April 1924

Five years’ record in labour disputes.

There are several weather related stories, with influenza still a problem and the worst outbreak for many years.

The funeral of Miss Lucy Constance Heaven took place at Abbotsham. Deceased was the eldest daughter of the late Mr De Bonniot Spencer Heaven, of Coombe Cot, Abbotsham, and formerly of Jamaica. The Rev Canon Kempe, assisted by Rev George Barne, conducted the funeral service. The body was conveyed to the church the previous evening and was received by the Vicar.

An interesting and very pretty wedding was solemnised at the Parish Church, Abbotsham, when Mary Bellew was joined in holy matrimony to Arthur Allin, of Babbacombe, Alwington. Lohengrin’s wedding march was rendered by the organist as the bride entered the church. She was charmingly attired in an ivory gown of marocain and georgette and a lace veil surmounted with orange blossom. She was attended by four bridesmaids, Miss N and E Bellew, and E and M Allin, who wore white crepe-de-chine dresses with red rosebuds and winged caps of white tulle with red rosebuds. They carried silver chain bags (the gifts of the bridegroom). After the ceremony and later in the day, amid many congratulations, Mr and Mrs A R Allin left for Torquay, where the honeymoon is being spent. The presents were numerous and costly.

Interesting presentations by past and present scholars and the villagers were made to Mr and Mrs C Hooper in appreciation of their much valued and long services with the parish as schoolmaster and mistress of the Abbotsham School, on their retirement.

There was a sad fatality at Alverdiscott when a farm worker, named Thorne, in the employ of Mr Samuel Friend, of Luppincott Farm, was leading a horse attached to a cart in which his master’s children were riding to school. Suddenly the horse took fright and bolted, upsetting the cart and throwing the children out. One of them fell underneath the vehicle and was killed, while another was injured. Assistance was rendered by Mr Thithecott.

The Centenary of the Appledore Lifeboat which falls next year will be marked by various events in the river.

The inspection of the scholars of the Council Infants School at Appledore on religious instruction took place by the Rev F J Morrish, BA, and his report has just been received. It is highly gratifying, as the following extract shows: “The characteristic efficiency of the work done by Miss F E Parkhouse, and her two assistants in this school…

Before a crowded audience at the Cinema, Appledore, the Vicar brought his much appreciated Lenten lectures, illustrated by Newton’s lantern slides, to a successful close, when he thanked Mr and Mrs Hawkins for placing the hall at his free disposal. He also thanked Mrs Muller, Miss Ellen Hinks, Miss S Pike, Miss Mary Hinks, Mrs Annie Lamey, Mr Sdyney Cocks, and Mr Thomas Pike for kindly contributing to the musical portion of the lecture. He also acknowledged the services of Mr Hearn and Miss Bilton in arranging the slides.

Tea on the Revenge at Appledore. Hundreds visited the Revenge or Empress as she lay on the sands in front of Mr Hink’s ship-breaking yard. It was a happy thought of the owner when he decided to allow public inspection at a cost for the benefit of Bideford and District Hospital. Large numbers went down to the vessel when the tide was out and all were well repaid for their journey from the lifeboat slip when they foot on deck.Planks have been placed across, with rails to prevent accidents, and two strings of flags have been hung from the masts giving a last dignified flourish to an old lady.  

The Secretary of Bideford Hospital has received a cheque for £26.19.6 from Mr Henry Hinks being the money raised by making a small charge to visitors. From now on, the entrance money will go to the Vicar of Appledore’s Sick and Needy Fund, which has had many calls on its purse of late. With the berthing of the Revenge at Appledore, it is interesting to reflect that, very appropriately, Mr Jenkin, the pilot in supreme charge, a man who had risen from a sick bed to command of the venture, is a direct descendant of Nelson’s cox, who was nicknamed Warrier, and also of Mr Jenkin, a signalman, both of whom fought on his Majesty’s ship Victory. About 80 men will be employed on breaking up the vessel.

Appledore man’s thrilling story. Graphic stories of the wreck of the steamer Buchanness, which was driven on to the Casquets during a gale, were told by members of the crew, all of whom were saved. The captain and some of the crew were landed at Portsmouth by the naval auxiliary Slavol, and the officers and remaining crew at Portland by the steamer Baron Cawdor. Those landed at Portland included Second Office J Pettley, Appledore.

