Complaint

Kingsley Hall was sadly lacking in educational facilities, complained Mr W E Powell at the annual meeting of Westward Ho! Community Association held in the hall.

“A community association such as this should serve the whole population” he said, “The community centre should provide facilities for both the elderly and the young”. 

The retiring membership secretary, Mrs N Dale, commented that the association had done everything possible to persuade people to attend lectures held in the hall.

“We have 200 members in the association” remarked Mr A Eagle, caretaker of the hall, “It is a poor look-out when we get only 29% for this annual meeting. We must give people a good idea of what we are doing” he urged.

The president, Mr A C Feron, said that the exterior of the hall had been given a new look for the first time since 1949.

Successful inception of the Westward Ho! youth club was perhaps the most important achievement of the year, reported the chairman, Mr H A Gibbs. The club, began under the leadership of Mr Jeff Lawrence, who was succeeded by Mr R Clark.

Concerning the ban on stiletto heels, Mr Gibbs explained "The association went to great expense to supply a really good floor, one of the best in North Devon, and it is most disheartening to see it being ruined by these nail-like heels. We trust the fashion will be short-lived but in the meantime we do appeal to women to have some consideration and to refrain from wearing shoes which cause so much serious damage."

The treasurer, Mr Eric Westoby, reported a credit balance.

Officers elected: Mr A C Feron, Mrs D Hudson, Mrs A E Powell.

The full Gazette article is dated 4 May 1962