Post Office project at North Bank - 1960

Work began this week at North Bank, Bideford, on two Post Office projects, but it will be five years before workmen finally leave the site. Here are to be built the vehicle servicing department - to displace that at the rear of the former Post Office building in High Street - and the automatic telephone exchange. But whereas it is anticipated that the new workshops will be in operation by about September of next year, it will be 1965 before local telephone subscribers are able to dial the numbers they require.

A Post Office spokesman

Susan (9) to meet Princess Margaret

Happiest girl in North Devon on Saturday was nine year old Susan Petherick, of Northam Road, Garage, Bideford, for she won the right to meet Princess Margaret in London next month.

She will present to the Princess, on behalf of the North Devon auxiliary of the London Missionary Society, a purse of money towards the Society's new missionary ship, the John Williams 7th, completed at a cost of £100,000. The first boat was built by John Williams, a pioneer missionary, who operated it in the South Seas, and who was martyred. Down the years

1923 and an interesting event in Buffaloism took place at Ye Kingsley Lodge, Bideford.

Brother Harry Pickard, KOM, provincial grand master, raised several Brothers to the second degree. Knight Stacey of Ye Barum Lodge presided, and was supported by a large company of Barum Lodge brethren, representatives from the Capstan Lodge, Ilfracombe, being also present. The following Brethren were raised to the 2nd degree: Bros T Cleverdon, F H Bryan, J H Palmer and R Palmer of Ye Kingsley Lodge; Bros G E Davolls, J Tour, C W Shillum and N Pine of Ye Barum Lodge. The Sponsors were Bros

Dressmaking, Bideford Community College - March 1968

Members of dressmaking classes at Bideford Community College display outfits they have designed and made at a mannequin parade. This was in the Gazette 29 March 1968.

'Mothercraft', Bideford County Secondary School - March 1968

As a pupil at Bideford County Secondary School, did you take part in ‘mothercraft’ courses? This picture was published in the Gazette on 22 March 1968 and shows fourth year girls learning to bathe a baby with help from Mrs J Davies and Mrs A Godfrey. The girls were also taught to make toys and clothes. Other practical sessions included transforming a classroom into a nursery with up to 20 young children attending.

Oak Beam, Bideford Bridge - March 1968

An eight foot oak beam found in 1968 within a demolished part of Bideford Bridge is thought to have been a bridge support in the original 700 year old structure. In the picture, Mr R Finlayson, Mr Alf Walker and Mr Jim Wickham look on.

To celebrate the anniversary of Ye Kingsley Lodge, no 4329, RAOB, a dinner was held at The Ship Tavern Hotel, The Quay, Bideford on Wednesday last.

Primo E H Bryan was in the chair, supported by Primos T C Trengrove (Ye Barum Lodge), R Palmer, T Cleverdon, J H Palmer, and B Blanco. There were about 50 Brothers present. Dinner was served at 8pm by the hostess (Mrs Snell) and, judging by the happiness and smiles of all present, it was evident that the ‘good things’ were very appetising. After several toasts had been submitted a concert was given and

Bideford’s Bridging Needs Petition - February 1968

On 23 February 1968, the Gazette published a picture of County Councillor Mrs Vivian Patt, accompanied by Mrs Kitty Blackmore, handing a petition about Bideford’s bridging needs to Mr Peter Mills. Over 15,000 signatures had been collected for the petition which went to the Minister of Transport.

Bideford Plumber Wins Holiday Prize - February 1968

Unsure what prize he had won from Nibco Ltd until being called on stage by the compere at the presentation dinner, Mr W Grant, a plumber from Bideford, won an eight-day holiday, by jet, to Majorca. Mr and Mrs Grant live in Meddon Street, Bideford.

