Associations

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.

Jobs for the girls are being found in Bideford by local artist John Mills

Thanks to him Bideford Girl Guides have had added to their list of useful occupations – and a helping to their funds – and he is certainly glad of their help.

Mr Mills, who lives at Hunter’s Lodge, Monkleigh, is responsible for the painting club spot in Associated Rediffusion television children’s programme “Tuesday Rendezvous” and each month he sets a nation wide competition.

The growing interest in the feature has given him a mammoth task, for entries have grown from 200, when the competition began in “Lucky dip” to sometimes more than 10,000. In order more readily to cope with the flood of entries a special post office box number was registered at Barnstaple. From there the entries are brought to Bideford and the Guides set about the task of opening them and sorting them into four age groups. Most of the actual sorting is done by the district captain, Mrs E A Booth, of Bideford.

The full Gazette article is dated 18 January 1963

WI’s Motor Mower Gift

A motor mower is the latest gift from the members of Westward Ho! Women’s Institute to The Chalet old people’s home at Westward Ho!

Over many years the WI have taken a neighbourly interest in the home and its residents and have made various gifts and donations. When they heard that a new mower was needed, its provision was made a special target and the necessary funds were raised by a jumble sale and other efforts.

Members of The Chalet committee attended Friday’s meeting of the WI at which the mower was handed over by Mrs M Owen, the president. It was received on behalf of The Chalet by Mrs C M Congdon, chairman of The Chalet committee.

In the picture (left to right) are: Mrs Owen, Mrs Congdon, Mrs E M Hilder and Mrs Olde.

Gazette article dated 14 November 1975

Mayor Reads Queen’s Message To Youth Movements

The Mayor of Bideford, Mr E D Williams, took the salute at Jubilee Square, Bideford, on Sunday

at a parade of local youth organisations held to mark Commonwealth Youth Sunday. Later, at a service at Bideford Bridge Methodist Church, he read a national message from the Queen. The Mayoress, Mrs Williams, was also at the saluting base and service.

The parade was organised by Bideford Youth Committee, whose secretary is Mr G A Waters, the local education welfare officer.

Bideford Town Junior Band played selections opposite the saluting base at which the Mayor was met by the Rev A J Herring – who represented the Chairman of Bideford Youth Committee, Mr J Sinclair – and Cllr G A Ellis, the Town Council’s representative on the Youth Committee. Also were other members of the Council and the Town Clerk, Mr F C Backway.

The parade, which was led by Bideford Town Silver Band, formed up on the Pill, under the direction of the Town Marshall, Mr Harry Phillips.

Youth organisations represented at the parade were: Bideford Coy Girls’ Training Corps (under Miss Babb); Bideford St John Ambulance Cadets (Mr G Clarke) and Nursing Cadets (Miss M Williams); Bideford Boy Scouts (Group Scoutmaster P Hopkins and Mr J Sinclair); Bideford Cubs (Miss Ellis); and Bideford Girl Guides (Mrs Coham-Fleming, Commissioner). Those on parade were thanked for their attendance.

The service was conducted by the Rector of Bideford, Preb J A Durling, with Mr Hudson at the organ. There were readings by a member of the GTC and a Bideford Grammar School Company Army Cadet.

An address was given by the Rev G E Gregory who was taking the place of Rev R H Foster.

Proceeds of a collection taken at the service are being sent to the Commonwealth Youth Committee headquarters in London.

Gazette article dated 3 May 1957