The news in December 1965
Many vehicles are bogged down on New Road hill in Torrington as the area is hit by a sudden snow storm. No chance of doing 30mph! Fortunately the snow did not last long.
Mr John Jeffery, of Hartland, went to a reception in London to receive the award for his prizewinning entry in the Week-end Telegraph photographic contest. He was accompanied by his wife. Mr Jeffery took first prize in the black and white landscape section with his study of Lake Wallensee, Switzerland. A camera worth £150 was the prize.
A new £150,000 factory making Swedish glass is expected to be in production at Winkleigh by 1966. Col. Jack Oliver, who is the North Devon Project Officer for the Dartington Hall Trustees said: ‘An application has gone to the Board of Trade for a grant under the Local Employment Act towards the project’s cost.’ Dartington Hall Trustees are building the factory as an initial venture on the industrial side in their scheme to foster craftsmanship in rural areas of Devon. The making of Swedish glass is a specialised industry and about 20 skilled workers will be coming over to this country next year to form the nucleus of the factory staff and to teach English workers. Col. Oliver said that a five-acre site at the Torrington end of the disused Winkleigh aerodrome had been selected as the site.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government has upheld the refusal of Torrington Town Council to permit Mrs H M Ashley to erect two houses in a field off Gas Lane, Torrington.
Did you buy your Christmas drinks from Applegates in the High Street, Bideford?
The Mayor of Bideford, Mrs Ethelwynne Brown, opens Appledore’s Seamen’s Mission annual sale of work and gift day, which raised £150. Mandy Lamey presented the Mayor with a bouquet of flowers and Mandy Clements, a corsage to the Mayoress. There was brisk business on the well-stocked stalls which were managed by Mrs A Mountjoy, Mrs E Godbold, Mrs E Smith, Mrs E Hallett jnr, Mrs Hallett snr. Mrs D Cox, Mrs C Griffiths, Mrs Guegan, and Miss Mary Williams. Mesdames A Bowden, Heddon, Moss and Hannah Bennett were responsible for teas.
Mr Reg and Ethel Parsons of Eastwood celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Their only son, Geoffrey, his wife and two children, live at 3 Alverdiscott Road. Mr and Mrs Parsons have lived at Eastwood for 43 years and he breeds a herd of Ayrshires. They bought Port Chapel in 1937 and he says ‘I’m the Parson with a church but no congregation’.
At Parkham WI, the retiring president, Mrs Tucker was thanked by Mrs J E Lynn, and Mrs L Dunn was elected president. Other committee members elected are Mrs Dendle, Mrs Pickard, Mrs W Westlake, Mrs Dack, Mrs Clinch and Miss Jewell.
A profit of £37 was made at a sale organised by Clovelly’s Mothers’ Union of All Saints Church. Stall holders were: Mrs Tridgell, Mrs Johns, Miss Brownhill, Mrs Abbott, Miss Webb, Mrs T Westlake, Mrs Jones, Mrs J Jennings, Mrs J J Headon. Mrs Eppingstone, Mrs J Westlake, Mrs J Burrow and Mrs Stanier. Later in the month, the Women’s Institute celebrated its golden jubilee with the birthday cake being cut by Mrs J Cruse.
Seventy five keen anglers waded into the Westward Ho! surf to take part in Bideford Angling Club’s five-hour Christmas competition which was won by Mr Jack Castle. Sam Baglow took second prize with Messrs Micky Joy, Cyril Petherick and R Alexander picking up smaller prizes. Dr D S Valentine made the presentations.
Did you get your Christmas gifts from Stephens Sports in the High Street. Did you rent your television from Aclands Television in Chingswell Street?
Contact Mrs Chubb for that special dinner with log fires and candle-light Foxdown Manor at Parkham. Or try the Market Guest House at 2 Buttgarden Street for traditional Xmas fare.
