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.

Instow Poppy Day Collections - 23rd November 1948

Instow has contributed a total of £56 7s 8d to Earl Haig's Fund as a result of collections, sale of poppies, and wreaths in the parish. Details were;
Collecting boxes - Mrs Parkhouse, Sailing Club (per Mr Hugo), Mrs Sillman, Mrs Beer, Mrs Day, Miss E Symonds, Mrs Goodwin, Mrs Nancekivell.
Donations, £7 6s 6dl; car and cycle poppies, £4 17s; Instow Church collections £8 16s 4d; Westleigh Church collections £6; Wesleyan Chapel, Instow, £2 2s; wreaths £7 5s;
This shows an increase of £6 10s 2d over last year.
The Committee express their grateful thanks to the organiser, Mrs D E Durnford-Slater, and her splendid team of collectors, and to those who contributed so generously to the cause.

£700 Legacy For The Chalet

£700 Legacy For The Chalet - 12th March 1965

A legacy of about £700 from the estate of the late Miss Masters, of Westward Ho! was reported at the annual meeting of Bideford and Distric Old People's Welfare Committee at the Rose of Torridge Cafe on Tuesday.
The meeting was told that in its 18 years' existence, The Chalet, the home for old people run by the committee at Westward Ho! had accommodated a total of 86 residents.
At present two residents are over 90.
Mr W J G Coad, committee chairman, referred to the resignation because of health of Col G I Stanley Smith, a vice-chairman, and spoke appreciatively of his services to the cause from its earliest days.
Work at The Chalet had proceeded efficiently adn happily, thanks to the committee's officers, the sub-committee and their leaders, and the staff at the home, and they were grateful too, to outside friends for practical help and interest. Their anonymous 'fairy godmother' had written offering further help. To all who had helped in any way thanks were recorded.
The financial report was presented by the hon. treasurer, Mr A Gardner, and Miss A E Lee, presenting the report of the House Committee, said a major task undertaken during the year was the refurnishing and redecoration of the kitchen. The home always looked fresh and clean and was warm and comfortable, and congratulating the staff on this, Miss Lee also spoke of the happy, pleasant way they dealt with the old people.
In her report, the hon. secretary, Miss J Phillips, referred sympatheticall to the illness of the matron (Mrs Lawrence) whom they hoped to see back on duty soon. The staff and voluntary helpers had rallied splendidly to meet this problem and the committee were particularly indebted to Miss Bettridge, Mrs Fish and Miss Petley.
Thanks were expressed to the trustees of the Bridge Street Church for the use of a room for meetings.
The officers were re-elected as follows: chairman, Mr W J G Coad; vice-chairmen, Miss A E Lee and Mr R G Smith; hon treasurer, Mr A Gardner; hon secretary, Miss J Phillips. The committee was re-elected.

Rotary Club

Rotary Club - 26th November 1971

As a result of a wine and cheese party staged by Bideford Rotary Club, work can now start on the provision of a hot water system, with individual wash basins in each room, at the Abbeyfield Home in Northam. The party, held at Tantons Hotel, raised £240 and this should enable the work to commence immediately, said the organiser, Mr Cyril Braund. Thanks were expressed to local traders and all others who had supported the project.