Photographs taken at Richmond Drydock on 11th December.
First two photos – disassembly of the ‘Bryher’ has now been completed. The nearly-finished vessel on the right is the ‘Annaliese’, and only the ‘Silver Harvester’ appears mostly intact. The ‘Monkleigh’ will remain moored outside the drydock until January (third photo).
The ‘Southern Beaver’, presently at Yelland, may be the next vessel, as she cannot leave the river due to a hole in the hull.
Norman Hardaker.
(From the Bideford Gazette).
Advertisements for Christmas.
After the jollification of Christmas , the damaged wallpaper and the
scratched paintwork will show up – in all these matters Mr R Pye of 8 and 9 Meddon St will be found ready to promptly do all the needful in the best workmanship.
Mr T Pollard of the Steamer Wharf, Bideford is seeing to it that there will be no need of dinner being spoilt for the lack of a scuttle of coal. Of drawing room and kitchen coal he supplies the best.
Christmas Presents – vacuum flasks, safety razors, and boxing gloves- HI Meredith, 18 High St.
Mike Davy.
Whilst clearing ivy from gravestones in Northam Churchyard recently, we came across a very well-carved stone commemorating two families, the Blighs and the Copners.
Francis Bligh was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and died in 1825. Also named were his widow Elizabeth, son James, daughter Elizabeth Copner Bligh and nephew William Bligh.
Do the descendants of this family still live in the area? Is it fanciful to wonder if they are related to Captain Bligh of the Mutiny on the Bounty?
Further down the same stone we have a mystery. The deaths of two women are listed:
Mary Elizabeth Copner, wife of James Copner, who died in 1822 and Ann Copner, widow of James Copner, who died in 1825.
So between 1822 and 1825, James Copner buried one wife, married again and then he himself died. But where is he buried? There seems to be no record of him anywhere in the churchyard.
Are there any Copners or their relatives reading this who can solve the riddle?
Some readers may be aware that at the top of Northam Churchyard, near the vicarage wall, is a war grave dated 10 December 1940 and dedicated to a Merchant Navy sailor of the 2nd World War, with the poignant inscription “Known unto God”. We will never know who he was, but his sacrifice is not forgotten.
Catherine Webb.
Little has been written on Bideford life during the Second World War. Admittedly we 
weren’t bombed, but we did provide facilities for training both British and U.S. Servicemen and the area played host to the top-secret Combined Operations. One source I came across recently adds a few details to our knowledge of a period where news was heavily censored in local and national newspapers. For many years Frank E.Whiting, a local architect who served as a long term town councillor, was the Warden to the Bridge Trust where he looked after the Trust’s property. Every month he filed a hand written report, and these survive amongst the Trust’s records.
Each report is usually fairly short and very much to the point. Thus on July 26 1939 he notes, amongst other things, ‘The pointing to the 12th Arch [of the Bridge] is proceeding satisfactorily, but I have to do rather more to the lower portion of the piers than with most of the other arches.’ The next report on August 30 carries the first war-related entry, some four days before hostilities began; ‘Under a Ministry Order white lines have been painted on the kerbs to the approaches of the Bridge.’ This was designed to help drivers during the ‘black out’ when both vehicle and street lights were severely curtailed.
On September 27 he notes, ‘I examined the Bridge after a ship had touched it last week, but except for the fact that it had scraped off a little of its paint, there was no damage to the Bridge.’ One wonders if the ship was one of those commandeered at the outbreak of war who didn’t know Bideford and the Torridge that well. Whiting completed his report on a personal note, ‘I think it is quite possible that owing to the War we shall have to give up our offices; should this happen I should be obliged if the Trustees would grant me this room as an Office for Bridge work.’ At this date the Warden and his partner Burnett Orphoot, a noted Scottish architect who had local connections, were running their office from 21, High Street, whilst the Bridge Trust was based in Bridge Buildings.
From this report until June 1940 there are no war related items, perhaps reflecting the ‘Phoney War’ period when nothing much happened between the opposing armies. In May 1940, however, France was invaded and on May 14 Anthony Eden, the new Secretary for War in Winston Churchill’s cabinet, called for volunteers to help the regular forces if the Nazis invaded. Known at first as the Local Defence Volunteers, the name was soon changed to the Home Guard, and in the month of June 800 Bideford men were enrolled – a total which had risen to 1,046 by August 1.
