Shipping

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.

"Shiver my Timbers - What Next?" 20th November 1953

For 90 years, the three masted schooner 'Sedwell Jane' has held the honour of having been the largest and longest vessel ever launched above Bideford Bridge.

Messrs M W Blackmore and Sons, Bideford will be launching the largest vessel so far from their yard. An inshore minesweeper to be known as HMS Broadley, whe will be named by Mrs Durnford-Slater, wife of Rear-Admiral L F Durnford-Slater, of "Landfall" Instow, who is Deputy Controller of the Navy.

The Sedwell Jane was built at Sea Locks, at the terminus of the old Rolle Canal at Weare Giffard, in 1868, Messrs Richard Pickard and John Leonard, the builders, built her to deck height, and then Mr Wm. Leonard of New Road, Bideford took her through the bridge to the bottom of Bridgeland Street where her masts were stepped in and her construction completed.

Shipyard closure hits nearly 500 jobs 8th March 1963

After the first stunning blow caused by the closure, literally at a moment's notice on Friday, of the Appledore shipyards of P K Harris & Sons Ltd, there has been much activity aimed at getting them reopened.

Mr J E Williams, who has been appointed by Lloyds Bank as Receiver, at the request of the directors, is examining the position. Throughout Mr Percy Browne, MP who is convalescing at his London home, has been in close touch with the problem, as have other local leaders.

P K Harris & Sons Ltd regret to announce that circumstances have compelled them to virtually suspend operations at their shipyard.

For many the tragedy was intensified in that the area's other shipyard - that of M W Blackmore & Sons Ltd - which was Bideford's largest employer of labour, is in voluntary liquidation and is likely to close at the end of this month.

Mr G Maddock, (manager of the Bideford Employment Exchange) described the new closure as "a very sad blow."

Over 30 men lose shipyard jobs and more may follow 1st January 1960

More than 30 hands were laid off by P K Harris & Sons Ltd, the Appledore shipbuilders. Mr Gordon Harris, a principal of the firm stated there are bound to be some more. Reason for dismissals is that last year the firm produced 15 or 16 ships many of them in record time, "but at the great expense of Sunday work and overtime."