Author Archives: Tango Alpha

Bideford Phoenix Morris in 2025.

Bideford Phoenix Morris invite YOU to join us this year. To learn a dance or two, keep fit and have fun and join us dancing in and around North Devon in the Summer for a local Charity. Every Wednesday night … Continue reading

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Shipping notes No. 237 (December).

Bideford Quay. Trinity House vessel Mair alongside. Appledore. Quorn still in shed, Atherstone alongside quay. In port – Baltic Anka – built 2024: owners unknown; arrived 31/12, sailed 1/1/25; cargo either rape seed or animal feed. Yelland Quay. Deo Gloria … Continue reading

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Winter volunteering on Northam Burrows.

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One Hundred Years Ago – January 1925.

A collection of articles from the ‘Bideford Gazette’ during January 1925, kindly selected by Bideford Community Archive. The eclipse of the sun on 24 January was marred by heavy cloud; the only features noticeable in Bideford were “a darkening of … Continue reading

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Bideford Music Club concert diary.

See also www.bidefordmusicclub.org.uk website. All concerts held in St Mary’s Church, Bideford. Subscription for 6 concerts is £82.50. Subscription for 4 concerts is £61.00 Single ticket at door is £16.50. Payment by cash, cheque or BACS. Students, children and accompanying … Continue reading

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One Hundred Years Ago – December 1924.

A collection of articles from the ‘Bideford Gazette’ over December 1924, kindly selected by Bideford Community Archive. A notable feature of the Christmas was the overwhelming and unprecedented rush on the Bideford Post Office. All previous records were broken by … Continue reading

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“Bideford Legends” – 3.

The Hamlyn property. A fine listed building once the property of the Hamlyn family, who were noted decorators of the time. (Interior photos courtesy of Rightmove). *  *  *  *  *  *   The railway shed in Kingsley Road. Another … Continue reading

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“Bideford Legends” – 2.

The Strand Cinema. The Strand Cinema was opened by Maurice Prince, Jewish entrepreneur, in 1938. During the war Maurice was a civil defence warden and he also helped Jewish refugees who were escaping from Nazi persecution by sheltering them in … Continue reading

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“Bideford Legends” – 1.

Introducing “Bideford Legends”. My name is Tanya Harrison, I was born abroad and came to live in Bideford in 2017. By profession I am a Teacher of English to foreign students, not a photographer, not a writer, not an expert … Continue reading

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A tribute to Peter Christie.

Peter Christie. We were very sorry to hear the news of the death of Peter Christie, Torridge councillor, author and historian, and loyal contributor to “Buzz”. He wrote a host of articles over the years, all of which have been … Continue reading

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‘Upstream Thinking’ project has many benefits.

More than 40,000 native trees are being planted for farms and landowners to help reduce land run-off and improve natural water quality as part of South West Water’s catchment management programme, Upstream Thinking. The trees, which were provided by the … Continue reading

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A Devonshire poem about the Piskies.

Here is an amusing poem in the local dialect by J C Harding, who spent his final years in the ‘White House’, which I believe was the name of the Bideford workhouse. Mr Harding filled an exercise book in his … Continue reading

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The Huntshaw Church bells project.

Huntshaw’s Historic Bells drop into the limelight – After 500 years! For over a year the ‘Friends of Huntshaw Bells’ have been raising money through grants, sponsorship and events and have raised so far £17k. There is a long way … Continue reading

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The ‘Way of the Wharves’ project.

‘Way of the Wharves’. The Torridge Estuary and Bideford have a long and fascinating maritime history with boat building documented back to Elizabethan times. On the east bank of the Torridge, opposite Bideford town, East-the-Water was an industrial and transport … Continue reading

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The “Freshspring” project.

Steamship ‘Freshspring’ celebrates four years in Bideford. During the Second World War, a fleet of freshwater-carrying steam ships was commissioned by the Royal Navy to deliver water to warships. These became the ‘Fresh’ class of ships and the last one … Continue reading

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