Welcombe

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.

Welcombe shelter for five-year-old

Bideford Rural Council are to give their support to an application by Mr W J Pengilly, of Oakley Farm, Upcott, Welcombe, for permission to erect a small shelter at Upcott Cross in which his five-year-old daughter can wait for the school bus. This was decided at the Council’s meeting on Tuesday when it was reported that the site of the proposed shelter was roadside waste belonging to Devon County Council.

The Rural Council’s permission is subject to no cost being borne by them, and to Mr Pengilly indemnifying them against any possible claims. It was also agreed, on a proposal from Mr J C Hilton, that it should be stipulated that the Council could remove the shelter as and when they required. The Clerk (Mr C T Braddick) said the Finance and General Purposes Committee had recommended that the Council should made application to the County Council for the erection of the shelter. Then they had been informed that it was a matter which had to be settled between the RDC and Mr Pengilly, or between the Parish Council concerned and Mr Pengilly. The County Council did not come into it. The RDC would inform Mr Pengilly that he could erect the shelter on a site to be approved by the County Council. It would also have to be of an approved design. ‘It is a mystery to me how the County Council come into this at all’ commented the Chairman, Sir Denis Stucley.

The Divisional Surveyor, Mr L R Jackson, said: ‘We cannot recognise a private individual who wants to put up a shelter, but we can deal with the County Council or the District Council’. In fact, we are a sort of go-between’ said the Clerk.

Gazette article dated 30 September 1960

How’re You Going To Keep Them Down On The Farm?

‘Disillusioned’ are the men of Welcombe, or so it is claimed.

Disillusioned because they say there is an acute shortage of women of marriageable age in the area, and no immediate hope that the position will change. “There are twenty men here chasing four girls” said one farm worker gloomily to a Bideford Gazette representative, adding that Welcombe had more than its fair share of bachelors between the ages of 30-50. “Even when we do get into town there is too much competition” added the farm worker. “There the girls seem to prefer the town boys and Army camp fellows, with more money and softer ways”.

The problem is reflected in the fact that weddings at Welcombe are not very frequent. According to a quick check there has not been a wedding in the Parish Church since 1956 and 1951 was the last year when there was one in the Methodist Chapel. The Rev A T H Jones, Vicar of Hartland and Welcombe, replying to a Bideford Gazette reporter, agreed that the problem mentioned by the farm worker existed. “Nothing can be done about it at present. The position is likely to be reversed in a few years’ time…. There are many more girls attending Welcombe Church Sunday School than boys”.

The full Gazette article is dated 5 September 1958

World War 1

Welcombe

The Wesleyan Sunday School anniversary was conducted by Mr F Rogers, of Woolsery. The attendance was very good, the chapel being crowded in the evening.
On the following Thursday a pubic tea was provided for children and visitors. Mrs Dennis and Miss D Oke presided at the tables, assisted by Misses E Ward, B Oke and A Oliver. Mr C Howard presided at the evening meeting. The scholars recited admirably, and Rev P Callier’s practical and instructive address was much enjoyed. Mr C Hedden gave the report of the school, also stating that Mr M Gay, of Merthyr Tydvil, a native of Welcombe, and an old scholar of long ago, had recently subscribed a guinea towards the school funds.
Mrs D Oke was at the harmonium and Mr W Dennis played the violin.
Gazette article dated 25 June 1918