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Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

Great spirit of generosity

Street teas for the children not forgetting dancing and community singing later in the evening in which the grown-ups heartily join, are not well established sidelines of any celebration in this district of any great national occasion.

Many memories of Silver Jubilee and Coronation have been revived by the wholesale enthusiasm with which various streets and districts have thus marked the VE proclamation. The Welcome Home Funds have been generously supported in this way. Whether it is your idea of fun or not, you have to admit that these occasions are organised in style and, to quote the cliché, a good time is certainly had by all. I suppose this is just a preliminary canter for the world peace victory celebrations?

There is a great spirit of generosity and the tea tables never fail to present a most tempting sight of delicacies carefully saved for such a special occasion. There have not been such times for eight years at least. Of course, there are somewhat mixed feelings about these occasions when they spin on well into the night. Without wishing to curb the jollity, is not 11pm late enough?

It has not been possible to note all the teas separately, but let them all be assured we hoped they all had a happy and memorable time. We shall be pleased to publish short paragraphs of any event overlooked if organisers will send in details but please be brief.

Salute of Thanks

Most of us dislike being ‘made a fuss of’ but there are occasions when we like to be noticed.

I gather that certain members of Civil Defence feel that Victory Thanksgiving Parade was, on second thoughts, perhaps not the best occasion for their official ‘stand down’ parade. Do not let this be misunderstood; no-one really minds being overshadowed by such great news as victory but it seems unfortunate that in view of the long service of many of those in Civil Defence – and remember this covers many who do not wear uniform – that just a little more was not made of their farewell. Many were preparing themselves for Civil Defence months before the war and have only just been released from call, but a number of them on Thanksgiving Sunday found themselves rather in the background and unable to hear the tribute accorded by the Mayor in his speech. Let them all be assured, however, that the public gratefully accords them a salute of thanks.

Well Done!

But I feel I must follow with a bouquet to all concerned with the handling of the parade which was the biggest the town has seen for many years. It was not easy matter, in the restricted space and approaches available, to get a procession of thousand people, divided among a large number of units, into correct order and filing in and out of church easily, but it was done with no apparent fluster – whatever inward misgivings there might have been !

Therefore, our thanks to Bideford hon. procession marshalls, Messrs P J V Fulford and F A Pearson, and their assistants from the Services. In addition to the service being a historic one, local history was also made with the introduction of a relay by amplifier of a service in one church to another church, and in this instance a church of another denomination. May we suggest that here is an avenue that may well be used on other occasions of large public attendance at united services where it is not possible or inadvisable to hold them out of doors? The two churches concerned might take turns in the actual service.

Gazette article dated 22 May 1945

Performing a ‘lap of honour’ at Bideford Regatta on Wednesday will be Bideford Reds A crew (top) who have already made sure of the junior championship of the West of England.

This is the same crew that won the novice championship last year.Left to right: John Lott, David Hutchings, David Elliott, George Tithecott and Albert Blackmore.

The Bideford Blues senior crew (below) are runners-up in this year’s senior champtionship, and as such have been invited to row at Deal in the Coast Championship Regatta. They are (left to right): Clifford Davis, Leslie Slade, John Evans, George Evans. Cox is John Barter.

Gazette article dated 1 September 1961

Drs Donald and Rachel Mackenzie, who are leaving Hartland where they have been jointly in practice for the past seven years, have been presented with a cheque for over £200 by patients and other friends.

Dr Donald leaves this week to take up a Government post in the British Virgin Isles and his wife will follow a littler later in the year. Handing over the cheque in the Parish Hall, Mr Alan Higgins thanked the two doctors for their services to the district. Introducing their successors, Dr and Mrs Cook, Dr Donald hoped the district would extend to them the same kindness and support given to him and his wife.