Woolsery

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.

Woolsery Man's Load Of Logs Without C Licence - 17th March 1967

Richard Dunn, 6 Sunnyside, Woolsery, was seen carrying in a goods vehicle a load of logs on the Hartland to Clovelly Cross road but not displaying a carrier's licence.
Asked what he was doing with the logs, Dunn was said to have told a police officer that he was delivering them to Hartland, and when told about the need for a 'C' licence, replied "I have got one at home."
At Bideford magistrates court, Dunn pleaded 'guilty' to using a goods vehicle without a 'C' licence and was fined £3.

Whist Drives And Charity

Whist Drives And Charity - 28th March 1916

Rev. F Courtenay Burrough, Vicar, writes in the current issue of Woolfardisworthy Parish Magazine - I have recently felt very distressed at seeing notices about Social Entertainments accompanied by Dancing or Whist Drives. These things are most undesirable at any time but how anyone can be found with so little sense of what is seemly and fitting as to attend such gatherings when our brave men are dying for us by the thousand in France, and suffering untold hardships in the trenches, I utterly fail to understand. To me, it is appallingly hard hearted and our men at the Front think so too. I know the flimsy excuse is made that it is done to get funds for Charity. But it is a mere excuse for the indulgence of a desire for pleasure, covered down with the sacred name of 'Charity'. Charity means to 'love'. If these people 'love' those who are in need, why do they not give their money ungrudgingly without receiving an evening's amusement in exchange for it? Where does the love or unselfishness come in? Such things ought not to be possible at this time and should be put down by a strong public opinion. I hope our Woolsery young people will show their propriety and their sense of what is decent by avoiding all such entertainments.

In The Swim

In The Swim - 19th August 1975

Since their school pool was opened in June, 17 children of Woolsery county primary school have learned to swim and have gained beginners' certificates. Right from its opening the pool has been in use every school day as well as afternoons during the holidays. With the weather suitable the pool has also been used at the beginning of this term.The hot summer weather was an added inducement to use the pool but the whole project has been one of community enthusiasm.

It was a real success story, the headmaster, said Mr Richard Chamings. "We are absolutely delighted with the pool and the children's successes, and of course with the response of the parents who were absolutely magnificent in working to get a pool for the school" he added. Praising the work of the Friends of Woolsery School Association, Mr Chamings particularly mentioned the leadership of Mr John Downes who recently resigned from the chairmanship because of pressure of work. The new chairman is Mr Don Appleby. The school has 65 pupils aged 5-11.

Another swimming success story comes from neighbouring Clovelly. Last term eight children of the county primary school learned to swim although they have no pool of their own.
This is more than a quarter of the total school roll. The schools' 27 pupils have been travelling by coach to share the use of the pool at Hartland school. Earlier in the season there was an arrangement to use the pool at Walland Cary.