Charities

Presented by the Mayor of Bideford

6 May 1966

Bideford Bridge Trust - Early Preparations

From information in a Bridge Trust Ledger of 1688-1738, it appears that plans really began in March 1690

The Feoffees of the Long Bridge

The Feoffees of the Bridge were, and still are, a group of people responsible for the maintenance

Famous underwater escape to be re-enacted

Karl Bartoni can't swim

Bideford Bridge Trust - The Leases

The Indentures, or leases, many of which date back to the early 1690s are made between the

Helped With Their Christmas Shopping

Bideford Rotary Club on Wednesday morning organised a Christmas shopping visit by senior citizens of

Gifts And Tributes To The Torridge Hospital

Bideford Torridge Hospital's new £4,500 sun lounge provided a much needed amenity and they

£700 Legacy For The Chalet

A legacy of about £700 from the estate of the late Miss Masters, of Westward Ho! was reported at

Jill's Balloon Was The Winner

The winning balloon in a race organised by Bideford Lions Club last month from Bideford water

Churchill Fund Plans At Bideford

While attendance at Monday's meeting called to plan Bideford's response to the Winston Churchill Memorial

Instow Poppy Day Collections

Instow has contributed a total of £56 7s 8d to Earl Haig's Fund as a result Instow Poppy Day Collections

Earl Haig

Lundy Canoeists Help Cancer Patients 1981

£2000 raised for Cancer and Leukemia in Childhood Trust

Dancing Benefits the Sick 1981

Alwington Dance Club raised £4000 for Bideford and District Hospital

Andrew bread distribution to end after 370 years

due to Local Government re-organisation

Bideford Round Table is 30 years old 1982

charity projects

Players' Help Speeds £10,000 Rugger H.Q. 1968

Nearly £1,000 raised

Bideford Rugby is a Family Affair 1972

The Evans brothers

Back in the fold

7 June 1963

Stopped in 1974

7 January 1972

Work begins on new H.Q. for Bideford R.F.C.

£10,000 clubhouse

Presented by the Mayor of Bideford
6 May 1966

W.V.S and C.D Medals

When, at the start of Bideford Town Council meeting, the Mayor, Cllr Mrs Ethelwynne Brown, presented long service (15 year) medals to WVS workers, she said it was especially gratifying in these days when Civil Defence was often decried and hounded down as unnecessary that there were people with sufficient foresight to remain faithful to the work.

It had been intended that she should present six medals, but only three of five WVS members were present. And Mr Roy Ellis, who was to receive a C.D medal was ill. The Mayor visited his home to present it.

In the photograph are Mrs J Latham, Mrs R Croft, Mrs T P Keene, Miss J M Phillipps, Major J E Briscoe, Miss A E Lee, Mrs A J Wensley and Mrs A E Turner

Awards were presented to Mrs A E Turner, Mrs J Latham, and Mrs A J Wensley. Unable to attend were Miss M Pound and Mrs A R Bowen.

Gazette article dated 6 May 1966

Bideford Bridge Trust - Early Preparations

From information in a Bridge Trust Ledger of 1688-1738, it appears that plans really began in March 1690 when the then Feoffees paid one Nathaniel Gascoyne £4.6.0 for 'drawing a design of the new street'. Payment was also made to a John Courtise and labourers for work done in 'digging down the hedges and clearing a way for the building to go on'. In the same year, 'Crangs house' was bought for demolition to provide a passage into the street. A year later, on March 25 1691, £134.14.15d was paid to buy 'house, orchard, gardens and outhouses, the property of Robert Dacy, in order to build the new street'. In 1692 a yard and two cellars, the property of Mr Robert Gozen was purchased for the purpose of making an outlet from the new street to the Quay. At Christmas 1692 'Can and Lang's houses' owned by Richard Pincombe were purchased for demolition. In 1693 Nathaniel Gascoyne was paid £223 for building 70ft of Quay and slip, at the end of the...

