Bideford

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 Postman's Pilgrimage - 1975

All along the route of his pilgrimage to Buckland Brewer on Tuesday in the steps of Bideford's 19th century postman-poet Edward Capern, postman Fred Fuzzens, of Windsor, was greeted by people coming out of their homes to shake his hand and wish him well. At Buckland, children from the village school specially assembled to greet him. Mr Fuzzens, who was wearing a postman's town uniform of the 1860s, read to them Capern's poem "The Rural Postman" and commented on some of the local references in it. Mr and Mrs Tom Boullier, of the sub-post office, entertained him to lunch.

The journey to Buckland did not trouble him for he often walks up to 20 miles a day. It made him appreciate all the more, however, Capern's 13-mile stint which was not along roads as he himself had done it, but across fields, streams and stiles and carrying a heavy bag. Mr Fuzzens was seen off from Bideford Head Post office by the Postmaster Mr Bert Inglis and bu the Mayor of Bideford, Mr Stan Short.
On Wednesday, still wearing the old uniform, he visited Capern's grave at Heanton Punchardon, and the house where he died in Braunton. He returns home today. A devoted Capern fan, he said it would be a time in his life he would always remember. In our picture Mr Fuzzens is seen with Bideford postman, Mr John Mounce, of Lime Grove.

Bideford Rotary Club Floral Piece

Bideford Rotary Club Floral Piece - September 1975

This year's floral set-piece in Bideford's Victoria Park is the Rotary emblem with wording reminding that this year Bideford Rotary Club has celebrated its golden jubliee.
On the far right is Mr Jim Shackleton, Torridge District Council's parks superintendent. With him is Mr Ron Smith who was president of the Rotary Club when it marked its jubilee by handing over a fully-equipped ambulance to Bideford and District St John Ambulance Brigade.

Hugh Henny Fined

Hugh Henny Fined £2 - September 1957

Three times asked - three times refused

Chips Paper on Pavement

Three times he had asked a fairground attendant to pick up a fish and chips bag the man had thrown onto the pavement in Allhalland Street and each time the request was refused, Police Constable G Thrupp told Bideford magistrates on Tuesday. Before the court was Hugh Henny, whose address was given as c/o F Whitelegg's, The Fairground, Bideford, who pleaded "guility" to depositing litter on the highway in contravention of a Borough bye-law.
Henny, who told the magistrates he had nothing to say, was fined £2 with the alternative of 14 days' imprisonment. He said he earned £6 a week and was paid on Sundays. He was allowed until September 23rd to pay.