Commemorative

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.

Coronation - Westward Ho! - 11th May 1937

Westward Ho! - Making Local History

To-morrow, when Westward Ho! joins in the Empire wide celebrations of the Coronation, local history will, in a certain sense, be made. It will be the first time that the popular little seaside resort has conducted such celebrations entirely on its own. Usually it has been joined with Northam. The general committee responsible for the arrangements, under the chairmanship of Mr F Wilkey, with Rev. Cecil Eman as Hon. Secretary and Lieut P C Humbby as Hon. Treasurer, have drawn up a splendid programme of events, so that Westward Ho! will be able to claim to have taken its full share in the general celebrations.
Generous support, expressed in gifts of money and labour willingly undertaken, has been accorded the Committee. Public subscriptions together with the share of the grant of a penny rate by the Northam Council have enabled the Committee to make full and comprehensive preparations.
The programme commences at 2pm with a combined thanksgiving service in the Station Hall, followed at 2.30pm by a procession to the Cricket field, where a children's pageant, "Songs of the Flag" will take place at 2.45pm. Coronation mugs will be presented at 3.45pm and teas for children and adults will follow. At 5pm sports will be conducted in the Cricket field. The King's address will be given in the Cricket field at 7:10pm. A firework display at 8pm is to be followed by a social and dance (fancy dress optional) in the Sunshine cafe. In connection with the decoration of the streets and houses, a prize of 10s is being offered for the best dressed house or shop (not shop window).

Coronation - Woolsery - 1937

Coronation - Woolsery - 11th May 1937

Woolsery

Fifteen sports events for children and fourteen events for adults at 2.45pm and 6pm respectively are among the principal features of the Woolsery Coronation Celebrations. At 2pm there will be a service in the Parish Church. The children's sports follow the presentation of Coronation mugs. At half past four there will be a free tea in the Parish Room followed by the adult's sports. The day will conclude with a free concert in the Institute, commencing at 8pm. The Vicar (Rev. E L Lewis) is chairman of the Celebrations Committee with Mr G E Mullard as hon. secretary and Mr C J Andrew as hon. treasurer. Expenses are being met by public subscriptions. A glance at the sports programme indicates that there will be some keen racing and good fun too.

Hospital Decorated for Coronation 1937

Hospital Decorated for Coronation - May 1937

May 1937 Coronation Hospital celebrations

At Bideford Hospital gay decorations in the wards commemorated Coronation Day and the patients were each given a copy of the souvenir programme of the National ceremony to which they listened-in. There was a special meal in celebration of the great day. Some of the patients able to go out watched the Bideford Pageant. On the Thursday the Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford (Mr and Mrs T A Goaman) visited the hospital wards wearing their chains of office and distributed Coronation beakers to the children.