A large gathering of the members of the Appledore Mothers’ Meeting assembled at the Churchyard to pay their last respects to one of their youngest members, Mrs Lilian Braund, wife of Mr William Braund, and daughter of Mr and Mrs Richard Bowden, of Vernon Lane, Appledore. Mrs Muller presided at the organ. The death occurred at this residence, Northdene, Richmond-road, Appledore, of Mr William Smith, a tailor by trade and a native of Chulmleigh. He came to Appledore when a young man as an employee of Mr J Beara, tailor and outfitter, and had worked for the firm ever since. Miss Elizabeth Jewell, of No. 7 Vernon’s Lane, Appledore, daughter of the late Captain Jewell, was laid to rest after a prolonged illness, during which Mrs Ley had helped her niece Miss Ethel Harvey to nurse her.

Mr F W Andrews, with a Post Office Box address in British Columbia, Canada, advertises that he would like to communicate with some member of the family of Gethin P Jones, believed to live at Queen Street, Bideford. Does anyone know the story behind this appeal?

A wonderful, polite advert from H F Elliott of 75 High Street, Bideford.

A column of useful recipes includes one for a French sauce to go with fish; other meal suggestions are for spring onions cooked with cheese, and shrimp rissoles.

The Centenary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution will be marked in Bideford on 19 June, more details to be published later.

At Lavington Congregational Church in Bideford, a new primary memorial hall is to open.

No. 1 Chudleigh Terrace, Bideford, is for sale by public auction.

A report on New York by Mr Robert Pound who is paying a visit to his mother, Mrs J R Pound, of Marine Gardens, Bideford. He was last in the land of his birth a little over 10 years ago and when asked if he noticed much difference in the old country, he remarked “It is hard to compare New York with smaller towns, I have not seen London. There is a certain quietness, whereas we are rushing, running all the time.” Mr Pound especially made the journey across the Herring Pond to be present at the 81st birthday festivities of his mother.

A well-known and greatly respected Bideford inhabitant passed peacefully away in the person of Mr Caleb Friendship, the founder of the firm of caterers bearing his name, which started many years ago, and which some considerable time back he passed over to his second son, Mr W C Friendship. He died at his house, Pergersec, Abbotsham-road...

In contrast to the work being undertaken on the Revenge, it is reported that Hansen’s Shipbuilding Yard in Bideford has been placed in receivership and has paid off 120 men. Keels of two new vessels had recently been laid down so the announcement has come as a surprise but 80 men will still be employed at the Appledore repair yard where there is work for the next few weeks. At its busiest, Hansen’s employed over five hundred men. Hansen’s Football Club have advised the North Devon League that they will be unable to carry out any of their remaining fixtures this season.

In another sporting story, Bideford Cricket Club has reported a deficit of over £50 for this year, with debts carried over from previous years making an adverse balance of more than £70. The club says that this cannot be allowed to continue and efforts will be made to reduce the debt this year.

At Bradworthy, Mrs J L Martin has been appointed secretary of the Nursing Association in the place of Mr Dunstan, resigned.

After a painful illness, patiently borne, Mr T Everson, of Great Dinworthy, Bradworthy, passed away. As one of the leading agriculturists of the district and a sterling United Methodist, he was beloved and respected by all. Though he curried no man’s favour yet he was beloved and highly esteemed; a friend to all, an enemy to none.

Between 3pm and 8pm on 8 April, postal orders for £10, two ten-shilling notes and a number of Army forms were stolen from the Post Office at Buckland Brewer. Police are investigating.

James Marshall, a rabbit trapper, living at Oke Farm, Buckland Brewer, was charged at the instance of Mr John Hookway, with trespass in pursuit of conies. Defendant pleaded guilty.

Bucks Mills has lost one of the few remaining Braunds of his generation by the death of Mr John Braund at the age of 76, The funeral took place at St Anne’s Church cemetery, the Rev Guy S Whttaker officiating. The immediate mourners…

The marriage of Mr William Somerville, son of Mr and Mrs James Somerville, Slerra Villa, Clovelly, to Miss Isa Auld, has just taken place at Glasgow. The bridegroom served as a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve during the great war, and for the past two years has been second officer in the employ of the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co. The happy couple are spending a few days at Clovelly with the bridegroom’s parents.

The peal of five bells at Frithelstock has been augmented to a six with the addition of a new treble.

