Local Government

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.

Rock Nose Quarry and a field are acquired

Council pay £2,401 for Westward Ho! field

The sum of £2,401 was paid out by Northam Urban Council to complete the compulsory purchase order made in respect of the field beyond Seafield House, Westward Ho! acquired, together with Rock Nose Quarry, as public walks and pleasure grounds.

News of the settlement figure was announced by Mr L G H Braddick, managing director of Braddick’s Holiday Camp Ltd, Bideford, the owners of the land. Mr Braddick said “I am agreeably surprised at the settlement which, as far as I am concerned, amounts to a tax free payment.” Mr Braddick added that it seemed to him to be a large sum for the ratepayers of the district to have to pay for a field that had only been used by his firm for 28 days a year and even during that period the public had free access. “The field is now to be an open space as it was before other than for that 28 day period,” he said.

16 March 1956

£32,497 Hartland Building Contract

The lowest of three tenders has been accepted by Bideford Rural Council

for the erection of 10 old people’s dwellings and ancilliary works at Well Spring Close, Hartland.

From Stacey and Co., of Holsworthy, it was in the sum of £32,497, which was within the yardstick, plus 10 per cent, explained the Surveyor (Mr L J Dunn).

It meant the Council could accept the tender and notify the Ministry accordingly, he added.

Tenders received for laying a water main from Natcott, Hartland, to Baxworthy, varied from £475 to £2,389, the Council were told. But in the case of the highest tenderers, the Surveyor commented: “They don’t want the job – otherwise they would do one job and retire!”

Successful tenderer was Mr Coles, of Langtree.

The Council were told that it would cost another £600 to supply pipes, but that when the work was completed and mains water available, they could obtain 75 per cent grants towards improvement works to the properties concerned.

The chairman (Mr S A Brimacombe) said they had discussed boreholes but the laying of a water main was the only sure way of getting a supply, and Mr W J Prince said the total figures compared favourably with the price of boreholes with which there was no guarantee of success.

Gazette article dated 10 December 1971

Roadman’s £1,300 Bequest To Abbotsham

Some Abbotsham people are pondering a pleasant problem

how a surprise bequest of about £1,300 to the parish shall be spent.

It is one-third of the estate of former County Council roadman Mr William Richard Grigg, of Bideford, who died last April at the age of 71. He and his wife, who died before him, are both buried at Abbotsham, and some people believe that there is a connection between this fact and the bequest.

In his will Mr Grigg gave a free hand to the Vicar of Abbotsham (Rev E G Bevan) and churchwardens Major G Lomas and Mr C W M Turner as to the spending of the money.

Major Lomas said they had told the Parochial Church Council that the trustees wished to put the bequest to some Christian purpose in the village rather than merely add it to Church funds or help some established charity.

“The trustees have their own views about it but we have asked members of the Church Council if they have any alternative ideas. We shall consider their suggestions and make our final decision.”

While most villagers are mystified by the bequest, some believe that Mr Grigg wished to show gratitude for the fact that his wife Ada had been allowed to be buried at Abbotsham, which he afterwards frequently visited to put flowers on her grave. Mrs Bevan, wife of the Vicar, said that Mr Grigg had always seemed appreciative.

Postmistress Mrs Dark, who has lived in the village for 25 years, said she never knew Mr Grigg. His wife was a local girl, but they had gone to live in Bideford many years ago.

Article dated 18 June 1965