The news in December 1982
3 December 1982
Richard Bowden of Torridge Road, Appledore, is not out of place in a practical flower arranging class organised by Bideford and District Cacti and Pot Plant Club. Together with the club secretary, Michael Avis, Richard has just completed the first year of the course.
Because Desmond Emeny, of Odun Road, Appledore, felt that existing books explaining his hobby of putting model ships in bottles were too complicated, he decided to have a go at writing his own. He hopes the book when finished will make the delicate hobby easier to understand by the ‘man in the street’. Desmond took up the hobby three years ago. Not surprisingly the traditional ketches and schooners that were once regular visitors to Appledore have provided inspiration for Desmond but the fore and aft style of rigging used on these vessels is not as big a challenge in model making as square rigged ships. It is not just bottles that Desmond has used as containers for the hundred or so ships he has made – he has even managed to put one ship in a light bulb.
At Hartland Methodist Church’s annual Sankey evening £87 was raised for church funds. Visitors were the Bideford Town Mission Men’s Group with soloist Mrs Kelly and the Gospel-Aires from Chilworthy. After singing, the large congregation had supper. A concert by the Hartland Male Voice Choir raised £82 for the funds of Hartland Emergency Local Project. A jumble sale in aid of Hartland Methodist Church funds raised £129.44.
Mr and Mrs Seed celebrate 60 years of marriage after meeting at a fancy dress ball. It is as a teacher that Mrs Seed, who lives at Rectory Park, Bideford, will best be remembered locally as she was headmistress of the former Bideford Church Infancts School. The couple’s son, John Seed, has recently returned to the this area. There are two grandchildren – Paul who is an actor, and Petra who has recently sold one of her embroidery works to Dana. Mrs Ella MacGregor, Mrs Seed’s sister, will be joining them for the celebration dinner.
Sixty two ships in under 13 years. There were no hitches as the 62nd ship to be built in Appledore Shipbuilders’ giant covered yard since it was opened in April 1970 slipped slowly out on Sunday. The Tankerman, built for Rowbotham Tankships, of London, is the biggest ship ever produced there. “Everything went off fine” said managing director Mr Joe Ball.
Torridge District Council is looking for new headquarters in Bideford.
10 December 1982
More than £200 was raised at a Christmas fair at Woolsery’s newly revamped village hall for renovation work which has been carried out at Woolsery Methodist Church. The fair was opened by the Mayoress of Bideford, Mrs Bill Wills, and a slide show was given by Mr J Downes.
Appledore’s war memorial will be cleaned up in the next four months. Northam Council have awarded a contract to a Bideford firm. The work, which will include the re-enamelling of raised letters, will cost the council £204.
Mr Bill Webber, 80, of Torrington, who has retired after 10 years’ service as the town’s beadle, has been presented with a shield showing Torrington’s coat of arms by Torrington Town Council.
A substantial Victorian residence in Appledore is for sale. All offers now considered.
The Braund Society has grown. Mr Cyril Braund, of Northam, set up the Society earlier in 1982 and has worldwide membership. He has met descendants of Grace Braund, who was born in Clawton, and who married a James Webb, producing nine children and emigrating to Wisconsin in 1860.
Percy R Brend and Sons Hoteliers Ltd has added another hotel, Carlyon Bay Hotel near St Austell, to its portfolio.
Traditional Sunday and Christmas lunches can be eaten at Hoops, Riversford Hotel, The Port Quarter
Tyrone and Shareena Harnett, Darren and Anna Vickery meet Father Christmas, and Victor Howell met supporters at the Northam Liberals’ Christmas Fair.
All the workers in two new Bideford firms are teens, and the businesses were launched as part of the Youth Enterprise Scheme. Devent, made up of pupils from Bideford School and Edgehill College are producing Christmas crackers, and Novelty Products, with Bideford School and Stella Maris pupils, are producing decorative candles. Those involved are Andi Chee, Tonya Cox, Tim Bush, Heather Butler, Jess Rey, Fiona Cook, Sarah Evans, Julian Olmann, Bonny Wong, Neil Darragh, Peter Sargent, Nathalie Wilson, Mark House, Dawn Fisher, Tony Pickett, Claire Watkins, and Alison Jarvis.
Dr Roger Hunt, who is based at Northam Health Centre and lives at Brownscombe Farm, Huntshaw, won the Mountain Breed Carcass Championship at Smithfield Show for the fourth time. His winning animal was an Exmoor horn.
A proposal to build a skating rink at Westward Ho! has been given the green light by Torridgeside planners. The rink, which will also include a store, coffee bar and bar, will be built at the Tyrolean Beer Garden.
A Key Markets supermarket to be opened in Kingsley Road, Bideford? There are plans for the store to be built where Bideford Engineering Ltd and Jaquemand Ltd once sat.
Northam Town Council is not happy with the county proposals from Devon County Council which will restrict mushroom and blackberry picking on Northam Burrows; the blocking of the right to kill rabbits and remove pebbles; and a vehicle weight limit.
It was a case of full marks for 28 children from St Margaret’s School, Northam, when they entered for their cycling proficiency test. All 28 passed. The youngsters are seen proudly displaying their certificates: Mark Prouse, Dawn Rowland, Rebecca Tucker, Sharon Gibbons, Nicholas Ayres, Graeme Bennett, Martin Estepp, Claire Sanders, Rachel Hodder, Deborah Johnson, Louise Fish, Jane Brummit, Steven Colwill, Petra Bonner, Abigail Channing, Elizabeth Elliott, Alan Barter, David Redshaw, Jonathon Curd, Simon Hill, Karl Pidler, Anthony Abel, Garry Ham, Martin Boundy, Diane Harris, Joanne McKenna, Janet Jefferies and Leigh Newcombe. In the picture are headmaster, Mr Roger Guest, and Bideford PC, Barry Endean.