The fear of invasion by sea and air was presumably behind Whiting’s note in his report of June 26 1940, ‘At the request of the Police we are removing the ladders & scaffolding from No.10 Arch’. Presumably it was thought that sea-borne invaders could have clambered up the ladders to capture the Bridge – always seen as pivotal to the defence of Bideford. The following month the Warden noted that ‘A representative of Minimax called on me to know if we required any Fire Extinguishers for the Bridge Buildings’ – a reminder that many parts of England were suffering heavy aerial bombardment?
In August Whiting records that ‘The Ministry of Transport wrote to me to ask if the Bridge was being guarded by the Police, Military or Home Guard. I made enquiries of these bodies, and as a result replied that the Home Guard patrolled it from 1½ hours before low water to 2 hours after low water when this occurred during the hours of darkness.’
From then until April 1941 there are no war related entries but in that April it is recorded that ‘The fire watcher points out that to get about the roof of the Bridge Buildings he only has the ceiling joists to walk on.’, adding ‘Shall I get some walking boards put down?’
In June 1941 an odd entry occurs concerning a man arrested by the police ‘for taking Mussels from the Bridge’. For centuries mussels were used to help anchor stones placed around the Bridge piers to help prevent scour. The unknown mussel collector had removed 18 lbs of the shellfish – presumably to supplement his food rations. Whiting notes that there was no law to stop him doing this, and thus the police ‘let him off with a warning.’ (Continued in next edition).
Peter Christie. Photo (US servicemen marching on Quay) is from his book ‘Illustrations of Old Bideford’ Vols.1-5. Below – Home Guard, Bideford, plan of defences.
In January 1992 the Chinese container ship ‘Ever Laurel’ was carrying 1,810 containers 
from Hong Kong to Tacoma in America’s Washington State. All was well until the tenth of the month when, during a great storm, twelve of the 40-foot containers were washed overboard. One of these held 28,000 plastic bath toys – red beavers, green frogs, blue turtles and yellow ducks, each in a plastic and cardboard housing. How the container opened is a mystery, but certainly the cardboard quickly deteriorated and allowed the toys to float.
There are two great contra-rotating currents in the Pacific, and the southerly one carried these ‘friendly floatees’, as they have been called, as far as New Guinea, Australia and the remotest tip of South America. However, our interest is in what happened to the floatees caught up by the northerly Sub-Polar Gyre in the Bering Sea. Coincidentally, ten months after going overboard, ten toys were picked up near Sitka, Alaska. It was then calculated that the Gyre would carry some through the Bering Gap into the Arctic, where they would be frozen in the Polar ice. After six years the ice, drifting eastwards along Canadian coast, would carry any floatees into the Atlantic. Incredibly, in 2001, some duck floatees were tracked in the area where the Titanic sank in 1912. A great deal of scientific interest has centred on these tiny toys, whilst helping oceanographers study sea currents. A book written by journalist Donovan Hohn, entitled ‘Moby-Duck’, tells of beachcombers’, oceanographers’, environmentalists’, and the author’s own search for them. An American oceanographer, Curtis Ebbesmeyer, is particularly interested. Ducks and beavers have been bleached white, but the turtles and frogs have kept their colour.
In 2003 a lawyer called Sonali Naik on holiday in the Hebrides found a faded green frog marked ‘The First Years Inc.’ Unfortunately, not knowing its significance, she left it on the beach. Calculations then indicated that friendly floatees would arrive on the beaches of Devon and Cornwall by 2007. Recently my friend and neighbour found the two ducks in the photograph floating in the Torridge. Although the smaller has the right appearance it is unlikely to be a floatee because it has has been written on, and isn’t watertight as were the originals. Nevertheless, once the Christmas and New Year celebrations are over, it is time to get out and enjoy some duck hunting in the fresh air whilst walking off those extra pounds along the Tarka Trail. What better place – or beyond Westward Ho!, where there are little coves that are usually filled with plastic junk. Better still, organise a clean up whilst looking for these friendly toys and improve the environment generally. If you do find one, please tell the Editor of ‘Buzz’ – and Curtis Ebbesmeyer [email protected]
Adam Eider.
You are never too far away from a Chamber Member. If you have a business in Bideford, Westward Ho!, Northam or Appledore and wish to find out more about joining, just give them a call.
