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 noblest thing in our lives is to respect and treasure the roots from which we sprang. The older we get the more we look back with nostalgia and with pride to the town or county in which we spent our childhood years and where we imbibed those great traditions which made Bideford great, which inspired Sir Richard Grenville in his heroic fight, and which made the name of England great and feared and respected throughout the world’.
Mr Cecil Arthur, chairman of the London Bidefordian Society, acknowledging paid special tribute to ‘the few’ and especially to Mr Stanley Bowen and the late Mr Fred Sanguine, for their help over the past half-century. Advancing years and ill-health had prevented some of their eight surviving original members from coming they were delighted to welcome 92 years young Mrs A Braunton, her daughter Miss D Braunton, and Mr Cameron Dark. Present in spirit only were Mr and Mrs Bowen, Mr and Mrs Mawer and Mr Alfred Waldon. They also had with them Mrs L D Knight (Miss Helen Boyles) who sang for them at their first function.
They were grateful to Mr M F Lee for the gift of 100 copies of ‘Songs and Verses’ by Vernon Boyle, author of ‘The Little White Town’ published by his father Mr Frederick Lee in 1927. The fact that they had Mrs Nunn (granddaughter of Mr Vernon Boyle) and Cllr P J V Fulford (son of Mr Phil Fulford, who first sand ‘The Little White Town’) present, was a happy coincidence.
They were delighted to have their president, the Mayor of Bideford, with them, and also, for the Chairman of Northam Council, Col M P Ansell (chairman of British Show Jumping Association) and Mrs Ansell, the Town Clerk of Bideford (Mr L B Galliford) and Cllr W E Congdon (former hon. treasurer).
Sir Barnett Cocks said he was proud to think that the doctor who administered at his birth at Bideford was a godson of Charles Kingsley, the late Dr Charles Kingsley Ackland. In praise of the work of Bideford Town Council, Sir Barnett recalled how they had purchased the manorial rights, and in 1928 secured the restoration of title ‘Port of Bideford’.
The Mayor of Bideford, who announced a telegram of good wishes from the Queen in reply to their message of loyal greetings, touched on the main happenings and sport successes during the year, and recalled how during the big freeze up of last winter emergency water taps had to be placed in the streets at a time when the Torridge was an amazing sight being completely covered with pack ice.
During the dinner, Mr A E Eastman sang ‘The Little White Town’ and ‘The lads that are away’ and the evening developed merrily with social exchanges, dancing and cascading coloured balloons.
Excellent arrangements were made by Mr D J Taylor and Mr Gerald H Backway.

A large section of those attending: Mr M F Lee (editor, Bideford Gazette), Mrs Ansell, Col M P Ansell, Cllr P J V Fulford, Mis sP Symons, Sir Barnett and Lady Cocks, Mr Ashe Lincoln, Mrs and Mr C M Arthur, Mrs L Moore, Mrs Knight, Mrs A Braunton, Miss D Braunton, Mr Cameron Dark.

The full Gazette article is dated 25 October 1963