September 1964

Military guard of honour for Mr David Middleton Brook and Miss Virginia-Anne Pickering Richards, elder daughter of Colonel J Richards, CBE, RM (retd), and Mrs M L Richards, of Coombe, Abbotsham. This Bishop of Buckingham, Rt Rev G C C Pepys, and the Vicar of Abbotsham, Rev E G Bevan, officiated. Bridesmaids were Misses Sally Richards, Sally Ansell, Alex Culme-Seymour, Mary Parks, Jacqueline Ingram and Anna Pepys, with two pages, David Lomas and Giles Findlay. A fellow officer of the bridegroom, Mr Robert Faulkner, was best man and the users were Mr Brio Bovill, Mr John Calvert, Mr Peter Brook, Mr Christopher Hewetson, Mr Jeremy Ker, Capt Anthony Dunbar, Capt Patrick Shillington and Capt Alistair Campbell. A reception was held at Coombe, and the honeymoon was in Ibiza.

Northam Urban Council are to give 20 guineas to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution through the local committee. They are also to incorporate congratulations to Coxswain Sidney Cann on the decoration awarded him in the Birthday Honours. The chairman, Mr H E Hopkins, pointed out that the appeal for a donation had been made to him the national chairman of the Institution, he thanked the Council for their generosity.

It was a day to remember for six year old Denis Ford, when, out with his father, Mr Philip Ford, of Harbour Lights, Appledore, on a fishing trip in the estuary he asked if he could have a line. Almost immediately he cast overboard he caught an 8lb 8oz bass, followed by two of 5lb each. With such a catch so early in life it is obvious that he is going to be ‘Denis the menace’ as far as the local fish are concerned.

Mrs Bowden, of Western Avenue, Appledore, makes fishermen envious.

Did you use Carole’s Salon in Marine Parade, Appledore?

Mr John Ball, the yard manager of Appledore shipyard says ‘the volume of work being carried out here is now governed only the amount of labour available.’

Appledore shipbuilding yards have secured a £150,000 contract to build a new tug for the Grimsby firm of J A Pigott. In view of the yard’s present commitments it is thought unlikely that work on the tug can start until the spring, which would mean a delivery date in the following autumn. Twin-screw and of 160 horse power, the vessel is destined to handle large oil tankers calling at the new oil refineries on the South Bank of the Humber. Three tugs for Messrs Pigott have been built at the Appledore yards in previous years – the Lady Cecilia, the John Henry and the Charles Edward.

The Seagate Hotel, Appledore, is for sale by auction.

Charles Povey and Mervyn Harris (Ward Farm, Winkleigh) are on an overland trip to the Holy Land.

For the first time in its history Bideford County Secondary School has had a fifth year and all took the Devon Certificate of Secondary Education. In addition, although the pupils had done only two and a half years’ work for any examinations, it was felt that many were capable of trying GCE ‘O’ levels in certain subjects. Of 35 who gained CSE, 19 passed ‘O’ level in one or more subjects. The College of Preceptors leaving certificate was taken for the third year and of 64 candidates 31 obtained full certificates and 31 obtained certificated. Full certificates demand five subject passes including English. The following are the names of those receiving results – D Bartlett, A Birkett, S Bissett, B Cork, L Davies, S Fairchild, J Gorvin, J Langman, L Moyes, P Owen, S Patt, L Reed, P Watts, B Woolf, J Young, R Arnold, R Blight, T Bryant, D Butler, Alan Fisher, Albert Fisher, H Goldsworthy, S Harris, P Jackson, A McKenzie, P Kivell, O Lane, D Rees, D Skinner, G Smith, M Stevens, D Thisby, A Waker, G White, S V M Briscoe, L A Britton, B Cookney, G Cox, S J Eastman, M J Hare, J R M Huxable, P M Johns, V F Johns, C E Jones, S L Oswell, J M Pipkin, B E Pope, J A Prust, B J Schiller, M A Screech, P A Squire, H M Stevens, B Alford, D W Anstey, B F Aust, G S Beckley, C F Brackstone, K Evans, D J Inch, S H Lane, D J Metherell, D J Rendall, N A Skinner, K J T Stach, K E Windsor.

