Charities

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.

W.V.S and C.D Medals

When, at the start of Bideford Town Council meeting, the Mayor, Cllr Mrs Ethelwynne Brown, presented long service (15 year) medals to WVS workers, she said it was especially gratifying in these days when Civil Defence was often decried and hounded down as unnecessary that there were people with sufficient foresight to remain faithful to the work.

It had been intended that she should present six medals, but only three of five WVS members were present. And Mr Roy Ellis, who was to receive a C.D medal was ill. The Mayor visited his home to present it.

In the photograph are Mrs J Latham, Mrs R Croft, Mrs T P Keene, Miss J M Phillipps, Major J E Briscoe, Miss A E Lee, Mrs A J Wensley and Mrs A E Turner

Awards were presented to Mrs A E Turner, Mrs J Latham, and Mrs A J Wensley. Unable to attend were Miss M Pound and Mrs A R Bowen.

Gazette article dated 6 May 1966

Bideford Cadets Soar From Bottom to Top

After languishing at or near the bottom of the list for 16 years,

Bideford St John Ambulance Cadets have won the North Devon championship.

Not only was their victory in the inter-unit competition, staged at South Molton, a triumph for pertinacity, but it was an overdue award for Cadet Supt G B Clarke who has refused to be daunted by defeat or by odds that were often heavy.

In the competition, the team – Michael Hammett, Peter Jury, John Braund, Roger Birch, with Nigel Skinner reserve – well and truly toppled Barnstaple from top position.

To set the seal, their No. 2, Peter Jury, carried off the Hoerman individual cup.

In the team event, competitors had to deal with a mock accident. The judge was Dr P Bush, while Dr W McIntosh of Northam and Dr T O Candler of Bideford judged the individual tests.

Gazette article dated 3 April 1964

Centuries Old Tradition

Dating back to 1605 from a bequest made by a wealthy local merchant named John Andrew, 40 New Year loaves were distributed by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford (Mr and Mrs Pat Hughes) at the Town Hall on Monday morning.

This year the oldest recipient attending was 91 year old Mr Tom Johns, of Barton Tors.
Those who were unable to attend in person had the gifts delivered to them by the Mayoress and her daughter Suzanne, as seen in the picture above.
Gazette article dated 7 January 1972