Schools

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.

“Set a good example to other road users”

It was their duty as “qualified cyclists” to set a good example to other cyclists and road users when on the highway, declared the Mayor of Bideford, Mr E D Williams, at Edgehill Girls’ College, Bideford.

The Mayor, who was accompanied by the Mayoress, was speaking to a gathering of children from local schools who had been successful in two cycling proficiency tests organised by the Bideford Road Safety Committee. “Do everything you possibly can to make the highways safe” the Mayor advised the children. He also paid tribute to the Road Safety Committee who “spend a lot of time looking after your welfare.”

A cordial welcome on behalf of the school was extended by the headmistress, Miss A M Shaw, and by the chairman of the Road Safety Committee, Mr Ron Lake. Other Committee officials present were Mr H Salisbury, Mr W J Quill and PC Guy Venton (representing Police Inspector R M Rundle).

The Mayor presented certificates of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to the successful children. The list was:

Edgehill Girls’ College – Judith Brooks, Helen and Joyce Brooks, Anne Congdon, Judith Curry, Wendy Davies, Andrea Fletcher, Carol Needs, Susan Renny, Thelma Twose, Gillian Bennett, Wendy Bidgway, Janet Bird, Jane Blackmore, Jennifer Booth, Christine Cannan, Mary Cope, Susan Ellicott, Janet Foster, Janet Fulford, Sandra Goodyer, Paula Green, Ann Grogan, Fay Johanson, Jennifer Levett, Sally Luxton, Ceinwein Moors, Susan Morgan, Ella Maunder, Trudy Needs, Ailsa Newbery, Carola Paine, Pauline Pettet, Marion Rogers, Sheilagh Roe, Janet and Sheila Scott, Denise and Jennifer Smith, Susan Stewart, Angela Tomlinson, Susan Vallance, Patricia Ward, Gillian Wellings, Jennifer Goudge, Elizabeth Whiteland, Judith Biggart, Margaret Pendray, Susan Booth, Susan Congdon, Susan Davies, Carolyn Fletcher, Cherryl McDaniel, Louise Westwood, Marguerite Bennett, Ida Burrow, Susan Cartwright, Jennifer Clulow, Pamela Coombes, Patricia Friend, Judith Griffin, Jennifer Haines, Elizabeth Hardinge, Diana Higman, Janet Le Moignan, Theresa Parry, Jennifer Pearch, Mary Squire, Susan Wallace, Julia Birkett.

Bideford Church Juniors – D M Brenna, R Cavanagh, N Cooper, D J Stephens, R D Way, D W G Mills.

Bideford Grammar School – I P Metherell, I Buchanan, J Westlake, W J Underhill, J F Enwood, R D Babb, R Lascelles, J Rowson, R Lee, D P Martin, H M J Glover, R D Mounce.

Bideford Secondary Modern School – Jennifer Cann, Stephen Warren, Roy Quance, Robert Holloway, David Johns, Alan Faulkner, Richard Dunn, Roger Slocombe.

East-the-Water Primary School – Anthony Davis, Gillian Pope, Carole Cole, Patricia Stevens.

Kingsley Preparatory School – Carol Gurnhill, Peter Heard, Christopher Pearce.

Geneva Junior School – John Eveleigh, Graham Ball, John Hare, Peter Williams.

Grenville College – R Lamey, R H Henwood, A R Reynolds, P A Griffey, P N Morris, R Newton, J K Lamey, P and A Dixon, T D Holyoake, M J Omejer, T Rushen, R J Twose, D Pidler, C P C Treloar, J A B Morris, P C Garnett, A G Keston, O J Jubb, B Munro-Smith, G Shonekan, A D Govier, B Winter.

Successful pupils from Stella Maris Convent School were unable to be present to receive their certificates owing to examinations. Those from this school to receive certificates are: Jane Dixon, Mary Little, Anne and Shirley Saunders, Susan Lisle, Vivienne Whiteland, Hazel Tucker, Sandra Hitchcox, Sally Richardson, Jana Bruce, Robert Dixon, Martin Harle, Geoffrey Rogers, David Butterwith, Gillian Bradbeer.

Gazette article 12 July 1957

Pupils Resisting Ban on Trendy Shoes

Some children at Bideford County Secondary School were sent home

this week because they wore ‘trendy’ shoes. In the opinion of the school staff the shoes are dangerous and a hazard to the children’s health.

But many of the children concerned claimed that teachers are not in touch with today’s fashions. Said one pupil “We are old enough to make up our own minds and these shoes are what young people are wearing today.” Other pupils at the school agreed their teachers may be right – but they said they were determined to go on wearing the shoes to keep in step with fashion.

To whom do these shoes belong?

School staff have ruled that soles over an inch thick are not acceptable and a number of gym shoes have been made available for children not conforming, to wear.

Deputy head Mr George Hookway said the staff were constantly being made aware that some modern trendy shoes not only constituted a danger because of the many stairs in the school, but threatened the posture and future well being of the girls. Second mistress Miss E Rees blamed what she saw as the pressure of fashion for some girls wearing unsuitable shoes to school.

“There are about 200 older pupils and most of them wear platforms to school” said Philip Braund of Westcombe, Bideford, one of many boys to wear platform shoes. Bridget Hearn who lives in Lime Grove, commented “We like to be fashionable.” Sandra Stevens of Woolsery and Sarah Toon of Bideford felt that teachers were ‘a bit of touch with fashions.’ “We don’t complain about old people – why should they complain about what we wear?” was the reaction of Derek Smith, of East-the-Water. It was not just a question of the shoes. The style of shoes went together with baggy trousers and one looked ridiculous without the other, he said.

‘Serious Action’ hint by school head

A warning was given by the headmaster of Bideford School, Mr John Dare, that the possibility of ‘more serious action’ will be considered against pupils refusing to comply with the requirement to wear suitable shoes to school.

“A child may be required to remain away from school until such time as he or she is prepared to wear suitable footwear” he said.

Gazette article dated March 1975

An Amazing Display of Knowledge

Stella Maris Girls Were Great!

Girls from Stella Maris School gave an amazing display of road safety knowledge in the Bideford area schools road safety quiz staged at Westcroft School.

The picture shows Mr Stan Short, vice-chairman of Bideford Road Safety Committee with Sophie Soudain, Kim Tucker, Linda Phillips, Carolyn Kipling (Stella Maris A), Lesley Borrett, Sharon Bond, Clare Bromage, Gillian Tarr (Stella Maris B), John Fisher, Garry Fisher, Susan Blackmore, Anne Bale and reserve Lesley Summerville (Church juniors).

Gazette article dated 28 February 1975