Some 100 stands
The Bideford Trades Exhibition ran from Monday, 11-16 June, 1951, in the Sports Ground and was open daily 2-10pm, and was organised by Bideford and District Chamber of Trade. It took place as part of Bideford’s Festival of Britain programme and was the fourth exhibition with which the Chamber has been associated during the past quarter of a century.
Advert - 8 June 1951
‘Boyhood memories will be re-awakened in Mr Bernard C Westall CBE, chairman of Thomas De La Rue and Cc Ltd, when he comes to Bideford to open the Festival of Britain Trades Exhibition. On many occasions previously Mr Westall has visited Bideford to stay with his two aunts – Mrs Leman, who lived at Raleigh, and Mrs Wilson Hoard, who lived first at Commons, Northam, and later at Woodbines.
Bernard C Westall
The President of the Bideford and District Chamber of Trade, Mr Norman H Chope, capably and enthusiastically organised the Festival as Chairman of the Management Committee. Coming of a family which for many years has been closely identified with the public and business of the town, Mr Chope has followed readily in that tradition. He is a partner in the firm of Chopes of Bideford. He was involved in the formation of the Bideford and District Old People’s Welfare Committee and in the acquisition of The Chalet, Westward Ho! as an old folks’ home.
Mr Norman Chope
Businesses took the opportunity, in advance, to advertise their attendance.
The Opening
The photograph above shows Mr Westall who declared Bideford’s Festival Year Trades Exhibition open. He is seen talking to the Mayor, Mr W H Copp, and Mr N H Chope, with benign smiles from the Borough Macebearer and Police Inspector H Turner in the background.
The civic party toured the exhibition after the opening. When the party arrived at the stand of Messrs L G Weeks and Sons (Torrington) his Worship was interested in the display of ten different varieties of Cornish meads (the Mayoress comes from Cornwall). He accepted a sample of Hippocras (a French form of mead) poured into a replica of the Mazer Cup, and turning to the assembled gathering, toasted them and expressed his appreciation which is a product of Mead Makers Ltd, of Gulval, Penzance.
Housed in one of the largest marquees ever seen in Bideford, the Festival of Britain Bideford District Trades Exhibition got off to a successful start at Bideford Sports Ground, setting a lead to the other major festival events to follow during the remainder of the year. This is the first full-scale Festival of Britain event in North Devon. Months of hard work on the part of members of the Chamber of Trade, who organised the exhibition, have borne fruit in the shape of attractive displays, and there is every indication that the show will be as successful as its predecessors of 1932 and 1937.
A general view of the Exhibition
There were some 100 stands housed in an outsize marquee and each day there were special events in the afternoon and a programme of entertainment in the evening. Students of Bideford School of Art work on a thirty-foot long mural displayed at the Trades Exhibition. The mural represents, in a whimsical manner, the Festivals of 1851 and 1951 and the tales of Bideford.
With the cooperation of the Bideford head postmaster, Mr S A Talboys, there was stamp counter at the exhibition and a post box which was cleared twice daily.
"During the first three days of the Festival attendance totalled approximately 4,000. What with the downpour of rain which marred the opening ceremony and the heat of Tuesday afternoon when the ‘Any Questions’ audience sweltered in the entertainments tent, the weather has not been too helpful, although it could have been very much worse. It is emphasised that the exhibition is not composed of tantalising exhibits labelled ‘For export only’ but that everything on show is for sale. Mannequin parades, arranged by Messrs Chopes, Heywood and Cock, Steward and Co. and Trapnells Ltd proved a great attraction on Thursday. The show was compered by Mr John Mills, the well known artist."
The handicrafts and homecraft show attracted nearly 400 entries from all over North Devon. Judges were unanimous in their praise of the high standard of winning exhibits, outstanding among which was the embroidered map of Devon by Mrs R Swain.
The audience at the baby show
Nearly 12,000 attended
“The exhibitors are very well pleased with the business they have done” commented Mr N Chope, reviewing the success of the Exhibition which ended on Saturday evening. During the week total attendance at the exhibition was 11,912.
In the 22 June 1951 newspaper, Mr Ralph Stone, staying at Ferndale, Westward Ho! writes: "As a visitor, just arrived in Bideford, I paid my shilling on Saturday evening for admittance to the Festival of Britain Exhibition at the Sports Ground. Having half-an-hour to spend I thought I might do worse than look in: so much was my interest taken up by a first-rate exhibition that I left with the last at closing time. Not only were the exhibits of local industry, art and trade better than any I had seen in similar exhibitions around London; the courteous attention and pleasing personalities of those in charge of the various stalls will indeed be something I shall not forget. Especially so as all these people were at the end of a hard week's work. Well done, Bideford."
"Thanks to all who helped" from Norman H Chope, Chairman.
22 June 1951