Accompanied by senior members and officers, the president of Weare Giffard and Landcross WI, Mrs Maxwell cuts the cake at the party held by the institute at the Village Hall to celebrate the jubilee of the WI movement. A sit-down meal was followed by entertainment, and a very happy evening was spent.
Mr W E Brooks, of Pusehill, Westward Ho! has been appointed the new chairman of Bideford branch of the National Farmers’ union. Mr Brooks spent much of his life at East Browns, Langtree.
A whist drive was held at Clovelly to raise funds for a Christmas party for the junior children of the village. Mr T Ashwood was door steward and the Rev R O H Eppingstone was MC. Prizes were given by Mrs Ken Cook to Mrs F Short, Miss Spanswick, Mrs L Littlejohns, Mrs J Pyne, Mrs Hesketh, Mrs B Heard, Mr J Stoneman, Mrs F May, Mrs H Braund, Mr N Headon, Mrs L Rowe, Mrs G Smith, Mrs A Jeffrey, Mrs K Braund, Mrs P Shackson, Mrs Lockett, Miss P Braund, Mrs W Upton, Mr P Smith, Mr S Nicholls, Mr V Stoneman and Mr Adams.
Braddicks Elizabethan Club please their customers by opening for lunches and dinner over the Christmas period. Miss Joanne Westcott will be appearing throughout Christmas. And later that month, spending over £60,000, Braddicks Holiday Centre will give a Swedish look to part of Westward Ho! It is a far cry from the day in 1930 when the late Mr Hobart Braddick bought some old buses and converted them into accommodation.
To celebrate the WI golden jubilee, Frithelstock WI held a tree planting ceremony and coffee morning. The planters were Mr S Squire, Mr J Allin and Mrs A Hearn. Mrs Reynolds is re-elected as President.
Long service certificates have been presented to ‘Poppy’ sellers at Hartland by Brig. J M Hepper, County deputy vice-chairman of the British Legion, who was carrying out his first duty in that capacity. The certificates recognised service of ten years or more and were presented to – Mrs Watson, Mrs Pengilly, Mrs L Littlejohns, Mrs H Prouse, Mr R Johns, Mrs Headon and Mrs G Vanstone.
Mrs Mary Crombie, head of Northam Primary School, and Mrs Elsie Smith, head of Monkleigh Primary School, are retiring. The latter taught at Buckland Brewer for 13 years before moving to Monkleigh in 1955. Mr and Mrs Smith now live at Fulman Cottage at Bank End, Bideford. Mrs Crombie’s successor is Mr George Harrison. Mrs Elsie Smith was presented with gifts by Mrs H Beer, Leon May, Sandra Daniels, Paul Sanders and Caroline Tanton.
The staff and residents of the Torridge View Welfare Home at Torrington held a Christmas Fair at the Home and raised £68.
Torrington Hospital cannot open because it needs another midwife. Dr C F R Briggs, Medical Officer, said that the establishment could not function with fewer than three midwives.
The highlight of the December meeting of Westward Ho! WI was a nativity play produced by Mrs Pope. Winners of the monthly competition were Mrs Pope, Mrs May and Miss Gaunt. A new member, Mrs D Reece, was welcomed by Mrs Walters.
The death of Mr Studley Harold Jenn was announced. He was the eldest surviving son of the late Mr and Mrs J Y Jenn of 2 Myrtle Grove, Bideford, and was one of seven brothers who served in the first world war.
Have an old fashioned egg-nog at Tanton’s Hotel, and be entertained by Jack Brooks and his music.
Northam Over-60s Club held a dinner at Kenwith Castle Country Club with turkey featuring on the menu.
Yeo’s of Bideford announces its winter sale which commences Saturday, January 1st, 1966. They can be found at Manchester House, Chingswell Street/North Road.
