Brown Owl of Torrington Brownies, Resigns - March 1968

After 9 years service, Mrs N Edgecombe, Brown Owl of Torrington Brownies relinquishes her post because she is moving to Bideford. In this picture, Mary Warne is seen presenting a bouquet of flowers to Mrs Edgecombe

To celebrate their golden wedding last week, a Torrington couple, Mr and Mrs Thomas Newcombe, of 199 New Street, had lunch at an Exeter hotel before going on to visit their only daughter, Mrs Doris Tickle, at Topsham.

The day’s expenses were met by their grandson, David.The day’s expenses were met by their grandson, David.

Mr and Mrs Newcombe were married at St Michael’s Parish Church on December 23 1908 by the then Vicar of Torrington, the Rev Frank Emlyn Jones. Now aged 74, Mr Newcombe left school at Langtree at the age of 11 to work on his father’s

Torrington Badminton - 15th April 1954

Badminton Successes at Torrington

In the winter season just concluding Torrington Badminton Club have played 28 matches and won 20. The Club, which was founded in the early post-war years, plays at the Secondary modern School, club nights being Tuesdays and Fridays. Mr Ken Dowding is the club chairman.
Matches have been played against Okehampton, South Molton, Chumleigh, Winkleigh, Lynton, Ilfracombe, Pilton, Westward Ho! Chivenor and Bude.
In the summer most of the Badminton Club members turn their attention to tennis, as members of Torrington Tennis Club. By jumble sales and other efforts the

MacDonald MBE - 13th March 1959

Photographed with his wife and daughter, outside Buckingham Palace last week, when he received from the hands of H.M the Queen, the M.B.E. awarded him in the New Year Honours List, is Mr T R MacDonald, of 'Viewfield', Torrington, head forester to the Clinton (Devon) Estate Co.

Golden Wedding, Stapleton - 1st November 1957

A Day of Memories...

Next Sunday will be a day of memories for Mr and Mrs Arthur Stapleton, of 70a Calf Street, Torrington - memories of fifty years of married life, for it is on that day that they celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.
A family gathering at their home will mark the anniversary.
Mr and Mrs Stapleton were married in 1907, at Torrington Baptist Church by the Rev. Franklin Owen.
They have four surviving children, three sons and a daughter, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. One daughter died in 1914.
The sons are

Torrington Blue Coat School production of 'Hiawatha'

Torrington Blue Coat Primary School's production of 'Hiawatha' was the first school production staged at The Plough. A total of £42 was taken at the door

The new Sheriff of Devon is to be Lieut-Col Joseph Eric Palmer, of Rosemoor, Torrington.

He was chosen by the Queen on Thursday of last week when she appointed the 1964 Sheriffs of England and Wales by pricking the roll of Sheriffs with a gold handled steel bodkin.
At Rosemoor, Col Palmer farms 400 acres, the holding including some woodlands. Twice Mayor of Torrington, he is chairman of the local Bench of magistrates, a member of the Town Council and local representative on Devon County Council. He is a member of many local organisations and committees. For 30 years he

Mr John Quick, who is a postman, was formerly employed for 30 years by a local glove factory.

He has given many years service to public work. During the last war he served with the 2nd Devons, being severely wounded at Neuve Chappelle in France in 1915. He is a past president of the local branch of the British Legion and for many years has been a representative on the Exeter and Barnstaple War Pensions Committee.
For some eight years he has been a member of Torrington Town Council and he has served on the Town Trustees for about 15

Presentations have been made to Mr Fred Vodden, of 11 Mill Street, Torrington, to mark his 50 years with the Torrington glove firm of William Vaughan and Sons.. and he is still going strong.

On the right is the managing director, Mr Michael Vincent, who presented Mr Vodden with a cheque on behalf of the firm. From fellow employees, whose spokesman is on the left, Mr Vodden received a chiming clock.

