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.

Old Girls revisit Edgehill - Dramatic moments recalled.

One of the most successful reunions of Edgehill College Old Girls took place at Bideford during the past weekend. They returned not only to enjoy personal reunions but to see how the College was ‘at work’ today, under modern conditions. Their interest and enthusiasm vied only with that of the present staff, and of Miss H Lawson Brown, who became headmistress just two years ago.

Dramatic moments were recalled by the visit of one ‘Old Girl’, now living in Bath. Then a boarder at the school, she was the first to wake up and give the alarm of fire which destroyed the buildings in June 1920. Fortunately, thanks to the prompt and cool action taken after the alarm was given, not a single girl of the 116, plus staff, who were asleep at the time, was lost or injured. Below is an aerial view of the present school. Between forty and fifty Old Girls attended the reunion, which was voted a great success. They came from far afield, including London and Bournemouth, and represented all generations of Edgehillians from 1900 to the present day.

The full Gazette article is dated 10 March 1950

Methodist Leader and Author as Edgehill Bursar

With the autumn term, the Rev Richard Pyke, president of the Methodist Conference in 1939 and of the United Methodist Conference in 1927, commences duties as bursar of Edgehill Girls' College, Bideford, in succession to the Rev W Treffry, who has retired.

Mr Pyke is well known to West country Methodists and to North Devon in particular. A native of Sampford Courtney, he attended Shebbear Collage to which he returned in later years as bursar and secretary to the Trustees and as a Governor, becoming chairman of the joint governing bodge of Shebbear and Edgehill Colleges.

BGS Old Boys’ Reunion

Several Old Boys visiting the district on leave or on holiday were warmly welcomed at the annual meeting and reunion of Bideford Grammar School Old Boys’ Association at the Rose of Torridge Cafe, Bideford, on Friday.

Many old friendships were renewed at the informal gathering which followed the business part of the evening and even the oldest Old Boy was still remembered by Mr Cecil J Smith, without whom no such gathering would be complete.
Mr C F Stephens was elected President in succession to Mr R Whitefield and the meeting agreed to ask Mr C T Braddick to accept the Vice-Presidency. Mr P Fletcher was re-elected secretary and Mr G Durant, treasurer.
The headmaster, Mr C F Stephenson, was among those present and reference was made to the cordial relations which continued to exist between the School and the Old Boys’ Association. Thanks were expressed to Mr Stephenson for the loan of the cricket pitch and practice facilities for the use of the Old Boys’ cricket team and a sum of £10 was voted to the use of the school at the discretion of the headmaster. During the course of his report, the secretary commented that the list of life members of the Association was increasing satisfactorily, the present number being in the region of sixty.
When it was reported that Mr Morris Marples, a former headmaster, had recently published ‘A History of Football’ the Association decided to purchase a copy for presentation to the school.
Preliminary arrangements were made for the Association’s annual dinner to be held on January 21st 1955.