Bideford

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.

The listing by the Department of the Environment of two derelict cottages in New Road as worthy of preservation without their having seen them was criticised by Councillor Frank Colwill at a meeting of Bideford Town Council’s general purposes committee.

The cottages, nos. 4 and 5, could be linked with Bull Hill clearance area.
Years ago, said Alderman Mrs Ethelwynne Brown, the cottages had been occupied only because of dire necessity. They were not fit then. The Mayor, Councillor James Needs, suggested that if the architect engaged on the Bull Hill scheme were asked to report on the cottages the matter could be followed up. The architect might recommend demolition and that would save time, said Councillor Gordon Armstrong. Councillor Mrs Diana Morgan urged that the Bull Hill survey should be completed quickly. ‘One woman has not slept for a week’ she said. ‘They think the houses are coming down anyway’.
Gazette article dated 2 February 1973

Doctor Relents and Ann Has Her Night Out – at Bideford Ladies’ RC dinner

Twenty year old Ann Pidler, a member of Bideford and District Ladies’ Rowing Club, who is recovering from an operation, should have been in bed on Friday evening.

Instead, wearing evening dress, she received, as a member of the West of England crew that was placed second in the fours event at the South Coast championship regatta at Deal, her individual trophy.
The Mayoress of Bideford, Mrs A C Hooper, presented the award to Ann, and to other members of the crew – Rosalind Ford, Patricia Brown and Shirley Peel. Doreen Balsdon was unable to attend to receive her award.
In recognition of what they had done for the Club, Mrs P Plumtree, the team’s trainer, and Mr S B F Pidler, who had helped with training, were also presented with awards. The Mayor commended the help given to the club by Mrs Plumtree and its other ‘mothers’, Mrs J Williams, Mrs S Mounce and Mrs Griffiths.
Miss Rosalind Ford, proposing ‘The Guests’ gave a special welcome to a past chairman, Mrs Mary Pennington and to the visitors from Exeter. Mr F A Pearson, chairman of Bideford Regatta Committee, responding said that the club had become so popular at Bideford Regatta, that now spectators always asked ‘When are the ladies rowing?’.
The full Gazette article is dated 6 February 1959

Bideford Band Concert

A great success.

On Sunday evening the Bideford Town Silver Band, under the direction of Bandmaster J Heal, gave a popular musical programme in the Palace Theatre Bideford.
Despite the heavy rain, there was a surprisingly large audience who thoroughly enjoyed the excellently arranged programme. During the cornet solos, by D Pope, their accompaniment was all that could be desired. Mr Heal wielded the baton with his usual efficiency and both conductor and band were fully in sympathy.
The special attraction was the engagement of Miss Gwendoline Fugler. Mr R Harper was an able accompanist at the piano.
The full Gazette article is dated 2 February 1937