Promise is kept - after 18 years

A promise made to a Bideford family has been kept - more than 17 years after. When, following VE Day, Mr Frank Willanneuva, a member of the United States Forces, returned to his home country, he promised Mrs M J Durant and her daughters Phyllis and Margaret, at whose home, 'Darracott', Abbotsham Road, he had been billeted for nearly a year, that he would 'write soon'. But then Mr Willanneuva, who hailed from Mexico, could write little English. Now, writing from 700 South Street, Tulare, California, he has invited Miss Phyllis Durant to visit him.

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 Waldon 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.

Gazette article dated 26 November 1965

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.

Bideford’s £127,000 health centre in Abbotsham Road, which will accommodate all the existing general practitioners in the town, is to open on October 2nd.

It has nine consulting and examination suites and it will also accommodate the local health authority services, which will be transferred from the sub-standard clinic accommodation now in use in Coronation Road. In addition to accommodation for chiropodists, health visitors and the local authority doctor, there will be a health education room and facilities for ante-natal and child health sessions, cervical cytology, ophthalmic and speech therapy, and family planning advice.
The centre will also have a

Grand tour left money to spare!

A Bideford girl and her friend who left this country two months ago taking little more than a small tent and two sleeping bags have just returned after having seen quite a bit of the world.
And each brought back a few pounds of her travel allowance.
Miss Pat Ward, daughter of Mr and Mrs T G Ward of Clovelly Road, Bideford, and an Old Girl of Edgehill College, and Miss Veronica Smith of London, having passed their final examinations as medical laboratory technicians, decided they had earned an extended holiday. They set out

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.

Wibbles the lamb likes dogs and dog biscuits.

Jolly good pals are the alsatian dog, Ulla, and the lamb, Wibbles, pets of 11 year old Karen Pinnell, of Pinecroft Kennels, Gammaton Road, Bideford.
In the picture Wibbles is seen on her evening walk with Karen and her friendd, Denise Guttridge, who always accompanies them.

Article from the Gazette in 1967

NEXT WEDNESDAY'S OFFICIAL OPENING AT BIDEFORD - LEAVING HIGH STREET AFTER 73 YEARS
Next Wednesday afternoon, a month ahead of schedule, Bideford's new Head Post Office building, a handsome addition to the Quayside frontage, will be officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Lord Roborough.

That night the doors of the High Street buildiing where local people have transacted their Post Office business since 1886 will be closed to the public until some other use is found for the premises.
It was in the summer of 1939 that the first plan for a new post office on the new site

Gently does it, and with other traffic held up, to allow this long load to travel down the 'one-way up' High Street at Bideford.

The temporary suspension of the normal traffic flow in High Street for this load was caused by the closure of the main road at Torridge Hill for repairs and the narrow corners of the alternative route.
The 62-feet beams, manufactured by Laminated Wood Ltd, of Clovelly Road, Bideford, were beginning the long journey to the Newcastle upon Tyne area where they will become part of a swimming pool building.
Gazette article dated 3 March 1972

Mr Charles John Manning, only son of Mr and Mrs C Manning, Ashleigh Farm, Bridenstowe, Okehampton, and Miss Valerie Ann Beswick, only daughter of Mr and Mrs A Beswick, 21 Glenfield Road, Bideford, were married at St Margaret’s Church, Northam.

The Vicar, Rev J M Lucas, officiated and Mr W E B Cox was the organist. There were three bridesmaids, the Misses Amanda and Lucinda Colwill and Carol Bardens. Best man was Mr John Green-Price, and the ushers were the bride’s brother Keith and the bridegroom’s cousin, Mr Jim Woodmason.
A reception was held at Durrant House Hotel. The bridesmaids’

Young Children Tramp 113 Miles in a Week 11th October 1910

A widowed father was charged with neglect for leaving his children so that they had to be taken into the Workhouse. George Babbs said that he had tried to make arrangements for the children while he was working on the doubling of of the railway at South Molton Rd.  He also explained that on one occasion his whole family had walked 113 miles in search of work. 

The latest indications were that Kingsley Hospital at Bideford would close under the reorganisation programme, confirmed the Medical Officer of Health for Bideford Rural Council, Dr N Bowring Betts, at Tuesday’s Council meeting.

He told Mr Jack Prince: ‘It is not being used to capacity by any means’. He thought, however, that the hospital might be used more for the care of older people who needed a rest but could not get a hospital bed. He pointed out that it was planned to use the Bideford and District Hospital for geriatric cases.
When Mr Prince said he hoped this did

From 1936 to 1943 bandmaster of Bideford Town Silver Band which, under his direction, built up a wide reputation, Mr Josiah (Joe) Heal, died suddenly at his home, 12 Chingswell Street, Bideford, at the age of 70.

