November 1921

The first section reviewed this month was the small ads, and this is a selection of what was found: 

Situations vacant:

Mrs Mill, Crowbarn, Instow, wants an assistant for the farmhouse; T Woodyatt, High Street, Bideford, wants a smart youth as apprentice to Gent’s Outfitting; Mrs Bulkley, Cotfield House, Buckleigh, wants a cook-general; Abbotsham Parish Church wants a new organist, duties to commence in the New Year. 

They are not all local positions which made the volunteers at the Archive wonder why advertise in the Gazette? Do these people have second homes in this area? 

Ward, 3 Highfield, Exmouth, requires a cook-general aged between 20 and 25 years; Church of England preferred; Mrs Wilson, 10 Putney Hill, London SW15, wants a cook-general and a house parlourmaid. 

Looking even further afield, Australia has a severe shortage of labour, and experienced farm workers and young men under 25 who are accustomed to manual work can get reduced rates on steamship passages. 

Sales:

H Hinks Shipbreaking Yard, West Appledore, has pitch pine logs for sale, good for lighting fires; W J Wiley of Westward Ho! is selling a Rover car, 1913 model. It has been laid up from 1915 to 1919 and is painted green. Price - £255; Lady Hehir, 3 Nelson Terrace, Westward Ho! has two Irish Terrier puppies, 1 dog, 1 bitch, 10 weeks old. 5 guineas each; Mrs Sandercock, Ardmore, Northam, advertises pure bred White Wyandettee Cockerels, 5 months old, from 8 shillings each.

Messrs John Cock and Sons found an unusual item pertaining to the School of Grammar when moving stock.

In other news:

The death is recorded of Brigadier General Robert Napier Bray, CMG, DSO, who was wounded in the Great War and was educated at the United Services College, Westward Ho! More information on USC can be found HERE and about Brigadier General RN Bray, HERE

Mrs P L Squire of Bowood, Abbotsham, won 2 firsts with her cats at Croydon Championship Cat Show. There has been an epidemic of measles at one of the Appledore Infant Schools, which has been closed for 3 weeks on the orders of the Medical Officer of Health, Dr Francis. Miss Florence Kellaway and Mr Francis Moore are married in the United Methodist Church at Langtree:

Harold J H Moore, Polkinghorne, Weare Giffard, has passed his First Mate’s steamship certificate for foreign-going.

Armistice Day has been marked around the region. Sales of Flanders Poppies in Northam raised £4-13-8d. The organiser was T G Parsons. Flower remembrances were laid on the War Memorial at Hartland, the labels naming those local men who were lost. In Clovelly a wreath of laurels and flowers was placed into the sea by the Chief Coastguard Officer W Searle.

In the first mention of a name which will become very familiar, it is announced that the Reverend Hugh S Muller will be instituted into the living of Appledore in the New Year.

Two lifeboat stories

Around 9.30pm one Saturday night, the “Jane Hannah Macdonald” was launched in response to the sighting of flares or fire. There was a strong northerly breeze and a heavy sea running. At first it was thought that a coastal vessel or steamer was in trouble, but it was discovered that an old wreck that had been on the pebble ridge for a year had been set on fire. The lifeboat crew was commended for their smart response but it is hoped that the originators of the fire realise the seriousness of their mistake. More information on this vessel can be found HERE and HERE

The ketch “Annie” was on her way to Bideford in the early morning, coming from Lydney with a cargo of coal for Messrs How & Co. As she waited for the tide to cross the Bar, she was caught in a fierce North Westerly wind and lost part of her gear. She wrecked on the South Tail of the Bar and was quickly submerged. Captain George May, 50, a native of Westleigh but living at Higher Gunstone, was washed overboard. The mate H B Linscott of Hyfield, Bideford, and seaman S R Daniel of Appledore clung to the rigging and were rescued by the lifeboat. The body of Captain May was washed up shortly after at Westward Ho! and in spite of the best efforts of coastguards and a nurse could not be revived. A painting of the ketch can be seen HERE

Two stowaways, Raphral Fogt and Paolo Catania, were apprehended after landing from a ship in Appledore port. 

