Susan (9) to meet Princess Margaret

Happiest girl in North Devon on Saturday was nine year old Susan Petherick, of Northam Road, Garage, Bideford, for she won the right to meet Princess Margaret in London next month.

She will present to the Princess, on behalf of the North Devon auxiliary of the London Missionary Society, a purse of money towards the Society's new missionary ship, the John Williams 7th, completed at a cost of £100,000. The first boat was built by John Williams, a pioneer missionary, who operated it in the South Seas, and who was martyred. Down the years work has continued and it is now a tradition that the children of the Congregational Churches throughout England and Wales should be responsible for building and maintaining the ships. It is the money that they have collected that will be presented to Princess Margaret.

Who should represent North Devon was decided at a rally at Lavington Church, Bideford, on Saturday, when a number of children entered a written competition. It resulted in a tie between Janet Minifie (aged 14), of Ilfracombe, and Susan. Further written and oral tests to eliminate one of their number having failed, it was decided that Susan should present the purse and that Janet should accompany her as escort.