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.

Complaint

Kingsley Hall was sadly lacking in educational facilities, complained Mr W E Powell at the annual meeting of Westward Ho! Community Association held in the hall.

“A community association such as this should serve the whole population” he said, “The community centre should provide facilities for both the elderly and the young”.

The retiring membership secretary, Mrs N Dale, commented that the association had done everything possible to persuade people to attend lectures held in the hall.

“We have 200 members in the association” remarked Mr A Eagle, caretaker of the hall, “It is a poor look-out when we get only 29% for this annual meeting. We must give people a good idea of what we are doing” he urged.

The president, Mr A C Feron, said that the exterior of the hall had been given a new look for the first time since 1949.

Successful inception of the Westward Ho! youth club was perhaps the most important achievement of the year, reported the chairman, Mr H A Gibbs. The club, began under the leadership of Mr Jeff Lawrence, who was succeeded by Mr R Clark.

Concerning the ban on stiletto heels, Mr Gibbs explained "The association went to great expense to supply a really good floor, one of the best in North Devon, and it is most disheartening to see it being ruined by these nail-like heels. We trust the fashion will be short-lived but in the meantime we do appeal to women to have some consideration and to refrain from wearing shoes which cause so much serious damage."

The treasurer, Mr Eric Westoby, reported a credit balance.

Officers elected: Mr A C Feron, Mrs D Hudson, Mrs A E Powell.

The full Gazette article is dated 4 May 1962

Westward Ho! Chooses ‘Fairest Queen’

Happy times at the community centre

‘Who is the fairest queen of all’ is what three visitors and Mr and Mrs R Lake had to decide at a ‘Miss Rose of the Torridge’ competition dance organised by the Westward Ho! Community Association at their hall on Friday.

Eligible for the title were Carnival Queens and their attendants from surrounding districts.

Miss Rosemary Hosegood, the 16 year old Westward Ho! Carnival Queen, won the title. She is a shop assistant.

Runners up were two Bideford Carnival Queen attendants – Miss Hazel Shute who lives at 18 Rockmount Terrace, and 20 year old Miss Margaret Hooper, a dressmaker, of Woodtown Cottage, Alverdiscott.

A motor scooter was won in a competition by Mr L Gilbert, of Glenburnie Road, and a bottle of sherry by Mr Michael Wadey, of Lime Grove.

A Bideford Gazette reporter who noted the gay, colourful dresses, and the pleasant character of the dance hall, was told by Mrs McHale, how much all were indebted to the voluntary helpers.

A leading spirit is Mrs Morgan, who in addition to supervising the dance refreshments, herself sold over 1,000 tickets for a competition to help Community Centre funds. Over £240 was realised.

Gazette article dated 19 September 1958

Conservative Fete At Westward Ho!

£130 raised

The effect that industrial growth would have on the area and the need to be prepared for the changes it would bring were referred to by Mr Peter Mills (prospective candidate for the Torrington division) at a Conservative fete at Westward Ho!

The fete, held at Vicosa, the home of Mr and Mrs Leslie Braddick, and organised by Bideford town branch of the Divisional Conservative Association, realised about £130.

One of the attractions was a bathing belle competition. Winners were: Miss Annette Twitchen, Miss C Blackmore, Miss Joan Cox. A junior fancy dress competition was won by: Sally Dymond, Craig Chapman, Carolyn Hooper.

In charge of stalls and sideshows were: Mrs Broad, Mrs V Gilson, Mesdames De. Ryche, Bird, Lemon, Langdon, Lewis, Beaumont, P Lewis, Boyer, Hill; Messrs Taylor and Davis; Miss Carolyn Blackmore, the Misses Marlin, Mary Little and Christine Northcott; Messrs L Bramwell and M Blackmore; Mrs V Justice, Miss D Robinson; Mrs T P Keene, Mesdames Oke, Saunders, Clements, Little, Lyle, McGann, Ackland, Eastman and Twitchen, Mr Twitchen Among those attending were Viscount Lambert, Mr Percy Browne MP and Mrs Brown, Capt W H C Daniel and Mrs Daniel, and Lady du Cros.