Clovelly Road 'Hold-Up'

Passengers leaving Bideford by bus on Saturday morning for Clovelly, Hartland and Bude little dreamt the Army had an assault course all prepared for them en route!

On Fairy Cross hill a Matador 10-ton Army truck completely blocked the road and passengers had to alight from one bus, climb through the truck, and board a second bus waiting on the Hartland side.

It appears the truck, towing a 3.7 A.A gun, had left Cleave Camp, Morwenstowe, with a party of six men of the 37th Regt. R.A. returning from a practice camp to their unit at Tonfanau, North Wales. As the truck was proceeding down the hill at about 10am traffic lights controlling single-line traffic past cable-laying works changed to ‘Stop.’ The driver applied his brakes, but those on the gun did not respond and the lorry was swung across the road.

Prompt action by police and A.A and R.A.C motor patrols quickly had traffic diverted on to the main Bradworthy road, sealing off the blocked section of the trunk road. The proprietor of Fowlers Piece petrol filling station reported ‘a very busy day!’

15 August 1952