November 1922

We begin this month with two adverts which illustrate ways in which home life has changed. In the winter of 1922, our grandparents would have been sitting beside a good coal fire, writing letters to our friends and family.

In the same month, at the Castle of Exeter, the Diseases of Animals Sub-Committee of the Devon County Council, presided over by Mr J M Metherell, decided to ask permission to prosecute in two cases where merchants were alleged to have supplied basic slag below the required standard. Mr Lake was of the opinion that it was their duty to protect the consumer, and moved that the matter be reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and ask their advice on the subject. This was agreed to. 

There is much coverage of the General Election which took place on 15 November, including profiles of the local candidates and details of the issues under discussion. The Gazette of 21 November has the results of the election, which was won by the Conservatives under Mr Bonar Law with a parliamentary majority of 79 seats. In the local constituency, Sir Basil Peto (Con) beat Captain Tudor Rees (Lib) by 174 votes.

For those seeking relief from politics, the Palladium in Mill Street, Bideford, proprietor Chas Thurlow, has two different shows each week and performances nightly with three performances on Saturdays. The Royal Hotel is holding an Armistice Night Ball (fancy dress optional) from 8pm until midnight on 11 November, with a full orchestra. Madame Adelina Delines gave a vocal recital in the Public Rooms at Bideford with the platform beautifully arranged with a background of flowers, palms and ferns.

Assisted passages to Australia are offered to collar workers, skilled and experienced hand turners and machinists. Age not to exceed 30 years.

It's always interesting to read the small ads, so here is a selection from this month’s offerings:

          A young lady is looking for a morning engagement as governess to young children.

          A refined young lady, excellent needlewoman, seeks a post as a USEFUL MAID.

          Three different ladies are wishing to purchase ladies’ and gentlemen’s wardrobes – the contents, that is. Mrs E Hancock of Cross Street, Northam, also wants children’s garments and            books. Ladies are waited on by appointment.

In Lost and Found, a ram lamb has strayed onto The Barton, Parkham, and can be reclaimed by the owner by paying expenses. Of interest to pigeon fanciers – the birds, clock and basket belonging to the late Mr F Ashplant will be auctioned on 18 November at the Fanciers’ Hall, New Street, Bideford.

The ketch “Wave”, owned by Captain Day of Appledore was drawn onto the North Tail when the wind fell suddenly. Captain Day was taken off by the lifeboat and it is hoped to lighten her cargo of gravel and get her off at the next high water.

A report given at a meeting of Devon Bridges and Main Roads Committee warns that Bideford Bridge is on the verge of collapse unless speedily strengthened. The committee will make a grant of not exceeding £7000 towards the costs; £12000 has already been spent and an estimated further £20000 is required. There are many articles about the state of the bridge throughout the month which can be read at the Archive.

Mr A G Duncan, former mayor of Bideford, has made a gift of 400 books to the public free library. Mr Duncan has been a generous donor since the library was built by the action of the late Mr Andrew Carnegie.

A lady called Sarah Ellen (Kitty) Davey, who had been an inmate of the workhouse since her birth, has died there aged 61. The Master described her as a hardworking, faithful and industrious little woman.

A pretty wedding in Clovelly for Miss Ida Slee Cruse of Hugglepit Farm and Mr Cyril John Andrew, of the Post Office, Woolfardisworthy, is reported:

A Whist Drive and dance at Clovelly Court raised money for the Local and Central Nursing Association, while a similar event at Morwenstow raised £7-5-0 for St Dunstan’s Hospital.

A public meeting in Hatherleigh has expressed dismay at the cost of moving the railway station nearer to the town. The cost is estimated to be at least £6000, not including the cost of purchasing the required land. 

Cookery classes are being held at Lovacott, Miss Hancock being the teacher. The classes will take place at the Council School on Monday evenings.

Miss Olive Priscilla Parkhouse of Northam has obtained a BSc at Bristol University. The county rat catcher has written to advise Northam UDC that the refuse dumps are badly infested with rats. The General Purposes Committee will instruct the Sanitary Inspector to destroy the rats at once.

The new heating system at St James Church Parkham was tested on Sunday and proved very satisfactory. Mr Woodward has been appointed headmaster of the Council School.

