Clovelly

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.

"Hullo, hullo, hullo" is what PC Graham Hoare, of Bideford, might well have said when he saw this sight in Clovelly's High Street.

"Just moving house, officer" might equally have been the reply.
It's no easy task moving furniture in Clovelly - the stepped High Street means sledges, not removal vans. And instead of horsepower, it's manpower.

Gazette article dated 10 May 1974

Clovelly School Presentation

The school had been very happy under her direction and had secured more places to other schools than in any previous year.

This was a tribute paid to Mrs A M Jones by Mr James Cruse, the senior school manager, when Mrs Jones, headmistress of Clovelly primary school, retired after eight years.
The Rector of Clovelly, Rev Dr G S Spinks, said it was an occasion of mingled regret and gratitude. The school owed much to Mrs Jones’s constant interest and effort.
The presentation was made by the Hon, Mrs Asquith, who said she was glad to know that, although they were parting from Mrs Jones in the school, they would continue to have her and her husband living in the parish.

Photographed at the presentation: Mr R Tridgell, Mrs K Stanbury, Mrs Jones, the Hon. Mrs B Asquith and Mr J Cruse

Full Gazette article is dated 1 August 1958

Clovelly Exile ‘Stunned’ By Present Day Prices

Nearly 36 years ago a Clovelly man sailed the day after his marriage for a new life with his bride in New Zealand.

Now, back again in North Devon for the first time since, 68 year old Mr Jack Slee said he was ‘absolutely stunned’ at the present day prices of land and houses.
It was in October 1937, that Mr Slee sailed from this country with his wife, formerly Miss Winifred Hawkins, who came from Newton Poppleford and who had been governess at East Dyke, Clovelly, to the late Mr James Hilton’s children.
Mr Slee had been farming at Highford, Hartland, with his father. All the time he has been in New Zealand he has been dairy farming near Waverley in the North Island.
When he first arrived back in this country he and Mrs Slee stayed with their daughter, who is teaching in Sussex, before travelling to North Devon where they are staying with various members of his family.
His elder brother, Mr Edward Slee, lives at 17 Clovelly Road, Bideford, and another brother, Mr Norman Slee, lives at Gallantry Bower, Highford. He also has two sisters: Mrs Grace Heard, of West Titchberry, Hartland, and Mrs Bertha Burrow, of Springfield, Woolsery.
Mr Slee has already renewed acquaintance with scores of old friends in the area, among them Mr J J Headon, of Ocean View, Clovelly, with whom he played soccer in the Clovelly team which won the Kingsley League championship three years running in the middle of 1920s.
Mr and Mrs Slee, who have a son who works as an oil company executive in Australia, plan to return to New Zealand in August.
Full Gazette article dated 22 June 1973