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.

Bideford Grammar School - 2nd July 1929

2.7.1929 free places at Bideford Grammar

Winners OF Free Places

The successful candidates at the recent examination for free places are as follows: R A H Hunkin - Torrington Council School; W A Cork - Abbotsham Church of England; R G Baldson and P S Kelly - Bideford Council; J H W Lamey and H Ford - Appledore Council; T D Hooper - Bideford Council; E C Griffey - Northam Church of England; H W D Blackmore - Bideford Council; R G Pomeroy adn R Nancekievill - Hartland Council; and J K Symons - Merton Church of England.

Trader's New President

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.