Here are some of the many personality items of general interest in a busy year (1958)

Mr R G Pomeroy, an Old Boy of Bideford Grammar School, became at 39 the youngest chairman in the history of the 10,000 strong Devon NFU; Sergeant R P Goad, of Bideford, was awarded the BEM for duties in Cyprus; Mr W A Chugg, of Bideford, returned from an American tour with greetings from Biddeford, Maine, USA; Mr F E Whiting retired from Bideford Town Council on which he had served for 31 years; Vice-Admiral Sir R Durnford-Slater of Instow, was appointed C-in-C, the Nore; Mrs M Seed retired after 22 years as headmistress of Bideford Church Infants’ School; a presentation was made to the Rev Father C Scanlan to mark his 25 years as RC parish priest at Bideford; Mr F C Backway, with over 50 years association with local government administration in Bideford, and Town Clerk since 1934, intimated he would be retiring in March for health reasons; Mr L B Galliford, Clerk to the Northam Urban Council, has been appointed to succeed Mr Backway; retirement gifts were made to Miss B Butterfield, principal for 34 years of the Kingsley Preparatory School at Westward Ho!; in May the island of Lundy welcomed the Queen Mother, who spent two hours on the island meeting its people and admiring its scenery; in autumn 700 members of Devon Federation of Women’s Institutes had their autumn rally at Westward Ho!; Mr E H Hopcraft retired after 60 years as hairdresser in Bideford; at Instow Show entries at over 1,200 were a record; international horsewoman Pat Smythe scored a double success at Bideford Horse Show.

During the year the death has occurred of a number of leading personalities in the district including: Rev G W Colborne, former Rector of Alwington; Capt C G C Sumner, Sea Cadet President and former Councillor; Mr J L Hinks, prominent churchman and Appledore boatbuilder; Mr R Boase, formerly for 21 years Town Clerk of Torrington; Mr E Lott, former member of Bideford Borough and Rural Councils; Ald W E Ellis, hon freeman of Bideford and for many years a leading member of the Town Council; Capt D V Doe of Abbotsham, leading members of the Home Guard; Miss M A Lemon, for over 65 years organist of Appledore Methodist Church; Mr J P Cork, of Weare Giffard, prominent farming personality; Sir Sven Hansen, former Bideford shipbuilder; Mr William Stacey, of Torrington, one of the founders of Torridge Vale Dairies (Devon) Ltd; and Lord and Lady Fortescue, of Filleigh, N Devon

Gazette article dated 2 January 1959