St. Michael's Parish Church at Torrington raised about £100 for funds with a Christmas fayre at the Town Hall. The Countess of Orford opened the event. Stallholders were Mesdames W Hoare, R Dennis, C R Popham, J Heard, M Coombe, H B Bromhead, J Sweet, G Norman, R Long, L Eastmond, L S Hutchings, J Nicholls, B Finnamore, E Edworthy, K Blight, V Sanders, G Kelly, K Gordon, W Weeks, K Vodden, W Oke, Messrs W Webber, J Barker, R Mitchell, A Mitchell, B Mitchell, M Beer, Mrs P G Harrison, Misses Kay Mitchell, F Grantham, F Gordon, L Mathews and W Plucknett.
Mr and Mrs Jim Harding, of Greenacres bungalow, at Halspill, Weare Giffard, celebrate their golden wedding. Mr Harding, a blacksmith, retired seven years ago, having taken over his father’s business in North Road in 1921. Two of his five sons, Peter and Bill, now run the business. Until a few months ago, Mr Harding was the greenkeeper at the Torrington golf course, and his younger days he rowed for Bideford Blues and Reds. Mr and Mrs Harding raised five sons and a daughter, all of whom are married. Jack is an art teacher in Surrey; Dennis lives at Exeter; Norman is in New Zealand; Peter and Bill live in Bideford; and Marie lives at Bridport. There are 12 grandchildren.
It was a special occasion for East-the-Water School when the Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford, Mrs E J Brown and Mrs L B Galliford, Police Inspector D Cowling and Mr H Salisbury, visited for the presentation of a trophy won by the school team in the inter-schools road safety quiz. The headmaster, Mr H J Mather, is in the photograph, and the winning team comprised John West, Richard Leach, John Balfour and Peter Hannam.
Did you win a prize for best dancers on the floor at the New Year’s Eve Beat Dance at Appledore Hall with the ‘Fabulous ‘Lektrons’?
Littleham WI marked the golden jubilee of the movement by presenting a clock to the Parish Hall and were thanked by Mr Fred Clements. Mr I Olins fixed the clock. A new committee was elected with the following selected – Mrs D Hill, Mrs J Rawle, Mrs L Hedden, Mrs W Johns, Mrs A Palmer, Mrs E Cook, Mrs G Barrow, Mrs M Hockin and Mrs B Bissett.
Weare Giffard was hard hit by flooding and was virtually cut off for hours. Mr J Horrell of the Buckingham Arms reported over two feet of water and Mrs Trathen of Quay Cottages is very frustrated.
Woolsery Liberals held a social in the Village Hall with the prospective candidate, Mr Tony Lacey, speaking. Prize winners were: Miss Bailey, Andrew Jenn, Mrs Willocks, Mrs F Daniel, Mr R Chapple, Miss D Dark, Mrs C Wonnacott, Cholwill and Miss Tolley. There was a large congregation at Woolsery Parish Church when the Anglicans and Methodists held a united service, conducted by Rev S R Northmore. Lessons were read by Messrs Brian Crocker, Raymond Peard, Peter Andrew, Brian Wonnacott, Gordon Lott and John Raffe, Mrs Northmore and Gillian Raffe. The organist was Mr C B Griffiths.
Torrington garage proprietor Mr Nick Rowe has ‘arrived’. More information on his success can be found HERE
Did you meet Father Christmas at Diwells of Fore Street?
Mr Philip Cann’s pigeons won him a loft full of cups and awards last season, and was congratulated by Mrs Ron Littlejohns.
Copp’s Close, Bideford, was officially opened as a ‘show piece’ old people’s estate, and provides first class accommodation.
Plenty of golfers teed off on in Royal North Devon Golf Club competitions. Players included A J H Payne Cook, N M Stephens, Ken Whitfield, David Pennington, Wes Floyd, B J Youngman, T E Crawley, R Crawley, M Elliott, C Clark, B J Colome, T W Blaney, E Davis, G Harris, G Day, J W Ward, C C Lowry, W J Gale, W R Newcombe, R Wadham, I C Waldeck, J P Phillips, F C Meadows, F H Way and B Wilman.
