Charities

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.

Queen's Guide Badge Award - 2nd November 1962

At a ceremony to be attended by Guides and Brownies from all parts of Bideford area tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, at Edgehill College (by invitation of the headmistress, Miss A M Shaw), the County Commissioner, Miss M E Bindloss, will present the Queen's Guide badge to 16 year old Susan Booth, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs E A Booth, of Chettiscombe, Kenwith Road, Raleigh.
Susan, who is a pupil of Edeghill College and a member of the 1st Bideford Company of Girl Guides, of which her mother is captain, is the sixth Guide in the Bideford and District Girl Guides Association to achieve this honour.
Her mother has recently taken over the position of District Captain.
Bideford district has some 325 Guides and Brownies. There are four Guide companies at Bideford (including Edgehill and Stella Maris) and one each at Appledore, Northam and Hartland, and there are six Brownie Packs.

The Feoffees of the Long Bridge

The Feoffees of the Bridge were, and still are, a group of people responsible for the maintenance of the Long Bridge. When surplus money became available, land was purchased, in many areas of the country, chiefly in the South West. The land was rented out, sometimes for grazing and sometimes as in High Street, Mill Street and Bridgeland Street, for building purposes. There are no records left to show when the Bridge Trust first enfoeffed but it is believed that there were originally 24 men. By 1608 the number had been reduced to 4 namely William Davie, John Suzans, Alfred Stockombe and John Babbacombe, weak and aged men who had been enfoeffed as far back as 1565. These four, by ancient deeds, were legal owners of the Bridge lands, and as they refused to appoint additional members, were suspected of using Bridge funds for their own purposes. This resulted in the presentation of a petition to the Court of Chancery, for an enquiry. As a result of this enquiry a list of rules was drawn up, one of which stated that the number of foeffes should not be allowed to drop below 18; new members being appointed by the existing feoffees. In the reign of William and Mary the Bridge Feoffees made great progress in improving and developing their property. In February 1692 Samuel Leach was appointed to keep the books and accounts, at a salary of £4 per annum. A chest was ordered for the storage of these accounts, at a cost of £8. It still exists and stands in the Trustees room of the Bridge Hall.

From the Devonian Year Book 1933. Pearse Chope Collection

Helped With Their Christmas Shopping

Helped With Their Christmas Shopping - 3rd December 1971

Bideford Rotary Club on Wednesday morning organised a Christmas shopping visit by senior citizens of the homes at Fairlea, The Chalet, Abbeyfield and Lakenham to Messrs Chopes and Woolworths, High Street, Bideford.
Rotarians provided the transport and members of the associated women's organisation, the Inner Wheel, gave any help required by the party in the stores.