100 Years Ago - August 1921
The memorial stones for the new Edgehill College building have been laid, just over twelve months since the catastrophic fire. The names of those laying the stones and a full account of the ceremony can be found in the Bideford Gazette of 9 August.
A strong south westerly breeze made the water very choppy for the rowing events at the Instow and Appledore regatta, but provided fast times for the sailing boats; it also provided good entertainment for the large crowds watching from both banks of the river.
The heavy seas in the first week of August have made considerable inroads in the direction of Westward Ho! Pleasure Ground. (Does anyone know exactly where this was?)
Tenders are invited for printing and selling the official programme for the Bideford Regatta and Sports, which will take place on 31 August.
After a long dry spell over an inch of rain fell on Parkham, benefitting the late root crops and the grass.
Several Devon natives now resident in Canada have travelled home for a visit. These include Mr & Mrs Lewis Quicke from Black Torrington, Mr & Mrs Copp from Merton and Mr & Mrs Greenslade from Bideford.
Holsworthy Council is erecting six council cottages in Exhibition Fields. These have been allocated to ex-servicemen at a rent of 7s 6d a week exclusive of rates.
The licence of the Grand Hotel, Appledore, has been transferred from George Sale to Mrs Elizabeth Oatway who was formerly the landlady of the Champion of Wales.
Chars-a-Bang trips running from the offices of R Dymond & Son, 19-20 Broad Quay, Bideford.
On Bank Holiday Monday over 2000 visitors came to Bideford, over half of them from Torrington.
Jan Stewer, the local dialect writer and speaker (impersonated by Mr A J Coles) entertained full houses on two nights at Bideford Church Institute, keeping the audiences laughing for the full two hours.
R Blackmore & Sons have received instructions to sell Ferndale, Westward Ho!. it is described as being close to the sands, club and Church, and within easy reach of the Golf Course. The house is in the occupation of Miss Horrell, who leaves on 9 November. It comprises 9 bedrooms, a butler’s pantry, two kitchens and wine and coal cellars.
3 hay ricks were found on fire at Chiddlecombe Farm, Fairy Cross, property of Mr Wicketts. 5 other ricks were preserved. Bideford’s new steam fire engine attended but could not be used due to the lack of a water supply.
The clock in Lundy Church tower, which has been out of order since the start of the war, has now been put right. It chimes every quarter of an hour and strikes every hour. Also on Lundy, there is, at present, a plentiful supply of mackerel.
Walter J Pitt is advertising cars for sale - a Star Landaulette for £145, the latest model of a Ford Touring Car for £220 and a Straker-Squire lorry for £375.
50 Years Ago - August 1971
Bideford Regatta Week announces its Grand Carnival Procession and seeks individual or group collectors (in fancy dress if desired).
Hartland's carnival fairy queen is Alison Pengilly, supported by her attendants, Ann Ferguson and Lisa Manley. Mr Arthur Pridham led the Hartland Carnival Procession, driving his 1934 Merryweather Fire Engine, which was back at the start before the last of the 24 floats had started. Seven local clubs each organised one night and the week raised £650.
Christine Pickett is the outstanding girl police cadet of the Bristol City Force, and Jill Bosher qualifies as a dental surgery assistant - both ladies have parents who live in Northam. Ian Downie passes out as a Craft Apprentice and will be posted to RAF Chivenor.
Northam Urban Council agreed to make an instant preservation order on six trees in Limers Lane, Northam, because they were 'somewhat threatened' by certain building operations. Mr J W Bastin, headmaster of Torrington County Secondary School, wins a fight with planners to save a well-known local landmark, a monterey pine tree. The tree stands on the boundary of Mr Bastin's garden at Enfield, Warren Lane.
Bideford and North Devon Conservatives held a Donkey Derby which 2,000 people attended at Bideford Sports Ground. A donkey sponsor, Mr David Pennington, owner of the New Inn, received a prize of a dinner at the Royal Inn, and Mrs V. McDougall was the winner of the challenge Sulky race against Mrs Carol Woolf.
