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! Shopkeeper’s notice

A Westward Ho! shopkeeper, Mr Alfred Beecroft, 5 Westbourne Terrace, recently had 1,308 postcards seized by the police and later Bideford magistrates ruled they should be destroyed as being obscene.
On Friday a notice was displayed which exhorted potential customers “If you feel you are likely to be corrupted or depraved by these cards please don’t look at them. If you want to take the risk…. don’t laugh too loudly or you will have the local Mrs Grundy on my track again! She doesn’t like to hear people enjoying themselves on holiday.”
The full Gazette article is dated 8 August 1958

Carnival Week At Westward Ho!

Fun for young and old

This is Westward Ho! Carnival Week. Organised under the auspices of Northam and Westward Ho! Chamber of Commerce, it presents a series of colourful, interesting and amusing events to swell the funds for the Kingsley (War Memorial) Hall.
The ball was set rolling on Sunday afternoon, on the beach with a sand castle competition for children under 12. Entries were judged by the Westward Ho! Carnival Queen and her two attendants. Winners were Lesley Jay and Richard Dunn; Julian Ball and Roger Slocombe; Ann Pooley and Michael Davies.
In the evening, in the Kingsley Hall, Mr Clifford Grout conducted the Northam Choral Society in a programme of sacred music. Accompanists were Rita Milner and Grace Trapnell. The ‘mystery man’ came on the scene on Monday and was challenged by 10 years old Anthony Norris.
There were 18 tables for the grand whist drive and prize winners were: Mrs Mounce; Mrs Moore; Mr Hayes; Mr F A Norris; Mr M Donaldl; Mr R W Branch. Booby prizes were won by Mrs Portman and Mrs Jewell. The winner of the lucky draw ticket was Mr Tom Blackmore.
Fifty entries were received for a carnival baby competition. Judges were Miss O R Guscott (Matron, Fairlea Nursery) and Miss H M Cook (Matron, Westmead Nursery). There were assisted by Misses B Hurford and J Parkhouse of the Fairlea Nursery. Prize winners were Margaret Bowden, Stephen Hobbs, Susan Albon, Margaret Mortimer, John Wilson, Jennifer Lean, Janet Wilson, Gillain Withecombe, Susan Pickett, Susan Crawford, Lyn Steadman, Elizabeth Wilson.
Organiser of the event was Miss B Backhouse.
Miss Joyce Lancaster of Overborough, Westward Ho! was crowned Carnival Queen that evening by last year’s queen, Miss Mary Crawford. Her senior attendants were Miss Nesta Hilder, Point Garry, Westward Ho!, and the queen’s sister, Miss Lyn Lancaster. The queen’s train was carried by Jennifer Cooper and Sandra Jones. Pamela Wyatt was crown-bearer.
Gifts to mark the occasion were presented by Mr W Powell, the chairman of the Westward Ho! Carnival Committee. Dancing was to Alex Blackmore and his band.
The mystery man for the day was challenged by David Norris.
On the green all day Wednesday a putting competition was held. The winner was Mr A Cook.
A Carnival ball and cabaret was held with dancing to the music of the Silver Chords and entertainment by Edwin the Magician and the Mary Symons School of Dancing.
The Carnival week was arranged by a Committee consisting of: Mr W Powell, Miss S Hoskin, Mrs Ridley, Mesdames Hoslin, Powell, Sparkes, Dickens, Miss A Hoskin, Messrs Hutchings, Twose, Ball, Keen, Hambly, Davidson, Wilkinson, Bridger, Yatman, Crawford, Hoskin.

The full Gazette article is dated 27 July 1951

Westward Ho!

On Friday last, at Northam Churchyard, the funeral of the late William Henry Norman, of Westward Ho! took place, the service at the church and graveside being conducted by the Rev Gerald G Payne Cook (Vicar). The polished coffin, with brass fittings, bore the inscription ‘William Henry Norman, died 30th June 1918, aged 74 years’.
There was a large number of wreaths, and a large attendance. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr N Allin, of Northam.

While fishing with a rod and line from the rocks at Westward Ho! last week Mr A W Heard was successful in landing a fine salmon bass, weighing over 8½lbs.

Gazette article dated 13 July 1918