Torrington Board of Guardians, Mr J Squance presiding, considered the question of the supply of beer for the inmates at Christmas and the Master, Mr Harrison, said last year the Board sanctioned 4 1/2 gallons and someone was kind enough to give another 4 1/2. 

Sale of properties in Torrington - 72 and 74 Calf Street; 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109 New Street known as Victoria Place (and occupied by Mrs Smale and Messrs E Bowden, T Hutchings, Jas, Luxton, B Ayre and Halfyard.   

Miss Twynham, St Brannock, Fosketh Hill, Westward Ho! wants old and new dolls, pieces of silk, flannel and tapestry for charitable purposes.

And finally: Will the gentleman who took an odd pair of DANCING SHOES from the Hockey Dance see Mr Sluman (Caretaker) at the Church Institute, Bideford.

November 1972

Births – Diana and Paul Edwards, Lisa; Penny and Vincent Sherborne, a daughter; Jennifer and Leonard White, Darren John James; Dianne and Martin Fredriksen, a son, Jonathan; Michael and Susan Dymond, a son, Patrick Edward; Sandra and Colin Huxtable, Kevin Antony; Jean and Len Pole, Richard Simon James; Roger and Pamela Folland, a daughter, Natasha Clare; Denis and Sue Johns, a son, Dustin; David and Wendy Johnstone, a daughter Nicola Anne; Barrie and Maria Taylor, a son Kevin James; and Susan and Robin Thornton, a daughter Nicola Joanne.

As far as the Trinity House authorities are concerned, the leading lights which guide shipping over the dangerous Bideford Bar give an accurate line. This was made clear by a spokesman in London following a demand made by Mr Brian Carter, skipper and owner of the former fishing vessel Rossekop II which was wrecked after going aground near the mouth of the Taw and Torridge estuary, that the position of the lights should be examined. The Trinity House spokesman pointed out that Bideford Bar was notorious for its dangerous approach and the likelihood of shifting sands, and official navigation charts stressed the need both for caution and local knowledge.

An electronic communications fitter, RAF Corporal Maurice Swallow, is a member of the Bomber Wing Servicing Squadron based in Cyprus which is responsible for keeping the Vulcans of the Near East Air Force in top line engineering condition. His parents, Mr and Mrs W J Bignell live at 3 Tomouth Road, Appledore. Corporal Swallow, was a boy entrant to the RAF. He and his wife Carol have been in Cyprus for nearly a year.

The work of one of the crew, Mr Michael Bowden, of the Appledore lifeboat which towed a 45ft long former trawler to safety has been praised by the branch secretary, Mr Ivor Wickersham. The lifeboat was called out by Hartland coastguards after the vessel had been observed in distress near the Fairway buoy. On board the vessel, the Dorothy, was her new owner, Mr W Lewis of Ramsgate and his two sons, Clifford and Colin. They had left Appledore earlier the same day on the first leg of a trip to Ramsgate but the adverse weather conditions persuaded them to turn back after passing Hartland Point.

The children of class 7 of East-the-Water CP School, Bideford, made a silver wedding card and sent it, bearing all their names, to the Queen and Prince Philip who celebrate their silver wedding anniversary on November 20th. The children, aged 7-8, were thrilled to receive a letter in reply form Buckingham Palace. A lady-in-waiting on behalf of the Queen wrote thanking the class for their good wishes and kindly thought.

An estimated 700 people packed Bideford Methodist Church to hear a concert version of ‘Jesus Christ, Superstar’ performed by young people of the Church at Bideford Methodist circuit annual rally. In the past 12 months a circuit youth fellowship has been formed under the leadership of the Rev John A Stacy-Marks and from this has developed a youth choir, The Cyclones under the direction of Mr Jim Mitchell.

Jennifer Harris, former hon. secretary of Bideford Methodist Church Youth Group, sponsors of Room 2 at the Save the Children’s Fund’s Beggar Boys’ Home in Korea since 1968, pictured with the Fund’s president, Princess Anne, at the annual branch conference in Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, Jennifer is a daughter of Mr and Mrs Trevor Harris, of Atwyns, Old Barnstaple Road, Bideford.

