Referring to Clovelly brings to mind that the fishermen have been experiencing a hard time of it.

Clovelly herrings – pride of the sea – have been very scarce, the fishermen have had poor earnings, and the price of butter in the Bideford market is going up smartly. The stranger is always at a loss to understand the connection between herrings and the price of butter, but the explanation volunteered is that a good supply of nutritious and savoury herrings keeps down the demand for butter for home consumption at a time when it is generally getting scarce, whilst if there is

Magistrates’ hint to rural council

Need for the local authority to provide lavatory accommodation at the bottom of Clovelly village for the convenience of the hundreds of visitors who flocked down there in the summer was emphasises by the chairman of Bideford County Bench, Lieut-Col J C Bassett, on Tuesday.

Mr M W V Richards was making application to the court for the transfer of the licence of the Red Lion Hotel, Clovelly, from Mr Sidney Henry Gulliver to Mr Reginald Clarence Fry.

The lavatory accommodation at the hotel was quite adequate for the purposes of the licence, said the

'Dilly-dallying'

After having been told by the chairman of the Parish Council, Mr J Prince: ‘Over the years we have been accused of dilly-dallying and it is time we reached a definite decision and acted upon it’, a Clovelly meeting on Tuesday gave the go-ahead for a parish hall.

It is nearly 20 years since the village decided that the hall should be built and playing field provided as a memorial to those who died in the war. But the project has been dogged by controversy about the most suitable site.

The late Hon. Mrs Asquith gave one at Yellary,

Malachi's Cove

Clovelly donkey Alexander has been having time off from normal duties to star in a film being made on location by a London based company. After a fortnight at Trebarwith Strand, Cornwall, the unit moved into Clovelly on Saturday to continue work on ‘Malachi’s Cove’ which deals with a girl’s friendship with a donkey. Alexander is here seen with ‘Bay’, the daughter of his owner, Mrs R Creighton-Balfour, of Clovelly.

The famous village still has about a dozen donkeys, which are more than picturesque. A couple are regularly employed in carrying to the top of the picturesque cobbled

Bishop celebrates Communion at Clovelly - March 1963

Six confirmed

When the Bishop of Exeter (Dr R C Mortimer) celebrated Holy Communion at Clovelly Parish Church on Sunday morning he was the first Bishop to do so there within living memory. After his address the Bishop confirmed six candidate, all from the parish, and these were among the first to take Communion as the service continued.

This procedure goes back to the very early centuries of the Christian Church. The candidates, ranging in age from 13 to the late 40s, were presented by the Rector (Rev R O H Eppingstone).

Fears For Clovelly Harbour's Future - 11th March 1977

The future of Clovelly's picture postcard harbour and the safety of its beachside cottages could be threatened unless action is taken quickly to repair the breakwater which protects the centuries old harbour wall it was warned yesterday.
A repair scheme could cost upto £30,000 and the problem is who should pay the bill.
The harbour is owned by the Clovelly Estate Company and its managing director, Captain M W B Kerr, told the Gazette this week: "We cannot afford to pay for the work."
Up to now the Department of the

No Mechanised Transport Vote At Clovelly - 11th March 1977

By seven votes to five the annual parish meeting at Clovelly rejected a move to inquire into the possible provision of light mechanised transport up and down the famous cobbled, stepped High Street.
Putting forward the idea, Mr Stan Nicholls said he thought it to be possible to provide some kind of transport. It would relieve the difficulty over the delivery of items such as coal. Mr J J Headon agreed that the move would solve a lot of problems.
Opposing the plan, Mr E W Johns said the introduction

Funeral Of Mr Steve Headon - 13th January 1967

Many friends attended the funeral at All Saints' Church, Clovelly, of Mr Francis Stephen Headon, 64 The Quay, whose death at 81 occurred suddenly at the united New Year Watchnight Service at Clovelly Methodist Church.
The Rector, Rev R O H Eppingstone, officiated at the funeral service, with Mr Storey at the organ.
Immediate mourners: Mr and Mrs S A Headon, Miss Pauline Headon, Mr and Mrs J J Headon, Mr and Mrs Greene, Mr and Mrs J Whitefield, Mr and Mrs J Hancock, Mr and Mrs N Carter, Mrs W

Achievement in 1972

Clovelly Ladies Lifeboat Guild have raised £3,406 in the past year for the RNLI reveals the annual statement of accounts. Sale of souvenirs accounted for £1,973.08 of the total.
Whist drives raised £124.95; Christmas cards, £7.38; flag day collection £154.68; boxes £643.10; dance £91.40; subscriptions £7.55; centenary booklets £13.65; donations £21.82; slipway box £67.56; tub in the boathouse £200.40; rocking boat £101.10.
Details of the box collections: Tea room £2.11; Kings Arms £1.74; Hartland Post Office £2.16; Hartland Quay £2.45; Dr Mackenzie £4.04; Mrs Biggs £4.17; Mrs F Shackson £85.50, Mrs Edwards £235.50; Mrs Morris £217.83, Mrs

Total of 14 tables were used at a whist drive organised by Clovelly Conservatives at the School Hall.

