Accidents

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.

These drivers have not had an accident for over 230 years

Fourteen drives based with the Torrington Highways Division of Devon County Council, who between them have a record of 234 years’ driving on Council business without an accident, have received safe driving awards.

The awards were presented on behalf of ROSPA by the Divisional Surveyor, Mr Richard Shuttleworth.

Mr Lionel Baker of Beaford, and Mr Ron Tanton of Torrington, each have 27 years’ service with the County Council. Mr Bert Sussex and Mr Stan Newcombe, Mr William Wheeler of Shebbear, and Mr Ken Hill and Mr William Collings, both of Horns Cross, each has a record of 20 or more years’ service.

Medals for five years’ service driving went to Mr Baker, Mr Collings and Mr Ernest Cornish, of Torrington, and bars to Mr Hill, Mr William Petherbridge (High Bullen), Mr Fred Robins (Taddiport), Mr Sussex, Mr Mervyn Wilcox (Horns Cross) and Mr Tanton. Diplomas were presented to Mr Raymond Branch, Mr Douglas Cox (Frithelstock), Mr Walter Dymond (Littleham), Mr Newcombe and Mr Wheeler.

Full Gazette article dated 8 December 1972

R.H.S Awards for Men who Saved Girl Swimmer

Without doubt, had it not been for the commendable actions of two local men,

a 15 year old girl would have drowned said Police Inspector D T P Cowling.

He had related how Mr A J Pickard of Oldiscleave Farm, Bideford, had been sitting on the beach at Instow with his family when he heard Wendy Harknett of Olive Farm, who was in the water, shouting for help.

Mr Pickard swam 25 yards to the drowning girl and brought her ashore. There he was joined by Mr K W Morey, 4 Beechfield Road, Fremington, a member of St John Ambulance Brigade. They were also joined by a Dr Powell.

Royal Humane Society certificates were handed to the two men by the chairman of the magistrates, Mr G Heywood, who warmly commended the rescuers.

The full Gazette article is dated 28 February 1964

Northam Man’s Lucky Escape

Car’s skid on icy patch

When his car skidded on a patch of ice while he was driving along the Bideford-Barnstaple road in the vicinity of South Yeo, Instow, on Friday morning, Mr E C Beadle, of Luneray, Windmill Lane, Northam, a rating a valuation officer and leading member of Bideford Camera Club, had a lucky escape from serious injury.

After skidding and colliding with the nearside fencing, Mr Beadle’s car spun right across the road, crashing through a wooden protective barrier and coming to rest with its front wheels hanging over a 10-foot drop.

No other vehicle was involved.

Although the car was extensively damaged, Mr Beadle, who was on his way to his Barnstaple office, escaped with a severe shaking and bruises.

As Mr Beadle was taken back to his home a passing motorist, Mr Michael Hutchings, of a North Devon electrical radio and engineering firm, called his Bideford office with his van’s radio telephone and a message was passed to an Instow garage for a breakdown vehicle to be sent to the scene of the accident.

The road was partially blocked for a time.

The Gazette article is dated 15 February 1963