Work has begun on the modernisation of 101 older Bideford council houses at a cost of £327,250. They were implementing something long overdue, Cllr Pat Hughes told the Council. Members authorised the purchase of temporary portable sheds at an estimated cost of £1,000 for Bowden Green tenants (the sheds to be sold when the scheme is completed). IT was also agreed that old-age pensioners and those receiving social security who wished to be rehoused during the work should have removal expenses paid (others to be reimbursed for one way only); and that tenants remaining during the work in their houses, or making there own arrangements for temporary accommodation, be allowed a rent rebate of £1.50 a week during the disturbance period.

The funeral has taken place at the Higher Cemetery of Mrs Gladys Nance-Kivell of Homealong, Kingsley Road, Bideford, wife of Mr Leonard Nance-Kivell. Before her retirement in 1971 Mrs Nance-Kivell had been associated with the gloving industry for over 50 years. For 24 years she was manageress of Messrs Sudbury’s Appledore factory. For long she was a Methodist Sunday School teacher and she was an officer of the Independent Order of Rechabites, North Devon district. Immediate mourners attending were: the husband, Mr Victor Harvey, Mr David Harvey, Miss Louise Squire, Mr George Rumsam, Mr A Smale, Mr and Mrs T Nance-Kivell, Mr and Mrs G Prouse, Mr and Mrs S Moore, Mr and Mrs W Boundy, Mr and Mrs H Nance-Kivell, Mr B Nance-Kivell, Mr and Mrs B Smale, and Mr and Mrs S Brown.

Mr Leslie Herbert Radclift, of 5 Chingswell Street, Bideford, whose death at the age of 60 took place at the Torridge Hospital, had spent a lifetime in the grocery trade. He was employed as a grocer in Bideford, Dorchester and South Molton until 1953, when he set up his own account in Bideford. He and his wife Winifred built up a successful business in Mill Street. In the last war Mr Radclift served in the Army for almost 6 years. For well over 30 years he was a member of the choir of the former Bridge Street Methodist Church. He was also a trustee of the Society and took part in many of its activities. The funeral took place at the North Devon Crematorium, the Rev W J Joyce officiating.

The Deputy Town Clerk of Bideford, Mr Bob Seaton-Clark, was in the studio audience at Anglia Television studios in Norwich to watch his wife Vicki as a contestant in the quiz show ‘Sale of the Century’. Mrs Seaton-Clark, who has two small children, didn’t win the contest but she snapped up quite a few of the bargains offered by compere Nicholas Parsons and finished the game with £167 worth of goods and £8 in cash.

The all-electric show bungalow, known as 1 Highpark Close, Bideford, is for sale.

Mr Howard says that the Zoo will not reopen but the Carvery Restaurant will continue to operate.

An outline development plan which has been prepared for Buckland Brewer by the County Planning Department envisages the provision of about 80 more dwellings.

Just 12 months after becoming the owner of Clovelly Cross petrol filling station, Mr Tim Stoneman has learned that it has been judged North Devon winner of the Shell Shine ’72 competition. Mr Stoneman had managed the petrol station for 14 years for the Clovelly Estate Company. He can choose for his first prize £80 or 10 gold sovereigns. He is taking the gold. He also wins a shield and a place in the area section of the competition.

A suggestion that additional development at Higher Clovelly following the extension of sewage works should be limited to 15 or 20 dwellings has been rejected by Bideford Rural Council. The County Planning Department considered the Council’s figure of 40 additional dwellings excessive since Higher Clovelly was not a key settlement. But the Council are going to press for the acceptance of a figure of 40.

Leading the torchlight procession at Dolton as Carnival Queen will be Rachel Johns with her attendants Valerie Goss and Angela Edwards.

New headmaster of Luxulyan Primary School, Cornwall, is Mr Dave Hearn, younger son of Mr and Mrs A Hearn, of Huskhill, Frithelstock. Mr Hearn was educated at Frithelstock Primary School and Bideford Grammar School. His wife, formerly Miss Janet Taylor, of Bideford, is also a teacher. They have two small sons, Mark and Jonathan.

Another 133 acres of land has been added to that owned by the National Trust in North Devon. The latest acquisition under the Enterprise Neptune scheme, the land concerned is that of Fatacott Farm, situated between Clovelly and Hartland Point. Fatacott, which has been farmed by Mr W D Westlake, has been given to the Trust by Mr and Mrs K M Leach.

