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.

Appledore’s Proud Array

5.6.1953 Appledore

Appledore’s narrow streets lent themselves well to decoration and last weekend found groups of neighbours hard at work erecting archways and crowns, flags and other expressions of loyalty and affection. There was scarcely a house that did not have at least one Royal portrait exhibited in its windows and a feature of the decorations was the great care which individual houses had been decorated.
Tomouth Terrace and Crescent won the prize of £2 for the best decorated street and this money went towards the street tea for the children who live there. At 6am on Coronation Day residents were called by Bugler Ken Smallridge to fall in for decoration duty. The competition was judged by Mrs Holt and Dr Palethorpe who placed One End Street second, and Richmond Road and Odun Terrace third.
Children’s sports in the Paddock at the Holt in the afternoon presented a very happy sight. Long queues of children waited of rides in the swing boats and there was scarcely a child to be seen without a large bottle of pop or an ice-cream.
It was noted that the stalwarts of local events during the year were once again well to the fore taking charge of various sections of the arrangements.
Later, open air dancing was staged in sheltered Marine Parade. After the bonfire at the new housing estate, near Western Hill, a large crowd continued the celebrations into the early hours of the next day at a dance at the Appledore Hall.
On Wednesday the old folk were given a special treat. Appledore Boys’ Brigade were hosts at the Appledore Hall to some 80 people between the ages of 70 and 90. After a free meat supper party followed by free cigarettes, came a concert which included selections by the band, community singing, sketches by Rev A E Green and party, and piano solos by Edward Popham, a member of the Brigade. On behalf of the guests, Mr F Cox voiced thanks to the Brigade.
The full Gazette article is dated 5 June 1953.

Foundation Stone For New Parish Hall

Laying the foundation stone of the new parish hall gave an additional local significance to the celebrations at Alverdiscott.

It saw the first stage of the fulfillment of a long awaited and long worked for scheme. The photograph shows Mr George Ford, chairman of the Parish Hall Committee and of the Parish Council, and a most stalwart worker on behalf of the hall, laying the stone.

The Gazette article is dated 5 June 1953

Great Day For Alverdiscott

Foundation Stone Laid Of Parish Hall

Alverdiscott will have two permanent memorials to the Coronation. Between the Parish Church and the Methodist Chapel and near the bus stop, an oak wayside seat, which she and her husband presented, was unveiled by Mrs A B Leitch and later, at Stoney Cross, Mr George Ford, chairman of the Parish Council and of the Coronation Committee, laid the foundation stone of the new Parish Hall.
In addition to their souvenir mugs presented at the free tea, children of the parish were given souvenir tins of toffees.
Sports went with a swing, young and old eagerly joining in the fun and games. A fireworks display was also provided by the committee.

The full Gazette article is dated 5 June 1953.