August 1968

Appledore’s centuries-old nautical traditions and skills have most successfully moved into modern precision production, but those of the old sailing ship days are still here. Although they present sailing in miniature, the races for model yachts at Appledore regatta call for considerable craftmanship, skill and ingenuity, spiced by friendly rivalry. This is a hobby of shared interest by the generations, as the picture illustrates with Mr Horace Ford, of Torridge Road, Appledore, and his daughter Janet preparing their entry.

A Brixham man with experience of square-rigged sailing ships and who was second mate on the commemorative Mayflower voyage in 1957 has been appointed acting master of the Nonsuch, the replica of the vessel on which the fortunes of the Hudson’s Bay Company were founded, now being completed at the yard of Messrs J Hinks and Son. He is Mr Adrian Small.

Many thousands watch the launching of the Nonsuch.

Late night bathers ‘land’ giant fish. Summer late night bathing has – temporarily at least – lost some of its charm with the Johns and Saintey families, of 108 Lime Grove, Bideford. Mr and Mrs Brian Johns and Mr and Mrs Martin Saintey set off for a swim near the slipway at Westward Ho! They were up to their knees in water when violent thrashings nearby caught their attention. Moving over for a closer look, they saw two shark-like fish that had been trapped by the outgoing tide. A combined effort by the two men was needed before the two fish were removed from the water and it was not done without quite a struggle. After a day in the family bath after being transported alive in the boot of a car, the fish, which were very dead by that time, were consigned to the deep. There need be no fear of people being dragged from the beaches, however, for the fish were not dangerous sharks associated with the beaches of Australia but our own docile mine-version, the tope.

Mrs Marion Allen, of Iowa, with husband, two daughters, and her parents Mr and Mrs Archie Lock, is ‘home’ and staying at Atlantic Sands Trailer Park in Westward Ho! She was born at 12 Torridge Street, East-the-Water and attended Bideford’s Geneva School.

Furniture from Delamere, 21 Park Avenue, Bideford, is for sale.

Mr Anthony Petherbridge and his wife Margaret, of 69 Abbotsham Road, Bideford, have returned home from holiday as heat winners of the Butlin amateur Veleta contest. Held at Butlin’s Minehead holiday camp, it attracted strong competition from all over the country, but Mr and Mrs Petherbridge were unanimously declared the weekly winners. This was the first time they had entered the contest. Later this season they will have a chance of carrying off for Bideford the grand finals first prize of a 200 guinea silver challenge trophy.

Bideford AFC Football Queen, 20 year old Miss Pat Thomas, is the younger daughter of Robins’ vice-chairman Mr Fred Thomas. Pat, seen at work in her father’s grocery shop in Buttgarden Street, where she has been since leaving school, sold 2,660 tickets. She has previously been an attendant to Bideford Carnival Queen.

Twins’ double – same day happy event - Mr Brian Nichols, of 8 Grenville Estate Crescent, Bideford, and Mr Ivor Nichols, of 1Whitfield Terrace, Greenbank Road, Plymouth.

Bideford man – Senior Aircraftman Roger Moore, of 23 Fort Terrace, East-the-Water – is RAF Nicosia Broadcaster.

For a second time in two years a 21 year old Bideford man, Senior Aircraftman Peter Richard Heard has been awarded a certificate for meritorious service. He is the elder son of Mr and Mrs Donald Heard, of 6 Willett Street. His 15 year old brother, David, a pupil of Bideford Grammar School, is also thinking of making a career in the RAF.

Battling neck and neck with Bideford Amateur Rowing Club for the novice championship of the West of England are the Bideford Amateur Athletic Club crew seen after their win at Paignton Regatta. The Blues crew are Dave Godfrey, Mervyn Mountjoy, Ken Ebsworthy, P Worthington.

Water polo match interrupted.

When Bideford Quay boasted four licensed premises in a row: The Steam Packet, the Newfoundland, the Kings Arms (the only one surviving as such) and the Three Tuns. A former licensee of the Three Tuns (now SWGB showrooms) Mr Tom Westaway has just died at the age of 86. He was Devon’s longest serving licensee. A publican for 58 years, first in 1910 at the Three Tuns, he later moved to the London Inn at Kilkhampton and was then for 38 years at the Crown and Sceptre, Holsworthy.

Flowers and history were delightfully combined at Old Ford House, Bideford, when a floral festival raised £91 for the organ fund of St Mary’s Church. Old Ford House, parts of which date back 600 years, is the home of Mr and Mrs C A Jourdan. In the photograph are some of the leading helpers – Mrs A Wensley; the Mayoress of Bideford, Mrs P J V Fulford; Mrs F Gill and Mrs C Featherstone.

Lifeboat Day at Clovelly, organised by Mrs Mary Morris, raises £111 13s 5d.

For a third time in recent years a swarm of bees has invaded a letter box at Meddon, Hartland. A postman noticed that the bees were taking over the box and managed to clear the mail, but soon it became impossible for some hours for anyone to post further letters. The swarm was removed by Mr P Yeomans, a local beekeeper.

Cherry Tree Cottage, Springfield, Hartland, is for sale.

When Messrs Kivell and Sons offered for sale by auction 26½ acres of land, formerly part of the Fosfelle estate, for Mr W Pearse Chope, lot 1 was secured by Mr W T Goaman and lot 2, Mr Prust.