The Feoffees of the Long Bridge

The Feoffees of the Bridge were, and still are, a group of people responsible for the maintenance of the Long Bridge. When surplus money became available, land was purchased, in many areas of the country, chiefly in the South West. The land was rented out, sometimes for grazing and sometimes as in High Street, Mill Street and Bridgeland Street, for building purposes. There are no records left to show when the Bridge Trust first enfoeffed but it is believed that there were originally 24 men. By 1608 the number had been reduced to 4 namely William Davie, John Suzans, Alfred Stockombe and John Babbacombe, weak and aged men who had been enfoeffed as far back as 1565. These four, by ancient deeds, were legal owners of the Bridge lands, and as they refused to appoint additional members, were suspected of using Bridge funds for their own purposes. This resulted in the presentation of a petition to the Court of Chancery, for an enquiry. As a result of this...

The famous underwater escape of Houdina, the greatest escape artist of all time, is to be re-enacted in the river Torridge at Bideford next month.

As a feature of the water festival being organised by Bideford Round Table in aid of local charities, Karl Bartoni of Blackpool, will be locked in several pairs of police handcuffs, secured in ankle stocks and chains, put into a padlocked canvas mailbag and then into a weighted packing case before being lowered to the bottom of the river.
The stunt, which almost cost the life of the famous Houdini in the frozen Hudson River 40 years ago, nearly put an end to Karl Bartoni too, when he tried to emulate the feat in Blackpool in 1970. But sure that he has found the secret that made Houdini the legend he is today Karl, an experienced stunt man with many circus and outdoor feats to his credit, says he is looking forward to attempting the experiment.
It is a particularly dangerous stunt for him as he is a non-swimmer and as soon as he surfaces, divers...

Bideford Bridge Trust - The Leases

The Indentures, or leases, many of which date back to the early 1690s are made between the Mayor and Feoffees of the Bridge Trust and the lessee. The lease was for the land and invariably for a term of 99 years; determinable on the deaths of the lessee and usually two other 'lives'. Thus, as each person named as a 'life' in the lease dies, another lease for 99 years is drawn up. A fine or heriot, usually of 3/4d, has to be paid and a new name added within two years or the property can be claimed by the feoffees. The lives named were usually those of children or close relatives but sometimes well-known persons such as the Prince of Wales would be named. At the making of a new lease a 'consideration' - approximately two years rentable value of the house, as determined by two independent assessors, - was paid by the lessee. Although the lease was for the land only, the Feoffees laid down strict rules regarding the type of house that was to be built and...

Helped With Their Christmas Shopping - 3rd December 1971

Bideford Rotary Club on Wednesday morning organised a Christmas shopping visit by senior citizens of the homes at Fairlea, The Chalet, Abbeyfield and Lakenham to Messrs Chopes and Woolworths, High Street, Bideford.
Rotarians provided the transport and members of the associated women's organisation, the Inner Wheel, gave any help required by the party in the stores.

Gifts And Tributes To The Torridge Hospital - 11th August 1972

Bideford Torridge Hospital's new £4,500 sun lounge provided a much needed amenity and they were grateful to all those who had made it possible, said Mr J C Woolley, group secretary of the North Devon Hospital Management Committee, at the official opening of the lounge.
The capital cost of £4,500 had been met by the Regional Hospital Board, he said, and the Hartland fund had met the cost of the furnishings. Anonymous donors had also contributed an electric clock and tables.
Dr William Ruddock, opening the lounge, revealed that he had been professionally associated with the hospital for some 35 years. The nurses treated the patients with affection and understanding, he said. A fine example had been set them by former matron Mrs J Morris and the present matron, Mrs M D Ray, who had done more than anyone to make the hospital what it was.
He wished the Torridge many more years of enterprise and success. They were already proud of the...

£700 Legacy For The Chalet - 12th March 1965

A legacy of about £700 from the estate of the late Miss Masters, of Westward Ho! was reported at the annual meeting of Bideford and Distric Old People's Welfare Committee at the Rose of Torridge Cafe on Tuesday.
The meeting was told that in its 18 years' existence, The Chalet, the home for old people run by the committee at Westward Ho! had accommodated a total of 86 residents.
At present two residents are over 90.
Mr W J G Coad, committee chairman, referred to the resignation because of health of Col G I Stanley Smith, a vice-chairman, and spoke appreciatively of his services to the cause from its earliest days.
Work at The Chalet had proceeded efficiently adn happily, thanks to the committee's officers, the sub-committee and their leaders, and the staff at the home, and they were grateful too, to outside friends for practical help and interest. Their anonymous 'fairy godmother' had written offering further help. To all who had helped in...