Teachers wed: to make their home in Australia

Teachers, Miss Heather Buscombe, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Buscombe of Torrington, and Mr Robin Blackadder, son of Mr and Mrs Eric Blackadder of Loughborough, were married at St. Michael's Church, Torrington. In January, 1973, they will be emigrating to Sydney, Australia, to take up teaching posts.

Swimming Pool Project at Torrington 1972

The heated indoor swimming pool is to be on the cattle market site, at an estimated cost of £36,000

Torrington's charity group, the 1st Company of Cavaliers, have been accused of cutting down trees on the river bank that they had agreed to leave standing.

The Cavaliers have been clearing brush and trees from the area in preparation for the water carnvial to be staged during the October Fair and also to give a better view of the river from Castle Hill. Representatives of Torrington Anglers Association and the Commons Conservators met the Cavaliers on the river bank and it was agreed to leave certain trees. These were marked with a white cross.
Now the Angling Association have complained that

Torrington Church Fete - best babies 1954

Mothers are pictured with their babies up to nine months. Mrs Slade with Mary and Francis; Mrs Gilbert with Christine: Mrs Cooke with Janette: Mrs Colwill with Mary

Mr Bert Waldron, Torrington town crier and eight times British champion, has, at the age of 68, retired on health grounds.

His stentorian voice was first heard officially in1930 but five years later he gave up the job. In 1954 he made a comeback and two years later, at Hastings, he won his first national championship. The job took him to America and to the Continent as well as to radio and TV studios and plush hotels, and he was featured on a pop record.

Gazette article dated October 1971 

On the site of the old Clinton almshouses in New Street, Torrington, which have been demolished during the past week, will rise blocks of new flats with modern amenities and intended to carry on the tradition of the site by being primarily for old people.

The future of the old almshouses, which had seriously deteriorated in condition, has occupied much earnest consideration by the Town Council since it was intimated that the Clinton estate wished to offer them to the town. To meet legal requirements they came into the Council’s possession by nominal purchase from the Town and Alms Lands

A London bookbinding firm, W J Rawlinson Ltd, has put in plans to build a factory on a site at Calvesford, Torrington, but no definite decision to go ahead with the project has yet been made.

If the firm decides to go ahead with it, it is understood part of the production will continue in London.
At Torrington Town Council meeting it was stated that planning approval for the new factory had been given subject to three conditions, one of them being the provision of sufficient car parking space for employees.
The Calvesford Road site was provided by the Council

Among those nursing children wounded and ill in Amman following the Jordanian civil war is Miss Audrey Brunt who, from 1957 to 1960, was district nurse in Torrington.

Always she spends part of her leave in this country at Torrington where she was a member of the Baptist Church and a Sunday School teacher. She has addressed meetings about her work with the Save the Children Fund in the Middle East, and the Church has worked for her making and collecting clothes and blankets, which she has distributed.
On leaving Torrington Miss Brunt trained as a health visitor in Bristol

Many friends attended the funeral service in St Michael’s Church, Torrington, for Mr Frederick John Allen, 105 Mill Street, Torrington. Mr Allen, who was 68, was a retired policeman.

The service was conducted by the Vicar of Torrington, Rev P G Harrison, and the organist was Miss M L Wright.
Principal mourners were: the widow, Dorothy and Steve, Pamela and Roger, Beatie and Gladys, Eddie and Cred, Mrs W Portman, Mrs Ivy Bryant and Hazel, Mr and Mrs T Mills, Mr Tony Avery.
The bearers were Messrs E Lawrence, M Burke, T Hammett, W Newcombe, P May and B Copp.

Torrington Babies 1949

Prizewinning babies at the Baby Show at Torrington Church Fete

Possibly the last passenger train to visit Torrington station did so on Saturday.

It was full of railway enthusiasts from all over the country and was named the Exmoor Belle, travelling from Exeter to Ilfracombe and then to Meeth, via Torrington and back to Exeter.
The trip was arranged on the last day of the operation of the Barnstaple to Ilfracombe section of line.