A series of interesting and entertaining events have been arranged for Carnival week at Hartland. At a gathering at the Church Hall, when a sale was organised by the Youth Club, the Carnival queen, 16 year old Brenda Lovell, was crowned by Mrs F G Thomas, wife of the Methodist minister. The attendants, Jennifer Jeffery and Mandy Fenton, also received their crowns. Mrs Thomas also crowned the fairy queen, Christine Prouse, who was attended by Jayne Bamford and Sally Skinner. Last year’s Carnival queen, Christine Dennis, presented Mrs Thomas with a bouquet. Traditional transport and a traditional theme – ‘There’ll always be an England’ – was among first prize winners which was entered from the hamlet of Stoke.

Langtree’s well-kept church and grounds praised at fete.

Mr Eli Cox, of Osiers, Lower Cleave, Northam, had no doubt what to give his wife for a diamond wedding present. He bought her an artist’s easel. For at the age of 82 Mrs Cox had taken up painting. She has had no training and previously had rarely used a paint brush, but her work, especially her landscapes, achieve a remarkable standard. Mrs Cox has now completed over 100 paintings. Born in Lower Meddon Street, Mr Cox was educated at Bideford Church School. As a young man he rowed for Bideford Athletic Club. He went to London after having served a 7 year apprenticeship with James Lamerton, a builder, and returned to Bideford later to set up in business of his own. An Australian by birth, Mrs Cox came to England with her parents.Mr and Mrs Cox have three children – Cyril, Mrs Phyllis Bosworth of Carlisle, and Mrs Vera Cudmore, who lives in Sussex. There are 3 grandchildren – Mrs Judith Simmons, Miss Joan Cudmore and Mr Andrew Cox, and 4 great grandchildren – Katie and Ruth Simmons, and Robin and Julia Cox.

Entrants in the fancy dress competition at Parkham Church fete photographed before the judging.

Shell grotto making, an old Spanish St James’ Day custom, has been revived in rural Devon. And here Parkham children are seen with their creations. St James’ Church annual fete more or less coincides with the patronal festival and the Rector, Rev J E Lynn, recalled that when he was a child in London, children used to make shell grottoes in the streets using oyster shells.

Paul’s, Shebbear, offered for sale by public auction at Torrington by Messrs Price, Ogden and Stubbs, was sold for £3,500 to a local buyer. The property comprises a two-bedroomed cottage, outbuildings and 6½ acres of land.

Mr F Millman retains a trophy at the Shebbear and Buckland Filleigh flower show.

Torrington has too many yellow lines. While the car parks provided were appreciated, and yellow lines were needed in some places, there were ‘miles’ of yellow lines in other streets which were unnecessary contented Cllr J W Martin at Torrington Town Council’s General Purposes Committee. He described it a bureaucracy gone mad and strangling the efforts of traders – “It is really quite serious.” It was pointed out that the Council had agreed to review the traffic scheme six months after it came into force in the spring and Cllr Martin urged that a definite date should be set. Cllr C Quick said they would be meeting the Chamber of Commerce to discuss the traffic scheme before they reviewed it in the light of experience.

Erection of bungalows at Dartington Fields.

Rev Owen R Owen was inducted Minister of Howe Congregational Church, Torrington.

How Westward Ho! got its church. On August 1st 1868 a start was made on the building of Holy Trinity Church. Although the Church officially opened for worship in 1869, it was not consecrated until 1938.

Mrs Mary Elizabeth Amy, formerly of Well Cottage, Westleigh, celebrates her 100th birthday at Torridge View Welfare Home. It is hoped that Mr Sidney Trick, a niece and friends will attend the party. Mrs Chant, who lived at Holroyd Cottage, Shebbear, is 100 in October but Mrs Lydia Borlace is not quite as old as originally thought.

Mr and Mrs Norman Waters, of Moordown, Winkleigh, celebrate their diamond anniversary.

This triumphant trio virtually swept the board in the handicraft section of Woolsery Show. In the centre with the President’s Cup for most points, is Miss Margaret Allin, of Putford. On the right is 12 year old Gillian Raffe, of Woolsery, who gained most points in the children’s classes, and on the left 14 year old Rosemary Lot, also of Woolsery, who was runner-up.

Peals on the bells greeted the wedding at All Hallows Church, Woolsery, of Mr John Frederick Gough, elder son of Mr and Mrs F J Gough, of 25 Belair Road, Peverell, Plymouth, and Miss Lorna Griffiths, only daughter of Mr and Mrs C B Griffiths, of The School House, Woolsery. The Vicar, Rev S Roy Northmore, officiated at the service at which Mr G H Paddon was Server and T Harding and C Raffe were acolytes. Mrs H S Thomas was at the organ. By request the wedding march was played by the bride’s uncle, Mr R V Griffiths. The church had been specially decorated for the occasion by Mesdames S R Northmore, Raffe, Peard and Perkins. Two friends were bridesmaids – Misses Gillian Raffe and Rosemary Peard, Nicholas Short was pageboy, and the best man was the bridegroom’s brother, Robert. As the bride came out of the church she was presented with a silver horseshoe by little Allison Peard. Following a reception at Durrant House Hotel, Northam, Mr and Mrs J F Gough left for a honeymoon touring Cornwall. Bride’s and bridesmaids’ dresses and the outfit of the bride’s mother were made by Mrs Mugford, of Sticklepath, Barnstaple.