In his musical interest he followed his father’s footsteps. He was a member of the 6th Devons Territorial’s and of their band, he served overseas with the battalion in the First World War. In between the world wars he played with the Torquay Military Band and subsequently became a member of the Torquay Municipal Orchestra taking part in many broadcast programmes. His principal

Well known local jazz band Soloheim Mungaash are travelling to London next month to make their first record at SRT studios.

Afterwards they will play at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, regarded as the ‘Mecca of British jazz’.

The band, who have been together for only 15 months, hope that their record will be released some time in the New Year.
Five of the six members – Gordon Hunt, Malcolm Hurrell, Pete Finn, Derek Redmore and Eric Moss come from Bideford. Odd man out is John Shillito, formerly a top professional trumpeter who was with the Johnny Bastable Chosen Six.

Darts player, Mr Keith Eldridge, dressed as a woman, helps the fund being raised by the Appledore Inn, Bideford, for a new kidney unit for Bideford Hospital.

In his eye-catching outfit Keith set out from the Appledore Inn on a fund-raising tour of Bideford public houses, and on his return took part in a ladies' darts match.

Warm applause for cold five and a half minutes.

Nearly 200 people lined Bideford Bridge and Quayside on Christmas morning to see a Bideford hairdresser swim the river Torridge and become probably the first person to swim the river at Bideford on Christmas Day, certainly this century.
The hairdresser, 25 years old, Mr Keith Seymour, of Allhalland Street, Bideford, made the crossing from East-the-Water to the Bideford Quay in five and a half minutes.
Blankets were quickly draped around his shoulders and he walked barefooted back to his home – a hot bath had been arranged. A generous tot of spirit

Bridge Reference at Manor Court - Presentations to Brig Peto and Lord Audley

Thoughts at Saturday’s Manor Court ceremony were very much focussed on Bideford’s 700 year old bridge which, in February last, was one of the three bridges in the country to be excluded from the provisions of the Trunk Roads Bill.
The Lord Lieutenant (Earl Fortescue) and civic visitors from Exeter, Barnstaple and Torrington were among those present.
On the table in front of the members of the Town Council, sitting as Lords of the Manor was Ald F E Whiting’s handsome model of the Bridge. While the Manor

Magic moments were enjoyed by a large crowd of children at Bideford Strand Cinema Saturday morning show when Robert Henry, a protégé of the Supreme Magic Company, entertained.

After he mystified them he presented prizes in a Christmas colouring contest sponsored by the cinema and Supreme Magic. First prize was a recently-published book on magic autographed by the author, Mr Ian Adair, a signed photograph of him and a magician’s tiepin.
It went to Peno Dodd, aged 10, of 1 High View, Bideford, for a remarkable entry. Other prizes were giant boxes of paints and colouring books.
They went to

A Bideford couple, Mr and Mrs Alan Nichols, and their 11 year old son Mark, are now living in the first of 12 house which have been built at East-the-Water, Bideford, in North Devon’s first co-ownership scheme.

They were handed the keys to their new home at Alver Green, Alverdiscott Road, by Mr Jeremy Thorpe, MP, for North Devon, in an opening ceremony attended by civic representatives both from Bideford and from Barnstaple, where it is hoped to put in hand a similar scheme shortly.
The Nichol’s family formerly lived in Ashley Terrace, Bideford, running a small shop and dairy.

Mr W Pearce to be President

‘There is no link which can bind citizens more closely and solidly than friendship between individual citizens’ remarked the President of Bideford Rotary Club, Mr E H Gaud, at Thursday’s annual meeting.
Outstanding community work had included the organising of a public appeal which produced over £5,000 for the Merchant Navy Comforts Service; providing cigarettes and comforts for the minesweeper ‘Brecon Castle’ adopted by the Club; and an essential part played by members on the executive of ‘Wings for Victory’ Week. Steady work had been done in vocational service and in the international field

A supermarket in Bideford providing jobs for up to 50 people is among plans announced this week by Waltons Supermarkets (Exeter) Ltd.

Mr Jim Horrox, managing director, told the Gazette the development would be at the High Street premises formerly occupied by Meredith's ironmongery store.
With planning permission granted, tenders would be invited. It was hoped to start work on the premises within the next six months and have them open before the end of the year. The selling area would be some 4,500 square feet.
Employees would be mainly women, but seven or eight men would also be required.

A by-law aimed at stopping nude bathing on Devon beaches has been adopted by Devon County Council.

The move follows complaints from people living at South Devon coast resorts.
Making the recommendation to the Legal and General Purposes Committee, the Council said that complaints had been received about indecent behaviour adjacent to Slapton Sands. They considered that the by-law should apply to all rural areas in Devon.
Under the suggested by-law it will become an offence punishable by a fine not exceeding £5 for any person in any street or public place wilfully and indecently to expose himself.
The

Six standard houses with garages for police officers are to be erected on sites owned by the Police Authority at Moreton Park, Bideford, at a cost of £25,360.

