Sport

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.

Bideford Rugby Club’s new £10,000 clubhouse was officially opened on Thursday evening of last week by Cllr P J V Fulford, who was Mayor of Bideford when the building was constructed.

Cllr Fulford welcomed the agreement between the rugby and soccer clubs over use of grounds and he wished the Rugby Club all success in their splendid new headquarters.

Afterwards Cllr and Mrs Fulford, accompanied by the present Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford, Cllr and Mrs C G Metherall, inspected the building and were guests of honour at a celebration match between Bideford Chiefs and a strong North Devon representative XV.

Before the kick-off they went on to the field to meet the players, and in the photograph they are seen meeting Bideford’s team. Vice captain Bert Smale, who was skipper for the evening, is between the Mayor and Cllr Fulford, introducing the team.

North Devon scorers were: Barry Braunton, David Folland, Len Dunn and Thomas, Roger Stone. Bideford replied through a Bert Smale try, converted by Mike Grigg, and a Smale drop goal.

The full Gazette article is dated 12 September 1969

Crew Of Father And Four Sons

Finding themselves together at the BAAC boathouse recently, members of the Cole family decided to have a ‘family outing’ on the river. In the photograph they are seen seated in a gig ready to set out.

Mr Harry Cole, who is a well-known and versatile personality in local sporting circles, sits proudly in the coxswain’s seat facing his four sons: Cyril, Sydney, Ronald and Laurie.

Mr Cole senior first rowed for the Club in 1909. He is now, and has been for many years past, the Boating Captain of the Club. His sons followed in his footsteps, and the three elder boys, Sydney, Cyril and Laurie rowed for the Club before the outbreak of the last war. Mr Harry Cole volunteered for service and was with the Royal Engineers throughout World War 1. In the 1939-45 war the three elder sons serve with the Forces, and Laurie is still in the Fleet Air Arm.

The full Gazette article is dated 12 August 1947

Two Golf Titles for S Taggart

Stanley Taggart, the 39 year old professional now in his fourth season with the Royal North Devon Golf Club, won the Devon open championship at Churston on Sunday.

Two excellent round of 73 and 72 in conditions made difficult by cross winds, gave him victory over more than fifty amateur and professional players. He won by three strokes from two other professionals, Norman Sutton of Exeter, and Jack Green (Torquay).

The RNDGC amateur E D Trapnell did well to share seventh place with returns of 80 and 75, only tow other non-professionals finishing ahead of him. Another amateur from the Westward Ho! links, J Giddy, shared twelfth place with 159.

The full Gazette article is dated 3 October 1958