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.

Buckland Brewer B had the best record

of any of the 80 teams competing in the five divisions of Bideford and District Skittles League last season.

Buckland were skippered by Cyril Babb, at 54 the ‘old man’ of the side.

Pictured here at the annual dinner of the Skittles League the team comprises: John Prance, John Babb, Brian Jeffery, Graham Rowland, Cyril Babb and Ernest Dennis. Regular player Ivan Rowland could not be in the picture as he was ill at the time.

Gazette article dated 1 May 1964

New Headquarters For Ladies’ Rowing Club

In the presence of many friends

including representatives of the Women’s Amateur Rowing Association, the West of England Amateur Rowing Association, Bideford Regatta Committee, and the two men’s rowing clubs in the town, Bideford and District Ladies’ Rowing Club on Tuesday evening entered a new era in its history by opening new boathouse and headquarters on the Pill.

On the ground floor is the boathouse, with four craft – Rosalind, Nil Desperandum, Christine Mary and Vernon – stowed on their racks, and on the first floor is the Club room where, after the Mayor (Mr J H Sharley) had declared the new HQ open, the Mayoress unveiled a commemorative plaque.

Mrs J Mounce, chairman of the club, presided, and called upon the Captain and secretary, Mrs I Williams, who first spoke of the eight eventful years spent in their old headquarters. She recalled how much they owed to Mr Frank Day and Mrs C A Grant in starting the club, and to Mr Fred Sanguine (of London, an Old Bidefordian) for his generous gifts which, with one they bought themselves, meant that they now had three good boats.

“Undoubtedly you are undertaking considerable financial obligations but I am confident Bideford will not let such a club of really good triers down” continued the Mayor.

He gathered that in addition to Messrs. Acford and Waldon, they had received assistance from Messrs Jack Mitchell, R C Lamey, Ivor Williams and Mr and Mrs F Patt, and many others.

Mr D F B Stucley, Lord Lieutenant of Devon, whose wife was attending the ceremony as President of the Club, proposed thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress and commended the contribution of the club to the life of the community.

Mrs Mounce paid tribute to the enthusiastic hard work of Mrs I Williams for the Club.

With the commemorative plaque: Mrs J Mounce, Mr E F Day, Mrs C A Grant, the Hon. Mrs Stucley, the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr D F B Stucley, Mr Fred J Sanguine, Mrs I Williams.

Article dated 14 September 1956

Hundreds See Dramatic Win By ‘Old-timers’

Local players shine against rest of Britain

Max Faulkner, former Open champion, drives off in the ‘ancient v modern’ match at Westward Ho!

Others: Peter Alliss, Nicky Laws and John Olde as old-time caddies; Brian Huggett, Christy O’Connor and, holding umbrella, Stanley Taggart.

Whilst glorious weather played a significant part in the success of the Centenary meeting of the Royal North Devon Golf Club, tributed must be paid to the chairman, Mr John Phillips, and committee. They arranged a programme that brought together not only representatives of leading clubs in Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales but also four leading professionals.

The last named participated in an exciting ‘ancient v modern’ exhibition game, which delighted nearly 1,000 spectators on Whit Monday.

As might have been expected, West of England golfers headed the list in the invitation competition on the Sunday in which 26 teams took part in a 36-holes scratch medal foursomes for the Centenary Trophy. Winners were Exeter (R B Redfern, who lives at Westward Ho!) and J G Spencer followed by R N Jutsum and J W D Goodban.

The individual medal competitions were a triumph for K Whitfield.

Considerable public interest was taken in the exhibition match in which Max Faulkner and Christy O’Connor were the ancients. They met in a four-ball better-ball match the moderns, Peter Alliss and Bryan Huggett.

The president of the RND Club presided at the centenary dinner at which there were over 60 guests. They included the captain of the Royal and Ancient, red-coated members of the Royal Blackheath and other Scottish clubs dating back to the 18th century, the president of the English Golf Union, and other personalities.