Wedding of Kenneth Hocking & Jennifer Rundle - February 1968

In the Gazette on 16 February 1968, there’s a picture and article about the wedding of Mr Kenneth John Hocking of Bideford and Miss Jennifer Rundle from Northam. The wedding cake, made by the bride’s aunt, was decorated with 21 candles as the bride was also celebrating her 21st birthday. The bridesmaids, Misses Dawn Partridge and Ann Govier, wore white velvet dresses with red velvet trimming, and the pageboy, Jeremy Tolley, wore red velvet trousers and waistcoat. After a reception at the Durrant House Hotel, Mr and Mrs Hocking travelled

A Postman's Pilgrimage - 1975

All along the route of his pilgrimage to Buckland Brewer on Tuesday in the steps of Bideford's 19th century postman-poet Edward Capern, postman Fred Fuzzens, of Windsor, was greeted by people coming out of their homes to shake his hand and wish him well. At Buckland, children from the village school specially assembled to greet him. Mr Fuzzens, who was wearing a postman's town uniform of the 1860s, read to them Capern's poem "The Rural Postman" and commented on some of the local references in it. Mr and Mrs Tom Boullier, of the sub-post office,

Bideford Rotary Club Floral Piece - September 1975

This year's floral set-piece in Bideford's Victoria Park is the Rotary emblem with wording reminding that this year Bideford Rotary Club has celebrated its golden jubliee.
On the far right is Mr Jim Shackleton, Torridge District Council's parks superintendent. With him is Mr Ron Smith who was president of the Rotary Club when it marked its jubilee by handing over a fully-equipped ambulance to Bideford and District St John Ambulance Brigade.

Hugh Henny Fined £2 - September 1957

Three times asked - three times refused

Chips Paper on Pavement

Three times he had asked a fairground attendant to pick up a fish and chips bag the man had thrown onto the pavement in Allhalland Street and each time the request was refused, Police Constable G Thrupp told Bideford magistrates on Tuesday. Before the court was Hugh Henny, whose address was given as c/o F Whitelegg's, The Fairground, Bideford, who pleaded "guility" to depositing litter on the highway in contravention of a Borough bye-law.
Henny, who told the magistrates he had nothing to

Dairy Employees Wed - September 1957

Mr W E Attwood and Miss C M Pursey

Two employees of Bideford Dairies, Ltd. were married at St Margaret's Church, Northam, on Monday. They were Mr William Edward Attwood, eldest son of Mr and Mrs G Attwood, of 3 Pynes Lane, Bideford, and Miss Cynthia Marion Pursey, third daughter of Mr and Mrs J E Pursey, of 23 Morwenna Park Road, Northam.
The Rev E B Bridger, Vicar of Northam, officiated at the service at which the organist, Mr F Hutchings, accompanied the singing of the hymns "Lead us, Heavenly Father, lead us"

Nearly 400 Runs in Under Four Hours - September 1961

Nearly 400 runs were scored in under four hours at Bideford on Saturday when Bideford Casuals met Pilton.
The visitors set the pace when they rattled up 189 for 3 in the two hours before tea. Although the rate in the first hour was almost sedate, 55 runs only being scored, the advent of T Treloar (81, 15 fours) made up for this. Together with K Pedlar (58 n.o.) they put on 117 for the third wicket.
Set to score 190 in two hours, Casuals took up the challenge, the

Kt Pedler KOM raised to the 4th degree

On Thursday evening, the 'Rose Saltern' Lodge RAOB, Bideford, raised Kt Pedler, KOM, to the 4th Degree. The Barnstaple, Torrington and Northam Lodges were represented. Primo W B Johns, SP, invested Kt Pedler with the Degree of ROH, a beautiful gold 'jewel' being presented. The 4th Degree, the highest obtainable in the Order, has only on very rare occasions been presented to those outside the Central Grand Lodges.