A wedding of local interest took place at the United Methodist Church, Woodford, being that of Mr Ernest Shute, of Stoke, Hartland, and Miss Annie Collins, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs W Collins, Woodford. The bride wore a pretty dress of …

A pretty wedding has been solemnised in the Wesleyan Church, between William Gliddon and Ada Shute, of Stoke, Hartland. Many good wishes go with the couple, who are to leave for their new home in Ontario, Canada.

The annual concert arranged by Mrs Bevan and Miss F Colwill in aid of the funds of the Bideford Infirmary and the Hartland Nursing Association took place in the Palladium and was well received by a crowded house. Local talent was assisted by two London visitors, Miss Crockett and Mr Tilly.

Hatherleigh bakers have raised the price of a four-pound loaf from 8d to 8½d. Grocers have raised the price of granulated sugar from 7d to 7½d per pound.

The reaper’s sickle has removed another aged inhabitant in the person of Mr P Dean, of Horn’s Cross. Deceased worked as a mason for the late Mr R Vaggers for a good many years and was well known throughout the district.

A meeting of the Phipps Charity Trustees was held in the Langtree Schoolroom. Present were Messrs Hockwill, Jones, Dayman, Short, Webber, Moore and S Sanders. The accounts for the year were presented and passed, and it was resolved to distribute about £20 on Good Friday in accordance with the revised list as presented by the Secretary.

The Langtree Parish Council, through their chairman, have presented Mr S J Sanders with a silver mounted ebony walking stick, as a memento of his 25 years’ service as their clerk. Mr Jones, chairman, spoke of the ability and energy exercised by Mr Sanders, and he, on behalf of the Council, greatly regretted losing such an able and conscientious official. Mr Sanders suitably replied.

Mrs Huxtable, of Birch Hill Farm, Langtree, has again been the recipient of a cheque from a relative in America, to the amount of £20 in aid of the UM chapel funds. This makes a splendid total of £80 collected by Mrs Huxtable from her relatives abroad.

On Lundy a whist drive and dance was held at the Manor Hotel, with Mr Sleep (chief officer, Lloyds Signal Station) acting as Master of Ceremonies.

The marriage of Brigadier Gen. Gwyn Gwyn-Thomas, CMG, DSO, to Mrs Helen M Saltren-Willett, Royal Artillery, of Petticombe, Monkleigh, was solemnised quietly at St James’ Church, Piccadilly, London. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr A MacDonald Baird. She was dressed in pale grey morocain, draped with a scarf of beautiful old Honiton lace, and that to match trimmed with blue grapes and a flowing lace veil.

The funeral of Mr Arthur Ward, of Northam, son of the late Mr Ward, formerly Surveyor to the Northam Urban Council, took place at Appledore. Rev Hugh Muller was assisted by Rev G Payne Cook, RD. The Vicar mentioned that the late Mr Arthur Ward had fought in the South African war, and as so many had done so, were apt to be forgotten owing to the recent Great War, he made a special point of having the Union Jack at half mast and wore his medals in respect to the glorious dead of an earlier war.

At Northam, PC L Uglow succeeds PC Philpotts, who has been promoted to Sergeant. Users of the Northam to Westward Ho! road will be pleased to note Northam Council’s plan to improve the corner from the Square to Tower Street, one of the most awkward in the whole district.

At Bideford Borough Sessions, Charles Prance, plumber of Northam, who sent an apology for his non-attendance which the Bench decided to accept, was summoned for riding a motor cycle to the danger of the public at the North-road corner of Bridgeland Street.

We regret to learn that news has been received, by cable, of the death of Mrs C H Pickard (nee Pengilly) of Australia. It will be remembered by many people that Mr and Mrs Pickard emigrated 41 years ago.

The results of several Northam property auctions feature this month. The King’s Head Hotel, together with a shop and house (in the occupation of Mrs Thorne) was withdrawn when the price reached £3,800; Alexandra House in Cross Street (occupied by H W Greenwood) was bought by the tenant for £800; two cottages in Tower Street (occupied by Messrs Balsdon and Colwill) were bought by Mr R Henderson for Northam Urban District Council for £265; and six cottages in Honey Street were withdrawn at £540.

A very successful bazaar was organised by the Wesleyan Church and carried through at Parkham…

Parkham parishioners are now being visited by two CMS Pilgrims from East Africa and China. On Friday evening they gave an address in the Council Schoolroom illustrated by lantern slides. A public tea and concert were held at the Rectory and Schoolroom in aid of funds for the Parkham Hospital Bed in East Africa and the colporteur in China. The total amount raised was over £16.

