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.

Hartland Faithful Children

Thirty of 36 children on Hartland Methodist Sunday school register have received Ned Prust Trust books for good attendance. Five of them were present on 50 Sundays last year.

Denise Short, Liza Manley and Jean Colwill received their bars from overseas missions head offic for their efforts in raising money in 1972.

Published in the Gazette 23 February 1973

Tinker’s Travels

From Hartland to London and Back

This is a tale of special interest to all who have pet cats.
Mrs R Short, of ‘Pen-y-Brn’ Hartland, and her son and daughter, John and Gloria, spent a whole morning last week looking for their cat, Tinker, who, unknown to them, decided to go on a 400 mile joyride for the day.
Eight-years-old Tinker, smokey-blue and ‘one of the family’ at ‘Pen-y-Brn’, perhaps saw an opportunity of a free trip when Mr Short was loading his furniture lorry for a 4.30am start to North London. Whether or not the animal knew what he was in for is not known, but he stowed away un-noticed, and off they went.
Mr Short made a stop at Wincanton, Somerset. Suddenly suspecting the van might be carrying a passenger, he called out ‘Puss’. Up jumped Tinker.
Tinker, by this time, must have been having second thoughts about the journey and refused all offers of something to eat.
London was reached and the 214 miles back to Hartland were covered by half an hour past midnight, with everyone at home delighted to hear that their pet was ‘found’ and was safe. As for Tinker himself, he rushed immediately to his sleeping quarters, after a tiring and exciting day in which he partially, if not completely, fulfilled the story of a well known nursery rhyme.
In the photograph Tinker is seen in Mrs Short’s arms.
Article is dated 4 February 1955

Farmed And Had Riding School

Mr W J C Stone (Hartland)

Well known in the district for his riding school, Mr William J C Stone, 54 The Terrace, Hartland, has died at Bideford and District Hospital. A native of Hartland, he had farmed in the district all his life. Mr Stone, who leaves a widow but no family, was 62.
The funeral at Hartland Methodist Church was conducted by the Rev C D Crisp. Mr W J Heard was at the organ. There was a large representative congregation present.
The family mourners were: the widow; Mrs A Heard, Miss E Colwill, Mrs S Cleverdon, Mrs C Colwill, Mr and Mrs J Colwill and Mr T Colwill; Mesdames G Cottle, J Gilbert, E Colwill, J Heard, Mr and Mrs G Boundy, Mr C Heard, Mrs L Colwill and Mrs and Mrs H Pengilly; Mr and Mrs W Hockridge, Mr and Mrs F Hockridge, Mr and Mrs A Hockridge, Mrs W Hockridge and Mrs J Skinner.
Nephews were bearers: Messrs G Cottle, J Gilbert, J Heard, E Colwill, F Colwill and L Colwill.
Others attending were: Mesdames W Heard, W Turner (also representing Mr W Turner ), W Upton, W Walter, T Squires, G Cook, G Short, M Jeffery, F Thorne (representing Mr R Hill), S Goaman, F Fulford and R Buckler; Messrs H Jeffery, J Prouse, E Hockridge, S Littlejohn, G Webber, G Pickard, W J Cory (also representing W T Seldon and Woolsery Agricultural Society), T H Conibear, I Newton, J Brimacombe, H Grills, W Goaman, M Pillman, F Beer, W Beer, T Beer, F Bragg, S Jeffery, H Cornish, R Allin, J O’Donnell, L Thorne, W Headon, W L Heard, P Heard, P Beer, W R Heard, J Prouse, F Pengilly, T N Slee (also representing Mr J Slee), A Dayman, J Hockridge, G Heard, G Ashton, T Brimacombe, H O Walter, W Heard, W R Cook (also representing W L and T Cook), R Kivell, G Perkin, L J Middle, W Slee, A Cory, Mr and Mrs G Rooke, Mr and Mrs A W Jeffery, Mr and Mrs J Pillman, Mr A Baglow (North Devon Farmers Ltd), Mr and Mrs W Walter, Mr and Mrs C Andrew, Mr and Mrs E T Frayne, Mr and Mrs W Cleverdon, Mr and Mrs A Bailey, and others.
The many floral tributes included: in loving memory from his wife; Florrie, Ruth and Ern and children; Tom and family; Riverside, Forestry and Yagland; Annie; Emma; Emily and family; Jack and Ivy; nephews and nieces, Deptford, Buda and Thriveton; Amy, Jack and children; aunt Flor, Arthur, Laura and Stanley; Stanley and Winnie; Percy and Elsie Stone and family; Edna and Bill (Standish Park); Dora and Jack (Widecombe); Fred and Kathleen (Copplestone); Hilda; Jim, Amy, Clifford, Peggy and Joyce; British Legion Club; Edie and Tom (Blegberry); Dr and Mrs Somerton; Wilfred and Pat and children; H and K Ensoll; all at Heard’s Garage; E and G Rooke; W and E Snow; A W Jeffery and family; Mr and Mrs Barnes and Peter; Hubert and Florrie; C and H Littlejohns; Maisie and Theo Beer, Rosemary and Susan; S and E Walter; A Cory and family; Mr and Mrs Pennington (Edistone); all at Trellick and Moor Farm (Poughill); W, G and F Turner; Mr and Mrs Mitchell, sen and jnr, R and H Westlake and family and Ruby; all at North Street; Britton family (Elmscott); J Slee; E Middle, Len and Leafie; Bill and Brenda Slee; Wyndham and Emily Lang (Nethercote); Sidney Littlejohns; W and I Nichol; E Fulford; Hilda, Harry and May; H and F Colwill; E W Pyne and Jack and Phyllis (Blagdon); Verna and Redvers; William Pomeroy and all at Bonds Colscott.
Full Gazette article dated 20 February 1959