Appledore

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.

A proposal by the County's Chief Fire Officer to close down Appledore Fire Station was defeated by a narrow margin at meeting of the County Fire Brigade Committee.

The proposal was part of a larger scheme to cut down on the number of retained - part time - firemen and to increase the number of full time men. In his report the Chief Fire Officer said the average number of calls at Appledore over the past five years was 15. He recommended the area covered by Appledore should be taken over by Bideford.

Another tug launched at Appledore

Fourth vessel built there for Grimsby firm.

Just four months after her keel was laid, a new river and ocean going tug was launched on Thursday week at the yards of Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd. She was christened Lady Cecilia by Mrs M Parkes, wife of Mr Basil Parkes, former Sheriff of Hull, and one of the leading trawler and tug owners in the country.
The vessel is being built for the Grimsby towage and salvage firm of Messrs Piggott and is the second Lady Cecilia to be constructed for the company at the Appledore yards. The first launched some years ago is now serving in the waters around Singapore.
At the time the contract to build the new Lady Cecilia was announced the price quoted for her construction was £150,000. She is 106ft long and has a beam of 28ft. She is a twin-screw Diesel powered vessel and has two Ruston and Hornsby engines, each of 937 shaft horse power. She has accommodation for a crew of 10, which comprises a captain, chief engineer, two mates, and six deckhands, and is equipped with radar and echo-sounding equipment.
Work of fitting out the tug, the fourth vessel to be built for the Grimsby firm, began on Friday and will probably be completed in two months. Orders, which will keep the yard busy for some time include those for an Admiralty tug and a sandsucker.

Gazette article dated 1 October 1965

SAVE APPLEDORE HOUSE - 1 and 1a One End Street

Sir, As reported in your paper a fortnight ago, a Demolition Order has been confirmed on 1 and 1a One End Street, Appledore, despite an offer to restore this property to the Council Surveyor's requirements.

Sir - I am more than sorry to hear of the proposed demolition of the fine old house on the corner of One End Street, Appledore. As a member of a family which has lived in this district for many generations and has always cared deeply for the character of this particular town, I feel that I must add my protest. My late uncle, Admiral Franklin, had a great affection for Appledore, as have we all. The original and fascinating street formation is one of Appeldore's proud possessions and the loss of this particular house would destroy a charming corner.
Jennyfer Crommelin (nee Durnford Slater)