Mr Ivor Jones, of Copps Close in Bideford, who is the secretary of Bideford and District Skittles League, has a rude awakening at 11.55pm.
Councillor James Martin, at a Torrington Town Council meeting, declares that people are travelling from a distance to look at the most artistic toilet block in the country. 
When Mr Stuart David Smithson married Miss Linda Joy Horsman, the members of Torrington first company of Cavaliers provided an escort. The couple will live in Torrington.
After a long campaign by the Northam Urban District Residents' Association, Mr Terry Rocke, its Chairman, is assured that work is to start on an extension to Northam health centre and on the provision of parking facilities for the general public 'as soon as possible'.
Bideford Rural Council sets a rent of £2.01 for 6 new bungalows with heating, designed for old people at Buckland Brewer. A petition for safety measures at Clovelly Road has been sent to Councillor Mrs D Morgan from the tenants of the Bowden Green and Grenville Estates. The matter was referred to the Highways Committee.
A record amount is raised by local flag days on behalf of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Appledore, Bideford, Instow, Northam, Torrington and Westward Ho! all contributed.
25 Years Ago - August 1996
People walking along the seafront at Instow can rest awhile on a seat put there in memory of an old dog that loved to romp on the beach. Rebel, a 12-year-old German Shepherd, came many times from Surrey with the owners, the Slough-Cackett family, who had rescued him. "He love it, running into the sea and jumping for joy. He was so intelligent he always started barking when the car got to Fremington. He knew the beach was near." Instow Parish Council organised the seat and Pridham of Bideford supplied the dedication plate which says 'In memory all the dogs that have ever walked on Instow Beach and in particular of Rebel.... Sit here in peace and enjoy the view that, unlike us, goes on for ever.'
Plans for Yelland Power Station - Local residents and campaigners propose that that the "asbestos" site be made safe and fenced off to become a wildlife reserve; the area outside the fence to be made accessible to walkers; and a nearby derelict site to be turned into a village green. "We have sounded out local opinion over many years and the overwhelming feeling is that the safest and only sensible way forward is to leave the asbestos site undeveloped. Experts we have consulted have also expressed this opinion" said spokeswoman Joanne Bell.
Bideford Ladies Bowling Club has won the Devon County Competition, beating Culm Vale of Cullompton in the finals. The victorious club members are Pat Moores, Gill Hillman, Gill Bale, Janet Tithecott, Barbara Bissett, Rosie Jewell, Julie Horn, June Marsh, Margaret Nelson, Barbara Jeffrey, Helena Bruton, Eileen Pickard and Ivy Underhill.
Appledore's carnival organised by Appledore Pirates, sets sail from its traditional launch point in Tomouth Road. Leading the way will be carnival queen Rebecca Stevens and her attendants Kirsty Day and Samantha Benham.
Thousands of people on Torrington Commons watched as its mock 17th century church went up in flames in aid of local charities. The church was torched as the climax of a weekend which recreated the Battle of Torrington in 1646. More than 6,000 people paid about £20,000 in gate money to see the church set on fire and the grand fireworks display that followed it. Thousands more had watched the battle re-created by armies of Roundheads and Cavaliers - members of the Sealed Knot society - and enjoyed a host of other linked activities around the town.
A coachload of 'Torrington stink' protestors made their presence felt in London in a bid to catch the ears of Parliament and the eyes of the national media. With them went not only placards and slogan bearing tee-shirts but a huge stinking lily and the Torrington town crier in full regalia. Organiser Margaret Brown carried with her a petition of nearly 2,000 names. She wa dressed as a huge Titan arum lily with her message "Why go to Kew. For the smell why not come to Torrington." The Torrington residents are pursuing long running complaints about the smell emanating from the Peninsula Proteins rendering plant on the outskirts of their town.
Bideford is advertising 3 days of fun at its 'Midsummer Madness and Water Festival' 9-11 August.
Fifty years after the loco "Bideford" was named at Bideford Station, the name plate was taken on a ride on a pump trolley through the station on the annual open day of Bideford Railway Group.
The hosepipe and sprinkler restrictions are lifted by South West Water.
