Celebration pageant beneath the great oak

Standing “as a real monument of what can be accomplished by the co-operation and loyal working together of a few ordinary village folk” – in the words of the Vicar, the Rev. H.A. Robins – Shebbear’s new £2,500 village hall was officially opened on Saturday.

Work on the erection of the hall started fourteen months ago and the money has been raised by the villagers organising various social events supplemented by a grant of over £900 from the Ministry of Education and a number of interest-free loans from local well-wishers. The opening ceremony was performed by Mr. J.C. Hilton of Clovelly, who is President of the Devon Association of Parish Councils.

Although they were conscious of great social changes taking place in the countryside, the inadequacy of recreational and social facilities was still apparent in many villages today, said Mr Hilton. “I hope the low tide of rural apathy is at last on the turn,” he continued, “but the number of villages without a parish hall is still far too great”. It augured well for the future, said the Vicar, who is Chairman of the Parish Hall Committee, that, from the inception of the work, there had never been a cross word or disagreement between any of those engaged on it. Mr Robins thanked the local tradesmen for the expert craftmanship put into the building, the large number of villagers for giving a tremendous amount of time and energy, and women helpers for the encouragement of tea and sandwiches. He made particular reference to the work of the hon. secretary, Mr. A Buse, and of a helper from the neighbouring parish of Black Torrington, Mr. F. Shaddick, who had carried out a lot of the masonry work. Others helping behind the scenes, he said, had been the technical advisers connected with the National Council of Social Service. Votes of thanks were voiced by Dr. P.R. Green and the Rev. A. Olds, Methodist Minister, both of Shebbear. He hoped the new building would help young people to develop the kind of personality the country needed at present, said Mr. Olds.

After a united service in the village hall, conducted by the Vicar and Mr. Olds, the remainder of the day was given over to celebration and it is hoped that proceeds from the events, which included a whist drive, dance and garden fete will largely defray the outstanding debt on the new building.

PAGEANT TELLS VILLAGE’S STORY

Highlight of the day was the pageant, presented in the Village Square beneath the Great Oak of Shebbear at dusk. By the light of flaming torches the players unfolded the story of the indestructability of Shebbear. The pageant’s message of the inherent greatness of even the smallest English village was echoed by the Vicar when he addressed the audience of several hundred at the conclusion. “If this is the sort of thing country people can do, then you have nothing to learn from the towns,” he said. “Do not ape town people; keep to your traditions and customs. You see town dwellers aimlessly rushing hither and thither. Do not copy them.”

The pageant was specially written for the occasion by Mr. E.W. Martin of Black Torrington, the author and broadcaster, and the joint producers were Mr. Bickford Dickinson and Mrs. Margretta Bridgman.

THOSE TAKING PART

The cast in order of appearance was: Prologue, Mrs. E.W. Martin; Narrator, Victor Bonham-Carter; Priest, Mr. J. Quance; Woman, Mrs. M. Curtis; Earl Harold, Mr B. Ham; William the Norman, Mr. R. Shaddick; Richard Coeur de Lion, Mr. T. Brummitt; Edmund of Woodstock, Mr. Tucker; King Edward II, Mr. C. Gilbert; Joan de Holland, Mrs. Down; Mistress of Ceremonies, Miss R. Mill; Man, Mr. G. Blight; Crusaders, Shebbear College Boys; First Woman, Una Vanstone; Second Man, Mr. J. Quance; Second Woman, Miss M. Moore; Carter, Mr. O. Hearn; Thos. Cromwell, Mr. M. Mills; Anne Boleyn, Mrs. G. Hare; Ladies in Waiting, Misses Y. Balsdon, M. Brimacombe, C. Leach, M. Newcombe; Sir William Kingston, Mr. C. Dart; Headsman, Mr. K. Chamberlain; Soldier, Mr. P. Hearn; Ignorance, Mrs. W. Horne; Hatred, Mrs. J. Moast; Envy, Mrs. V. Tucker; Gossip, Mrs. J. Osborne; Accused Woman, Mrs. D. Bridgman; Carpenter, Mr. O. Hearn; Churchwarden, Mr. M. Adams; Parson, Mr. T. Lott; Pauper Woman, Miss E. Rickard; Overseer of the Poor, Mr. G. Blight; O’Bryan, Mr. D. Davey; First Voice, Miss A. Arnold; Second Voice, Miss D. Winser; James Thorne, Mr. D. Bridgman; Mary O’Bryan, Miss J. Mitchell. Sir Samuel Way, Mr. T. Lott; The President, Rev. A. Olds; Craftsman, Mr. K. Chamberlain; Voice, Mr. B.H.C. Dickinson; Children, Gordon Slade, Monica Newcombe, Claude Moore, Carole Leach, Derek Slade, Yvonne Balsdon. Crowd scenes, Miss B. Chapman, Miss A. Vanstone, Mrs. J. Osborne, Mrs. J. Moast, Miss A. Arnold, Mr. D. Davey, Mr. G. Blight, Mrs. W. Horne, Mrs. V. Tucker, Miss M. Moore.

The epilogue was spoken by Mr. G.D.C. Tudor, resident tutor for West Devon of the University College of the South-West, Exeter. Wardrobe mistress was Mrs. J.B. Morris and stage effects were by Mr. E.G.E. Locker; lighting and amplification by Mr. Denys-Bridgman.

Members publicly elected to the Parish Hall Committee are: Mrs D Bridgman, Mrs C Griffin, Mr D Bridgman, Mr A Buse (secretary), Mr A Bale (treasurer), Mr E Moore, Mr J Jones, Mr S Blight and Mr G Metter; and in addition representatives of other associations serving on the committee are: Rev H A Robins (chairman), Church Council and Parish Church; Mrs T Vanstone, Women's Institute; Mr W Ackland, British Legion; Mr S G Pett, Shebbear AFC; Mr E Locker, Shebbear College; Mr P Hearn, Shebbear Youth Club; Mr S F Buse, Parish Council; Mr H Wonnacott, Young Farmers' Club.

Gazette article dated 8 October 1954