Jill's Balloon Was The Winner - 12th September 1975

The winning balloon in a race organised by Bideford Lions Club last month from Bideford water carnival and the North Devon Agricultural Show was released by Mis Jill Cleverdon, of Hankford, Bulkworthy. It reached Edinburgh. The helium filled balloons were returned from many areas including Lundy, Wales, Tamworth and Southport. But one balloon only reached Mill Street, Bideford.

Churchill Fund Plans At Bideford - 19th February 1965

Plea That Appeal Should Not Drag "On And On"

While attendance at Monday's meeting called to plan Bideford's response to the Winston Churchill Memorial Appeal was exceptionally representative of organisations and individuals. and many ideas were put forward, there was a cautionary plea that the campaign should not be allowed to 'drag on and on'.
Capt Pat Brennan, who made the plea, explained to the Gazette on Wednesday; 'The point I was trying to make was that the Winston Churchill Appeal should not be extended beyond the period suggested, to avoid it clashing with other things. People ae being asked all the time to give; if this appeal drags its feet over into a longer period it could very well prejudice local efforts. I asked that we should stick to the week (March 20-27) suggested. Surely that is right enough.'
The meeting held in the Town Hall, was the best attended of its type for a long time. Support came from political...

Instow Poppy Day Collections - 23rd November 1948

Instow has contributed a total of £56 7s 8d to Earl Haig's Fund as a result of collections, sale of poppies, and wreaths in the parish. Details were;
Collecting boxes - Mrs Parkhouse, Sailing Club (per Mr Hugo), Mrs Sillman, Mrs Beer, Mrs Day, Miss E Symonds, Mrs Goodwin, Mrs Nancekivell.
Donations, £7 6s 6dl; car and cycle poppies, £4 17s; Instow Church collections £8 16s 4d; Westleigh Church collections £6; Wesleyan Chapel, Instow, £2 2s; wreaths £7 5s;
This shows an increase of £6 10s 2d over last year.
The Committee express their grateful thanks to the organiser, Mrs D E Durnford-Slater, and her splendid team of collectors, and to those who contributed so generously to the cause.

Lundy Canoeists Help Cancer Patients 28.8.1981

Charities. A group of Torridge-side canoeists, including two policemen, a lighthouse keeper and a teacher plus 19 others raised £2000 for the Cancer and Leukemia in Childhood Trust. Chief Inspector Godfrey Matthews, Constable Jeff Blaydon, Frank Elson, Don Appleby, Mrs Pat Elson, Miss Samantha Elson, John Moore, Nick Walters

Dancing Benefits the Sick 19.6.1981

Charities. 6 years ago a group of farmers and their wives formed themselves into the Alwington Dance Club. Bideford and District Hospital benefit by some £4000. Mrs Pat Blight, Cyril Blight, John Barker

Andrew bread distribution to end after 370 years - 27.12.1974

Local Government re-organisation has put an end to the distribution of bread to the aged and sick of Bideford under the will of a Bideford merchant, John Andrew, who died in 1605.

For centuries the distribution has been made on New Year's Day by the Mayor and since the early 1960s, butter has been added. But last year only 13 loaves were distributed, due, it was suggested, to the day having been changed because for the first time January 1 was a public holiday.

The clerk of the Town Council, Mr Albert Blatchford, told the Gazette that it was doubtful if the council could continue with the custom. Although the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs Frank Colwill, would no doubt be prepared to continue the custom, there was no staff to help them. The former town clerk of Bideford, Mr Leslie Galliford, recalled there had been talk some years ago of discontinuing the distribution because of the failure of those entitled to the bread...