Blackmore's Diamond Wedding - 20th April 1965

Bideford Veteran Sportsman's Diamond Wedding

William Blackmore first began to date Florence Lee after Sunday evening service at Bideford Parish Church. On Tuesday, Mr and Mrs Blackmore of 20 Rockmount Terrace, Pitt Lane, Bideford, celebrated their diamond wedding.
Mr Blackmore has always been a sportsman. He rowed for Bideford Reds before the first world war. Rugby also claimed his athletic attention, for some years he played for Bideford Scarlets at Sentry Corner. With advancing years, Mr Blackmore took to bowling, and it remains his main sporting interest.
Mr Blackmore spent the whole of

Fun For Good Cause - 14th July 1972

Two patrons of the Appledore Inn, Bideford, indulged in fun and raised £60 for a good cause.
Prompted by the landlady of the inn, Mrs Sheila Dinner, Mr Keith Eldridge dressed up and pushed his companion, Mr Tom Lobbett, who was disguised as a baby, through the streets of Bideford in a pram. 
Customers of the pub sponsored them and they kept going all day despite heavy rain.
The money will be used to take a party of local old-age pensioners on an outing in September.
Mrs Dinner is no stranger to

Victoria Park Slide - 29th April 1947

Not Really Coupon-Free Slides!

So great has been the demand that children wishing to use the recently erected slide in the Victoria Park have had to queue for a turn.
"Patrons are requested not to loiter too long at the top, admiring the extensive views" - "Have a go, Joe, and you, Joan," and then a quick run round
to join the queue again.
Reporting on the installation of the slide at the April meeting of Bideford Town Council, Cllr R L Cock estimated that from 3,000 to 5,000 children had
come down over

Free Men - 17th December 1971

Five More Honorary Freemen of Bideford

Bideford will have five more honorary freemen if a unanimous recommendation of the Town Council's General Purpose Committee is adopted by the Council.
They are Col Sir Michael Ansell, Ald. Lieut-Col R D D Birdwood, Mr Harold Blackmore, Ald. P J V Fulford and Dr I H Hewetson.

Primo J Avery is given wedding gift from Rose Salterne Lodge 1903

Sir John Pedler, on behalf of his fellow members of the Rose Salterne Lodge of Buffaloes, on Thursday evening at the Joiners Arms Inn, presented Primo J Avery with a beautiful eight-day timepiece on the occasion of his marriage.

Local Wills - 4th March 1977

Kate Hewson Bate, 13 Park Avenue, Bideford, who died in August, left £5,213 gross, net the same.
Winifred Alice Jarvis, of 58 Yelland Road, Yelland, who died in December, left £16,979 gross, £16,744 net.
Ada Caroline Jutte, of Castle House Nursing Home, Torrington, who died in December, left £16,370 gross, £15,915 net.
Mary Hannah Gibbons, Silver Threads, Instow, who died in December, left £8,908 gross, £8,728 net.

The 10th annual banquet of the Rose Salterne Lodge, RAOB, GSB, was held at Vicary's Joiners' Arms, Bideford, on Wednesday last, there being about 70 members and friends present.

The chair was occupied by the Worshipful the Mayor, Mr E J Tattershill, JP and the vice-chair by Kt John Pedler, KOM, ROH, SP. Others present included Lieut Robert Newcombe, RN, TC (Devonport), Councillor Stanley Heard, Mr W K Wickham, Bro. W France, Councillor Bro. W H Friendship, Messrs W B Johns, Clarke, R Kivell, L V Rowe, W B Short, A Blight, D Harvey, J Colley, J Butler, E Northwood,

Footballer's Bride At Bideford - 1967

Bideford Reserves' goalkeeper Mr Michael John Hare, twin son of Mr and Mrs T Hare, 1 Milton Place, Bideford, and Miss Hazel Thomas, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs F J Thomas, 29 Torrington Street, Bideford, were married at the Bethel Free Church, East-the-Water.
Mr Hare plays cricket for Littleham and is a member of Bideford unit of Devon Fire Service. The bride's father is vice-chairman of Bideford A.F.C.
Pastor F J Brignell officiated at the service, only the second, and the first white wedding to be held at the Church. Mr Peter Horn,

