Son born to Princess Elizabeth 16th November 1948 Royalty

Royalty.  Bells in many North Devon churches pealed out and flags were flown yesterday to mark the birth of a son to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, which was announced at 10.10 p.m. on Sunday.

At Bideford Borough magistrates' court, the Chairman of the magistrates, Ald H A W Huxham, said they were very happy to know of the birth of a son to Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth.

Arrangements were in hand at Torrington for a bonfire to be lit in the evening.  To the Duke and Duchess

H.R.H. Princess Margaret 24th August 1951 - Royalty

From the far corners of the Commonwealth came loyal greetings and best wishes to H.R.H. Princess Margaret on her 21st Birthday.  Above is a photo taken by Mr Cecil Beaton, and which had royal approval, to celebrate the occasion.

Among the messages of greeting received by the Princess was a telegram from the Mayor of Bideford, Mr W H Copp, which read: "Inhabitants of ancient Borough, Manor and Port of Bideford, Devon, offer warm and respectful congratulations on this auspicious anniversary. - Copp, Mayor."

Souvenir Key 31st October 1952 - Royalty

Pictured above is the silver key with which His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh unlocked the memorial entrance gates to King George's Field, Bideford.

The key which was made by Mr W J A Corke, Principal of Bideford School of Art, was presented to His Royal Highness as a memento of the occasion.

Prince Charles to visit Appledore to name Scillonian 07.04.1977 - Royalty

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is to visit Appledore on May 17th to name the £2 million M/V Scillonian which is now under construction at the yard of Appledore Shipbuilders.

The Prince will visit Appledore Shipbuilders during what is understood will be a short Westcountry helicopter tour which will include a stop at the Scillies.

The Prince of Wales will literally be following in the footsteps of his father for Prince Philip visited the Appledore shipyard in November 1971 after he had seen work on the replica of

William gets reply from the Palace 8th October 1982 - Royalty

Five year old William Coates of Abbotsham Road, Bideford - Pictured above with his mother - was so proud that the royal baby of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was given the same christian name as himself that he just had to write them a letter.

William has been delighted to receive a letter of thanks from Buckingham Palace and has taken it to show his friends at St  Mary's School, Bideford.

Royal Visit to Barum 04.05.1956

Royalty.  The flags are going up at Barnstaple in preparation for a right Royal welcome to North Devon for Her Majesty the Queen and H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh who visit Barnstaple next Tuesday.  High Sheriff of Devon, Major DFB Stucley (Mayor of Bideford), Mrs Stucley, 4th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment, Cllr. AW Clarke, Ald. CF Dart, Miss Joan Sanders, Lord Clinton

The children of class seven of East-the-Water CP School, Bideford, made a silver wedding card and sent it, bearing all their names, to the Queen and Prince Philip who celebrate their silver wedding anniversary on November 20th.

The children, who are aged seven to eight, were thrilled to receive this week a letter in reply from Buckingham Palace. A lady-in-waiting on behalf of the Queen wrote thanking the class for their good wishes and kindly thought.

Landing depends on wind not being in the east.

Lundy will have its first visit from a member of the British Royal Family when Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, steps ashore on the island on Sunday afternoon.
Provided there is no easterly wind, the Britannia, in which the Queen Mother returns home from Northern Ireland tomorrow will anchor in Lundy Roads off the tiny landing beach on the east coast of the island.
As she steps ashore the Queen Mother will be greeted by the owner of Lundy, Mr Albion Harman, and will meet the inhabitants who now number about

H.R.H Princess Elizabeth

Sir, - The adjourned meeting to consider how best to co-operate in the County scheme to make a wedding gift to HRM Princess Elizabeth, was held on Wednesday last and a very satisfactory attendance of representatives approved the following:
1. That we should support the County Scheme under which donations are limited to 1s per person
2. That Banks, Schools and Organisations make their own arrangements.
3. That Shopkeepers be asked to display a notice and to keep a box or book for the convenience of their customers.
4. That Miss L May, of the Town Council’s Accountancy

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.
Who should represent North Devon was decided at a

Two presentations

On the last day of his 19 years as headmaster of Bideford County Secondary School and his retirement after 35 years as a teacher, Mr J E Down is seen her with Mr A C Lavers, senior master, and head girl and boy, Elizabeth Pidler and Kenneth Hocking, and the school’s prefects.

Both presentations followed the normal morning assembly, and both were greeted by thunderous applause.

The full Gazette article is dated 29 July 1960

A 12 year old Bideford girl who shares a love of horses with Princess Anne sent the Princess a birthday card

and has been thrilled to get a reply from Buckingham Palace.

Karen Hodgins, daughter of Mr and Mrs E Dawe, of 18 Sentry Corner, sent the postcard entirely on her own initiative. A pupil at Bideford County Secondary School, her health has not been good lately, a situation not helped by the loss of her pony, and she is receiving medical treatment.

A reply from the Princess, signed by a Lady-in-Waiting, thanks her for her kind message, and adds

Queen Mother’s two hours on ‘Your Beautiful Island’

Almost hidden behind the family group gathered on Lundy’s tiny landing beach on Sunday a small girl shuffled her feet and bobbed experimental curtsies. At the water’s edge stood a dominant, grey haired figure of Mr Albion Harman, owner of the island, watching roped being coiled on the landing stage. Lundy was ready to welcome Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the first Royal visitor to the island.

Minutes before the Royal Yacht Britannia, in which the Queen Mother was returning home from her state visit to Northern Island, had dropped anchor in

There is local pride and interest 

that the chalice and paten which Her Majesty the Queen has presented to St Mary’s Church, Rotterdam, to commemorate her visit there last March and the 250th anniversary this year of the founding of the original church, were made by Mr Philip Popham, lecturer at the Royal College of Arts, who is an Old Boy of Bideford Grammar School and a former student of Bideford School of Art.

He is the only son of Mr and Mrs J Popham, who live at ‘Ingoldsby’ Kipling Terrace, Westward Ho! and his wife is the only daughter

A commemorative glass tankard of distinction

and in a limited edition has been produced by Dartington Glass, of Torrington, to mark the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle.

The basic shape of the tankard designed by Frank Thrower, shows strength and simplicity while expressing contemporary feeling. The bold seal of a primitive impression of the Prince of Wales Feathers, also made by Frank Thrower, adds distinction to the overall design.

The edition is limited to 5,000 pieces, all numbered and initialled.

Gazette edition dated 27 June 1969

Weare Giffard 20-year-old

Aboard the Royal yacht Britannia on the Royal honeymoon cruise through the Caribbean is 20 year old ME (I) Robert John Griffin, of Brook Cottage, Weare Giffard.

Robert, son of Mr and Mrs J Griffin, was educated at Torrington County Secondary School and was a member of the Bideford Sea Cadet Corps.

He joined the Navy three years ago, and became a member of the crew of the Britannia in January this year. He has already been to the West Indies on the Royal yacht – when the Princess Royal visited there.

Gazette article dated 13 May 1960

The thunderous cheers of the London crowds which greeted HRH Princess Elizabeth and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on each occasion when they appeared in public on Thursday, their wedding day, found an echo in the hearts of West country folk.

While celebrations were on simple lines for the most part, they were a mark of the genuine affection of the people of this part of the country for their Royal Highnesses who have both been associated with the West country at various times. The Princess visited Dartmouth some years ago as a Sea Ranger and only last year

Duke of Edinburgh to Visit Appledore Yard in November 24.09.1971 

Royalty.  The Duke of Edinburgh is to visit Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd on November 12th at the start of a short Westcountry tour. Lord Roborough, Vice-Admiral Sir Peveril William-Powlett, Jim Venus.