Sea View at Horns Cross is for sale.

A considerable and appreciative audience enjoyed a concert of traditional Spanish guitar music at the Lobster Pot, Instow, under the patronage of the Beaford Centre. It took little time to discern the comprehensive artistic and emotional range of dance rhythms with such evocative names as Soleares, Tarantas, or Zapateado. Indeed, these dances assumed new dimensions when played so skilfully by such happy and devoted artist as Senor Martinez. Throughout, a close, friendly rapport was maintained between Senor Martinez and his audience and so it was quite natural to find him playing no fewer than three substantial encores.

The sale of the Marine Hotel complex at Instow by the Christie Estate Trust, owners of much property in Instow, Westleigh and Saunton, does not signal the start of a general policy of disposal. This has been emphasised by Mr B D Coldwell, the Trust’s North Devon agent. Included in the sale are the round-house building, until recently the home of the North Devon Yacht Club, and the car and boat park opposite the rear of the hotel. Purchasers of the hotel – at an undisclosed figure – are building contractors R Harris and Son Ltd. Their managing director, Mr Tom Bonetta, said that contracts had been exchanged.

Art students from Weare Giffard and Fremington, working under the direction of their principal, Mr James Paterson, to restore the vandal-damaged east window at Langtree Parish Church. Stained glass work is part of the course being taken by the art students.

An almost life-size effigy of a schoolmaster ‘in action’ built by the pupils of Langtree CP School was given pride of place on a massive bonfire built by parents and friends at the first full-scale celebration of Guy Fawkes’ night organised by Langtree Parents’ Committee for the children of the neighbourhood.

A ‘tramps’ dance’ followed in Langtree Church Hall, there being a capacity attendance. Prizes for the best tramps were won by Mr D Fishleigh, Mrs E Huxtable, Catherine Gerry, Priscilla Sanders and Helen Westerman. The ‘mystery tramp’ (Mrs R Langmead) was guessed by Mrs P M Yeo Jenn.

Did you swim at Lenwood Country Club?

When Mr Carl Carlyon, for 40 years a BBC engineer, watches a period play on television, his concentration is focussed on the furniture. The reason is simple: Mr Carlyon, now retired and living at 17 Century Drive, Northam, makes miniature furniture for a hobby. More than one piece spotted in a television play has been reproduced by him in his workshop – looking out over the Northam Burrows and Bideford Bay and commanding a view which alone must make it a workroom almost without equal in the country. All his work is exactly to scale – one inch to the foot. It was only sheer chance that led to his taking up what has become for him a fascinating hobby. He and his wife became acquainted with Mr Wickham Williams, who used to have an antique shop in Cross Street, and from time to time Mr Carlyon used to do some furniture restoring for her. It was when she left Northam that Mr and Mrs Carlyon had a surprise parting gift for her – an exquisite scale model of her shop. It even has a miniature of the mangle on the roof which has been placed as an advertising gimmick. Mr Carlyon is now working on designs which could prove to be quite valuable commercially, but it is obvious that this is very much a case of just a man’s hobby.

Housing Committee chairman Mrs Esther Hilder opens Northam Urban Council’s first warden supervised estate for older people, Southlea, in the grounds of Fairlea welfare home. Also seen at the tape are Mrs Grace Smith, Mr John Smith, and Mr Alan Gardner. A current catch phrase was that of retirement migration said Mr Smith. This just meant that when people retired they moved away from the places where they had worked and lived to areas they had perhaps visited on holiday or had memories of. Often in retirement these people found their accommodation unsuitable and this was one reason for such provision as that at Southlea.

A police car was involved in an accident in Churchill Way, Northam, when, it is believed, oil on a wet road caused it to get out of control. The car, driven by Detective-Sergeant W Grant, of Bideford, was involved in a collision with a car being driven by Mr Ray Worthington, of 8 Greysands Crescent, Appledore. No one was injured. An oily road surface following a dry spell is also believed to have been the cause of an accident outside the Malt Scoop Inn, Merton, when a car collided with a wall.