Bideford Wedding Day - 23rd March 1967

Mr P A E Day And Miss L M Brown

The wedding of Mr Paul Arthur Edward Day, only son of Mr and Mrs K Day of Trafford, Warren Road, Dawlish, and Miss Linda Mary Brown, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs W Brown, 10 Brookfield Street, Bideford, took place at St Mary's Church, Bideford.
The bridegroom is the lead guitarist of the Soul System pop group.
The Rector Rev T Derwent Davies officiated and Mr J R Trigger accompanied at the organ.
The bride was attended by Misses Janice Woodland and Janet

Rugby Chiefs Revenge - 14th April 1967

The Chiefs made amends for their defeat at the hands of Sidmouth when at home they took control from the start and did not let up until they had secured a confident 17-6 victory.
Two first half tries by Roger Green and one from Pete Reveley left the visitors struggling. Mike Grigg was only able to convert one.
Ex-Bideford player Barry Leyland pegged three points with a fine penalty. Barry Davies linked up with Ted Colegate who went over for a superb try.

Post Office Presentations - 11th November 1947

Safe Driving Awards

Certificates awarded by the Society for Prevention of Accidents for the year 1946 were recently presented to local Post Office drivers by the Head Postmaster Mr S A Talboys.
Mr Talboys pointed out that the awards were not presented lightly. The Head Postmaster congratulated the drivers on their records and wished them many years of accident free driving.
Mr W R Harris, Mr R D Whitefiled and Mr J Bale also congratulated the drivers.
The awards were as follows: Gold Medal, F Butler, E A Colwill, R A Whitaker; Oak

Safe Door Weighing Two Tons!

Arrival of a new strong-room door at Barclay's bank in High Street, Bideford, last week attracted a crowd of interested sightseers.

Weighing two tons five hundred weights, the door provided quite a problem when it came to taking it inside the building. The entrance door had to be widened by the sub-contractors, Messrs A F Beer and Son, of Bideford, and then steel rollers used to push the heavy door inside. The photograph shows Messrs Littlejohns' new 'Jumbo' mobile crane being used to lift the new doors. However, apart from one incident, when, describes an

Freemasons Guard of Honour - Funeral of Mr E G Laycock

Members of Lodge of Benevolence No. 489 (Bideford) of Freemasons, of which he was a Past Master and had been secretary for many years, were bearers and formed a guard of honour at the funeral at Bridge Street Methodist Church, Bideford, on Monday, of Mr Ezra George Laycock.
Mr Laycock, who was principal of the Bideford School of  Music, Shorthand and Typewriting, at 25 Bridgeland Street, Bideford, died on January 5th, at the age of 78. For twenty years, until his retirement in 1946, he was secretary to Bideford and

Summer Visitors to Bideford

Saturday afternoon brough the first of the summer season visits to Bideford of Messrs P and A Campbell's pleasure steamers. It was the 'Cardiff Queen' and the warm welcome accorded was reminiscent of the occasion last year when she came to reintroduce pleasure trips by the firm from Bideford after a lapse of some thirty years. Bideford Town Band played on the Quayside and many of the crowd went aboard for a trip down the Torridge around Bideford Bay and back. Later she again left Bideford for Ilfracombe and her cross-Channel schedule. A series of trips

Stella Maris Convent, Bideford - Oliver 1975

Stella Maris Convent, Bideford

Oliver

July 10 and 11 7pm

Music, Lyrics and book by Earl Bart, produced for the Broadway Stage by David Merrick and Donald Alberry by arrangement with Evans Brothers Ltd and Stage Musicals of New York.

Admission 35p Children 20p

Where Bideford rope makers walked

WHERE BIDEFORD ROPE-MAKERS WALKED

From the above photograph most readers will immediately recognise the Strand but fewer will recall the wooden posts which formed part of the extension to 'Rope' Walk which ran from the foreground of the picture back past the bottom of Chingswell Street, across the bottom of Willett Street to the Quay end of Bridgeland Street.
The ancient and principal ropewalk in Bideford, where ropes were made by hand, was owned from very early times by the Wren family, and later was acquired by Mr H M Restarick. It extended from the

Mr French awarded Degree

Mr Alan French, 25 , son of Mr & Mrs SJ French of 3 Union Street Bideford awarded Master of Letters Degree at University of Bristol. Old boy of Bideford Grammar School. Dip Ed Exeter University.