Tercentenary of Torrington Howe Congregational Church was marked on Saturday when a supper was held in the Schoolroom to celebrate 300 years of worship.

Principal guests in a company of more than 70 were the Mayor and Mayoress of Torrington, Mr and Mrs F R Hodge; the Vicar, Rev P G Harrison; the Rev J R Legg and Rev S Shields. All brought greetings and congratulations.
Greetings were also received from the Chairman of Devon Congregational Union, Rev R L Ackroyd and the chairman of the Northern Division, Mr S Griffen, of Ilfracombe.
The Rev W Oriel James, who presided,

Next Sunday will be a day of memories for Mr and Mrs Arthur Stapleton, of 70a Calf Street, Torrington – memories of fifty years of married life, for it is on that day that they celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

A family gathering at their home will mark the anniversary.
Mr and Mrs Stapleton were married in 1907 at Torrington Baptist Church by the Rev Franklin Owen.
The sons are Messrs Reg Stapleton of Torrington, Fred and Bill Stapleton of London, and the daughter is Mrs Rene Mills of Torrington.
Mr Arthur Stapleton, who is 73, left school at the age

Although disheartened by receipts from their ‘Sinking the Bismarck’ bonfire, Torrington Cavaliers will be keeping faith with the old folk and children of the town and distributing their customary gifts at Christmas.

Fears that reserves would be used up in staging the event, the largest undertaken by the Cavaliers so far, if they were unable to charge for entry almost proved justified. ‘But thanks to very generous donations from traders and individuals around the town we have broken even’ explained Cavaliers’ chairman Mr R Webster. This meant that they would be able after all to distribute gifts.
He was disappointed

The judges, Mr Jack Molyneus and Mrs F W B Smyth, sit in the rain on the roof of the Drill Hall, Torrington, on Thursday evening of last week, where they listened through an open skylight to competitors in the hunting horn blowing contest at Torrington Farmers’ Hunt Ball.

The event was won by Mr A Harris, huntsman to the South Devon Foxhounds, for the second year in succession, and he thus wins the cup outright.
Mr Tom Bunch was second and Mr Frank Heal, third. The eight competitors included one woman, Miss Sarah-Jane Slade, who blew one short blast

Mr R Hunkin, BA (Oxon), of Torrington, has recently been appointed to the staff of the Torrington Secondary Modern School where he will be responsible for work in English.

While a pupil at Bideford Grammar School from 1929-36, Mr Hunkin won a Choral Exhibition at Exeter College, Oxford, where he subsequently took an Honours Degree in English. Mr Hunkin is now an assistant master at Redruth Grammar School, Cornwall, and will take up his new appointment in January 1951.

Christmas dinner at Torridge View Welfare Home, Torrington, will have even more of a family flavour than usual. The turkey will be carves by Dr Harry Cramp and dinner will be served by six of his seven children – the seventh is still ‘in arms’.

But long before then the district will have been scoured and old people living alone and who would otherwise spend a solitary Christmas will have been brought in to join the residents and the tenants of the old people’s bungalows in the grounds of Torridge View who are also to be entertained.
Santa Claus will tour

After 10 years as president of the Torrington branch of the British Legion Col J E Palmer has retired from the position and at the branch’s annual meeting, Mr W D Cockram, Mayor of Torrington, was appointed to fill the vacancy.

The meeting was held at the Globe Hotel, Torrington, by permission of Cap and Mrs J White.
Membership was now 90, six more than the previous year, it was reported.
Poppy sales of £191-8-0 were an increase of £24 over those of last year, reported the organiser, Mr R E Smith.
In addition to the president the following officers

Following a report calling attention to the difficulties caused by parking on roads on the Dartington Fields estate, Torrington Town Council are to send a circular letter to tenants asking them to comply with their tenancy agreements, and pointing out that if this is not done, the matter will be brought to the attention of the police for further action.

