An Appledore Banksy?9 August 1952
Who painted this donkey on Appledore Park wall?
It seems a mystery, but perhaps a jovial fisherman taking time off from painting his boat dashed off this free and easy work of art as light relief.
No doubt there are many readers, including Appledorians, who have never seen this donkey for it is really only visible from the beach (hard and stoney here), the river and, with a pair of binoculars, from the Instow side of the river.
8 August 1952
More thoughtful piece of work3 March 1950
The Bideford Amateur Dramatic Society has always made a practice of taking its productions to neighbouring towns and villages and has recently completed a successful ‘season’ with its latest three-act production, Kenneth Horne’s ‘Yes and No’.
Besides two presentations in Bideford, the play has been given at Torrington, Hartland and Westward Ho! and enthusiastically received in each place.
Next week the Society will break new ground and present a programme of one-act plays in conjunction with the Barnstaple Dramatic and Operatic Society. This follows an invitation by the Barnstaple Society to participate in a joint programme which was given at the Foresters Hall, Barnstaple, on March 2nd.
The full Gazette article is dated 3 March 1950
Guest artistes6 October 1950
Grand Concert
Will be given at Bridge Street Methodist Church
On
Wednesday October 11th 1950
At 7pm
Chair to be taken by Councillor A K Chope (Deputy Mayor)
Guest Artistes:
Jan Van Der Gught, BBC Tenor
Ruth Davey Contralto (Torquay)
Supported by The full Methodist Circuit Choir
Conductor: Mr W R Blackmore
Solo Organ: Gordon Richards
Programmes 2/6 each. Collection.
Programmes obtainable at Messrs Chopes, Nicklins and Hannaford, East-the-Water PO
Proceeds in aid of circuit funds
Taught each other dances15 April 1977
Guests and hosts taught one another dances of their countries at a dinner-dance that was the highlight of a weekend visit to Northam by a party of a dozen from the twin towns of Mondeville.
The venue was the Port Quarter at Appledore where the chairman of the local committee, Mr Gordon Dell, thanked Mr Rupert Hill who arranged the visit. Mlle Lydie Coupard, who was paying her third visit, sang songs in English and French and music was provided by Terry Triggs and Larry Bignell.
The new Mayor of Mondeville and his wife were unable to make the visit but they were represented by their son, Mons Jean-Yves Gasnier.
Others in the group were Mons Bernard Henriot of the Mondeville Twinning Committee and Mons Bernard Pezaril.
The full Gazette article is dated 15 April 1977
Small audience due to inclement weather10 February 1950
An enjoyable concert was given at Bideford Grammar School on February 8th by the Bideford Ladies choir (conductor Edith Mills) and some pupils of Miss Mills.
The concert was in aid of the Bideford Music Club who, owing to the expense of the Oriana Madrigal Society’s visit, had been slightly down financially on the concert.
Unfortunately the inclement weather kept many away and there was only a small audience. Soloists in the choral sections were Mrs Tyreman and Mrs Green.
The pupils of Miss Mills who took part were Miss Gladys Prouse, Miss Christine Stephens and Mr Henry Thorne.
Miss Jennings and Mrs Blackmore were the accompanists.
The full Gazette article is dated 10 February 1950
Finest oboe player in the world24 February 1950
The concert presented by the Bideford Music Club on Sunday gave Bideford once again the opportunity of hearing the finest oboe player in the world.
The reputation of Leon Goossens is too well known to need any comment, and the full hall showed that his visit was much appreciated. His accompanist this time was Mabel Lovering, who also contributed a group of piano solos.
The next concert on March 19th will be something of a novelty for Bideford. It is a horn and clarinet quintet.
The full Gazette article is dated 24 February 1950
Trophy winners25 March 1977
Hartland Methodist Sunday school scored the highest number of points
at the Bude Methodist circuit youth eisteddfod
After the marks had been adjusted to take into account the differences between large and small Sunday schools in the circuit Hartland had 2,405 points. Second were Kilkhampton with 1,786 points and third Morwenstow with 1,515 points.
Winners of the trophies for most points in the senior section were Ian Petvin, of Bude, and Carolyn Vanstone, of Kilkhampton, Wendy Heard, Hartland won the trophy in the 9-11 years section and Dwayne Heard, also of Hartland, was runner up in the 12-14 years section to David Cleave. The trophy for the 6-8 years olds went to Kay Wise of Flexbury.
First prize winners from Hartland were: Dwayne Heard, Andrew Prouse, Lisa Manley, Tracey Thorne, Denis Short, Maria Prouse, and Wendy Heard.
The full Gazette article is dated 25 March 1977