Marriage of Blake and Stevens

Marriage of David Charles Blake Lang RAF son of Mr F G Lang and late Mrs Lang of Old Town Bideford, and Miss Daphne Grace Stevens daughter of Mr and Mrs J Stevens of Westward Ho! Rev T E Clarke officiated. Best Man was Frank Babb

What is secret of Bideford tunnel - 1975

A mystery that has intrigued generations of Bidefordians may be solved early in the New Year when an opening is made in the bricked-up wall of a cellar at Ford House, the oldest house in the town and possibly in North Devon and once owned by Sir Richard Grenville's family. Tradition has it that a smugglers' tunnel runs from the cellar several miles westward to Abbotsham cliffs. Even if no tunnel is found the existence of a big man-made cave as a secret hiding place is a near certainty. The house stands at

Town's Second Woman Mayor in 392 Years - 1965

Bideford's new Mayor will be a woman, only the second in the town's long history - its charter was granted in 1573. She is 61 year old Mrs Ethelwynne Brown, a widow, who has been a member of the Town Council for nearly four years. Former Alderman Mrs Muriel Cox, who resigned from the Council last December, served as Mayor in 1954. News of the invitation to Cllr Mrs Brown to become Mayor-designate was announced at a meeting of the Town Council on Monday. Mrs Brown said: 'I hope that in so honouring

Mrs Vivian Patt, of Bideford, has become the first woman member of the North Devon Water Board. She is a representative of Devon County Council.

Ronald Short is a Great Uncle at 17 - 1955

Few of us are uncles from the day we are born, but Ronald Short of 30 Bowden Green, Bideford, not only acquired such distinction but now, at the age of 17, has the added status of a great uncle. Ronald, who is a farm worker, and lives with his mother, Mrs Stanbury, is the 'baby' of her family of ten boys and three girls, all of whom survive. His mother, who at 59 became a greatgrandmother, married twice. Her first husband, Mr Tom Short, was accidentally killed and she subsequently married

Service is Golden 1972

Mr and Mrs John Burnett celebrated their golden wedding anniversary

Fifty years service as a minister has just been completed by the Rev R H Parsons, of Bethel Church, East-the-Water, Bideford, and the occasion was celebrated by a family social gathering at the Bethel on Monday, November 4th.

Beginning his career in 1896 as an Evangelist, Mr Parsons took over a Mission Hall at Sudbrook, and later returned to London to join the Lectures Department of the National Sunday School Union, and worked with the Mission at Paradise Row, Stockwell. In 1905 he was appointed secretary of the All Nations Missionary Union, and in 1906 he was baptised and ordained,

Mrs Vivian Patt, former Mayor of Bideford and now a member of Northam Council, has been elected the first woman president of the North Devon branch of the Master Bakers’ Association, and is among the very few women in the country to have held such office in the association.

Devon, in fact, now has two women branch presidents, Mrs Matthews at Torquay and Mrs Patt in North Devon.
At the annual general meeting of the North Devon branch Mrs Patt was unanimously voted to succeed Mr Colin Dudley, of Combe Martin, in the office.
For 22 years in the bakery

Mrs F Patt, of ‘Raleigh View’, Bideford, failed to beat the ‘What’s my line’ television panel on Sunday evening’s programme.

The panel were up to their last two questions when they discovered her occupation which she gave as ‘putting jam in doughnuts’ – ‘giving them a hypodermic injection’ as panel member David Nixon described it.
Earlier Gilbert Harding had made a geographical guess that Mrs Patt might be ‘a Cornish pastry filler-upper’.
Mrs Patt, who said she had brought to the studio a very nice cake from the people of Bideford, invited the panel – David Nixon, Lady Barnett, Gilbert Harding and

Members of the Kingsley Lodge of the RAOB held another successful concert and dance, which was well patronised at the Church Institute to celebrate the Royal Wedding.