Two houses for senior officers will be built later.
The Finance Committee reporting this to the County Council on Thursday week said that the establishment at Bideford was for 36 male officers. Deducting 13 single officers and owner-occupiers, this left a need for 23 units of housing. Of 18 houses available, three were below standard and required replacement.
Gazette article dated 27 January 1967

A great success.

On Sunday evening the Bideford Town Silver Band, under the direction of Bandmaster J Heal, gave a popular musical programme in the Palace Theatre Bideford.
Despite the heavy rain, there was a surprisingly large audience who thoroughly enjoyed the excellently arranged programme. During the cornet solos, by D Pope, their accompaniment was all that could be desired. Mr Heal wielded the baton with his usual efficiency and both conductor and band were fully in sympathy.
The special attraction was the engagement of Miss Gwendoline Fugler. Mr R Harper was an able accompanist at the piano.
The full

Following the success of their decorative lighting scheme at Christmas, Bideford Chamber of Trade is to investigate the possibility of floral decoration during the spring and summer.

They agreed this on Tuesday following a suggestion in a letter from Mr John Lewington.
Contractors, he suggested, might undertake to keep supplied and maintained window boxes and hanging baskets of flowers for shop and business premises, and the Town Council might be persuaded to cooperate. A scheme could encourage visitors to linger in the town, which was particularly suited to this type of decoration.
The Council might be persuaded to do something

Twenty year old Ann Pidler, a member of Bideford and District Ladies’ Rowing Club, who is recovering from an operation, should have been in bed on Friday evening.

Instead, wearing evening dress, she received, as a member of the West of England crew that was placed second in the fours event at the South Coast championship regatta at Deal, her individual trophy.
The Mayoress of Bideford, Mrs A C Hooper, presented the award to Ann, and to other members of the crew – Rosalind Ford, Patricia Brown and Shirley Peel. Doreen Balsdon was unable to attend to receive her award.
In

Children and their pets make a charming subject at any time but when their pets include some of the first Spring lambs the picture becomes even more appealing.

Sisters Shirley and Lindsay Tucker and their cousins Simon, Matthew and Clare Langdon brought some of their four-legged friends together for this picture taken at Cadds Down Farm, Bideford, the home of Mr and Mrs P Tucker.
Easily the senior member of the group is Trixie the pony, seen here with her young companion Bobby. Trixie has delighted three families of children during her lifetime, being passed on as her owners out-grew

Bideford Man Fined

At Bideford Borough magistrates’ court on February 19 Theodore Payne, of Lawries Cafe, Bideford, was fined a total of 30s for leaving a car unattended with its engine running and for driving a hackney carriage not designated as such, on Bideford Quay on January 24th.
PC Wilson said the car was left unattended with its engine running for six minutes. When he examined the licence, he discovered that it concerned a hackney carriage but no hackney carriage plate was exhibited on the vehicle.
In a letter to the Bench apologising for his absence, Payne said he left

Season tickets to increase to £1

A recommendation by the Band, Advertising and Parks Committee that for the 1947 season the price of the putting green season tickets should be raised to £1, and that inquiries should be made from other towns as to corresponding prices, met with objection from Cllr W H Short, at last week’s meeting of Bideford Town Council. Cllr W H Short said they as a Council had been doing very well on the previous price of 15s and to increase it would tend to discourage the use of the green and impose a financial hardship

Bulldozers move into New Street, Bideford, which has been made a clearance area.

Despite its name, this narrow street of character, between High Street and Lower Gunstone, was one of the oldest parts of the town.
It is said that John Strange, the hero of the plague visitation of Bideford in 1645-46, owned property there.

Gazette article dated 3 March 1972

Actor William Hartnell, star of ITV’s ‘The Army Game’ programme as CSM Bullimore, met friends in Bideford over the weekend. 

Mr Hartnell is seen with Mr Arthur Braunton, a well-known local hairdresser, and Mrs Mel Moore, wife of the licensee of the Swan, Mill Street. 

Mr Hartnell, who comes from South Devon, and now lives in Sussex, has an aunt, Mrs Bessie Andrew, living at 4 Torridge Mount, Bideford. He stayed at Portledge Hotel.This part of North Devon is one of his favourite holiday haunts and he has been here on several occasions. Beside his TV work he is, of course, well

A Bideford milkman who left his van on a hill to make a delivery in Westcombe heard the handbrake release and saw the vehicle moving backwards, the local magistrates were told last week. 

