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.

The reign of Westward Ho! Tennis Club’s B team at the top of the North Devon Tennis League is over –

their place has been taken by the Westward Ho! A team.

Tony Butterfield and Derek Hendersen lost to Dave Priddle and Peter Clarke; lost to Colin Freemantle and John Beaumont. Ian Mitchell and Alan Briggs lost to Priddle and Clark; lost to Freemantle and Beaumont.

The clash between the Westward Ho! ladies teams ended in the same way with the A team winning 4-0, but Betty Stephens and Sue Ackland almost caused an upset before losing three sets to Sue Doncaster and Margaret Petherbridge. Betty Stephens and Sue Ackland lost to Julie Pincombe and Jane Wickett; lost to Sue Doncaster and Margaret Petherbridge. Helen Heywood and Julie Bowden lost to Pincombe and Wickett; lost to Doncaster and Petherbridge.

While Hartland’s men’s team were losing 4-0 away to Ashleigh Road their ladies’ team were going under by the same margin away to Ashleigh Road Ladies.

The full Gazette article is dated 10 June 1977

Two Brothers And Cousin In Team

Two brothers and a cousin, George and Allan Larkworthy and Godfrey Larkworthy, are included in Shebbear’s football team.

The father of the two brothers is a member of the committee and his brother, Godfrey’s father, was one of the prime movers in the formation of the club and its original secretary. The club has the unusual distinction of having a woman secretary, Mrs D Bridgman, who succeeded her husband in this office.

Chairman of the Club is the Vicar, Rev H A Robins, and Mr F Pett has been treasurer since 1948. Skipper of the side for the past three seasons is Arthur Buse and the team includes three former Black Torrington players – E Luxton, W Harris and D Ley. Also playing for the team but not in the photograph are G Dymond, A Stevens and H Jeffery.

In the game which followed the taking of the photograph Shebbear lost 3-0 to Appledore Reserves in the second round of the Pickard Cup. Shebbear still have an interest in the Holman Cup and are about midway in the Northern Division of the Kingsley League table.

Seen are: W Jeffery, George Larkworthy, A Buse, E Luxton, J Leonard, B Jones, W Harris, G Bailey, D Ley, Godfrey Larkworthy, Allan Larkworthy

Gazette article dated 31 December 1954

£400 Support for Torrington Football Club

Torrington Football Supporters’ Club agreed at their annual meeting, held at the New Inn, to give the parent club £100 ‘to help them through the season’.

Two payments of £150 had already been made during the year.

The accounts revealed that the Supporters’ Club had a credit balance of £168, plus investments of £400, but the secretary, Mr L J Hutchings, warned that it was becoming increasingly difficult to raise money.

He appealed to playing members to help by selling the weekly lottery coupons, which provide the main source of income for the Supporters’ Club.

It was decided to leave in abeyance a skittles week but to organise immediately a New Year competition.

The canteen at home games is to be restricted to tea and biscuits. In the past, it was said, womenfolk had provided food from their own pockets and this had not been fully appreciated.

Election of officers: Alderman A E Holwill; Mr C H Rogers; Mr R Martin; Mr L J Hutchings; Mr G R Rowe. The general committee were elected en bloc with the addition of Mrs A Burke and Messrs F Darling and W Symons.

Gazette article dated 19 November 1965