Associations

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.

Two hundred members

of Bradworthy, Clovelly, Hartland, Meddon, Welcombe, Parkham, Putford, Sutcombe and Woolsery Women’s Institutes attended the Spring meeting of the Atlantic Group of WIs held at the Allardice Hall, Parkham.

The Parkham President, Mrs Lynn, presided.

An address was given by Mrs Hallowell and she was thanked by Mrs Cardew of Woolsery. The group secretary, Miss Balston, was re-elected. Members of the Parkham Institutes provided tea.

Competition results were: Mrs H Grover; Mrs C Allin; Miss A Furse; Miss E Furse; Mrs H Grover; Miss Dennis, Mrs J Andrews.

The evening entertainment was provided by Mrs James, Mrs Earnshaw, Mrs Gist, Mrs Pennington, Mrs Pridham, Miss Jewell, Mrs Jewell, Miss S Honey, Mrs Pickard. The Rev J E Lynn accompanied on the piano-accordion.

The competition organised by Mrs Piper and Mrs Rowe was won by Mrs Heal and Miss F Wade.

The full Gazette article is dated 1 May 1959

Seaside Barbecue For German Youth Visitors

Music, songs and dancing

One of the events planned for the entertainment of 24 German boys and girls from Uelzen, Lower Saxony, who are on a fortnight’s holiday in North Devon, was a barbecue on the lawns of the Pebbleridge Hotel, Westward Ho! on Monday evening.

The photograph shows the German guests with their hosts, members of Westward Ho! Community Centre Youth Club, who were joined by representatives of youth organisations in Bideford and from Surbiton, Surrey, who are also staying in the area and other visitors.

Music, songs and dancing to the accompaniment of the Blue Ribbon dance band of Torrington, soon thawed the ice and later in the evening the visitors presented a group of German folk songs. Accordion solos were contributed by 12 year old John Morgan, of Bideford, whose playing was enthusiastically acclaimed.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Mr J W Martin who is seen sitting with Mr Donald Ward (North Devon Mobile Youth Organiser).

Among those who helped in organising the event were Mr Bob Trickey and Mr and Mrs Hoskin.

Among other events planned are visits to Exeter Cathedral and library and Exeter Guildhall, a boat trip on the River Dart, a tour of a Barnstaple pottery, a day on Woolacombe sands and a coach trip to Bude, Clovelly and Hartland.

A party of North Devon boys and girls is visiting Uelzen, leaving this country on August 9th.

Article dated 27 July 1956

Kissing Practice

….at Little Torrington

What’s in a kiss? It could be a matter of life or death as members of Little Torrington WI discovered at their monthly meeting when one of their guests was Annie. Annie was the dummy brought along by Mr Palmer, of Northam, a St John Ambulance officer, to demonstrate the kiss of life method of artificial respiration. Mrs Ian Elliott thanked him on behalf of the institute.

Mesdames Popham, P Beal, G Andronick and Miss Jean Crocker were tea hostesses. Mrs G Crocker organised the social time and the winners were Mrs R J Watkins junior and Mrs R Hooper.
Mrs R G Watkins was welcomed as a new member.

At the business meeting preliminary arrangements were made for the Halloween social at the end of next month. Names were taken for the group meeting at Alverdiscott in October.

A course of dressmaking classes is starting at the end of September with Miss Mary Watkins as instructor.

Merton WI have invited members of Little Torrington to a film show.

Gazette article dated 25 September 1964