Quite a gloom was cast over the parish on the announcement of the death of Mr John J Parkhouse, of Peppercombe, after a short and severe illness. Deceased was very highly respected by a large circle of friends, and he will be greatly missed throughout the parish, he being a member of the Committee of both the local Football Club and the Garden Show. Deceased leaves a widow and two young children to mourn their loss , and the sympathy of the parish goes to them in their bereavement.

At Shebbear, Mr Walter Batten is recovering from his illness. At the Easter Vestry Mr R Mill was re-elected and Mr J Nethacott re-apointed churchwardens. The Walter and Smallcombe Charity was distributed on Good Friday by Mr W J Leach (Parish Councillor) and Mr A Chapman (Clerk to the Parish Council).

Before the Mayor, Mr T F Upton, in the chair and other magistrates at Bideford Borough Sessions, William Harris, motor driver, of Torrington, pleaded guilty to not having the number plate of his car properly illuminated at 12.30am on the 27th.

A long night whist drive and dance organised by Torrington ex-Service men was held in the Town Hall, the attendance being exceptionally good. A very pleasant evening was spent. The very fine whist prizes were won as follows: Mrs T Curtice, Miss Lowe, Miss Rockey, M Burke, C Heard and J Davey. The cake guessing competition was won by R Rundell. Dancing was kept up until a late hour. Miss F Johns was the excellent pianist.

There was a large attendance of relatives and friends at the wedding at St Michael’s Parish Church, Torrington, of Mr Albert Norman and Miss Katherine Ebsary. The Church, with its beautiful Easter floral decorations, looked very appropriate for the occasion. The bride was given away by her brother…

The Rev Preb F Emlyn Jones officiated at the wedding at St Michael’s Parish Church, of Miss Jane Sweet and Bernard Hodge of Chambercombe-road, Ilfracombe. A reception was afterwards held at the bride’s home when about 40 guests were present. The happy couple, who are widely known, received numerous beautiful gifts. During the evening, the bridal pair left by train for Ilfracombe, where the honeymoon will be spent. They will reside in Bristol.

At Weare Gifford, household furniture and a Citroen motor car from Road Cliffe Cottage, are for sale.

The wedding took place at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Bideford, of Miss Bessie Lewis, second daughter of Mr and Mrs A Lewis, of Lauriston, Westward Ho! and Mr Arthur Loughlin, of Camden, Westward Ho! The ceremony was performed by Rev Father Hawkins, and the bride, who was given away by her father, wore a fawn gabardine costume with hat to match. Sister Madeleine presided at the organ. The honeymoon is being spent in London.

Coastal erosion is causing a serious problem at Westward Ho! Forty years ago, an eating house near the Pebble Ridge was a great convenience to visitors. Now the site of the house is under the ridge. Mr Edwin Vidal of Barnstaple who has for many years taken a keen interest in the Westward Ho! coast erosion question, writes:

A flannel dance at Westward Ho!

The anniversary of the United Methodist Church was celebrated on Good Friday at Woolsery.

April 1974

After a break of two years when the Seamen’s Mission at Appledore was closed, the traditional fishermen’s service was revived at the re-opened Mission. The service, which marks the opening of the salmon netting season each year, was conducted by Mr Frank Holmes. The Vicar of Appledore, Rev Donald Peyton Jones, read a lesson and offered a prayer for the fishermen. Solos were contributed by Mrs T Campbell and Mr Ivor Harris.

Children of Appledore presented their own preview of Easter when a bonnet competition was among the attractions at an Easter Parade, the first event organised by the newly-formed Appledore County Primary School Parent-Teacher Association. Mrs J Payne, wife of former headmaster…

After being covered by seven tides over Easter, a Land Rover which became stuck in The Gut near Greysands, West Appledore, was finally recovered by the Army. The Land Rover belongs to Mr Robert Chattey, of 31 The Mount, Appledore, who was driving it when it became stuck.

The Rev Fred Smith, husband of the Rev Gladys Smith who, for 10 years until 1969 was minister of Lavington Congregational Church, Bideford, died at the age of 83. Mr Smith who had retired from the active ministry before moving to Bideford, taught at the Grammar School and was chairman of the local branch of the Devonshire Association.

Several thousand people basked in the Easter Monday sunshine to watch banger racing. From the hillside slopes the huge crowd watched 120 drivers, 20 of them women, compete in races on the former rubbish tip on the outskirts of Bideford. The racing was originally planned by the Buccaneers to raise money for the Torridge Geriatric Hospital but it was decided because of the help given by the Banger Drivers’ Club that half the proceeds should go to a charity of their choice.