The room was beautifully decorated with the silver bells and festoons and the crests of the RAOB in gold, painted by Brother Long. Brothers Glover and Hoblin are to be congratulated on their artistic designs in decorating the room. The concert proved a great success.

The programme was under the control of Brother Heal and consisted of the following: Overture, Brother Squires; songs by Misses Cleave, Crocker, Langbridge and Judd, and Messrs

New Bandmaster at Bideford in 1964

At the week-end Mr W Garrett, who was president of the Southern Counties Brass Band Association for 11 years, commenced his appointment as bandmaster of Bideford Town Silver Band. His appointment fills a long standing vacancy.
Mr Garrett comes from Guildford where he was bandmaster of the Godalman Borough Band and conductor of the Westborough Ladies' Choir. He has also been bandmaster of Weymanns Works Band and the Miles Aircraft Works Band.
He will be pleased to welcome any players of any age, and anyone wishing to learn, at rehearsals held in the band room

Brother’s success means Canada trip for Janet.

An exam success gained by a 30 year old Bidefordian now living in Toronto, Canada, has also meant a ticket to adventure for his younger sister.
When Bideford Grammar School Old Boy Michael Polley qualified as an insurance company manager it brought a pay rise. From this, together with earnings as a part-time lecturer in drama, he has saved up enough to pay for a passage to Canada for his 17 year old sister Janet.
Until Tuesday Janet, a shop assistant, lived with her parents, Mr and Mrs George Polley, at 8 Kenwith

Woman stands in for Father Christmas 1972

Mrs Vera Cawsey became Father Christmas at a local shop for 2 days. She donated a reward for her services to Broomhayes Children's Centre.

Veteran chairman of Bideford open bowling tournament committee, 82 year old Mr Arthur Pearson was as active as ever in his duties at this year’s event.

His is a remarkable record for he has been associated with the tournament throughout its 42 active years – it was not held in the war years. In the first tournament in 1927, he was runner-up in the singles championship to that Torrington bowler of renown, the late Mr Reg Hodge.
Arthur, who joined the club in 1919, is not its senior member and his services to it in many ways, notably as secretary, were

Triplets Are Two 1965 

The Waldron triplets of Bideford were two years old on Monday. A tea party was held and Jackie, Donna and Tracie posed for a celebration picture (contact us for that picture). The girls are the children of Mr and Mrs Brian Waldon of East the Water. The triplets are the first born at Bideford for 12 years.Their sister Patra is 3 months old.

This year's (1967) Bideford Regatta Queen is 16 year old Ruth Portus, a laboratory technician at Bideford Dairies.

Ruth, daughter of Mr and Mrs W Portus, 36 Clovelly Road, Bideford, was chosen last week at the Royal Hotel, Bideford. Judges were guests at the hotel - Mr and Mrs J Houghton of Billericay and Mr and Mrs Webster of Sheffield. She was invested with her sash of office at the London-Bidefordian Reunion dinner at the New Inn last Friday.

This Bideford Reds junior crew caused one of the major surprises of Saturday's regatta by beating West of England champions Torquay.

The oarsmen are Terry Palmer, Len White, G Kelly, Owen Sims and Dave Curtis.

38 Years with Gazette

Mr Sidney G Rendle, of 14 Coldharbour, Bideford whose death occurred on Sunday in Bideford Hospital, retired in February of this year after 38 years as billposter and storeman with the Bideford Gazette.
Aged 65 and a member of a well known Northam family, he volunteered for the Army in the First World War at the age of 16, joining the Devonshire Regiment. In four and a half years, he served in Mesopotamia, India, Salonika and Italy. After the war he was for four years engaged on the construction of Bideford Sports Ground and as a

Mother's Christmas present lost 1959

Twelve year old Carol Ellis made her mother an embroidered table centre runner for Christmas but lost it on the way home, sadly it was not found and returned.