Cllr J W Martin said that eight o’clock the previous evening he had counted 23 cars, one van, two motor cycles, and a bicycle all within 100 yards, and in an emergency it would have been quite impossible for a

Four people stayed up until 2 o’clock on Saturday morning, at the Newmarket Hotel, Torrington, waiting for the telephone to ring.

Then they listened to a voice they had not heard for twenty years. The words came all the way across the Atlantic, from Ontario, Canada.
This was the special Christmas present for three sisters, Mrs Polly Copp, Mrs Lily Parker and Mrs Beatrice Gordon. Sharing the treat with them was Mrs Copp’s husband, George.
Speaking at the Canadian end of a special trans-Atlantic telephone link-up was a brother of the three women, 51 years old Mr Harry Davey, whose

A 1911 car abandoned and forgotten for years until rescued and restored by a new resident of Little Torrington, on Saturday obtained without difficulty a Ministry of Transport certificate of road worthiness.

Said Mr H Beer, of Messrs Heards Garage, Torrington, where the test was carried out: “It is in beautiful condition”.
Owner of the car – a 6.9hp two cylinder Renault – is Mr Alan Skerman, a 51 year old armaments engineer of Church Ford, Little Torrington.
The car, now resplendent in red and grey, was originally sold by Cleland of Edinburgh to Sir John Findley. Subsequently it went to his

To Make Their Home in Australia

Two teachers who are flying out to Sydney, NSW, on January 26th, where they are to take up teaching posts, were married in St Michael’s Church, Torrington.
The bride, who for the past three years has been teaching in Newton Abbot, was Miss Heather Mary Buscombe, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Buscombe, of Torrington. Her bridegroom was Mr Robin Grant Blackadder, son of Mr and Mrs Eric Blackadder, of Loughborough.
Christmas carols were sung at the service and the bride wore a full length cloak of crimson velvet over an oyster crepe

Improved playing facilities at Torrington golf course were reported at the annual meeting of the Golf Club at which Mr W Bowden (President) presided.

Mr L G Weeks spoke of the all-round improvement of the greens and said that a new tee were being constructed. He hoped that during the coming season still more improvements would be carried out, especially in relation to the entrance to the club hut.
Despite poor weather during the past season, Mr A J Perry said that the club had paid its way, although the necessity to employ a gang mower had meant additional expense.

At their Christmas end of term entertainment pupils of Torrington Secondary Modern School included a one act play, ‘Toddy in the Belfry’, a scene from which is portrayed.

It was an exciting tale about smuggled rum, which eventually finds a hiding place in grandmother’s bed!
Appearing in the play were: Warren Golder; George John Davis; Emma, Barbara Huxtable; Hazel Seymour; Nigel Rogers; Thomas Raymond Lock; John Heard; Tony Gifford, Roger Baker, Gregory Rookes and David Reynolds.

The Gazette article is dated 2 January 1959

The annual party organised by the Torrington Old Age pensioners Association for the pensioners of Torrington, was held in the Town Hall, Torrington, 116 sitting down to a turkey dinner.

Presiding was the president of the association, Mr F R Hodge, accompanied by Mrs Hodge. He revealed that pensioners had travelled to Plymouth for their annual outing, and on that occasion lunch had also been provided free. Those who had not been able to attend had received 10s at Christmas, and altogether £75 had been distributed, with every pensioner receiving half a pound of tea.
Mr Hodge welcomed the Mayor

A rise of £100 to £400 for next year’s Mayor was agreed at Torrington Town Council meeting.

It was also decided that because of the heavy expenditure incurred by the present Mayor, ‘sympathetic consideration’ will be given to any request for an additional contribution.
Councillor Michael Street pointed out that the new mayor would give up office on March 31 1974, and would therefore not be involved in the expense of the May Fair luncheon. The only major expense would be mayor-choosing. In the circumstances it seemed a tremendous rise.
Reorganisation of local government would not mean the end of

Specially produced for the entertainment of residents at Torrington View Welfare House, Torrington, a play entitled ‘The Rest Cure’ had some hilarious moments.

It was produced by Mrs H M Ashley.

