Hartland

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.

Gary Meaker, 14 year old son of a Customs Officer, dashed a mile-and-a-half on his cycle to give the alarm when two women, two children and two dogs were in danger of being cut off by the rising tide at Hartland on Sunday.

Soon afterwards all were lifted to safety by a rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor.
Gary, who lives at Mill Hill, Hartland, was on a cycle ride when he saw the danger to visitors Mrs Kear, of Osterley Park, London, who had with her her baby and a 10-year-old daughter, and to Mrs Wakely, also staying at Hartland Quay Hotel. Together with the dogs they were on the beach.
The boy dashed to Coastguard Cottages at Stoke form where the helicopter was summoned. In the meantime the Hartland Cliff Rescue team mustered on the top of the cliffs in case they should be needed. But in two lifts the helicopter deposited the whole party on the top of the cliffs and none was worse for the experience.
Praise for Gary came later from a coastguard. ‘He thought very quickly and deserves praise for his prompt action’ said the officer.
The photographs show the helicopter making the rescue from the beach near Hartland Quay Hotel and the arrival of one of the party and her dog at the top of the cliff with the helicopter just moving off. Station Officer Hale and Coastguard Lewis are also in the second picture.
Gazette article dated 17 November 1967

Carnival Digs At Local Grievances

Hartland entries about school row and Welcombe’s need

Many competitors seized at Hartland Carnival a chance to air local grievances. Welcombe’s long awaited and, so far, non-existent electricity supply and the local school rumpus were just two of the topics depicted.
So dense was the crown in the Square that when the Carnival Queen came to present the prizes many of the winners were unable to reach her float.
The evening began with the crowning of the carnival queen – Pauline O’Donnell – by Mrs Walter Headon, of Weare Giffard, who was presented with a bouquet by Susan Heard, daughter of the carnival committee’s chairman.
The Queen’s two attendants were Miss Joyce Colwill and Mrs Ida Keens.
Competitors were marshalled at the school by Messrs R Holmes, S Walter and S Heddon. Judges were Cmdr and Mrs Chinnery (Hartland), Major and Mrs Stanley (Milford) and Mr and Mrs Haward (Barnstaple).
The procession was headed by Hartland Town Band and the 1925 Burrell steam engine, driven by Mr S Moore, brought up the rear.
Much of the hard work of organisation was done by Mr Bill Pillman.
All the winners – Jeremy Mugford, Annette Heard, Loraine Slee, Stephen Gifford and Richard Pillman, Robert and Charlies Conibear, Irene Jeffery, Ann Hobbs, Martin beer, Caroline and Rosemary Jeffery, Stephanie Yeomans and Mary Dawson, Sheila and Hilary Johns, Rosemary Heard, Jean Goaman, Winnie Cook and dog, Pat Robins and Helen Prince, Susan Beer and Mary Bond, Mr and Mrs P Reece, Mrs A Johns, Mrs Wakeley, Sid Jeffery, Henry Mitchell, M Coles, Janet Jeffery and Beryl Cook, Michael Henwood, Higher Valley Farm, E and A Cottle and Co; Clovelly, W Pitman, T Pillman, June Downie and Jean Shufflebotham, N Beer and party, Mr A Pengilly and party.
The full Gazette article is dated 1 September 1961

Prizegiving At Hartland School

End of term at Hartland School brought the annual prizegiving, the awards being distributed by the headmaster, Mr E H Cross.

Class I – Norman Bolton, Loraine Slee, Barbara Noble, Claire Morriss; Class II – Phillip Symonds, June Pengilly, Lynda Downie, Nicholas Slee, Gregory King; Class III – Peter Law, Christine Hobbs, Stephen Colwill, Patrick Murray; Class IV – Gerald Squires, Stephen Gifford, Charles Conibear; Class V – Norman Johns, Carol Davey, Leslie Heywood.
Special prizes for work done at school camp – Jill Dawkins, Sheila Winter, Michael Tremeer.
Of the 22 children leaving school, 11 are going to Stratton Secondary School, six to Bideford Secondary School, two to Stella Maris Convent School, one to Bideford Grammar School, and two to other schools
The ceremony ended with another giving – a presentation to Mr W Pitman who is leaving to take up another teaching appointment.
The full Gazette article is dated 31 July 1964