Northam

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.

Baby Show

Nearly forty babies from a wide district around, their ages ranging from two month to two years eleven months, were entered in the baby show staged at Diddywell, Northam, by the Home Work Committee of Northam Parochial Church Council in aid of Church funds on Wednesday.
Miss C F M Spring had kindly placed the lovely grounds of Diddywell at the disposal of the Committee for the event and judging proceeded on the lawn until rain forced a retreat to the house.
The babies which came from Northam, Appledore, Westward Ho!, Bideford, Instow, Muddiford and from even as far as Tawstock, were judged by Mrs Carey, Miss Stanley Smith and Nurse Arundel.
The show was declared open by Mrs G H Joliffe, who was presented with a bouquet by Victoria Holmes.
A baby stall was run by Mrs Holmes and Mrs Pester, and a buffet tea stall by members of the Home Work Committee.
Prizes were presented to the winning babies by Miss Spring, announcement of the awards being made by Mrs J D Wyatt.
The results were: Margaret Gale; Pamela Tucker, Dillys Culling, Thomas and Patsy Lang, Peter Smith; Catherine Coverley. Timothy Malins; Susan Pickett; Susan Maddams, Ian Hemmers and Ronald Jewell. Judith Harman; Bruce Lang and George Wrey; Roger Lean and George Heywood. Angela Clinch; Janet Taylor; Richard Bowden, Jennifer Pound, Jennifer Branch and John Gorrell.
A vote of thanks to Miss Spring for the loan of the grounds of her house and to the Judges was proposed by the Vicar of Northam (Rev E B Bridger). A bouquet was presented to Miss Spring and posies to each of the judges by Miles Hamlin and Judith Simpson.

The full Gazette article is dated 7 July 1950

Northam Ayrshire Wins Instow Cup

Mr Eric Withecombe, of Bone Hill Farm, Northam, and his prize winning Ayrshire which won the Fulford Challenge Cup for the best exhibit in the dairy cattle section at Instow Show on Saturday.

The trophy is being handed over by Mrs Gamble, wife of the President of the Show, Lieut-Col H Gamble.
Gazette article dated 10 August 1951

Farewell Gifts At Northam

Members of the indoor and outdoor staffs of Northam Urban Council have presented a gold travelling clock and premium bonds to Mr Michael Glover as joint farewell gifts.

Mr Glover, who has been employed in the surveyor’s department for the past 16 years, leaves at the end of this week and towards the end of the month will join the staff of the East Devon Water Board at Honiton as an accountancy assistant.
The gifts were handed to him by the Surveyor, Mr Howard Bishop, coupled with his good wishes for the future. Other speakers included Mr Reg Harris and Mr Glover responded.
Mr Glover has been a member of the Converts skittles team, a former secretary of Bideford Snooker League and secretary of Northam Methodist Church.
Gazette article dated 14 August 1964