The cast consisted of Mr Ashley; Mrs F Davey; Mrs I Quick; Mrs P Taylor; Mrs L Juniper. Scenery was by Mr C Crompton and Mr Parfitt. Adding to the variety of the evening were other items and the residents joined heartily in the community items. Mrs A Hookway, one of the staff, sang and played the piano, Mrs L Hutchins played the accordion and Mr G Copp the harmonica. 

Underneath a beribboned portrait of Mr Winston Churchill and his famous V-sign, the Hon George Lambert and Mrs Lambert smilingly receive congratulations at Bideford Conservative Club, after Mr Lambert’s election as the first MP for the new Torrington Division. 

The Hon George Lambert and Mrs Lambert are greeted with cheers by supporters when they visit Bideford Conservative Club after the declaration of the poll. On Mr Lambert’s right is Sir Giles Sebright, chairman of the Torrington Division United Liberal and Conservative Association, and, at the top left Capt A Wilkinson, the agent. 

Hon G Lambert Becomes First MP for Torrington

Miss Florence L Lake accepts Council’s unanimous invitation.

For the first time in its history Torrington will have a woman as Mayor when Miss Florence L Lake, of Windyridge, Furzebeam Terrace, Torrington, the only woman ever to have been elected to the Borough Council, takes office in May. 

Announcement that Miss Lake had accepted the invitation of the Council to succeed Cllr J H Long, Mayor for the past two years, was made at Monday night’s Council meeting. Miss Lake’s energies in the political field earned her the honour of being elected President of the South West Area Liberal National Council

These are the children who will be the centre of attraction when the crowning of the  May Queen takes place at Torrington May Fair on May 7th. 

Seated in the front centre is this year’s May Queen, Elizabeth Somerfield. 

Pictured are Alan Combes, Pauline Burridge, Rodney Oke, Janet Symons, Elaine Morris, Jacqueline Stacey, Pauline Jenkins, Isabel Downing, Diane Ward, Elizabeth Somerfield, Elizabeth Webb, Pauline Hooker.

Full Gazette article dated 3 April 1959

The wedding took place at St Michael’s Church, Torrington, on Saturday, March 24th, of Miss Mary Margaret Eileen Ayre, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs William Ayre, 2 Risdon Terrace, Torrington, and Able Seaman Richard Kenneth Roach, RN, only son of Mr and Mrs R E Roach, 3 Mant Row, Aberdare, South Wales.

The Vicar of Torrington, Rev C J Barker, officiated, Miss M L Wright, at the organ, accompanied the hymns. Mr Robert Snell, uncle of the bride, carried out the duties of the best man. 

Full Gazette article is dated 6 April 1951

Torrington May Fair Carnival Queen, Mrs Doreen Mills of Langtree, surrounded by her attendants, will lead tomorrow evening’s carnival procession at Torrington.

She is seen here in the centre with her attendants – Miss Rosemary Mitchell, Petrockstowe; Miss Pamela Barkwell, Shebbear; Miss M Watkins, Little Torrington; Miss Jean Moore, Weare Giffard. 

Gazette article dated 2 May 1958

The young May Queen, Josephine Squire, and her retinue take part in a rehearsal last weekend for their leading parts in yesterday’s celebrations at Torrington.

With her is the crowner, Caroline Bastin, and her attendants Angela Vanstone, Lesley Folland, Sally Darch, Lynn Jury, Susan Copp, Jennifer Lock, Sandra Davis and Trudy Hobson. 

Boys have an equally important part to play in the ceremony but as their uniforms were still awaited the two heralds, Raymond Drayton and Kenneth Cobbledick, are not in the photograph.

Gazette article dated 2 May 1958

By the retirement on pension on Saturday of Police Constable Frank Hanford, who has been stationed at Torrington for the last three years, Torrington loses an efficient and courteous officer who carries with him into retirement the best wishes of his many friends in the district.