Bideford Round Table is 30 years old 26.2.1982

Charities. Bideford Round Table celebrating their 30th anniversary next week. Bob Harding was one of the 11 founder members. Brian Cording, Roger Cording, Roger Day, Geoff Day, Bill Law, Arthur Bradley, Bob Anderson, David Willmott, Roland Oliver, Bill Milton, Tony Stephens, Roy Cory, Don Colwill, Jim Wickham, Bob Hopkins

Players' Help Speeds £10,000 Rugger H.Q. 22.11.1968

Sport. Nearly £1,000 raised in under 12 months by a committee of players of Bideford Rugby Club. Peter Adams

Bideford Rugby is a Family Affair 8.12.1972

Sport. The Evans brothers lined up for Bideford Quins against Crediton 2nds. The Club has six sets of brothers currently in its teams. Richard Evans, Steve Evans, Geoff Giddy, Richard Giddy, Mike Tucker, John Tucker, Ed George, John George, Stuart MacMillan, Ken Hulme, Andrew MacMillan, Rod Hulme, Roger Grigg, Michael Grigg, Mike Stevens, Brian Stevens, Geoff Heal, Tony Heal, Colin Heal, Norman Heal, Ray Bird, Mervyn Bird, Roy Bird, Edgar Slade, Ivor Slade, Ronnie Slade, Frank Withecombes, Bunty Withecombes, Bruce Withecombes, Colin Withecombes, Ray Sawtell, Micky Sawtell, Bob Colwill, Pete Colwill, Norman Trickey, Bob Trickey, Cecil Braddick, John Braddick, Geoff Staddon

A club, which went out of existence 18 years ago, was officially reformed on Friday – the Bideford Inner Wheel.

A total of 13 Inner Wheel clubs from Devon and Cornwall were represented at a charter luncheon, held at Tantons Hotel, Bideford, when the charter was presented to Bideford club president, Mrs Charles Martin by the district chairman, Mrs L A Tapper, of Newton Abbot.
The Inner Wheel is the women’s counterpart of Rotary. Bideford had already provided two district chairmen – a unique achievement – one in 1947 and another, the late, Mrs Herbert Fulford, a few years later.
A bouquet was presented to Mrs Tapper by Miss Jill Smith, of Bideford.
The presentation of the Inner Wheel jewel to the founder president was made by Mr Stuart Holland, president of Bideford Rotary Club. The jewel is in memory of the late Dr E J Toye.
Responding, Mrs Martin said that the original Inner Wheel club of Bideford was founded in 1931, but ceased to function at the end of the war. Apart from herself...

Stopped in 1974
7 January 1972

Dating back to 1605 from a bequest made by a wealthy local merchant named John Andrew, 40 New Year loaves were distributed by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford (Mr and Mrs Pat Hughes) at the Town Hall on Monday morning.

This year the oldest recipient attending was 91 year old Mr Tom Johns, of Barton Tors.
Those who were unable to attend in person had the gifts delivered to them by the Mayoress and her daughter Suzanne, as seen in the picture above.
Gazette article dated 7 January 1972

Work Begins on New H.Q. for Bideford R.F.C. 6.12.1968

Sport. Before the end of the present season Bideford Rugby Club will be enjoying the amenities of one of the finest rugby headquarters in the Westcountry. Work on their new £10,000 clubhouse began on Monday. Completion date is scheduled for March 14th. Peter Adams, Messrs Reginald Gale and Jaquiss, R.Harris and Son Ltd

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CharitiesA Selection of News Articles Related to Charities

W.V.S and C.D Medals

Bideford Bridge Trust - Early Preparations

The Feoffees of the Long Bridge

The famous underwater escape of Houdina, the greatest escape artist of all time, is to be re-enacted in the river Torridge at Bideford next month.

Bideford Bridge Trust - The Leases

Helped With Their Christmas Shopping - 3rd December 1971

Gifts And Tributes To The Torridge Hospital - 11th August 1972

£700 Legacy For The Chalet - 12th March 1965

Jill's Balloon Was The Winner - 12th September 1975

Churchill Fund Plans At Bideford - 19th February 1965

Plea That Appeal Should Not Drag "On And On"

Instow Poppy Day Collections - 23rd November 1948

Lundy Canoeists Help Cancer Patients 28.8.1981

Dancing Benefits the Sick 19.6.1981

Andrew bread distribution to end after 370 years - 27.12.1974

Bideford Round Table is 30 years old 26.2.1982

Players' Help Speeds £10,000 Rugger H.Q. 22.11.1968

Bideford Rugby is a Family Affair 8.12.1972

A club, which went out of existence 18 years ago, was officially reformed on Friday – the Bideford Inner Wheel.

Work Begins on New H.Q. for Bideford R.F.C. 6.12.1968