Years Ago - August 1949

August 1949

With special thanks to Catherine for her many years of voluntary work for the Bideford and District Community Archive.

Friday, August 5, 1949

Births – Braund – to Kathleen (nee Dymond) wife of Kenneth, a son, John, brother for Kenneth and Judith; to Gwendolyn and Douglas Briant (nee Barund), a son, Simon Jocelyn, a brother for Angela; to Eleanor Mary Chamberlain (nee Byers) and Major Trevor Chamberlain, a daughter; to Gwen and Eric Clegg, a son, David George; to Elizabeth and Daniel Cook, a son, a brother for Terry; to Barbara, wife of Sir Frederick Fowke, a daughter; to Gwynneth, wife of Major J R M Gray, RASC, a daughter, Elizabeth Moulton; to Mercy and Sam Luxton, a son; to Phyllis and Roy Parsons, a daughter, Josephine Molly;

Engagements – Major T H N Keene and Evelyn Meriel Kitcat; Henry Miles and Muriel Matthews;

Marriages – Betty Roberts and Harold Hargreaves; Ernest Kent and Jean Palmer; Ronald Martin and Edith Jenkins;

Mr Thomas Frederick Friendship, of Cross House, Abbotsham, had been a member of the choir at Abbotsham Church and a bellringer there for over sixty years. He was a member of the Parochial Church Council and had been verger for the past five years.

The funeral of Captain Thomas Hutchings, of Sundale, Odun Road, Appledore, took place at St Mary’s Church. Capt Hutchings had been associated with the sea from an early age, an din his early twenties was chief officer of the Ulidia, one of the largest sailing ships out of Liverpool, and of which he was for a short time in command. He had also been chief officer on the four-masted ships Talavera and Doverly. Capt Hutchings later became master and owner of several ketches and schooners, including the Bonito, Renown, Isabelle, Leader, Susannah and Brockenholm. During his retirement Capt Hutchings was for some years hon. harbourmaster at Appledore, and a sub-commissioner of the Taw-Torridge Pilotage Board. He was well known for his ability in recalling and singing some of the real old sea shanties and took part in a broadcast from Appledore some years ago. Rev A J R Liddon officiated in the absence of the Vicar of Appledore.

Constable E J T Harris, son of ex-PC Harris of Appledore, is successful at sports.

Garden party at Appledore for the Congregationalists.

Appledore and Instow Regatta is advertised.

Miss Margaret Webber, Appledore’s Carnival Queen, with her attendants Misses Margaret Taylor, Selina Fishwick, Hazel Hutchings and Barbara Eastman

Mitchell’s Café Services, Bideford

A Frigidaire frozen food cabinet has been installed at R Steele’ shop in Mill Street, Bideford.

Presentations were made to Rev R Pyke and to Mrs and Miss Pyke at Edgehill Girls’ College, Bideford, on the occasion of Mr Pyke’s retirement from the Bursarship of the College.

Northam Golf Club. The J H Taylor Cup

At St Margaret’s Church, Northam, the funeral took place of Capt George Ross, Master Mariner, whose death occurred at 5 North Street, Northam.

Clearance of war-time wire and other obstructions on Northam Burrows and Westward Ho! sands because of danger to cattle, pedestrians and particularly children was urged at Northam Manor Court.

In an interview, Mr A Brewer (Surveyor and Water Engineer to Northam Urban District Council) confirmed that Northam’s water supply help to Bideford had had to be discontinued owing to the demands of Northam’s own district and that the mains were being used over-capacity. At one time in recent days more water had been used than ever before – 420,000 gallons in one day, including 72,000 supplied to Bideford. The capacity of the Northam mains was 375,000 gallons per day, so it had been necessary to stop supplying Bideford.

Westward Ho! Carnival Week, August 7^th-13^th, is advertised.

Mr Philip Popham, whose parents reside at Westward Ho! is to be congratulated upon having obtained the full diploma of associateship of the Royal College of Art, London, and has been awarded the Silver Medal for special distinction in the School of Silversmithing and Jewellery Design. The College authorities have given him a post-graduate scholarship.

Dinner dances at Golden Bay Hotel, Westward Ho!

Friday, August 12, 1949

Births – to Camilla, wife of Major Cope, a daughter, Georgina Frances Mary; to Kathleen and Major R C Dixon, a daughter; a daughter, Kathryn Jean, for Nancy and Derrick Harris; to Pamela, wife of the late Edward B King, a son; to Martha, wife of C C Prust, a daughter; to Joan and Tony Webb, a daughter, Felicity Jane

Engagements - Albert Derek Beer and Edna Johns; Ralph Collins and June Adams of Westward Ho!

Marriages – at Torrington, Ernest Balkwill to Valerie Rendle.

A rip roaring gale

Bradbourne House, Marine Parade, Appledore – just opened.

A very successful fete was held in the beautiful setting of the Holt grounds at Appledore by kind permission of Capt and Mrs Denys Scott. The fete was held to raise money to convert premises, acquired on behalf of the Appledore Branch British Legion, into a public hall for the use of the inhabitants of Appledore. Mr W Pitcher presided at the opening ceremony, which was performed by Mrs Tamworth.

