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.

So enthusiastic were the nine girls

of a patrol in the second Appledore Company of Girl Guides to make their own contribution to mark the centenary of the birth of Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Scout movement, that they organised a jumble sale at Appledore and raised £7 10s.

Then came the problem they had apparently overlooked in their enthusiasm – to what use were they going to put the money? However, this was soon solved because it was discovered that the Torridge Hospital, Bideford, requires six easy chairs for the men’s day room. They purchased a chair and last Saturday afternoon the Matron of the Hospital, Mrs J Morris, received it on behalf of the hospital from the girls who were accompanied by Mrs Coham-Fleming (District Commissioner) and Miss M Gorrell (Appledore Guide Captain) and then conducted them on a tour of the hospital.

It is hoped to make a collection among ex-Girl Guides in the town and present the hospital with Easy Chair No. 2!

The nine Appledore girls are: Gillian Beer, Mary Eastman, Mary Beer, Jennifer Eastman, Joan Slade, Josephine Evans, Sheila Walsh, Mary Jarvis and Daphne Screech.

Gazette article dated 21 June 1957

Bad weather hits WI celebration at Instow

A specially decorated cake

made by one of the members to mark the jubilee of the Women’s Institute movement was cut by Mrs M Everett at a fete organised by the Instow institute.

Col D A Bullock had offered the loan of his garden for the event but owing to the unfortunate weather the stalls had to be moved into the Rifle Hall.

The event was opened by Mrs M Hughes with Mrs Everett visiting the shilling parcels stall

Stallholders were: Mrs Baker, Miss N Pilkington, Mesdames D Molland, P Staddon, J Molland, C Bond, Baron, Fry, Yeo; Mrs and Miss Coster; Mesdames Jones and Rocke. Teas were served by Jennings, Richards, Staddon, Yeo, Facer, Beer, Hooper, and helpers, and the door steward was Mrs L K Richards.

About £19 was made for institute funds.

Gazette article 25 June 1965

'Struggling' Club Wins Again

Hartland Y.F.C triumph at North Devon final

Hartland Young Farmers' Club, which has been struggling to survive, won the North Devon YFC public speaking contest at South Molton. They are the first club from this part of the area to have won the compeition since Bradworthy did it some eight years ago.

Members of the Hartland team were Paul Pyatt, David Walter, Jean Goaman and John George. Mr Walter spoke on 'Co-operation and the small farmer.' Before Christmas Hartland won the Torridge Group YFC speaking contest.

Their performance is all the more impressive as the club has barely 20 members and has been fighting to stay in existence. Said Club chairman Mr Michael Heard "We are having a bit of a job to keep going through a lack of members. This win was a real surprise'

Gazette article dated February 1965