A brand new 2 bedroomed bungalow in Durrant Lane, Northam, is for sale for £35.000. And a fine detached house in Instow enjoying open views over the River Torridge can be bought for £42,500. Or an excellent 16th Century detached thatched cottage in Westleigh is on offer for £67,500.
Two postmen - Mr Clarrie Rendall, 72 Lime Grove, Bideford, and Paul Downing, 9 Deans Close, Northam - are helping deliver special letters to Father Christmas.
Patricia Johnson – Trish to everyone at the Royal North Devon Golf Club - has provided more evidence of her undoubted talent as a golfer by lowering the women’s course record at Westward Ho! for a third time. The 16 year old, who is currently South West girls champion and a member of the England under-19 squad, included no fewer than eight birdies in her round.
Did you visit Woodford Bridge Hotel near Holsworthy for its Christmas programme? Or maybe the Nuts Disco? There’s carols, dancing and festivities on Christmas Eve at the Elizabethan Club, Westward Ho! or Dance with Spice on Boxing Night, and Dance to Sweeney on New Year’s Eve.
17 December
Cecil Collacott of Bradworthy remembers Christmas on the high seas and in the desert.
Maybe you tried T & J Derrigan’s recipe for turkey with cherry sauce?
Do you remember Georgina’s Fruit Bowl in Torrington? Season’s greetings come from Rose and Russ Creighton, The Wool Shop, H & E Pointon, Hopkins & Ogden, Martin’s, Hutchings, South Street Motors, M J Baker, Darch Brothers, Squires Electrical, the Newmarket Inn, Sing and Gist, and A Heard & Son.
With the completion of a major improvement and extension project at the Kestrel in Honestone Street, owners Bill and Maureen Kester believe they have added a new dimension to the night life of Bideford. While there are many pubs and discos catering for the needs of the young, Bill feels that too many mums and dads stay at home watching television because little is being offered to tempt them out. Both he and Maureen hope that will change with the opening of the Kestrel’s new function room and bar. Their aim is for style of live music, dancing and entertainment in a secure, relaxed atmosphere that will convince the slightly older age group that the Kestrel has something special to offer. The alterations bring to an end three years of change to the former Market Hotel.
Tony and Betty Stephens of Westward Ho! are surprised by their dog, Spinway Black Diamond, giving birth to 11 puppies in her first litter. The father is Pynesway Maestro, owned by well known Bideford Labrador breeder, George Tucker.
Woolsery WI was presided over by Mrs Wright when Mrs Littlejohns talked about flower arranging. The tea hostesses were Mrs C Raffe and Mrs N Trudgeon, with Mrs Wright and Mrs C Allin winning competitions. At Buckland Brewer, Mrs M Lawrence demonstrated yeast cookery and Mrs W Glover, Mrs S Brown, Mrs L Brown, Mrs Edmunds and Mrs Miskin being successful. At Monkleigh WI, members had useful tips on cake icing by Mrs Brown; and Weare Gifford and Landcross WI were also in the Christmas mood with a demonstration by Mrs Davies. Mrs Lacey reported on plans for the Christmas party.
24 December 1982
Reverend Lester Yeo will succeed Rev Keith Feltham as Vicar of Appledore, and form part of the team headed by the Rev David Chance.
Someone sat down and worked out how many miles Torrington bandmaster Terry Hutchings has travelled over the past 14 years to attend band meetings. The answer – an estimated 71,400 miles. His devotion to duty was recognised at a surprise presentation at the band’s Christmas concert. Torrington’s Mayor, Mr Clifford Quick, handed over a Dartington Glass iceberg inscribed with Terry’s name, a cornet and a citation. An extra touch was that it was made by a fellow bandsman, Nick Davey. The band’s Christmas concert was arranged by the town’s Chamber of Commerce and the proceeds of £400 were handed to Mr Geoff Coyte, the Chamber president. In the picture are Mrs Pauline Crawley and Mr Mervyn Sweet.
Season’s greetings from Astbury’s, M Ashton, Arnolds Pharmacy, Fred Furze, R J Twose, Lucifer Hair Fashions, Elaine’s hairstylist, Tony’s, Carol-Anne, The Spinning Wheel Restaurant, Bryan Isaac, and Cordings,
Mr Leonard Taylor, of Broad Lane, Appledore, was presented with the MBE when he attended Buckingham Palace with his wife Josephine and daughter, Mrs Sandra Morris. Mr Taylor spent 37 years with the Reardon Smith shipping line.
31 December 1982
The Commodore Hotel, Marine Parade, Instow, is advertising luncheon on New Year’s Day for £7 inclusive, and later in January you can dance to ‘Touch of Amber’ and ‘Freeway’ at their dinner-dances. Or you could try The Manor House Hotel at Woolsery for the finest four-course meal on New Year’s Day.
Mr Peter Lewis Francis Martin and Miss Paula May Green are married at Northam Register Office.
Rector of Northam, the Rev David Chance, has described the building of a vicarage on the lawn of the old vicarage at Appledore at ‘gross extravagance’. The claim was rejected by the Archdeacon of Barnstaple, the Ven Ronald Hermiman.