Terance George Frederick Cox, 69 Clovelly Road, was said to have made a statement that had tried to get into the van to stop it, but was prevented from doing so by the slippery road service. The runaway van, said Police Sergt Honeywill, crashed into the doors of a garage, damaging them and a vehicle in the garage. A Ministry vehicle examiner found that the brakes were efficient

Call at Traders’ Dinner

Referring to the possibility of changes in local government in the future, the Town Clerk of Bideford, Mr F C Backway, told members of the Bideford and District Chamber of Trade, at their annual dinner that he hoped the name of Bideford would never be erased from the signposts of the district, but he was sure the local authority could look to the members of the Chamber to rally round if ever Bideford was in danger of losing its identity. 

The President, Mr W J G Coad, presided at the annual dinner dance which was held

The listing by the Department of the Environment of two derelict cottages in New Road as worthy of preservation without their having seen them was criticised by Councillor Frank Colwill at a meeting of Bideford Town Council’s general purposes committee.

The cottages, nos. 4 and 5, could be linked with Bull Hill clearance area.
Years ago, said Alderman Mrs Ethelwynne Brown, the cottages had been occupied only because of dire necessity. They were not fit then. The Mayor, Councillor James Needs, suggested that if the architect engaged on the Bull Hill scheme were asked to report on the cottages the

Surrounded by a collection of traditional corn dollies is Mrs Grace West, 23 Milton Place, Bideford.

Mrs West learned the age-old art just two years ago when she was given a two-hour lesson by a Beaford man. She took it from there.
She does the work as a hobby and has made several for her friends. She also takes them to schools, women’s institute meetings and other gatherings where she explains their origins. The corn comes from Abbotsham and she supplements this with reed given to her by a thatcher friend.
Mrs West’s ambition is to make a corn dolly

Here is the 'Shamwickshire Civic Group' which attracted much attention at last week's Carnival promoted by East-the-Water Community Association.

The Group comprised: High Sheriff, Ron Somerville; Mayor, Peter Somerville; Town Clerk, Roy Beer; Chaplain, Peter Plows; Aldermen, Alan Stevens, Michael Nicholls, Michael Willis, P Davies; Councillors, Monty Stinson, Eric Cawsey, Will Raymond; Town Crier, Kenneth Tanton; Beadles, Tony Keen, David Stinson.

West meets East! The Mayor of Bideford, Mr A C Hooper, greets his unofficial counterpart for Shamwickshire.

Gazette article dated 6 June 1958

Lucky to be alive Elsa has arrived at Bideford Zoo to convalesce.

An eight year old Indian elephant, weighing nearly two tons, she developed a rheumatic condition in her front legs during her stay in a European zoo. The complaint was considered incurable and it was decided that she must be put down.
But Mr Jimmy le Blond, of London, a well known supplier of animals to zoos, decided that something might be done for her. Elsa eventually responded to intensive treatment and round-the-clock care, and she has been sent to Bideford to recuperate. She will be treated by a

Alderman Mrs Cox, of Bideford, returned from her US tour at the weekend, bronzed, enthusiastic about many aspects of the American way of life and an honorary citizen of one of its towns.

The certificate that proves her honorary citizenship is signed by the Mayor, Mr Luke Medley, and proclaims ‘Greetings… Be it hereby known to all that Mrs Cyril Cox, has, on this 8th day of May, 1964, been made an honorary citizen of Cookeville, Tennessee, Hub of the Cumberland and city with a colourful past, a progressive present and a promising future… And in recognition thereof has been

Three day eisteddfod for young people, which consisted mainly of singing and musical items, was staged last week at Lavington Congregational Church, Bideford, by the Bideford and Torridge District Sunday School Union.

A total of 14 churches participated in the event which was similar to one held by the union a couple of years ago. 

Churches represented were Howe Congregational (Torrington), Torrington Methodist, Bridge Street Methodist (Bideford), Bideford Baptist, Buckland Brewer Methodist, Lavington Congregational, Frithelstock Baptist, Torrington Baptist, Bethel Interdenominational, High Street Methodist (Bideford), Gammaton Methodist, Northam Methodist, West Down Congregational, and Dolton Baptist.
The shield for the highest average

Over 100 attend gala dinner and dance

To mark the golden jubilee of the London Bidefordian Society, over 100 took part in a most successful gala dinner and dance held at the Chatham Rooms, SW1, on Friday. Those attending included the Mayor of Bideford (Cllr Lieut-Col R D D Birdwood), who presided, and Mrs Birdwood, the Chairman of Northam Council (Cllr L H Moor) and Mrs Moore, Sir Barnett Cocks (Clerk to the House of Commons) and Lady Cocks, and Mr Ashe Lincoln, QC (president of the London Devonian Society).
Proposing ‘The London Bidefordian Society’ Mr Ashe Lincoln said ‘The

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.