Bideford’s new mayor is Councillor H Willett A Huxham, who succeeds Councillor J U Fulford. The new mayor is not a Bideford native but has lived there for most of his life.

 

November 1971

Final hoistings to the top of the giant bonfire at the old bowling green vantage point on the Commons, which Torrington Cavaliers have constructed to break the record they set up last year. Tonight the blazing of the 80ft bonfire will be seen for miles around. IT is expected that a crowd of several thousands will assemble near it, to herald the making of a new entry in the Guinness Book of Records, and to enjoy also a fireworks display and fun.  

 The 18 Amphibian Squadron RCT, with its distinctive DUKW vehicles, is to disappear from Fremington in North Devon.  

A stiff-backed exercise book kept in the cupboard of the left-hand side of the kitchen fireplace at Hill Farm, St Giles-in-the-Wood, records in detail the successes at Westcountry shows which have helped put 50 year old Mr Bert Guard and his wife Ivy among the top flight of sheep exhibitors in this part of the country. Mr and Mrs Guard moved to Hill Farm from Atherington nine years ago and on the 134 acres plus 25 more in the village they have about 150 registered pure Dorset Downs in addition to followers. They also have about 30 Friesians in milk as well as followers, about 60 animals altogether. 

The country residence known as Heale House, in Littleham, is for sale by auction at the New Inn, Bideford. 

A memorial plaque to the late Rev Alfred E Green, minister of Northam Congregational Church for 52 years, was dedicated at the church by Pastor J Russell after being unveiled by Mrs E J Allen, of Orchard Lodge, Northam. At the service, tribute was paid to the association with Congregationalism in Northam by the Littlejohns family. Begun during last century by Mr and Mrs Caleb Littlejohns, it has been continued by their children and subsequently by their grandchildren - the present generation. Mr Henry A Littlejohns (seen in photo) has been voluntary organist of the church for 60 years. He is also treasurer of the church and a deacon, and two years ago presented the church with a piano. Tribute was also paid to the late Mr E Allen and to Mrs Allen for their gifts to the church, including the stained glass window presented in 1949 in tribute to the Rev A E Green on the 30th anniversary of his ministry. 

An army of 200 moved into Bideford to begin the final stages of converting some 4,000 homes and factories to natural gas. Within the next four weeks they will deal with around 10,000 appliances in Bideford and district and Torrington. But things did not get off to too good a start in Bideford because some consumers had ignored appeals to permit unhindered access. Mainly trouble was experienced with holiday accommodation. 

Did you buy your Christmas groceries from Empire Stores in Westward Ho! A bottle of sherry for 98p and Christmas puddings, 15p.

A planned under-cover entertainment centre is proposed for Westward Ho! and a sports complex at Burrough Farm. 

Yet another good turn at Shebbear. Bellringers of Shebbear in action on Friday night when the ancient ceremony of turning the Devil's boulder in the Square was observed, an annual event which is supposed to ensure good fortune (or at least prevent ill-fortune) for the parish in the year ahead. The rite was this year turned into a 'folk feast' with a series of supporting events, arranged by Mr David Kirkham on behalf of the Beaford Centre, in consultation with the Parish Council 

All 63 children at Woolsery primary school had to be evacuated when fire broke out in the school kitchen and Mr Cyril Griffiths took advantage of the occasion to stage a practice fire drill. 

 Mr John Doyle, a Westward TV personality, drew crowds of many hundreds to St Margaret's School, Northam, on Saturday, when he opened a Christmas Fair organised by the Parent-Teacher Association. As a result of his presence and the hard work of helpers in preparing the Fair over £150 was raised for the Swimming Pool Fund. One of the main attractions was an early visit by Father Christmas under the auspices of Mr Leslie Smale. Winners of the 'Crazy Hats' were Richard Fakherai, Christopher Clarke, Richard Hall, Sharon Read, Janice Bridgman and Leigh Rundle. 