Pelican pedestrian crossings are to replace the two existing zebra crossings on Bideford Quay, but no date for the changeover is yet available. Their introduction will help east traffic hold-ups at present accentuated when pedestrian cross singly.

Bideford Rifle Club, winners of the Journal Herald Cup, were beaten into second place at this year’s team shoot by the Braunton club. The picture shows Messrs Rudi Gnoyke, John Slee, John Stacey and Cyril Taylor.

Getting their hands in in readiness for Scout job week are Andrew White and Christopher Green, Cub Scouts of the 2nd Bideford group. Willing ‘guinea pigs’ are Cub Scouts Jonathan Morris and Colin Paddon. They are the cubs and scouts from Bideford, Northam and Parkham will be knocking on doors anxious to do small jobs to raise money for funds.

These feet are made for scoring – and that’s just what they’ve done – nearly 100 times between them so far this season. Played 47, won 41, drawn 2, lost 4, for 218, against 48 – that is the remarkable record of the young football players of Bideford School. Their talents have this season brought them the North Devon schools’ under-13 and under-15 championships and the runners-up place in the Pepsi league for under-16s.

These are the faces that go with the feet – Garry Henry, Leonard Ford, Michael Tithecott, Mark Stevens, Andrew Oke, Andrew Little and Barry Robinson. Missing from the picture are Brian Cox and Jeffery Brown

Only a handful of people in Bideford, perhaps, know that Bobby Locke twice beat Peter Thomson into second place in the British Open golf championship. But among them are members of Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! CC’s quiz team – and the knowledge was enough to take them into the last eight of the Sunday People national sports quiz. But it was a last gasp win against Britannia, Cheltenham, whose identification of Lester Piggot’s first winner put them ahead with only one question left, and tension was nigh unbearable as the golf question was posed. But Keith Moses, David Cox and Jimmy Jewell combined to come up with the answer to give Bideford an exciting victory.

Because they cannot complete work on the laying of a sewer from Bucks Mills down to the beach until mid-May, Bideford Rural Council have decided not to go ahead with the work now, but to include it in phase II of the sewerage scheme.

In North Devon there is a company – West Country Waste Paper, of The Mill, Fremington, which is offering a prize of £100 to the charity whose helpers produce for that depot the highest tonnage of suitable waste paper, between now and March 31, 1975. The current price if £10 per tonne.

Hartland pair, B Meaker and D Webber, achieved the only local success, being placed third in open duet. Other winners were from St Austell, Newton Abbot, Bude, Northlew and Ashbury and Totnes. The adjudicator, Mr David Thomas, solo cornet with Stanshaw Band, Bristol, was guest artist at a successful concert given by Hartland Town Band in the evening.

In a last ditch effort to get a parking space reserved for Hartland’s doctor outside his house in the Square, Bideford Rural Council decided at their final meeting to write to the county medical officer of health and to Torridge District Council.

Designs to extend the Commodore Hotel at Instow are ‘out of character’ for a conservation area, say Barnstaple Rural Council. They are opposing the plan, which proposes additional bedrooms and a larger lounge and bar.

A party of seven from Mondeville, Calvados, with which French town Northam Urban Council decided to ‘twin’ only on February 27, will arrive in the parish tomorrow week. They will be met by the town mayor, Mr John Smith, who is delighted at the swift response. The party, who are being accommodated at the Durrant House as guests of the parish, will be here for four days. They will be taken on a tour of Appledore Shipyard as well as visiting local beauty spots. Next month a party from Northam district will make a reciprocal visit to its twin-town of Mondeville, an industrial suburb of Caen, in Normandy.

A total of 50,000 trading stamps have been presented to the North Devon Cheshire Home. They were won in a national competition by Mrs Cynthia Snowdon, daughter of Mr and Mrs Percy Reed, of Windmill Lane, Northam.

Many more weddings will take place in future in Northam – thanks to local government reorganisation.

Robert Sampson, of the newly formed 1st Torridge pack at Northam, proudly shows his Golden Arrow badge to his friends. He was the first at Northam to win this award.

‘Acres of ground for the kids to run around’ at Penhaven House, Parkham.

