Westward Ho!

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.

Westward Ho! Carnival Queen Chosen

Runner-up two years ago to her elder sister, Joyce, now Mrs Peter Williams, 21 year old Miss Lyn Lancaster, of Overborough, Westward Ho! was chosen Queen of Westward Ho! Carnival at a dance at the Kingsley Hall on Friday.
By coincidence, Miss Lancaster was wearing the same identification number, no. 14, as she did when she was chosen to attend her sister. A brunette, she is employed as a librarian in Bideford.
Many visitors were among the large crowd that watched the judges, Mr and Mrs H B Snashall, who are on holiday from Harpenden, Herts, short list three girls from a total entry of 16.
The two runners-up in the Queen competition were chosen as attendants and they are Miss Joyce Williams, a 17 year old laundry worker of 11 Castle Street, Northam, and Miss Betty Davies, of Mount Pleasant, High Street, Bideford. Aged 20, Miss Davies had arrived in North Devon from Runcorn, Cheshire, only four weeks earlier and on Monday she started work as a clerk.
Two junior attendants had already been chosen for the Queen from among members of the Westward Ho! Community Junior Dancing Club and they were Carol Spencer, aged 9, of Peter Pan, Westward Ho! and Judy Kelly, another 9 year old, of Ravenswood, Venton Drive, Westward Ho!
In the photograph the Queen is seen being crowned by Mr Jim Martin, leader of Westward Ho! Youth Club, which organised this year’s carnival. The judges are on the far sides of the picture and on the left are Miss Williams and Carol Spencer and on the right Miss Davies and Judy Kelly.
A bouquet was presented to Mrs Snashall by Mrs C F Stephens, Chairman of the Carnival Committee. Mr W Powell was the MC.
Gazette article dated 29 July 1955

Pop Stars ‘Seen’ At Westward Ho!

Teenagers who like to spend money on playing their favourite records on juke boxes can, at Westward Ho!, watch some of the pop stars in action as the records play.

This has been made possible by a local businessman, Mr F C Meadows, who has had a revolutionary type juke box installed in his amusement arcade on the promenade.
Already artists ‘on film’ include Eden Kane, Bobby Rydell, Acker Bilk and many others.
Full Gazette article dated 7 June 1963

Donkeys Back On Beach At Westward Ho!

Donkeys are coming to Westward Ho! beach.

Five of them will be giving kiddies rides this summer at 5p a time.
The venture is the idea of Mr Peter Nast, who has given up his job as chef at the Elizabethan Club, Westward Ho! to start it. "I'm hoping they will be a nice little attaction" said Mr Nast this week. Northam Council have given their approval, no doubt recalling the days when organised pony rides were given on the beach.
Mr Nast has been offered a 'pitch' near the big slide for use when the tide is in.
Gazette article dated 19 May 1972