Parkham Goose - 21st November 1975

At Parkham WI's annual poultry whist drive in the Allardice Hall, the highest score of the evening by Mrs S J Tucker won her a goose. Other winners wre Messrs Davis, R Taylor, M Tucker, W B Harris, R Brend, B M Harris, W B Hannaford, Nash, F Johns, A C Parr and K Taylor, Messdames Bradford, L Mellor, R Passmore, Robertson, Lamb and F Glover.
Raffle prizes went to Mesdames S Pickard, Fishley, Cottle, Wyatt, King, Lamb, and Messrs Lawson and R Grigg. The president, Mrs G J D Morris, presented the prizes

Parkham - George Clinch - 23rd September 1977

'Ride that cow, cowboy' might well be the cry heard these days at Hawkcan Acres, Parkham, when George Clinch decides to go riding.
Young George jumps at every opportunity to ride Griffiet - so called because his father was called Griffian and her mother, Harriett. Homebred, she has a name like all the 60 or so cows that George's parents Mr and Mrs Stan Clinch keep on their farm.

Parkham Boy's Throwing Record - 28th July 1967

Bideford area athletic sports for the smaller primary schools was held at Instow Cricket Ground.
Hero of the day was C Allin of Parkham who set a new record in the 11 year olds cricket ball throwing.
The winning school was Monkleigh, followed by Parkham, Abbotsham, Westleigh and Horwood and Newton Tracey. Mrs W Scott, headmistress of Horwood and Newton Tracey C.P School presented the cup.
Winners included: D Adams, Sarah Woolf, G Hearn, J Adams, W Hancock, M Mitchell, Virginia Isaac, Rosemary Braund, P Jeffery, D Wonnacott, M Allin, R Cook,

An archway of oars was formed by fellow members of Bideford Amateur Rowing Club at St James’ Church, Parkham, on Saturday to greet Mr John Hutchings, youngest son of Mr and Mrs F Hutchings, of Beachside, Torridge Place, Bideford, and his bride, Miss Sylvia Wendy Smale, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs S Smale, Goldworthy Cottage, Horns Cross.

Peals on the bells also greeted the couple.
The four tier wedding cake made by the bride’s godmother, Mrs Eileen Tucker, was iced in the BARC colours.
The Rector, Rev T Nicholls, officiated at the wedding and Miss A Lott was the

Second prizewinners in the adult class in the fancy dress parade that has become a big feature at Parkham Church annual fete.

Depicting the ‘Good old days’ and the TV feature of that title are Mesdames A Daniels, W Jewell, E Gist and Westlake.
There was a large entry in all three classes and proceeds from the fete topped £100.
Other winners were: Misses Lilian Metherell and Isabel Johns; Mrs Pearl Dunn; Paul Metherell; Martin Wonnacott; Alan and Brian Hockin and David and Graham Parr; Heather Johns; Marilyn Wonnacott, Caroline Judd, James, Sally and Mary Dendle; Angela Honey.
Full Gazette

For over 20 years a Parkham District nurse, Mrs Isabella Melvin, SRN, SCM, a Queen’s Nurse, of ‘The Bays’, Horns Cross, died on Friday at the age of 60.

Mrs Melvin was the wife of Mr Wilfred Melvin, and had lived in the parish for 23 years. Her services were deeply appreciated and she will be mourned by many as a friend.
The memorial service in St James’ Church, Parkham, was conducted by the Rector, Rev J E Lynn, and Mr M Chubb was at the organ. Cremation was at Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire.
Principal mourners were: the husband; Mrs Campbell;

Parkham Bells ring out again 29th May 1953

Teams of bell ringers from an area embracing Bradworthy, Northam and Torrington joined, in turn, in ringing celebration peals on the bells of St James's Church, Parkham, following a special service to mark the re-hanging of the bells.

Mr Stanley Arnold (Rector's warden) of the Bell Inn, undertook the duties of appeal secretary.  Visiting clergy included Revs S L C Mallett (Dean Rural and Vicar of Bucks), L Woolcott (Buckland Brewer), G W Colborne (Alwington), W T H Ravenhill (Sutcombe) and C Garland (Putford).

In charge of the tea were Mesdames Daniel,

Parkham

The Sunday School anniversary services have been duly observed by the Wesleyans of Holwell. This is generally the last to be held in the neighbourhood.
The outlook for the corn harvest is much better since the recent good rain. In many instances the spring corn was behind owing to the continuous dry weather, and some through rather late tilling, and the root crops were also suffering for the want of rain.
A potato weighing 1½lbs has been dug by a cottager recently. The specimen was Early Puritan.
Mr C Mugford has so far recovered from his recent operation that

Parkham Women’s Institute, thought to be one of the oldest organisations of its kind in the Torridge district, celebrated its 50th birthday with a special party at which a cake was cut by Mrs W Pridham, who was a founder member, and Mrs A Daniel, the longest active member with 48 years’ service to her credit.

The cake had been made and decorated by Mrs E Lang.
In addition to members there were guests from Buckland Brewer WI and the Atlantic Group and the county chairman, Mrs Hareheart, who also attended, presented Parkham with golden jubilee certificates from the Devon

Some of the children of Parkham County Primary School at work on their entries for a competition based on an Easter tradition that dates back to the Dark Ages.

The tradition is that of decorating hard-boiled or blown eggs as symbols of re-birth and the National Farmers’ Union has organised the competition to revive interest in the art.
The entries from something like 7,000 children from 60 schools in the West country are to be judged on the quality of workmanship and originality of the design. The prizes at school level are being sponsored by individual egg producers, in the

Wine Circle

The lighter side of winemaking was the theme for more than 90 Torridge Valley Wine Circle members and friends at Cross Park, Parkham on Friday, the occasion of the annual barbecue. Mr and Mrs Ray Holland who placed their home and garden at the disposal of fellow circle members were thanked by Mr Peter Williams (Bradworthy).

Messrs Colin W Wadey, P Williams, K Burge, S Stone, Mrs W Travis and Miss W Mercer organised the barbecue which attracted a record crowd. Music was provided by Mr R Budd, of Bideford, on a locally made Wyvern electronic organ.

Mr and Mrs J Cook’s anniversary next Tuesday

The best wishes and congratulations of many friends go out to Mr and Mrs James Cook, of Broom Hill, Parkham, who on Tuesday next celebrate the diamond anniversary of their wedding.
Mr and Mrs Cook were married at St Andrew’s Church, Alwington, on February 2nd 1895, by the then Rector of the parish, Rev Mr Frith, and the bridesmaid who attended Mrs Cook was Miss Annie Greenslade, who now lives at 20 Bridgeland Street, Bideford.
Born at Worthygate in Parkham parish, Mr Cook was one of a family of twelve children of

Parkham Parish Hall nears completion 30th November 1956

What promises to be one of the most attractive parish halls in the area is now well on the way to completion next door to the village school at Parkham.

Mr G A Jacob, who is Chairman of the Parish Hall Committee said first moves towards a Parish Hall were made in 1942 when a committee was formed as a result of a public meeting and a number of auction sales of gifts were held during a Savings Week and the proceeds invested.

The architect is Mr J H D Wickham, Bideford