The possibilities of business links being forged between a North Devon farm and the Argentine were explored when Senor Otero, a South American journalist, visited Mr and Mrs Bert Guard at Hill Farm, St Giles. Their reputation in the sheep-showing world, gained with their Dorset Downs, prompted the visit which was arranged by the Central Office of Information.

Does the bell toll for parrot belonging to Mr Crystal Copp, of Calf Street, Torrington?

The annual Swedish-English service, organised through Dartington Glass Ltd, will be held at Torrington Parish Church. Conducting the service will be the Rev Mr Evander, of the Swedish Church in London. Also taking part will be the well-known soloist, Miss Hillevi Johansson, accompanied by Mr Kai Lindberg on the organ.

Torrington’s pannier market, the use of which has declined in the post-war years, is to be given a new lease of life by a property development company. Torridge District Council has recommended approval of an outline planning application for redevelopment of the area, the approval being conditional on satisfactory parking arrangements and listed building consent being obtained from the Department of the Environment. The applicants are Beadle Property Holdings Ltd, of Hertford. The picture shows the pannier market building looking from the Barley Grove end towards the entrance from the Square. It used to be completely roofed with glass but this began to deteriorate and was removed for safety about the time of the Second World War.

From designs entered by apprentices at RAF Cosford, that of an Old Boy of Bideford Grammar School, Stephen Gilbert, was chosen for the course passing-out shield. His parents and grandparents – Mr and Mrs J Gilbert of Town Park, and Mr and Mrs J Gilbert of Calf Street – live in Torrington. During his off-duty hours Stephen played in the Apprentice Wing Band of RAF Cosford which has frequently taken part in civilian and Service functions. He also took part with the band in the RAF pipe and drums championships and at the Royal Tournament.

Years ago the sight of a passenger train thundering along the Westleigh straight section between Instow and Bideford was such a common that it hardly rated a second glance – that is unless it was providing the opportunity for a brief racing moment with motorists on the road alongside. Mr Beeching’s axe stopped all that. Last weekend the line between Barnstaple and Torrington again experienced passenger travel as a train specially chartered by the Bristol Railway Correspondents and Travel Society made a nostalgic journey alongside Taw and Torridge.

District Officer Ken Lewis, of the Coastguard Service, Hartland, presents a long-service medal to Mr W N Newcombe, a member of the Westward Ho! coastguard rescue company since 1952. Although the look-out at Westward Ho! is no longer manned in bad weather, the company is kept busy during the summer with cliff rescues and helping any who get into difficulties in the sea. Other members of the company in the picture are Messrs G Wingfield, I Smith, N Laws, M Blackmore and D Price.

In an effort to keep the sea at bay, Torridge District Council is spending £75,000 on strengthening the Pebble Ridge at Westward Ho! And if nature fails within the next few weeks to make amends for the ravages of January’s storms then the council will be asked to consider spending another £40,000 to replenish the sand on the beach.

When Northam council agreed to ask the district council quickly to consider implementing planning permission for recreational development on Westbourne Terrace, Westward Ho! Mrs E M Hilder described the situation as ‘a shambles.’

What is believed to be a record score from what was certainly a record entry of 208 pairs gave Royal North Devon golfers James Laidler and Norman Tithecott victory in the Bideford Bay foursomes. The event is played annually over the courses of the RND at Westward Ho! and Saunton clubs and the winning pair put together rounds of 36 and 35 points to win easily. It was a repeat triumph for Laidler, who won the event last year in partnership with David Harman.

The death has occurred of Mr James Andrew, of Three Gables, Woolsery. He formerly farmed at North Hole, Little Torrington, and had been well known for the various public offices he had held, including chairman of the Woolsery Village Hall committee and was also a special constable for many years. The bearers were Messrs G Lott, P Andrew, K Harding and T Braund.

April 1999

Transport Minister Glenda Jackson visited Torridgeside on a joint mission to name the latest ship built at Appledore Shipbuilders and to meet Labour Party candidates in the local elections. At Appledore she named the Toisa Crest, a multi-role offshore vessel, which is due for delivery next month. It follows in the wake of the Toisa Coral which is now operating for Cable and Wireless.

A buy-out by Appledore Shipbuilders has saved a famous West Country shipyard from possible closure. The Appledore yard is to take over Mashford Brothers’ Cremyll Shipyard on the River Tamar, near Torpoint. Appledore’s engineer director Ian Mason, who has been helping to oversee the take-over, said that in addition to its shipbuilding the Appledore yard also operated two repair slipways. The two yards would complement each other.