Mrs Graham, the commandant, and Dr C F R Briggs present at a party given by Torrington Red Cross presenting long service awards to Mrs G Popham and Mrs L Eastmond. Their joint service totals 50 years.

Eighty-two year old Mr Jack Gilbert, who is the Borough’s Sergeant at Mace and a veteran of the First World War, was the oldest person taking part in the Torrington Remembrance Day parade.

The new guide for Torrington and district will have on its front cover a coloured picture of the clock tower drinking fountain in the town square. But it will be of little use the holidaymaker relying on the clock he sees in the picture to tell him the time. The clock face in the photograph is the work of a touch-up artist. A blank piece of plywood has for some years covered the cavity which once housed the clock. The Council have gone to a great deal of trouble to make sure the reproduction of the clock is a faithful one. Old photographs have been obtained to check that it was Roman numerals on the clock face.

It was ‘grievous’ that no picture postcards, black and white or coloured, could be bought of Torrington, Cllr Jim Martin told Torrington Town Council meeting. The Town Clerk, Mr Alan Fitt, said there was a possibility of using the blocks of pictures in the new guid book for this purpose and a postcard of ‘the most modern concept’ might be available shortly.

Coco, the well known clown, has this week been touring schools in North Devon giving road safety talks. This photograph shows him at Torrington. Everywhere the young pupils soon lost their shyness and listened eagerly to him.

Well over £200 was made as a result of the Torrington division of West Devon Conservative Association’s autumn fair held in Torrington Drill hall. Branches from many villages, as well as the town branch, laid out a variety of attractive stalls and the hall was packed for the opening by Mrs Joan Mills, wife of Mr Peter Mills, MP, prospective Conservative candidate for West Devon. Branches taking part were: Torrington, Weare Giffard, Alverdiscott, Roborough, Ashreigney, High Bickington, Winkleigh, Beaford, Little Torrington, Dolton and Downland, Buckland Filleigh, Shebbear, Langtree and the women’s branch.

It will break the hearts of many of Torrington’s inhabitants – particularly the young ones – but by Sunday morning all that will be left of this fine looking ship - Cacafuego - will be ashes. The vessel, built by Torrington Cavaliers, is destined to be turned into a fiery spectacle when darkness falls as Torrington’s unusual contribution to the 1972 Guy Fawkes celebrations.

At Weare Giffard at the riverside and close to the Village Hall, a willow tree was planted in memory of Group Captain P Walker, director of the Community Council for Devon. The tree was donated by the Men of the Trees organisation. Mrs L Lampard-Vachell, who has been so closely connected with parish activities over many years, was invited to plant the willow. Among parishioners present were the chairman of the Parish Council (Mr Bruce Lake) and the chairman of the Village Hall Committee (Dr I H Hewetson).

On the grounds that the Patio Pool at Westward Ho! is an amenity to the area, Northam Urban Council have agreed to a request by the pool owners to subsidise the cost of heating it. The owners were considering providing a partially covered area and installing water heating equipment with the aid of a grant from the English Tourist Board and had asked for help towards the annual heating costs for the May to September period.

Is Kipling Terrace worthy of preservation?

Buckleigh Place Country Club, Westward Ho! – household furniture, catering and restaurant equipment for sale.

Hyfield, Woolsery, fetches over £21,000.

Woolsery Parish Room is for sale.

At Woolsery the annual pork prizes whist drive was held in the Village Hall. The door stewards were Messrs R W Hancock and C J Andrew, and the MC for the evening Mr J Vanstone. The prizes presented by Mr W Trudgeon were won by – Mrs Johns, Mrs I Robertson, Miss Harris, Mrs B Lott, Mrs M Walter, Miss Heather Dunn, Mr F Petherick, Mr R Wonnacott, Mr Furse, Mr A Hill, Mr C Foss and Mr Martin. Draw winners were W Souch, R Chapple and Caroline Shaw. Tea and biscuits were served by Mesdames G Lott, W Trudgeon and A Hill.

Former chairman of Woolsery Parish Council, Mr C B Griffiths, returned to the village to plant a tree on Church Green, given by the Men of the Trees. The tree is in memory of Group Captain Peter Walker, to whose work for parish councils in Devon and the community in general Mr Griffiths paid tribute. The ceremony was attended by members of the Parish Council and general public. 