Because of the boisterous weather of the previous evening and on Wednesday of last week, West Appledore regatta had to be postponed until the following day. On the Thursday a fresh wind made the sailing races especially good to see and the presence of several newly-built boats racing for the first time in a regatta against the tried veterans added interest. The London Cup was the principal race of the day. Mr F Blackmore, in the Betty, had only to win the trophy this year to win the cup outright. Competition, therefore, was extra keen. A new boat, Doris Rosetta, sailed by P Waters snr, beat the Betty by a two-minute margin. The Mammy Hal (P Ford) took off the Jack Cox Cup, but the Betty came into her own again when she beat Mr P Water’s Mahala for the Harding Cup.

Six cousins were the bearers at the funeral at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, of Mr Leonard Jewell, of Market Street, husband of Mrs Kitty Jewell and son of the late Capt W Jewell. Mr Jewell has served in both 1914-18 war and that of 1939-45. In the former he served with the Merchant Navy and in the recent was with the Royal Navy. The bearers were Messrs I and H Jewell, T Pyke, B Ross, G Fowler and A Harvey.

This is carnival week at Westward Ho! and visitors and residents have joined in the very comprehensive programme of events arranged. Held under the auspices of the Northam and Westward Ho! Chamber of Commerce, the effort is to raise funds for the Westward Ho! Memorial Hall, formerly the Kingsley Gymnasium.

Friday, August 19, 1949

Births – to Ivy and J Banks, a son, Geoffry; to Phyllis and Wilfred Heal, a daughter, Christine May; to Doris, wife of Charles Marshall, of Appledore, a son; to Gladys and Frank Pickett, a daughter, Susan, a sister for John, Michael and Mary.

Engagements – William Milton Chapple and Sheila Ralph, daughter of Mr and Mrs Ralph, Pen Craig, Westward Ho!

Marriages – Charles Edwards and Madge Shortridge; Peter Rees Lewis and Heather Mary McMaster; Bernard Medley and Edith Organ

Radio Times

Because of the outbreak of infantile paralysis in North Devon some local Sunday Schools are being temporarily closed. The Bideford and North Devon Gazette understands that such action is being taken by Bideford Methodist, Baptist and Bethel Sunday Schools. Laving Congregational Sunday School will meet, if fine, in the garden of Mr L D Knight’s house, Northdown Road, but if wet will report to the Sunday School hall for their mark and then return home. The Rector of Bideford, Rev J A Durling, said that Church of England Sunday Schools were closed during August, and the question of extra precautions did not arise. It is understood that the same applies to Instow Parish Church, Appledore Parish Church and Appledore Congregational Sunday School among others.

Northam Urban District Council were now prepared to afford a supply of water to houses in Abbotsham, each application to be treated on its merits, it was reported at a meeting of Bideford Rural District Council. Water would be supplied to houses up to a maximum of thirty over the next five years, it was understood that Northam Council would not be required to jeopardise the supply of their own district.

Appledore bathing pool to be destroyed – ‘potential source of illness’ says doctor.

The possibility that Appledore might have two appeals for two halls going on at the same time came to light at a meeting of Northam Urban District Council.

Steele’s in Bideford thanks the public.

Playing at the Palace, Bideford – Love in Idleness.

And at the Strand – The Story of Shirley York and Tarzan and the Mermaids.

Householders were advised to boil all water from wells for drinking for at least two minutes, by the Medical Officer of Health, Dr E H Walker, at the meeting of Torrington Rural District Council. A communal well at Petrockstow, from which about thirty people drew water, was mentioned by Mr W H Fishleigh. All wells were getting low and with continuous pumping a little sediment must appear but a glass of water from the well at Petrockstow was ‘very dirty.’ It was unlikely that any well water was sound at this time of year said Dr Walker.

Fear that when water-supply help to Bideford was recommenced the pressure needed might damage Northam’s main was expressed by Mr J E Boyles at Northam Urban District Council’s meeting. The matter arose when the Surveyor, Mr A Brewer, reported that he had traced what he thought was the source of the big draw which had been affecting the Council’s water supply. It had been a cracked main.

Royal National Lifeboat Flag Day collections.

Reed’s Taxis of Northam.

The final of Westward Ho! Carnival Week bathing beauty contest watched by a large crowd of spectators, took place in the delightful setting of Ennisfarne Tea Gardens.

Finalists in the bathing beauty contest held during Westward Ho! Carnival Week. The winner, Miss Pat Cutts, is seated in the centre. Seated on her left is the second prizewinner, Mlle Elaine Fradisse, and on her right, Miss Doris Clements, who came third.

The Summer Meeting of the Westward Ho! Ladies’ Golf Club was held. Results:

Congratulations to Messrs J H Yatman and R O Bridger, and others for organising the first National Sand-Yacht Racing contest, held with success in glorious sailing weather. Inquiries had failed to elicit any previous similar event and that no doubt explained the appearance of the BBC, the television people, and representatives of daily newspapers from London, including a photographer from the Daily Mirror who made a special trip by ‘plane.

A deputation from Northam Urban District Council is to visit the Ministry of Health to discuss the coast erosion scheme at Westward Ho!

Friday, August 26, 1949

Births – to Mary and Frederik Bierbum, a son; to Eileen and Frederick Downer, a daughter; to Sylvia (nee Poole), wife of Kenneth Ellis, a son, Peter Howard; on August 18^th, 1949, at 7a The Square, Northam, to Mr and Mrs Eric Shutt, a daughter, Catherine.