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.

Fancy Dress Carnival - Stella Maris Junior School - 2nd July 1954

2.7.1954 fancy dress Stella Maris Junior School

Ready For A Tug After "Oranges And Lemons"

After a lapse of two years, the junior school fancy dress carnival was revived in all its colour and gaiety on Saturday to resume its place in the life of Stella Maris Convent School, Bideford.
Fairy, wizard and golliwog, Robind Hood, Bo-Peep and Contrary Mary and other characters from story book and nursery rhyme, mixed with nativesof other lands - the Indian prince, the Hawaian girl and the Texan - as nearly 200 children danced and played dleightfully on the sunlit lawn before a large audience of parents, friends and staff.
The kindergarten, too, made its contribution with nursery rhyme songs while parents and staff were invited to join in some of the dances.
Three parents, Mrs Logan, Mrs Lacey and Mrs Pringle, undertook the uneviable task of judging the costumes and presented awards to Barry Penn; Anthony Pepall; Christopher Little, Ruth Smallridge; Lesley Shaw; Beverley Fisk; Jacqueline Thurburn; Carol Needs; Caroline Blackmore. Sister Dominic, headmistress of the school, acted as master of ceremonies.

BGS Grenville Rugby

BGS Grenville Rugby - 16th November 1962

BGS beat Grenville College

After two weeks with no fixtures, Bideford Grammar School entertained Grenville College, and chalked up their second win of the season by 18-3.
Grenville took an early lead from a penalty, then BGS woke up and were soon on level terms when George Squires kicked a penalty goal. The home score was increased when winger Roger Geen touched down in the corner.
After the interval the Grammar School were put further ahead by another penalty by Squires. Soon afterwards centre Chris Jeffery crossed the Grenville line for an unconverted try, and then, following a loose scrum, Squires heaved over in the corner to bring his individual score to nine points.
Following a fine break by stand-off Micky Eastmond, Jeffery scored again.

Bideford Grammar School

Bideford Grammar School - 1935

History of the Grammar School

First mention in a lease belonging to feoffees of Long Bridge dated 31 May 1717. Richard Dunnyng rented bakehouse near west end of Long Bridge from feoffees. 'with the great seller under the School House, late in the occupation of John Shurtle' who was, as it happened, one of the feoffes and probably a merchant. The boundaries of the property are given as Alhalwyn Street on the west, the ponyon end of the bakehouse on the east, the land of John Suzanne, gent, on the north, and the Broadway or street leading over the Long Bridge on the south. These are evidently the boundaries of the cellar (since the bakehouse itself constitutes one of the boundaries) and therefore of the school over the cellar, or part of it.
The position indicated is the well known site in Allhalland Street, which was in more or less continuous use till 1869. It is clear that in 1617 a school already existed on this site. Moreover, the casual nature of the reference shows that it was not a new school at that time so that we may justifiably carry the foundation of Bideford Grammar School at any rate back to 16th Century. The school stood on Bridge Land, but all land surrounding it belonged to the Grenvilles. Thus on the other side of Bridge Street, where the Town Hall now stands, was the Old Grenville Manor House, no. 1 Churchyard, the house next to the School, formally the Castle Inn was also Grenville property. The Grenvilles owned the Quay as Lords of the Manor, while the new Grenville Manor House, the residence of Sir Bevil Grenville stood where the premises of the Gas Co. are now situated. Mr W H Rogers makes suggestions that the Grenvilles may have given the site to the Bridge Feoffees so that a school might be founded there and this indeed seems likely enough and gives support to the general argument in favour of a Grenville foundation. Left with probability - school founded in second half of 16th century, vague possibility founded about 1588 by Sir Richard Grenville. Lease 1745 gives size of cellar 61' x 25' so probably rough size of school 60' x 25' - could have been built to standard pattern. (In 1657 needed rebuilding).