It was meet the people day for Royal Duke. Children from Bideford schools were among the crowds to greet Prince Philip as he drove through on his way to Appledore. Informality characterised the visit to Appledore of the Duke of Edinburgh and that means that many people will be able to boast of the day when "Prince Philip spoke to me". And judging from the fact that at one stage he was 25 minutes behind his programme of touring the boatyard of Messrs J Hinks and Son and the yards of Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd, he not only gave a number of people the thrill of a lifetime, but he thoroughly enjoyed himself also. 

When Torrington photographer Mr Jock Ogden became blind he at first thought that not only his job but his hobby of fishing had come to an end. But he was determined to conquer limitations imposed by his misfortune, and at Torrington Angling Club's dinner it was revealed how triumphantly he had done so. He received the trophy for landing the most trout during the season. With the aid of his son to tell him the direction of the river for casting he caught over 60 prime trout. At the dinner the Mayor of Torrington, Mr Harold Pollard, congratulated the club and winners - and found himself holding two of the trophies to help the winners pose for the photograph. 

There was brisk business at Instow School PTA Christmas Fayre, held in aid of the Swimming Pool Fund, at the Village Hall. 

Bideford Grammar School's XV, pictured before a recent match, have been having a mixed season as far as results are concerned. Pictured are - W Hocking, M Mander, B Trigger, D Holwill, R Hayward, T Law, K Petherbridge, R Hulme, C Benson, P Cooper, D Short, A Green, M Maynard, S Blackburn and L Pittwood. 

November 1996

Rain causes flash floods. Heavy rain brought flash flooding to North Devon on Sunday. Workmen were called out to deal with water across the North Devon Link Road near the Bray viaduct, at Golf Links Road, Westward Ho! and on the approach to the Torridge Bridge. 

David Curry, paid a flying visit to the AMP of Great Britain factory in Bideford. The Government Minister for the South West was shown around by plant manager Gerald Kanteen and other executives. AMP employs more than 450 people at the Bideford plant, which is its largest site in the UK. The factory produces products for the aerospace, automative, computer, consumer and transportation industries. It is part of the global AMP Incorporated, which is based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Last month, the factory won its corporation's award for business excellence at gold level. 

The Fremington based Children's Hospice South West has launched its own piece of maritime history. In the grounds of Little Bridge House a special version of John Cabot's historic vessel The Matthew set sail for the first time to provide playground adventures for the youngsters. The playboat was officially launched by David Alan-Williams who next spring will skipper a modern day replica of The Matthew on a 2,000 mile journey from Bristol to Newfoundland. It was the appearance of the replica as a feature of the Festival of the Sea earlier this year which prompted the playboat scheme. Newfoundland dogs owned by members of the Newfound Friends charity group were chosen as the ship's mascots. And they aimed their charity fundraising towards providing a much needed outdoor play facility for Little Bridge House. The wooden structure has been built by Lee Burley of South Molton, who also worked on the building of Little Bridge House. In launching the structure Mr Alan-Williams noticed it had no crow's nest - so has promised to bring the one from The Matthew replica in Bristol. More information on Little Bridge House can be found at THIS LINK and The Matthew, HERE

Protesters delight. Torrington stink protesters have been delighted by the early response to their mass letter lobby of MPs and MEPs. Last week every Member of Parliament and every Euro-MP received a copy of the Torrington Action Group's letter calling for support in ending the smell from Peninsular Proteins meat rendering plant. Organiser Margaret Brown reported a 'terrific response' with 200 replies dropping through her letter box. 

Which events can you support in November?

Bideford College presents the Sound of Music and taking part are Emma Tanner, Ian Evans, Michelle Berry and Kelly Hotchkiss. 

Properties at Orchard Rise in Bideford are available to buy.