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.

True Westward Ho! golfers - 1959

It was a pleasure to see Mr and Mrs E H Trapnell walk into the Royal North Devon Golf Club the other evening to see their youngest son, David, now aged 41, receive the Devon amateur open golf championship cup for the fourth time, for Mr Trapnell himself used to be an enthusiastic golfer. That dates back to the days of the friendly 'Sabbath Breakers Club' when official RND Sunday golf was taboo, and the flags were removed from the greens. The late Johnnie Vile used to go ahead and mark the greens for the sporting potwallopers! It was in those carefree days that David and his two elder brothers picked up their golf as boys! Devon's champion told me this week that he owed much to Stanley Hearn, of Eastbourne Terrace, who when 'out with his cows' used to call him over and show him 'a thing or two' and how to improve his swing. Stanley was one of the best artisan golfers. David has won the Devon championship twice at Westward Ho! and once at Thurlestone and once at Budleigh Salterton. He was individual champion for the South-Western Counties in 1953 and 1957.

Four generations at wedding - Mr Fuller and Miss Hoskin

Four generations at wedding - Mr Fuller and Miss Hoskin - 1962

Four generations attended the wedding of Holy Trinity Church, Westward Ho! of Mr Geoffrey Albert James Fuller, only son of Mrs E J and the late Mr Fuller, of Burgess Hill, Sussex, and Miss Margaret Anne Hoskin, SRN, SCM, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs Richard Hoskin, of the Pebbleridge Hotel, Westward Ho! The four generations were 85 year old Mrs White, of Torquay, the bride's great-aunt; Mr Hoskin, bride's father and Mrs White's nephew; Mrs A Clarke, bride's sister, and Miss Jayne Clarke (Appledore), who is Mrs White's great-great- niece. Before going to St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, to train as a nurse, the bride was for several years a member of Westward Ho! Follies and on several occasions was principal boy in their pantomimes. She is an Old Girl of Edgehill College. Officiating at the service was the Rev Roy Howlett and Mrs S Kelly was organist. Hymns were 'Praise, my soul' and 'Lead us heavenly Father'. Psalm 67 was chanted and the wedding march played. Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a full length classic style ivory satin gown with a short train, a bouffant headdress and a shoulder length veil. Her bouquet of pink carnations was later given to a sick friend, Mrs Courtney, of West Buckland. There were six bridesmaids - Misses Jayne Clarke, bride's niece, Janet Matthews and Suzanne Shires, her cousins, Susan Spender, Maura Pratt and Christine Pratt, bridegroom's nieces. They wore long gowns of peach embossed nylon over peach poult and carried posies of peach coloured carnations On their hair they wore white satin bows. A grey and white jersey wool two piece with grey and white accessories was worn by the bride's mother, while the bridgegroom's mother chose a royal blue two piece with blue accessories. Both had sprays of pink orchids. The bridegrooms's brother-in-law, Mr Sydney Jeffries, was best man and ushers were Mr Michael Jeffries, bridegroom's nephew, and Mr Roger Hughes. The bridegroom gave the bridesmaids silver lockets and chains. After a reception at the Pebbleridge Hotel the couple left for a touring honeymoon, the bride wearing a tricel two piece under an olive green coat with accessories to tone. The couple received gifts from the staff of Bideford Hospital where the bride is theatre staff nurse and from the manager and staff of Messrs Rawle, Gammon and Baker where the bridegroom is employed.

Women’s Institute’s 20th Birthday Celebrations

Women’s Institute’s 20th Birthday Celebrations - March 1968

In March 1968, the Gazette reported Westward Ho!’s Women’s Institute’s 20th birthday celebrations which were held in the Kingsley Hall. Seventy eight members and friends sat down to a 4-course dinner with guests of honour, Mr and Mrs Bob Mitchell. The cake, made by Mrs A Powell, was decorated with 20 red roses, one for each year.