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.

Coronation - Northam - 11th May 1937

Northam - Pageant of Empire

The pealing of the Church Bells, at an early hour, will let residents of Northam know that the great day has arrived. From then until late at night a splendid programme of events has been drawn up by the Coronation Celebrations Committee, with Mr C E Palmer as Chairman, Captain F C Barton M.C. Hon. Secretary, and Mr B G Billingham, Hon
Treasurer. Councillors, officials, British Legion and other bodies will march in procession to the Church at 9.45am for a united service at the close of which the Coronation Ceremony will be broadcast.
The special feature of the day, and one which has been cardfully planned, commences at 2pm when over 180 children and adults will take part in a "Pageant of Empire". Rev. A E Green is pageant master and this should prove the event of the day. The procession commences at the Square and marches to the Vicarage Field via North Street, North-East Street, Cross Street, and Fore Street. Tea for adult residents comes at 4pm and while they are having tea the children's sports will take place. At 5pm the children are to have tea. From 6-7pm there be adult sports.
A novelty, and one that promises to be a great success, takes place at 7pm - a free entertainment for residents in the Church Hall. The King's Speech will be broadcast during the entertainment. A fireworks display will be given at 10pm and from then until the "wee small hours" residents only will join in a free dance in the Church Hall. Side shows will be open from 4-7pm.
The Committee were well-equipped with funds for the day's celebrations, thanks especially to the people themselves, who gave generously to a house-to-house collection, and to donations from the Burrows Committee, RN Devon Golf Club, Northam Ladies Golf Club, R.A.O.B, Northam Chamber of Trade, and the Junior Imperial League. The funds were helped by a share, amounting to £39 1s 3d, of the penny rate given by the Northam Urban District Council. The amount from collecting boxes was £2 4s 6d, and from the house-to-house collection £27.

Coronation - Putford - 1937

Coronation - Putford - 11th May 1937

Putford

Putford Church bells will be rung at intervals throughout Coronation day, when all the parishioners will participate with true Coronation spririt in the day's events. A united service in the Parish Church at 2pm will be followed by sports for children and adults which will last throughout the afternoon and early part of the evening, with a break for a free tea for all. At the tea, mugs are to be presented to all children under school leaving age.
The King's speech will be broadcast at Churston Barn at 8pm and from then until 1am on Thursday a social and dance will be held in the school room, where free refreshments will be provided.
The Rev J Williams (Rector) has acted as Chairman of the Celebrations Committee, in the place of Capt. Farewell C.I.E R.I.N who was unable to attend meetings through indisposition. Mrs M G Kingdon (Headteacher at the School) is Hon. Secretary and Mr P J Walter, of Churston Manor, Hon. Treasurer. A house-to-house collection for funds received a generous response, about £17 being raised.

Coronation - Westward Ho! - 1937

Coronation - Westward Ho! - 11th May 1937

Westward Ho! - Making Local History

To-morrow, when Westward Ho! joins in the Empire wide celebrations of the Coronation, local history will, in a certain sense, be made. It will be the first time that the popular little seaside resort has conducted such celebrations entirely on its own. Usually it has been joined with Northam. The general committee responsible for the arrangements, under the chairmanship of Mr F Wilkey, with Rev. Cecil Eman as Hon. Secretary and Lieut P C Humbby as Hon. Treasurer, have drawn up a splendid programme of events, so that Westward Ho! will be able to claim to have taken its full share in the general celebrations.
Generous support, expressed in gifts of money and labour willingly undertaken, has been accorded the Committee. Public subscriptions together with the share of the grant of a penny rate by the Northam Council have enabled the Committee to make full and comprehensive preparations.
The programme commences at 2pm with a combined thanksgiving service in the Station Hall, followed at 2.30pm by a procession to the Cricket field, where a children's pageant, "Songs of the Flag" will take place at 2.45pm. Coronation mugs will be presented at 3.45pm and teas for children and adults will follow. At 5pm sports will be conducted in the Cricket field. The King's address will be given in the Cricket field at 7:10pm. A firework display at 8pm is to be followed by a social and dance (fancy dress optional) in the Sunshine cafe. In connection with the decoration of the streets and houses, a prize of 10s is being offered for the best dressed house or shop (not shop window).