Appledore’s community will be throwing its full weight a host of events to raise funds for children’s charity CLIC over the Bank Holiday. All its pubs, the British Legion, the church, the school and local businesses are involved in the fun. An auction, a mixed tug of war and discos are on the programme. So is a euchre drive, a mega meat raffle and a barbecue.

Appledore author Jeremy Bell has drawn on wide travellings and experiences and the thoughts and emotions have stirred in a new book of poems Stranger on a Strange Planet. Mr Bell has hitchhiked through Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. He emigrated to Australia as a ‘£10 tourist’ to work in mining towns, on fishing boats, drilling rigs and in an institution for young offenders. Now he makes a living through gardening and small building jobs and continues to campaign on local environmental issues.

Properties at Marine Parade, Appledore, for sale.

Art teacher Barry Hosken is turning over a new canvas after a career at a Bideford school spanning 35 years. Pupils and staff at Bideford College said farewell at Easter to the longest serving member of the school staff, who has taught two generations of youngsters. He started his career in 1964 as an art master at the former Bideford Grammar School, and stayed there through its amalgamation with the former Bideford Secondary School. He was head of art at the school for 10 years and for the past 15 years has been a Year Head. In earlier years Mr Hosken held exhibitions but more recently his own painting has had to take a back seat.

Each of Chrys Aitken’s 40 soft toys hold a special memory for her. But she is happily giving them all away in the hope they can bring some comfort to the hapless children of Kosovo. Chrys, who lives on the Londonderry Estate in Bideford, is a former teacher, and is one of many who have responded to the newly launched Kids for Kosovo Appeal.

With the death of artist Miss Sheila Hutchinson, Bideford has lost a woman with a great commitment to her art and to the town she loved. Miss Hutchinson had a particularly long association with the Burton Art Galley and Museum, dating back to her friendship with the Burton family when the gallery was given to the town in 1951. Chairman and later president of the Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society, she was a regular exhibitor. Born at Weare Giffard she attended the former Westbank School and later studied at Bideford School of Art. During the 1940s she worked on watercolours and will perhaps best be remembered for a series of 74 paintings of the River Torridge, source to sea, which took her 10 years to complete. Over the years Miss Hutchinson passed on her skills in calligraphy to many local people. A woman with varied interests she was a member of Bideford’s first women’s rowing team.

In Bideford, an independent son of a rock legend is making his own mark in the music industry. Oliver Wakeman, son of Rick Wakeman, works in a local building society and makes music at night and on his weekends off. He will be known to customers in local pubs as part of Smokestack. All help to finance the home studio he has pieced together and from where the keyboard skills inherited from his father have been combined with his song writing ability in two already successful CDs. Heaven’s Isle was inspired by the island of Lundy. Having come to the area with his mother and brother, Adam, he studied at the North Devon College and took a job locally.

Bideford Pannier Market gave local people a tasty treat with the launch of its monthly farmers’ markets. It was both a taste of the local fare of which the region is justly proud and a taste of the past, for it was a farmers’ market that the venue was established 115 years ago. Twenty-five stallholders turned up for the first of the new markets which are to be held on the first Wednesday of each month. There were some unusual and sizzling bacon to sample and, although not for sale, some traditional pork brawn, homemade specially by the market’s longest stallholder Mary Hedden of Weare Giffard. The third generation of her family to attend the market Mary has been a regular there for more than 60 years. It was a steady rather than a stampede start but one which was greeted with optimism by market manager Paul Naisbett.

Bideford will soon have a cinema again. Closed for a year, the Bideford College Cinema reopens on May 1 following an £80,000 refit which includes sophisticated new projection equipment. With the town’s commercial cinemas having long closed, Bideford College struggled for 10 years to provide a service. Although well supported with more than 70,000 people attending, it suffered technical problems and closed. Now a series of financial grants has enabled the cinema to upgrade. The improvements would provide a quality of audience entertainment never experienced there before, said theatre manager Neil Bennion.

Neil Bennion and Simon Jeffery

The go-ahead for Bideford’s long-awaited East-the-Water industrial relief road has been warmly welcomed. The £4m project is designed to alleviate traffic problems and open up more industrial land. The final go-ahead came only last week with the announcement of £1.1m backing from the new South West Regional Development Agency.

