Industry

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.

N Devon Glove Manufacturers’ Announcement
‘Never been withdrawn by workers’

Having made an agreement with their workers that the new wage rates should operate as from March 1st next the North Devon Glove Manufacturers’ Association intends to abide by such an agreement ‘which has never been withdrawn by the workers themselves’.
This was announced in a statement issued by the association this week following their meeting at Bideford last week to discuss a decision by the Conciliation Committee of the National Joint Standing Committee of the gloving industry that a national wage award made to glove workers last autumn and not so far implemented in Bideford, Torrington and Appledore should be paid as from October 9th last.
The statement continues “The manufacturers strongly object to the efforts of a very small minority attempting to upset and over-rule an agreement, voluntarily and freely negotiated and approved by the vast majority of the workers with the employers, as a small contribution to the effort to maintain the glove industry in this area of depression.
“The employers had accepted the increase but as it was timed too late for inclusion in the costings of the Spring ranges for 1958, deferment was necessary to ward off difficulties in the industry. With the continuously increasing pressure from foreign competition, and rising prices and wages, the manufacturers’ margins have dwindled to the point where further increases unless fully met in the selling price of the gloves, can only lead to economies in the factories.
The deferment agreed between employers and employees was a practical way of meeting what must be a joint problem in a difficult area. It is hoped that the union representatives of the National Joint Standing Committee will have the same practical vision as the workers”.
The Bideford Gazette understands that it is likely the issue will be referred to the National Joint Standing Committee for the gloving industry and from there is may go to the Minister of Labour and National Service for intervention by conciliation action.
In reply to a Bideford Gazette inquiry, Mr A H Goodman, secretary of the North Devon Glove Manufacturers’ Association, said the reference to ‘economies in the factories’ could possibly mean the sacking of labour to take up the stresses of redundancy.
Gazette article dated 31 January 1958

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Local Enthusiasts Build Their Own Cement Clad Boats At Northam

A new dimension in boatbuilding on the banks of the River Torridge was rapidly taking shape in a workshop at the bottom of Limers Lane, Northam.

Two fero-cement sailing and motor cruises are being built by Mr Len Cooper, of Weare Giffard, an official of the North Devon Yacht Club, and a family partnership of Mr Andrew Cox and his father, Mr Cyril Cox, who are builders.

When it comes to launching the boats they will be rolled to the nearby shore. Mr Cooper’s boat, which has been constructed in an upside down position, may present something of a problem. The work represents an application of principles by an Italian professor, Professor Nervi, who has specialised in the construction of thin concrete domes.

The full Gazette article is dated 4 May 1973

No – Not Bideford’s Answer to the Moon Rocket

It’s just something for the scrapyard.

It is a 6½ ton fuel tank being loaded on to a railway waggon at Bideford Goods Yard. The tank is from the old Bideford Electricity Company’s works at East-the-Water and it is the last of three.

One might say it is a tank with a family tradition behind it. At Mr Stanley Jones drove a diesel-powered lorry, carrying the tank, to the goods station he recalled when, 25 years ago, his late father drove the horse-drawn waggon which transported the tank on deliver to Bideford electricity station. And as Mr Jack Easterbrook, the goods yard supervisory foreman, took charge of the loading of the tank onto the train, he remembered how, 25 years ago, his late father, also as foreman, supervised the unloading of the tank at the yard.

Gazette article dated 2 May 1958