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.

For Jenefer Fleetwood, of Bideford, Friday evening was a doubly special occasion

Not only was she enrolled as a Girl Guide but she received from the hands of Miss M E Bindloss (County Guide Commissioner) the Star of merit award, recognising her fortitude over a long period of medical treatment and her determination to share in Brownie and Guide activities.

Her parents, the Rev and Mrs A T Fleetwood, older brother Michael and younger sisters, Elizabeth and Catherine, were present at the ceremony.

Jenefer was a Brownie with the 8th Hornchurch Pack until a year ago when the family moved to Bideford when her father became minister of Bideford Baptist Church. A pupil of Westcroft Junior School Jenefer is now a member of the 1st Bideford Guides who were among those at the ceremony.

There was a surprise presentation at the gathering when Miss A E Lee, on behalf of the local Girl Guides Association, presented a token of appreciation to Mrs E A Booth, who for nine years was captain of the 1st Bideford Guides, relinquishing the appointment last November.

2 July 1965

Annual Dinner Party

Little Torrington WI

has started the New Year with their annual dinner party.

The dinner was held at the New Inn, Bideford, and was followed by a social. Mrs Popham was the pianist. There was an attendance of 29 members.

The monthly competition – “My prettiest Christmas card” – resulted 1. Miss E Down; 2. Mrs D Murch; 3. Miss Margaret Crocker.

New activities with the New Year include soft furnishing classes.

Gazette article dated February 5, 1965

Magnificent Produce

Everyone at the annual show of Bideford and District Horticultural Society and Allotments Association

was talking about and admiring the magnificent leeks and other vegetables grown by 73 year old Mr Roland Davis, of 18 Torridge Street, Bideford.

Mr Davis, who is affectionately known to a host of friends as ‘Pinwire’ is seen proudly displaying some of his wonder leeks and in the other hand is holding the Bideford and North Devon Gazette cup which he won for the second year in succession. The trophy is awarded to the exhibitor gaining the most points in amateur and allotment holders’ classes of the show.

Last weekend, produce grown by Mr Davis was used to decorate the Blacksmith Arms for a harvest festival. Mr Davis is a veteran of the first world war during which he served with the 2nd Battalion, the Wiltshire Regiment.

31 October 1952