Housewives in the Alexandra Terrace area of Bideford were on the lookout. A pet monkey was believed to be roaming free. A notice ‘Monkey missing’ appeared in the window of no. 10 Alexandra, the home of the May family. Anxious housewives need not have worried. The monkey, a marmoset named Jennie, was later found in her owner’s house. Jennie was brought to this country from South America by Mr Christopher May, who is a Merchant seaman.

Without their singer, Brian Tilke, of Appledore, the Mysterymen pop group from Bideford face a dilemma. Members are Cliff Dark, David Viner, Tony Keen and Bob Allison.

An American girl who visited Bideford linked 78 years in the life of a local family. She was Miss Pamela Mary Champion, 21, who lives at Pittsford, Rochester, in New York. She is a granddaughter of the late Mr Sam Champion, who worked as a tailor in Bideford until he emigrated to Canada in 1886 as a lad of 19. Her father is a cousin of Mr and Mrs John Taylor, of 14 Capern Road, Bideford, and she stayed at their home for a week, during which time she met another relative, Mr George Russell, of Hillside, Upcott. It was the first time that a member of the Champion family, now settled in America, had returned to their native town. Pamela has been on a two month’s tour of Europe with a friend. She is employed assembling skeletons for use at colleges in the United States.

Ex-Navy man Mr Les Mott, superintendent of Bideford Parks, stands ready to run up the Western League championship flag presented to Bideford Football Club during their midweek meeting with Bristol City. Watching the ceremony is Mr Ernie Hopkins, Mr Les Phillips, and Mr George Templeman. The flag will be flown from the Sports Ground flagpole at every home fixture this season. And next…?

29 High Street, Bideford, is for sale.

Green Tiles, 19 Rectory Park, Bideford, is for sale.

Mr Nicholas Arthur Rowed and his wife Janet, leave North Devon and fly to Auckland, New Zealand, where he will take up an appointment with Bitumac Road Construction Company.

Two hundred and fifty out of work.

Mrs Elsie Day, 16 Fordlands Crescent, Raleigh, finds a grenade.

Bideford magician Ian Adair is to star in his own television series. The ten-minute programmes will be screened by Westward TV, starting in October.

Only small hydrofoils likely to be built by Bideford Shipyards Ltd at their Bank End works because of the lack of continuous high water.

For £39, 500 a Cornish hotelier bought the ancient Hoops Inn on the Bideford Clovelly road. A former coaching inn, it was sold by auction at Exeter for the trustees of the late Mr H J Snape whose son-in-law and daughter Mr and Mrs Hugo Irwin, have managed it for the past 12 years. The purchaser, Mr Douglas A Bosworth, of White House Hotel, Praa Sands, revealed afterwards that he will sell that property and remove to Hoops. The auctioneer, Messrs Vincent and Houseman, of High Wycombe, suggested that the inn, which has 16 bedrooms and 10 acres of gardens and farmland, provided considerable scope for motel development. The turnover in the year ended last April exceeded £21,000. The sale also included the stage coach which stands in the garden on the opposite side of the road. The property was put in at £30,000, rose by bids of £1,000 to £38,000 and them by sums of £500. Mr Snape, a master at Repton School, bought the inn in 1934; seven years later it was considerably damaged by fire but was carefully restored.

Clovelly lifeboat launched but yacht was not in danger.

Summer target for Clovelly hall.

A dispersal sale is held at East Dyke, Clovelly, for the representatives of the late Mr J C Hilton.

For 12 years Mr John Lambert Raymond Law, of Stitworthy Farm, Clovelly, has wanted to emigrate to Australia. But not until recently was he able to convince his wife that it would be the best step for them and for their four children. Their minds made up, the farm was soon sold. Shortly the family will be on the sea en route for Sydney. What prompted 37 year old Mr Law and his wife to take so important a step? Fundamentally it was the welfare of the children – Christopher, Brenda, Janet and Peter. Mr Law is convinced that in Australia they will have many more opportunities. Also contributing to their decision was the weather. They will travel first to Sydney because there is the home of Mr John Steele, who nominated them, He is a friend of Mr Law’s father. But Mr Law has an open mind about what work he will take up in Australia. The chances are that he will seek employment on a farm in order to get an insight into the difference between methods in this country and ‘down under’. Then he will make a final decision.

The Parish Council is bidding to ban street photographers and their monkeys.

Furniture and effects from West Penhill Farm, Fremington, are for sale on instructions from Mrs M P Hancock.

