days very many thousands of his people have filed past the purple-draped catafalque in silent tribute, for the funeral service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. In Bideford, maroons, fired by Mr Charles Morris, will mark the period of two minutes’ silence at 2pm and the passing bell will be tolled. Bideford’s floral tribute to the late King was dispatched to Windsor on Wednesday evening and it is recommended that shops in Bideford close for the day at 1pm.Draped maces will precede the Mayor Torrington and his chain will have bows of black ribbon tied to it. More information on the death and funeral of King George VI can be found HERE

The public permitted to view the coffin, at times queued for 4 miles to do so and over 300,000 people passed through Westminster Hall. After the final day of lying in state it took a team of three jewellers two hours to clean the dust off the crown jewels which lay on the coffin, in preparation for the funeral. The procession was the first of a British monarch to be broadcast on television and may have led to the start of a mass purchase of television sets.

Poppy Day Response

Poppy Day Collections

Northam and Westward Ho! branch of the British Legion collected over £77 in a Poppy Day collection (1958).

Details: Miss Capper, £1 3s.4d. ; Miss Evans, £1, 15s.7d. ; Miss Feist, £3 2s.9d. ; Mrs. B. Hookway, £5 19s.7d. ; Mrs. Hulme, £2 16s.4d. ; Mrs Humphreys, £2 4s.2d. ; Mrs James, £2 17s.3d. ; Mrs. Jeffery, £5 8s.5d. ; Mrs. Jenkins, £2 11s. ; Mrs. Jubb, £2,10s.10d. ; Mr. H. T. Kendall, £1 4s.2d. ; Mrs. Lumbly, £2 16s. 10d. ; Mrs. Otway, £6 16s. 3d. ; Miss Paravicini, £3 2s.8d. ; Mrs Pound, £1 7s.7d. ; Mrs. C. Prouse, £2.6s.1d. ; Mrs. Vaggers, £1 10s.9d. ; Mrs. Wilson, £2 12s.8d. ; Mrs. A. Woodland, £1 12s.9d. ; Mrs. L Woodland, £1 6s.2d. ; Northam Parish Church, £8 4s. 3d. ; Northam Congregational Church, £5 8s.2d. ; Northam Square, £2 18s.1d. ; Northam Garden of Remembrance, £2 17s.8d. ; Northam Golf Club, £1 8s.3d. ; Northam School, £1 6s.11d. ; Northam Post Office, 6s.1d. Total: £77 14s.7d.

A Record £275.20 was raised by Torrington and district Poppy Day Collections (1972)

Torrington £177.20, St. Giles £31.73, Monkleigh £8.17. Huntshaw £4.55, Yarnscombe £2.94, Little Torrington £16.16, Alverdiscott £10.36, Weare Giffard £14.74, Merton and Huish £9.05.

Decimal Day – 15 February 1971

Do you remember Decimal Day?

Pre-decimal currency was based on:

• 12 pennies – 12d = 1 shilling
• 20 shillings – 20s = £1
• 240 pennies – 240d = £1

Prices would be written in pounds, shillings and pennies, so an item costing 7 shillings and 2 pennies would be written as 7s 2d and marked up sale items as 7/2. The ‘s’ and ‘d’ represented Latin words ‘solidus’ and ‘denarius’. Half-crowns, farthings and half pennies were not in use in 1971, having already been ‘retired’ but there were threepence and sixpence coins.

Threepence – this coin was 12-sided and often called a ‘thrupence’ or a ‘thrupny bit’ and, if you were lucky, you may have found one in your Christmas pudding.

Sixpence – this was silver coloured and may have been used in Christmas puddings instead of a thrupence. It was worth the equivalent of 2½ (new) pence and you could still use it up to 1980. Maybe you kept one as a souvenir?

Shilling – this was popularly known as a ‘bob’ and was used in expressions such as ‘taking the King’s shilling’, ‘you look as if you’ve lost a shilling and found a penny’ and ‘a few bob short of a pound’. The shilling (which was the same size as the 5 pence coin) was legal tender until 1990.

Florin – this was worth two shillings or ‘two bob’ and remained in use until 1992. The 10 pence coin was the same size.

Ten shilling note – this was withdrawn on 20 November 1970.

With decimalisation, the pound was retained and kept its value but was now divided into 100 new pence, written as ‘p’. Five and ten pence coins were introduced in April 1968, and fifty pence coins in October 1969, which meant that the public was already familiar with some of the new coinage.

To publicise Decimal Day, a huge campaign took place and included the BBC broadcasting a series of 5 minute programmes called ‘Decimal Five’ and ‘New Money Day’ which was shown on 15 February 1971, ITV showed a drama called ‘Granny gets the Point’ and Max Bygraves recorded a jaunty song called ‘Decimalisation’.

Articles included in the Gazette covering D-Day were:

D-Day Will Add To P.O. Worries (29 January 1971)

The postal strike has entered its second week with a ‘no change’ situation in Bideford.

Counter service at the head post office is almost normal apart from the fact, of course, that postings cannot be accepted.

With Decimal Day looming, post office worries must be amplified. Prior to the strike the intention was to close all offices from 1pm on Friday, February 12th, until 9am on the following Monday. In that time everything sold would have to be changed and accounted for which would be a vast undertaking even if things were normal.

Those renting Council properties can expect a reduction in their rent as Decimalisation Means Rent Cut - By A Fraction (12 February 1971)

150 OAPs See The Point! (19 February 1971)

It was ‘back to school’ for about 150 members of the Bideford No. 1 branch of the Old Age Pensions Associations who, at a special meeting organised by their leader, Mrs D A Pascoe, were taught how to handle decimal currency.

Their teachers were Inspector S Nicholson and Mr T White of the Southern National Omnibus Co. With the aid of blackboard, chalk and the new coins they soon dispelled mystery, and there were light-hearted moments.

Vice-chairman Mr W Tithecott thanked the speakers and Mrs Huxtable and the committee served tea.

199 valuable decimal stamps? (19 February 1971)

A Bideford stamp dealer, Miss Rosemary Phear, of Brookfield Street, bought 70 new decimal stamps on Monday for use of first-day covers – and then went back and bought the rest of the sheet.

Reason was that she noticed there were no phosphor bands on the stamps and she believes this could make them valuable. Miss Phear was lucky, for in the meantime only one more stamp had been sold from the 200-stamp sheet.

County Rate up 5½P (19 February 1971)

Torrington Rural Rate Prospect (19 February 1971)

Local eateries such as the Elizabethan Club and Restaurant and Tantons Hotel advertised their menus using decimalised costs - Grapefruit Surprise for 35p and Sunday lunch for 67 1/2p, whereas Chopes aided its customers by providing post and pre decimalisation costs - pantie girdles for 50p (10s).

Births announced in the Gazette on 26 February 1971 included Jana Grigg born at NDDHMU to Raymond and Lorraine born on 15 February.

Later Developments

The term ‘new pence’ or ‘new penny’ ceased after ten years in 1982 as it was deemed it was now not ‘new’. In the same year, the 20p coin was introduced. The half penny coin introduced in 1971 was not legal tender after December 1984 as inflation meant it was of little use and the pound coin was issued in 1983 which led to the pound note being demonetised on 11 March 1988.