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.

Mr W Pearce to be President

‘There is no link which can bind citizens more closely and solidly than friendship between individual citizens’ remarked the President of Bideford Rotary Club, Mr E H Gaud, at Thursday’s annual meeting.
Outstanding community work had included the organising of a public appeal which produced over £5,000 for the Merchant Navy Comforts Service; providing cigarettes and comforts for the minesweeper ‘Brecon Castle’ adopted by the Club; and an essential part played by members on the executive of ‘Wings for Victory’ Week. Steady work had been done in vocational service and in the international field friends from Biddeford, Maine, USA, and elsewhere had been entertained or contacted. Active membership remained at 37. They deplored the passing of their senior Past President, Mr Frederick Lee.
The treasurer, Mr C J Martin, reported a credit balance on the year’s working of £16.
Mr W Pearce was elected president, in succession to Mr Gaud, and will take office in July. Mr E H Hopcraft was elected .. vice-president. Mr W T Braddick, for many years secretary of the club, was re-elected with warm thanks for past services, and Mr E H Gaud was elected honorary treasurer. Members of the Club Council were elected as follows: Messrs R Boyle, F H Sanguine, W H Arlett, L R Haydon, M F Lee and J Heywood.
The Gazette article is dated 30 May 1944

Christmas Morning Swim Across The Torridge

Warm applause for cold five and a half minutes.

Nearly 200 people lined Bideford Bridge and Quayside on Christmas morning to see a Bideford hairdresser swim the river Torridge and become probably the first person to swim the river at Bideford on Christmas Day, certainly this century.
The hairdresser, 25 years old, Mr Keith Seymour, of Allhalland Street, Bideford, made the crossing from East-the-Water to the Bideford Quay in five and a half minutes.
Blankets were quickly draped around his shoulders and he walked barefooted back to his home – a hot bath had been arranged. A generous tot of spirit helped to warm him up on the way back.
The full Gazette article is dated 3 January 1958.

Children’s Magic Moments

Magic moments were enjoyed by a large crowd of children at Bideford Strand Cinema Saturday morning show when Robert Henry, a protégé of the Supreme Magic Company, entertained.

After he mystified them he presented prizes in a Christmas colouring contest sponsored by the cinema and Supreme Magic. First prize was a recently-published book on magic autographed by the author, Mr Ian Adair, a signed photograph of him and a magician’s tiepin.
It went to Peno Dodd, aged 10, of 1 High View, Bideford, for a remarkable entry. Other prizes were giant boxes of paints and colouring books.
They went to Stephen Martin, 122 Clovelly Road; Stephen Friendship Huish Cottage, Instow; Andrew Raymont, 9 Gammaton Road, Bideford; Julia Noys, Broomhayes, Westward Ho!; Nicola Marshall, 33 Highfield, Bay View Road, Northam; Helen Quance, 45 Churchill Road, Bideford; Vicky Curtis, 13 South Road, Appledore; Catherine Bond, Tirinie, Orchard Hill, Bideford; Kim Attwood, 68 Windsor Road, Northam; Melanie Bailey, 8 Lombard Close, High Park.