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.

New Racing Four for Ladies’ Rowing Club

Endeavours over the past four years by Bideford and District Ladies’ Rowing Club to raise money for the purchase of a new racing four were brought to triumphant fulfilment on Saturday evening when the new boat was christened and launched from Bideford river bank in the presence of a large crowd of supporters and friends.

The new boat cost £233. It is the first the club has ever purchased. Funds have been raised by an appeal and the organising of dances and various other social functions.

The chairman of the club (Miss M. Marshall) welcomed the Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford (Mr. D.F.B. Stucley and the Hon. Mrs. Stucley) to the ceremony and remarked that the new boat was only the second the club had ever had. The first boat was kindly given to the club by Mr. F.J. Sanguine four years ago and it was then the club decided to save and buy a boat of their own.

“It is a great privilege for me to take advantage of this opportunity of wishing the new boat good luck and good fortune to the crews who will row in her,” said the Mayor.

It was very much to the credit of the club that after a long period of endeavour they had now achieved their own boat.

“If you, the club, who are prepared to raise the amount to buy this boat, then you deserve every success in your effort,” continued the Mayor.

He felt the club members would wish him to thank all those people who have helped towards this. The former President of the club (Mrs. C.A. Grant) had issued an appeal last year for funds which had met with a very generous response, in addition there was the organising of the other events to make the climax that evening possible.

There was no doubt that rowing was one of the finest sports because of its unequalled team spirit. Of course, the whole secret was to row together and Bideford had absolutely gone to the top of the river at Westcountry regattas in the past few months. “We are proud of our rowers in Bideford,” added the Mayor.

The Mayoress, who is also President of the club, then stepped forward and, with a hammer decorated in the club’s colours of blue and red, broke the gaily-decorated bottle of champagne over the new craft’s bows and said “I name this boat Nil Desperandum.” At the same time a small Union Jack was removed and the new name revealed.

The coxswain (Doreen Balsdon) presented a box of chocolates to the Mayoress.

Thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress for attending were voiced by the Club’s captain and secretary (Mrs. J. Williams).

ESCORTED UP RIVER

To the accompaniment of cheers from the onlookers the boat was lowered and with Misses Valerie Goodman, Jean Harris, Pauline Screech and Marion Pilcher as her crew and 12 year old Doreen Balsdon as cox, the Nil Desperandum went gracefully away from the Riverbank. Escorted by two other crews from the “Reds” and the “Blues,” the Nil Desperandum was proudly rowed up the River Torridge for the first time.

In the Clubhouse following the ceremony, a christening cake made and presented by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Patt, was cut and toasts were drunk to the success of the new craft.

Gazette article dated 3 September 1954

8lb Bass Quay Catch

Sea Cadet ‘combined operation’

A 12s, 6d rod and line, a half-inch hook, a piece of bacon rind, and a paddle.

Hardly a keen fisherman’s idea of good equipment. But it landed an 8lb bass from the river Torridge for a Bridgwater visitor this week. The fish was caught by Mr Alan Smith, a sub-Lieut. in the Bridgwater unit of the Sea Cadets and a former member of the Bideford unit.

Sub-Lt Smith and two Bridgwater cadets, R Mellows and J Rockett, have been holidaying and training for several days on Bideford Sea Cadets’ training ship Bideford, moored alongside the quay.

On Monday they spent much of the day trying their hand at fishing near the Iron Bridge, but returned with just one small fluke. In the early evening Sub-Lt Smith decided to have one last go and during flood tide cast his line over the side of the Bideford.

After half an hour he had a bite. Then came a terrific struggle as Sub-Lt Smith fought to land his prize. With the line threatening to break at any time drastic steps were called for. So, as Sub-Lt Smith finally got the fish’s head to the surface, Lt-Cmdr Tom Rowe, head of Bideford Sea Cadets, smote it with a mighty blow with a paddle. Then the magnificent bass was landed.

“What you might call beginner’s luck!” laughed Mr Rowe.

An amusing note was the number of people who suddenly started fishing from the quayside after the big catch!

There was a celebration “fry up” on the Bideford on Tuesday.

Gazette article dated 14 August 1964

Torrington AFC

Mixed Fortunes

It has been a season of mixed fortune for Torrington A.F.C.’s Exeter and District League side pictured above before the kick-off at Saturday’s game with Clyst Valley which they were unfortunate to lose by the odd goal of five.

From left to right the team is: Back row – R. Mayo (who is also secretary of the Club), I. Vodden, D. Evans, J. Ramsden, M. Drew, A. Hutchings (capt.), L. Rogers (Chairman of Torrington A.F.C.) : Front row – C.Kidwell, D. Tapscott, D. Weeks, F. A. Hutchings, M. Green.

Gazette article dated 26 November 1954