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Anxious search for three missing Torrington boys

20.10.1961 Torrington lost boys1

Three Torrington boys who were reported missing on Sunday were found some nine hours later, in falling light, on the banks of the river Torridge at Beam, three miles away from their homes.

The boys were Tony Allen, Nicholas Hammett, both of the Calvesford Estate, and Richard Roach, of Town Park Estate.

Mrs Allen said the boys were playing at the estate soon after 10am. At 1.30pm her husband, Mr Reg Allen, went out to call his son for dinner and there was no sign of them. Mr Allen scoured an area of some 15 miles without any trace of them. He returned home and a full scale search party was recruited. Then Mr and Mrs Arthur Burke, 70 Town Park, Torrington, were seen near Torrington station, and they told searchers that they had seen the boys playing on the Bideford-Torrington road. Mrs Allen and her parents, Mr and Mrs W Ayre, travelled along the Bideford road, with Mr Bob Pearce following. They reached Bideford without finding the missing boys.

Mr Roy Ayre, conveying Mr Allen and Mr Gilbert Hammett in his vehicle, was travelling slowing along the road near Beam, when Mr Allen spotted one of the boy’s climbing over a gate near the river. He shouted and all three boys came running to the car.

First stop on the way home was at the police station where the boys received an admonishing lecture.

Later Tony Allen related his experiences to our Torrington correspondent.

20.10.1961 Torrington lost boys

The full Gazette article is dated 20 October 1961

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