Mayor's Call to Ex-Servicemen
The success of Bideford’s money-raising effort for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Appeal Fund is threatened.
The town has been asked to raise around £3,000 of Torridgeside’s £13,000 towards the County’s allocation of £250,000 by means of an appeal to industry, a house-to-house collection and a flag day. The flag day and collection are being organised throughout the country by the Royal British Legion, but in Bideford the branch is defunct although a few stalwarts periodically hold a committee meeting. Because of this, Bideford’s Town Mayor, Mr Clifford Coates, has called a meeting of local ex-Servicemen and women in the Town Hall next Tuesday at 7 pm to try to ensure that a collection is made in the town.
“Unless support is forthcoming 12,000 people in the area will not have an opportunity to contribute to the collection,” he told the Gazette. “I am certain that ex-Service men and women in the district will not allow that to happen.”
Mr Tom Frankland, Chief Executive of Torridge District Council, said it had been understood that the county branch of the Royal British Legion were handling matters and he expressed surprise that no arrangements had been made to cover Bideford. “It is not the duty of the district council to become involved,” he declared. But they had provided facilities such as duplicating, stationery and so on for the use of the organiser, Major John Briscoe, and the council treasurer had agreed to act in that capacity, he said. Mr Michael Sumner, now the council chairman, had agreed to chair the appeal. committee for the district. “Otherwise we deliberately kept out of it,” said Mr Frankland.
Meanwhile fund-raising activities by community groups are proving highly successful. Already Appledore has achieved a £1,000 target with more money still to come in. “Whether the committee will decide to continue money-raising I do not know,” said the chairman, Mr Harold Clements. He emphasized that it had been a real community effort and added that what would happen to any surplus would be a matter for them. “But we have spent a great deal of money at the moment,” he said.
Almost £400 for their celebrations has been raised to date by council tenants in Chopes, Goaman anhd Churchill Roads, Bideford, who formed a Jubilee Association at a meeting called by Mrs H. Gipson and Mrs P. Couch.
Gazette article dated 13 May 1977
Torrington Puts Other Places to Shame
Torrington, despite its limited size, leads Torridgeside’s response to the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Fund. Up to the end of August Torridge area had raised only £1,399 towards its target of £13,000 and the county had raised only 20 per cent of its target of £250,000. Counting donations from local people and firms and the proceeds of various events Torrington is so far over halfway towards its own target figure of £1,150.
“We are very proud of our efforts so far,” the Mayor, Dr Harry Cramp, told the Gazette.
In the latest fund-raising event, two receptionists at Torrington Heath Centre, Mrs Jill Rawle and Mrs Kathryn Reed, on Saturday raised £160 from a 20-mile sponsored cycle ride to Instow and back. “We aimed for £100 and naturally we are delighted with the extra result,” said Mrs Rawle after their ride. Both have birthdays next month – Mrs Rawle will be 29 and Mrs Reed 24. They completed the ride well under the time they had allowed themselves. “We only took 55 minutes to get there but a bit longer coming back with the wind against us,” said Mrs Rawle. “It was great fun but perhaps that’s enough for the time being.”
Northam district had so far raised £125 towards its target of £3,110, the Town Council were told at their last meeting. Reporting that £100 had been received from Northam and £25 from Appledore, Mr Michael Sumner said it was thought nationally that there had been some confusion between the main appeal and local appeals. They were now launching an Autumn “offensive” aimed basically at young people – the ball was now in their court, he said. Mrs Esther Hilder said Westward Ho! were holding their contribution until everything had been settled, but anticipated that they would be handing over in the region of £100. The Mayor, Mr Joe Need, suggested that £300 set aside by the council to subsidise local jubilee events if necessary could be put into the main fund.
Mr Harold Clements felt that the money already collected should be used to boost the fund. “We could have Campbell’s boat come in and have all night dancing in the bay,” he suggested.
Gazette article dated 7 October 1977
Torrington Reach Target
Torrington has become the first town in Devon to reach its target for the Royal Silver Jubilee Appeal Fund. There is every indication that the town will finally exceed its £1,150 target by a handsome margin as further donations and several events on behalf of the fund are still to come.
The Mayor, Dr Harry Cramp, told the Gazette he was very proud of the town’s achievement. “This success is entirely due to the enthusiasm and hard work of Torrington Jubilee Committee and the people of Torrington who have worked so hard to raise the money,” he said. They wanted to produce a jubilee commemorative scheme for Torrington of such good quality that it would attract a sizeable grant from the national jubilee fund, he said.
Gazette article dated 18 November 1977
Nearly One Million Pounds to Draw On
Although the Devon Silver Jubilee Trust, set up in 1977, has now been formally wound up after having distributed £77,100 in 154 grants, there is still nearly a million pounds per year in a central fund in London which is available for suitable schemes, reports Lt. Cdr John Holdsworth, Chairman of the Devon Trust.
“There is no reason why the young people of Devon should not continue to receive financial aid for their projects, provided they meet the criteria of enabling them to help others,” he said. “How much is received will depend on the imagination and enthusiasm of young people to give their time for the benefit of others and upon the existence in Devon of an efficient organisation in which London has confidence”.
Cdr Holdsworth said the nucleus of an organisation already exists but it needs to be expanded so that applications could be assessed and recommendations passed on to the central fund as quickly as possible.
Latest grants in Devon include £220 to a band to buy instruments to train young members, £130 to a Girls Brigade Company to buy hand-chimes to entertain the old and the disabled, £1,000 to a youth club for a portable cabin which will be used as a youth centre, £150 to a school parent’s association towards the renovation of a sports pavilion, £132 for materials to construct an adventure playground and £100 for a youth club to turn a disused skittles alley into a meeting place.
Gazette article dated 5 June 1981