‘There are at least 26 Hartlands all over the world, but of these Hartland, Devon, is the oldest,’ so begins an interesting and useful ‘Introduction to Hartland, a quiet corner in Devon’ printed at the Jamaica Press, Hartland. The leaflet contains a description of the parish’s principal features, a diary of events for the summer months, hints on exploring the district with a useful map defining hamlet areas in this, the second largest parish in Devon, church and bus services, and local advertisements. This kind of production can prove most useful to holidaymakers and it is almost surprising other places do not produce something similar.

Mr Ernest John Fulford, of Highdown, Hartland, pleads guilty and is fined £10.

Mrs Jean Vary Campbell Barker, of Dawnmoor Farm, Langtree is fined £2 for leaving her car in a prohibited area.

No 5, Fore Street, Langtree, is for sale by tender.

Mass production of rabbits for the Gilbert family at their Monkleigh farm.

Northam Football Club won’t agree to any transfer for Keith Stapleton as he moves to Torrington to live.

Northam Church’s new furnishings, with a new communion kneeler designed by Mrs C Wiggins and Marcus Hookway provides something in memory of his parents.

‘Children play around open cesspit’. Protest to Northam Council about position on Burrows.

Mr Wyndham Lang, of Nethercott, Parkham, told the Gazette that he estimates he has lost £500 to ‘rustlers’.

It was a busy day for Torrington firemen as they were called to farms.

Mr Fred Vodden, of 11 Mill Street, Torrington, marked fifty years’ service with Messrs William Vaughan and Sons, glove manufacturers. Mr Vodden and his wife Katie have completed 98 years between them with the company. In the picture are Mr Michael Vincent and Mr Vodden.

Mr Ted Crompton declares that he is ‘not in the least worried about the position’ after 3 Torrington players are transferred – Ray Barnsby, Frank Shapland, Burridge - 2 have threatened to quit – Michael and David Darch - and another player did not turn up for a match – Jock Wilkie.

Appointment of full time Civil Defence officers in places such as Torrington was described as a ‘scandalous waste of public money’ by Ald F R Hodge, at a meeting of Torrington Town Council. It had been reported that a full time officer had been appointed for the Torrington area. Ald Hodge contended the appointment of full time officers was in many instances simply creating ‘jobs for the boys.’ The Civil Defence Corps had 10,000 fewer volunteers this year and this, he thought was because people were realising that there was something in it for some but nothing in it for others. He was not against Civil Defence in principle but wished the volunteer spirit which existed, be instanced from his own experience, in the Special Constabulary locally could be found in Civil Defence. Cllr C Quick complained of the dictatorial attitude of the County Council in appointing a full time Civil Defence officer without first approaching the Council. It was decided to protest to the County.

No new bridge from Westleigh to Appledore which Mr W Powell, of Westward Ho! says is ‘poppycock’.

From despair to jubilation – big family will not now be homeless. When ex-serviceman Mr F Branch was ordered to quit his home at 6 Westbourne Terrace, Westward Ho! the bottom fell out of his world. To find accommodation for himself, his wife and 8 of their 10 children who live at home was an impossibility. Well, that was how it seemed. Now, almost in a matter of days, despair has turned to jubilation. Not only is there a new home large enough for the family but also the opportunity, which he is to grasp, to acquire it. ‘Everybody is anxious to help now,’ he said. At the top of the list is SSAFA, which, on learning of the family’s plight, acted fast. Mr Branch said that ‘marvels’ had been achieved by representatives Mrs Richards of Coombe, Abbotsham, and Major F B Worsley, of Woolsery. The new five-bedroomed house is at 34 Clovelly Road and no doubt there would be plenty of help from the children, aged from 17 years to 8 weeks. Mr Branch has for some time been employed as an antique furniture restorer by Messrs Collins, of High Street, Bideford.

Do you need to approach SSAFA? Here is a link to the charity

A Devon County Council official is to investigate a suggestion that the entrance to a quarry in Woolsery should be blocked up to prevent children from entering it and subjecting themselves to danger. Woolsery Parish Council have written to Bideford Rural Council requesting that this be done, pointing out that fencing with which the Council had once sealed the entrance was now ineffective. The Divisional Surveyor, Mr L R Jackson, informed the Rural Council that he would look into the matter. The quarry is at Duerdon Farm.

Earlier start to Woolsery sewage scheme is urged.