Shipping

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.

Tug For Clyde

Biggest tug yet built by P K Harris (Shipbuilders) Ltd, the Thunderer was named and launched from the firm’s Appledore yard on Friday.

She was named by Mrs P S MacAllum, wife of the managing director of the firm for whom the vessel is being built, who was presented with a bouquet by Miss Ann Dryer.

Mr P S MacAllum, managing director of Steel and Bennie Ltd, one of the best known firms of tug owners in the United Kingdom, smiling happily after watching the perfect launch, said “I signed the contract here on December 27th and you see the ship launched here tonight and we are very pleased. We had two vessels built last year on the Clyde and in 1953 we had another built in Aberdeen and this is the first time we have had a vessel built outside Scotland.”

Mr J Venus, managing director of P K Harris (Shipbuilders) Ltd said November this year was the contract delivery date but everything had gone so well and there had been no hold-ups over delivery of materials, that he expected the tug would be delivered at the end of June or early in July, four or five months ahead of schedule.

The full Gazette article is dated 9 May 1958

Appledore Seamen’s Mission

‘Women’s Own’ Presentation – Sunday School Treat

The annual gathering of the Seamen’s Mission Women’s Own at Appledore took place at the Seamen’s Bethel on Wednesday evening. A daintily served and most appetising supper made an excellent first part of the proceedings. Pastor Rowland Russell presided, assist by Mrs Rowland Russell, leader of the Women’s Own. Afterwards presentations were made to each member of the tea committee in appreciation of their helpful services during the year.

Mrs A Bowden, on behalf of the members, presented useful gifts to Mr and Mrs Rowland Russell as a mark of gratitude for the happy meetings they had all enjoyed from week to week. The recipients suitably responded. Continued popularity of the Wednesday afternoon meetings for women might, they agreed, be judged by the fact that over eighty of their members had sat down to supper that evening. Reference was made to the tasteful decorations of the tables for which thanks were due to Mrs B Jewell, who acts as treasurer, and the following ladies from the Committee – Mesdames Moyse, Lang, Clear, A Bowden, Heard, R Hocking and Elston.

All present affected the happy sociable mood of the occasion, and in the words of Dickens, ‘Nobody thought it was by any means a small supper for such a large party’.

For the second part of the evening’s programme, the company retired to the Women’s Conservative Room, where pleasant hours were spent in games, solos, and community singing, etc. Mr Phillips also contributed pleasing violin solos. Mrs Rowland Russell and Mrs Uren were the accompanists. At the close all joined in ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and the Pastor offered special prayers for the safety of mariners during the present stormy weather.

Sunday scholars of the Seamen’s Mission were entertained to tea on Friday, and although colds have been prevalent, not one child on the register was missing from the gathering. The pulling of crackers and the donning of hats and caps opened the fun, but for twenty minutes comparative silence reigned while the children regaled themselves in real earnest with the tempting eatables provided for them. Then again, almost suddenly, the laughter and talk broke out afresh. For a further half an hour games were enjoyed in the Mission Room and then the children took places in the Bethel and eagerly awaited their names to be called for a present from the Christmas tree. Over seventy presents were given, each being handed to the child by Mrs Penny, assisted by Mr A Lamey, who cut each gift from the tree. As the children left each was handed a bag of sweets and an orange and thus loaded, tired but happy, all returned to their respective homes. Miss N Berry, Mrs Jewell, Mrs Moyse, Mrs Lang and Mrs Bowden were the helpers during the afternoon and evening. Gifts of cash and goods were received from Mrs Anderson, Capt and Mrs Wicksteed, Mrs Jaques, Mr Ford, Mrs Boyd, Mrs Penny, Miss Davison, Mrs Payne, and from the helpers themselves, this making the happy event possible.

Gazette article dated 14 January 1936

Bideford's Gift to Sir Francis

Presentation

Bideford’s gift to Sir Francis Chichester, a locally-made, harvest-style pottery jug bearing references to his historic voyage, was presented by the Mayor (Mr.Harold Blackmore) during last week’s ceremonies in honour of Sir Francis at Barnstaple.

Sir Francis expressed himself delighted with the gift and good wishes.

In the centre of the photograph is the Mayor of Barnstaple (Mr. Jim Rayner).

Born at Shirwell, North Devon, Sir Francis had his introduction to sailing on the river Torridge.

At ceremonies at Barnstaple he was made an honorary freeman of the borough and unveiled the foundation stone of the new civic centre.

The commemorative jug was the work of a local potter, Mr. Harry Juniper, now living at Monkleigh.

Article dated 20 October 1967