November 1997

Appledore property for sale.

Lunch proved a profitable one for motorist Shaun Loze when he stopped to refuel his car at Blight’s Motors in Bideford. Shaun, from Pot Black, also bought some fuel for himself in the form of a packet of Maltesers and when he opened the packet he discovered he’d won £1,000. In the photograph with him are Mary Blight, Teresa Blight and Steve Noyce.

Food technology was brought to life for pupils of Grenville College Junior School when a class of youngsters visited Scotts Model Bakery in Bideford. Although they cook in the classroom the visit provided an opportunity for them to see bread and confectionery created on a commercial sale, said teacher Hazel Barwise. They helped to cook sausage rolls, decorate gingerbread dinosaurs and create meringue animals to fill ‘goody bags’ to take back to school. The picture shows youngsters and their escorts getting hints from Fred Beck.

Three devoted sisters all sacrificed their hair in a charity memorial to their late father. Jackie Phipps of Ayres Close, Bideford, and Michelle Bissett of Sentry Corner, had their heads shaved at the Heavitree Arms. On the same day their sister Tracey Alexander, Michelle’s twin – lost her hair in her home town of Woodbridge, near Ipswich. A collection at the Heavitree Arms raised more than £100 and with sponsorship the sisters are hoping their fund raising will top £550. Their father, Peter Lewis, died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 49.

Former Bideford College student Ian Wild has been awarded a £3,000 scholarship for this academic year by AMP Inc.

Children in Need is supported by Sue Edmans, Dave Barrow, Shirley Latham, Rosanna Jury, Jessica Teuchmann, Elizabeth Hughes, Matthew Borrowdale, Paul Ashworth, and Naomi Sherborne.

Santa Claus lookalike John Brayley receives a helping hand from friend Percy Pooley as he makes a ‘meals on sledges’ delivery down Clovelly’s cobbled main street.

‘Go ahead’ is expected for Fremington village green plan.

Littleham property for sale.

New Lundy Island video for sale from Footprints Video.

Climbers will be disappearing over the cliffs on Lundy in a venture to save a unique plant. The Lundy Cabbage is found nowhere else. It likes to grow on disturbed ground and is found at the south-east of the island where the slate bedrock is constantly on the move. However, another of Lundy’s plants shares the same habitat and is threatening to push the Cabbage to the brink of extinction. This is the rhododendron, and for the past 10 years there has been a control programme in operation. Specialist climbers will be descending cliffs with saws and loppers to cut back the rhododendrons. The work is being funded by English Nature under its Species Recovery Programme.

For sale Northam/Westward Ho! £149,950

A new and exciting collection of glass sculptures is being launched by Torrington based Dartington Crystal with the help of leading international glass artist Josef Marcolin, who is celebrated for his magnificent crystal figures of animals, birds and sea life. He learned the art of Venetian glass making from the master glass blowers of Murano, before moving to Sweden in 1961. Eric Dancer, managing director of Dartington Crystal said ‘Josef will assist our young glassblowers to develop and hone their skills. The opportunity for them to work alongside someone so talented will be of enormous value.’

You would be hard put to find a more sociable inn than The Anchor, overlooking the sea at Westward Ho! It has 11 pool teams, four darts teams, two skittle teams, a euchre team, a football team and it runs North Devon Pub and Club Cricket League. Mine host Dave Sykes plays in a lot of teams himself. He leaves his partner, Graca Silva, to happily polish more than 80 trophies in the pub’s showcases!

When a new ambulance car goes on the road it will be a dream come true for North Devon Cancer Care Centre founder Jennifer Bonetta. A service to carry chemotherapy patients for treatment at Exeter was the driving force behind the charity she started in 1994. The ambulance car has been brought with a £26,000 donation from Bideford Bridge Trust.

The first owners have moved in to the delightful Prowting Homes’ development at Atlantic Sands, off Cornborough Road, Westward Ho! After the handovers, bottles of champagne were presented to Mr and Mrs Veness and Mrs and Mrs Bridges by site manager Adrian Hunt, Anitra Steckles, Carol Ryan and Jane Oliver.

First time home? Property for sale in Woolsery.