Mr W Robins was door steward and Mr Nicholls was MC.
Prize winners were: Mrs J Bragg, Mrs A Burrow, Mrs Aust, Mrs Wonnacott, Mr Locket, Mr Whittaker, Mr J Burrow, Mr L May, Mr F May, Miss Turner. Prizes were presented by Miss Mullins. In a draw fruit was won by Mrs Cole, while Mr P Ellis held the lucky number ticket.
Refreshments were served by Mesdames Headon, Dean, Dickenson, Minette Tridgell, Law, Vigars and Miss Self.
A whist drive organised

Just 12 months after becoming the owner of Clovelly Cross petrol filling station, Mr Tim Stoneman has learned that it has been judgedNorth Devon winner of the Shell Shine '72 competition.

Mr Stoneman had managed the petrol station for 14 years for the Clovelly Estate Company.
He can choose for his first prize £80 or 10 gold sovereigns. He is taking the gold. He also wins a shield and a place in the area section of the
competition.

£30 outstanding for shelter

That the Parish Council should form themselves into a skiffle group or should have their photographs taken for sale to summer visitors were two light hearted suggestions made at Monday’s meeting of Clovelly Parish Council during a long discussion on ways and means of meeting the outstanding balance of just over £40 on the Turnpike bus shelter.
The money is owed to two members of the Council – Mr J C Hilton an account for £52 0s 7d for supplying materials and to Mr J Cruse who, in his capacity as treasurer, paid a balance of £8

Clovelly Problem

Recent gales have built up a high, wide, bank of pebbles at Clovelly which has now crept around the end of the pier and is extending in the direction of Bucks Mills.
Anxious watch is being kept on this new ridge of pebbles because further movement in the direction of Bucks Mills will make it extremely difficult to launch Clovelly lifeboat especially at low water.
Coxswain William Braund said on Wednesday that the gales had built up a heap of small pebbles and shingle seven or eight feet high and extending in width from the end of the

Supreme champion and winner of three other challenge cups at Barnstaple and District’s Dairy Show last week was the four year old Ayrshire cow ‘Dairy Maid’ owned and bred by Mr K F Stanbury, of Downland Farm, Higher Clovelly.

The photograph shows Mr Stanbury with the champion while his father holds the trophies. ‘Diary Maid’ was one of the team of Ayrshires which won the breed championship at the show. She gave 11, 240lb of milk as a heifer and his now yielding 7½lb of milk a day in her second lactation.
At last year’s show she won a cup

Very noisy!

Children from Clovelly Primary School observing the village’s traditional Shrove Tuesday ‘land-sherd’ custom of dragging tin cans on string down the cobbled High Street.
The custom, long held in the village but of uncertain origin, aims at driving the devil away from the village for another 12 months with its boisterous noise.
Gazette article dated 16 March 1973

Sir – Rumour having been circulated that only certain wholesale buyers are able to obtain supplies from there, and if they were stopped the fish industry of Clovelly, Bideford and District would suffer, allow me to say that for the last 48 years I have travelled from Clovelly and Bucks to Bideford daily, that being my only source of income.

Since my husband died 16 years ago I have managed to keep my little business together, thereby being the means of supplying fish, etc. to the home of hundreds of working people. Two years ago my only assistance (an adopted son)

There were 17 tables in play at a whist drive, plus a dance, held at Clovelly Parish Hall in aid of the hall’s funds. 

Mr G Smith was the MC and Mr J J Headon the door steward. Mr Headon also presented the prizes, winners being: Mrs E Olde; Mrs Beard; Mrs Wonnacott; Mesdames J Shackson and A M Jones; Mrs T Squire; Mr J Scott; Mr D Bradford; Mr Mountjoy; Mrs L Rowe and Mr J Withecombe; Mr Heard.Draw winners were Messrs N Headon and S Nichols and Mesdames A Shackson and Howell. At the dance draw winners were Messrs Walter

Clovelly Couple’s Anniversary

It was a marriage without frills when 23 year old Mr Arthur Beer walked down the aisle and out of Clovelly Parish Church with his bride, Miss Ellen Grace Jewell.
The very next day Mr Beer was back at work again because, as he explained to a Bideford Gazette reporter: ‘We just couldn’t afford a honeymoon in those days’.
The couple were married on May 20 1908, by the then Rector, the late Rev Mr Simkins, and on Tuesday, which marked their golden wedding anniversary, they received numerous messages of congratulations.
Mr Beer was one of a

Over five-hundred mile have been covered by Clovelly Concert Party in their successful season which has just ended.