Helpers are needed to strip down a grand old lady on the banks of the River Torridge – and provide her with a steam bath! Work has started in earnest on the £250,000 restoration project of the 100 year old schooner the Kathleen and May. Shipwrights have started stripping off her old planking in readiness for replacement with new timbers. The town’s chamber of commerce, which is behind the project, is also looking for more unusual help in the form of a steam generator or old traction engine. This is needed to provide the steam for a 40ft steam box in which the new planking will be shaped.

Pictured are Andrew Harrison and Steven Barker

Four young schoolfriends from Bideford have cleaned up for charity by washing car windscreens at a local garage. Fellow pupils at St Mary’s Primary School, Katherine Harvey, Rachel Bright, Fern Dymond and Angela Keen, spent two hours at Bideford’s Esso Petrol station and raised more than £65 for Comic Relief. They were supported and kept supplied with buckets of warm water by garage manager Kevin Cole. “It really was fund and everyone was so kind” said the girls.

A charming character cottage, formerly a barn, is for sale at Buckland Brewer.

Tuition in one of the oldest open air sports in the country will be on offer to visitors to a North Devon tourist attraction this summer. The sport is falconry and two top display falconers – Jonathan Marshall and David Rampling – have joined forces at The Milky Way Adventure Park, near Clovelly. Jonathan and his fliers have been favourites at the birds of prey there for more than seven years.

Villagers of Fremington will be holding a tea party on their new village green to celebrate the traditional May Day holiday. On the afternoon of May 1 everyone living in Fremington, Bickington, Yelland and Roundswell is invited to the party. Local clubs and societies will have stalls, there will be displays by children’s groups and a tea stall will raise money for the Children’s Hospice. “This will be an opportunity for us all to get together and celebrate this holiday. It will also offer local good causes a chance to raise funds and recruit new supporters” said parish council chairman Mrs Ro Day.

Fremington Quay on the widening estuary of the River Taw is set to become a unique amenity for the people of North Devon. The £500,000 project is expected to begin within months and will rescue an area which for long has lain derelict with the historic quay crumbling away. Cargo boats and freight trains once used it, and it is planned to add an attractive railway flavour to the scheme. ‘One of the most exciting features will be an observation tower looking like a signal box,’ said project chairman Rodney Cann. ‘We’ve had so much enthusiasm from local residents. And the district council, which is purchasing the Quay on the project’s behalf, has given first-class support.’

As battles raged around the town Great Torrington chalked up a great victory with is Civil War reenactments and official opening of the town’s new heritage centre. The Torrington 1646 Civil War Experience at Castle Hill is a £400,000 visitor attraction which enters fully into the 17th century. It was opened by Dr Tom Bell and Mark Hopton – direct descendants of the two Generals who led the opposing armies in the 1646 Battle of Torrington.

Torrington residents are being asked for their views on a plan for a new riverside pathway to link the Tarka Trail with Town Mills. The Torrington Commons Conservators have been in discussion with Devon County Council for some time about linking the two via a cycleway. As a first stage a tunnel providing access from the Tarka Trail to the Rolle Road was opened two years ago.

Playing a special role with the task group taking part in Operation Allied Force in the Adriatic is Leading Aircraft Controller Phillip Bwye from Torrington, who is the son of Ken and Hillary. On HMS Somerset he is on call round-the-clock. Said Phillip “It is a real challenge to be at the centre of a high profile situation as this. This is the first time I’ve been closed up in a war situation.” Phillip is looking forward to getting home and seeing his family, especially his sister who is expecting a baby.

Westward Ho! restauranteur David Cousins is turning up the heat in his training programme for the London Marathon. Pounding the treadmill and running miles each week David is determined that his marathon attempt will be a success for the Children’s Hospice South West. It was the Chariots of Fire music which stirred him while watching last year’s marathon on television.

A mini digger valued at £14,000 has been stolen from Westward Ho! The digger was delivered to the car park at Kingsley Club off Golfs Links Road but then disappeared. Later in the month it was reported that equipment worth nearly £1,500 has been stolen from a partly renovated commercial premises at Golf Links Road, Westward Ho! The items taken were a De Walt battery drill charger and box, a B&Q tool box and hand tools, a Stihl disc cutter, a Bosch Kangol hammer drill, an EW battery charger and an electric transformer.

Weekly return trips to Clifton are the order of the day for Greg Davey, who has just signed schoolboy forms for Bristol City. Greg from Woolsery was spotted by the First Division Club while playing against them for Bideford Blues Centre of Excellence. Parents, Paul and Sharon, are hoping for sponsorship to help further their son’s football career.