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.

From the Maltscoop Inn alley in Cooper Street, Bideford, tomorrow evening what is believed to be the first direct broadcast skittles match in the BBC West Region will take place as part of the regular sound broadcast feature ‘Sport in the West’.

It will be provided by a light hearted challenge match between a team representing Bideford and District Skittles League, playing on this alley, and the Bath and District Skittles League, playing on an alley in Bath. There will be a BBC commentator at each alley, Mr Tom Salmon, undertaking these duties at Bideford.
In the photograph the local team consists of C Lyle, J P Cleverdon, E Glover, L Elson, C G Metherell, W Hockin.

Gazette article dated 4 July 1958

New Racing Four Named

A new racing four, paid for by the tombola section of the club, was named and launched by Bideford Amateur Rowing Club (the Reds) on Saturday afternoon.

10.7.1964 BARC racing four2

It was named Bidefordian and will be used by the club’s senior four.
The naming ceremony was performed outside the clubhouse by the Mayoress of Bideford, Mrs Hart, who was accompanied by the Mayor, Cllr Eric Hart.
Introducing the ceremony, Mr Tony Way, vice-captain, spoke of the wonderful support that had enabled the money for the new boat to be raised.
Mr Cyril Lamey welcomed the Mayor and Mayoress. A bouquet was presented to the Mayoress by Miss Sarah Lamey.
The Bidefordian was then taken on the water by the club’s senior crew – Trevor Langbridge, Kenneth Hocking, David Elliott, David Hutchings, and John Hutchings (cox) – where it was rowed up to the bridge and down river with an escort of other Rowing Club crews and crews from Bideford Amateur Athletic Club and Grenville College rowing club.
On the right of the photograph is Mr David Curtis, club captain.
The full Gazette article is dated 10 July 1964

Hotel Golfers Compete For ‘J.H.’ Trophy

The first game for a historic golf trophy was played over the Westward Ho! links on Friday.

Competing in the two-ball foursomes Stableford were members of a newly formed golfing society, centred on the King’s Head Hotel, Northam, who include some of the elite among local players.
The trophy was presented to the society by the relatives of the late, and great, J H Taylor, the Northam golfer who five times won the Open championship. It commemorates at four-ball he played with other ‘giants’ – James Braid, Alex Herd and Harry Vardon.
Behind the new society is landlord Mr J L Long whose 19 year old son, Jim, is a former England boy international. They have two other trophies – one given by Mrs Vivian Patt and Mrs Phllis Galliford, and the other by Mr Charles Tucker. Two daughters of the late Mr J H Taylor – Mrs Pratt and Mrs Plumtree – were present at a ceremony at the ‘King’s Head’ afterwards.
Presenting the trophy to the winners – Horace Eastman and Bill Headon – Mrs Plumtree said the occasion was a true link with the past.
The full Gazette article is dated 16 June 1967

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