The high standard of their performances has won much praise from large audiences. Over 20 villages have been visited. Altogether the party raised £358 for various local organisations and they have given shows in an area roughtly bounded by Hartland, Welcombe, Bradworthy, Shebbear, Dolton, Ashreigney, Alverdiscott, Bideford, Abbotsham, Bucks Cross and Clovelly. Highest amount raised at any one parish was £39 16s 1d at Alverdiscott.
Gazette article dated 10 June 1947

Nearly 36 years ago a Clovelly man sailed the day after his marriage for a new life with his bride in New Zealand.

Now, back again in North Devon for the first time since, 68 year old Mr Jack Slee said he was ‘absolutely stunned’ at the present day prices of land and houses.
It was in October 1937, that Mr Slee sailed from this country with his wife, formerly Miss Winifred Hawkins, who came from Newton Poppleford and who had been governess at East Dyke, Clovelly, to the late Mr James Hilton’s children.
Mr Slee had been farming at

"Hullo, hullo, hullo" is what PC Graham Hoare, of Bideford, might well have said when he saw this sight in Clovelly's High Street.

"Just moving house, officer" might equally have been the reply.
It's no easy task moving furniture in Clovelly - the stepped High Street means sledges, not removal vans. And instead of horsepower, it's manpower.

Gazette article dated 10 May 1974

Capt A Sowman, secretary, receives on behalf of the Clovelly branch of the RNLI, a cheque for £500 from Group Capt I M Pedder, commanding RAF Chivenor. 

Funds came from the sale of Air Day postal covers sent with a Lundy stamp and postmarked with the British Forces Post Office post mark at Chivenor. The 11,000 issues commemorated the Chivenor rescue unit’s 5,000 emergency calls, many of them a combined operation. Clovelly lifeboat took the covers to Lundy and they were flown back to Chivenor by Flt Lieut Ralph Probert, commander of the unit. Copies were sold at 30p or 50p

The school had been very happy under her direction and had secured more places to other schools than in any previous year.

This was a tribute paid to Mrs A M Jones by Mr James Cruse, the senior school manager, when Mrs Jones, headmistress of Clovelly primary school, retired after eight years.
The Rector of Clovelly, Rev Dr G S Spinks, said it was an occasion of mingled regret and gratitude. The school owed much to Mrs Jones’s constant interest and effort.
The presentation was made by the Hon, Mrs Asquith, who said she was glad to know that,

After having been told by the chairman of the Parish Council, Mr J Prince: ‘Over the years we have been accused of dilly-dallying and it is time we reached a definite decision and acted upon it’, a Clovelly meeting on Tuesday gave the go-ahead for a parish hall.

It is nearly 20 years since the village decided that the hall should be built and playing field provided as a memorial to those who died in the war. But the project has been dogged by controversy about the most suitable site.
The late Hon. Mrs Asquith gave one at Yellary, but

There was considerable local interest in the wedding at All Saints’ Church, Clovelly, on February 18th, of Miss Edna M Cook, daughter of Mr and Mrs T Cook, Winsworthy, Higher Clovelly, and LAC William Hume, Royal Air Force, who has been serving at Gibraltar, eldest son of the late Mr Hume and Mrs Appleby, Manchester.

The bride, who has been working at the Saw Mills of Messrs J Dennis and Son, Ltd, Clovelly, is a member of an old and well known family and is very popular. There was a large congregation to witness the ceremony.
The Rev R P

At the annual lighting meeting, held at the New Inn, there was a fair attendance of villagers to hear the statement concerning village street lighting during the past year and consider future commitments.

Mr J C Hilton, Chairman of the Parish Council, presided and other attending including Mr Tridgell, local representative of the SW Electricity Board, and Mr Pickett, Clerk to the Parish Council.
It was reported that the total expenditure for the year was £52, this including the new light outside the Mount Pleasant which it was resolved to erect at the last annual meeting.
A precept for £55

45 Years with Clovelly Lifeboat

Clovelly Gleanings Meat Whist Drive - 17th March 1967

A meat whist drive held at the Parish Hall and organised by the Clovelly Liberal Association made over £11 profit.
M.C was Mr G Smith with 14 tables in play. Mr K Braund was door steward.
Prizes were presented by Mrs P Jones to: ladies - Mrs J Withecombe, Mrs M Robins, Mrs J Beer. Gents - Mr J Willcocks, Mrs Davis, Mr J Cottle. Consolotation prize winners were Mesdames S Squire, A Jeffrey, J Bragg, Messrs J Burrow, V Stoneman, Miss Sheila Frances. Draw winners were Michael Cook, Mrs A Shackson, Mrs