PC Hurford has served with the police force for 25 years and was stationed at Parracombe, Lynton, Buckland Brewer, Alphington and Elburton, before coming to Torrington. He was one of the officers engaged in connection with precautions during the mutiny at Dartmoor prison and was also engaged in the search for Gaskin and Amy;

A former Town Clerk of Livingstone, Zambia, Mr Allan Fitt, aged 42, has been appointed Town Clerk of Torrington.

He will take over on June 1st from Mr S J Parkes who has held the post for 25 years.
Married with three young children, Mr Fitt is a native of Bournemouth and is at present living with his family at Boscombe. He is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and a Member of the British Institute of Management.
The full Gazette article is dated 7 May 1971

Torrington is on the point of losing what is probably a unique distinction – its police station in the churchyard.

The Town Council’s General Purposes Committee were told last week that in reply to the Council’s inquiry the County Council had said that the police station and three police houses were now surplus to requirements.
Although the houses have been vacated the police have been awaiting arrival of office furniture before they can move into their new headquarters at Hatchmoor. There five houses have also been built.
At one time in its police history Torrington had an officer of the rank

From the top to the bottom in one easy stage.

That was the experience of Combe House at Torrington County Secondary School sports on Thursday week. As Cleave House soared to the top to win the shield by a substantial margin, Combe, the holders, sank to fourth position.
Points gained: Cleave, 116½; Leigh, 91½; Barton, 85; Combe, 84.

In the picture the two captains, of Cleave House, Michael Woolacott and Gwen Copp, are seen receiving the shield from Mrs M E Pitts. On the right is the headmaster, Mr J W Bastin.
The various events were keenly contested and three

Over £250 was raised by the local committee of Exeter Hospital Aid Society in 1975 to buy for patients amenities that are not available under the National Health Service.

Latest to benefit are those at Torrington Cottage Hospital, where a cheque is here seen being presented for the purchase of a ripple bed.
A cheque for £100 has been sent to Torridge Hospital, Bideford, to buy a variable height bed and bed tables have been bought by Bideford and District Hospital with £50 from the fund.
Seen in our picture are Miss B Pinsent, matron; Mr D Caldwell, assistant district

Torrington's Mayor, Dr Harry Cramp, shows the plaque the town won in the Britain in Bloom Competition to Mr W Jeffery, president of the local Chamber of Commerce, and Mr L R Randall, Torrington area foreman of Torridge Council's parks department.

Also in the picture, Town Clerk, Mr M C F Howe.

Gazette article dated 27 October 1978

Forty-eight drivers employed by Torridge Vale Dairies (Devon) Ltd, Torrington, have been presented with safe driving awards.

In the past year over 1½ million miles were covered by drivers at the Torrington factory.

Six of the drivers received a 10-years medal (inscribed clock or watch) and the rest awards for other years of safe driving.
Police Supt G H Jewell made the presentations. Mr K P Dowling, a director and general manager of the Company presided and others present included Mr W Stacey and Mr W Paddon.
The full Gazette article is dated 3 January 1958

The birth of two babies at Torrington Cottage Hospital – one on Christmas Eve and the other on Boxing Day – added to the joy of patients there at Christmas.

Although there was a fair number of patients in the Hospital and some shortage of staff, the Matron, Miss L M Bray, and her nurses spared no efforts to make it a happy Christmas for the patients. The wards and entrance hall had been gaily decorated and each patient had presents from the staff on their breakfast trays and off the Christmas tree.
There was goose and plum pudding for Christmas Day

Proving a popular attraction at Torrington swimming pool is a new springboard, recently installed at a cost of £600.

Much of the money for the board, which is designed to fold back when the pool is too crowded for its use, was raised by pool superintendent Mr John Langmead and his wife.

Robin Tyler, naval apprentice wins first prize 1959

Robin Tyler son of Mrs E Edworthy of Beam Lodge Torrington received first prize in the radio section at the passing out parade. The parade at the Royal Naval Electrical School marched past to music played by the Apprentices Volunteer Band.