People

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.

Trader's New President - 5th April 1963

Pictured is 33 year old Mr Basil Pidgeon, the new president of Bideford Chamber of Trade.
An Old Boy of Bideford Grammar School, Mr Pidgeon is a director of Messrs Wickhams, the wine merchants, who he joined straight from school in 1945.
He is a prominent worker for the Boy Scout movement and is secretary of the 2nd Bideford Boy Scout Group Committe and chairman of the Torridge branch of the B.P. Scout Guild.

Former Town Clerk Was 'Father of Bideford'

Former Town Clerk Was 'Father of Bideford' - 10th April 1959

The 'Father of Bideford' was how the Mayor, Mr A C Hooper, described Mr F C Backway, former Town Clerk for 25 years, when, at Bideford's ancient Manor Court ceremony on Saturday, he presented him with a water colour of Bideford Town Hall and Bridge. Mr Backway recently retired for health reasons. The Mayor praising his work during 54 years of service to the borough, said that Mr Backway had been a member of 38 committees at the time of his retirement. 'We are all deeply sorry that he was not able to continue. He has been greatly missed. He was a first class Town Clerk and a first class man for Bideford. He was a first class supporter of anything that meant the furtherance of Bideford's prosperity; the Mayor added. 'If given the rest of this morning to try to express adequately what we in Bideford owe to our former Town Clerk, I would not have the time even then to do it.' The Mayor said he made the presentation on behalf of the aldermen, councillors and freemen of the borough. He also read a message of congratulation to Mr Backway from the Association of Municipal Corporations. The message paid tribute to Mr Backway' service. Mr Backway said the presentation would remind him of many long and happy associations. He appreciated, he said, the loyal support which had always been given to him by the officers of the Council. Local government was a partnership of the elected representatives and the officers they employed.

Marjorie Marshall Cornwall

Marjorie Marshall Cornwall - 16th March 1946

36 Cadogan Place
SW1
March 16 1946
Dear Mr Stapledon
Many thanks for your letter of the 12th March. Your arrangement with Mrs Striemer is a good one, I think, and I hope will work satisfactorily. Thank you very much for your kind trouble. With regard to Northam House, I do very definitely require the tennis court to be relaid as before with grass in the same state as Mrs Donnell took it over. I have now written twice to Mrs Donnell about this matter and asked her to pay over the cost of the above work if she cannot get it done herself. Could you give me her reply, please, after consultation with Mr Heris Smith? I think that the agreement suggested about the dilapidation costs might not turn out to be a good one for me. I think Mrs Donnell will have left the house in much better order than the Youngmans are likely to leave it, and that dilapidations might be a good deal more after they leave than after Mrs Donnell tenancy.
Can you get me an estimate through Dr Youngman of the costs of the redecoration he requires and of the alterations he wishes to make. I am afraid I do not know on what legal ground dilapidations are settled. If there are rules would you please advise me.
After the very unpleasant action they took via Seldon & Ward, I feel the Youngmans are going to be difficult tenants, and not easy to satisfy. Therefore I think I must hold to what I said before, £150 rent.
I could come down to Northam for a day on Friday or Saturday if you could get us a double room at Knapp House, or at Tarrants Hotel. It might be easier and quicker as we should make the settlement as quickly as possible. Meanwhile would you ask Blackmore if he could find me a tenant at £150.
With many thanks for all the dirty work you are doing for me, which I very much appreciate.
Yours very sincerely,
Marjorie Marshall-Cornwall