Bideford and District Chamber of Commerce meet on the first Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held at ‘Next Door’ to Crabby Dicks in Cooper Street at 6.15pm. Some months we have guest speakers who come to talk about issues that concern trading in Bideford and surrounding areas.
Meetings are rarely dull, and this is reflected in the fact that membership has grown and is steadily increasing.
Everyone who joins has a chance to put forward their views on current trading trends. We have a membership benefits package with members’ offers available.
CONTACT LIST FOR BIDEFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES
JOHN EMMS, ‘LATHWELLS’ – 01237 476447
GRAHAM BLIGHT, ‘COUNTRY COTTAGE BAKERY’ – 01237 473150
MAURICE PEARCE, ‘OSBORNE MODELS’ – 01237 423453
BRIAN OTTWAY, ‘SOUNDS INTERESTING’ – 01237 238370
USE THE INDEPENDENTS FOR YOUR GIFT IDEAS
Bideford has a wealth of independent shops where there are some fabulous gift ideas and because they are not the usual chains, the personal service you receive is second to none. And we must not forget the small shops in our neighbouring villages, Westward Ho!, Appledore and Northam. Supporting local businesses keeps our town and villages alive and thriving. Use them or lose them.
Work progresses on the recycling of old vessels – photos Norman Hardaker.
(Compare with our September article here ).
These mushrooms are considered by many as the orchids of the fungi world. They come in a variety of bright cheerful colours and often have shiny caps. They belong to the genus Hygrocybe. As with most fungi, autumn is when you’ll find them, especially after a rainy spell, and we’ve had plenty of that! Like many orchids, they like nutrient-poor grassland, so look out for them in the meadows while out walking. You might also see them in graveyards. Last year I took part in a waxcap survey on Exmoor particularly looking for the rare pink waxcap. The coast path up there is a good place to look, the grass is regularly grazed and the ground holds the water. Once you start looking, you’ll be surprised how many different waxcaps you’ll find.
Janice Whittington
(The majority are inedible, and some of the rarer ones are poisonous).
The “Helping Hand”, which holds up the “Wonky Conker tree”
,
near Kingsley Statue on Bideford Quay, very nearly didn’t happen at all. Some years before its construction, it was decided to chop down the mature trees on the riverbank in order to facilitate the building of the new car park.
Many trees were sawn down on a Sunday before an outraged public became aware of the destruction. One brave fellow sat by the “Wonky Conker”, successfully to save it from the chainsaws.
A few years later, Doug Jenkin of Torridge District Council telephoned me, explaining that the “Wonky Conker” was in need of some physical support. He asked me if I had any ideas.
After mulling things over, we came up with the idea of a hand thrusting through the paving stones to support the large horizontal branch. This idea was eventually approved and I set to work.
I bought some large lengths of oak from Torridge Hardwoods in Littleham, and with help and advice from my friend Barry Hughes, I worked out how to undertake the project. Firstly, the branch was supported by a metal prop that had been set into the ground. I then constructed the sleeve around the prop. The next stage was to form the fingers from individual lengths of oak and bolt them all together. Finally, the fingers, palm and thumb of the hand were set into the sleeve.
The “Helping Hand” project was covered in the local press, including an illustration of what was proposed. At this stage, a lady called Mrs Mayhew contacted Torridge District Council to say that she would like to pay for its construction, in memory of her late husband Samuel. This is why the initials S.T.M. and dates 1914-2000 were carved into the cuff.
The “Helping Hand” has been supporting the “Wonky Conker” for ten years. It is well weathered and has become a much photographed landmark. I hope that it will continue to give pleasure to Bidefordians and visitors for years to come.
John Butler. (See more of John’s work at his studio in Butchers’ Row, Bideford Pannier Market).
On Thursday 6.9.2012 Richmond Drydock, Appledore, came back into action as a working dock with the arrival of the beam trawler ‘Anneliese’ crossing over the sill on her final voyage to be broken up. She had been towed from Penzance, her home port, by the British tug MTS ‘Valour’ (registered in Falmouth), together with another beamer, the ‘Jannie En Klass’, which was also docked a bit later to meet the same fate. A rep from the owners W Stevenson and Sons was in attendance and advised that both vessels had been decommissioned about 18 months ago. The owners of the drydock, FTD Marine of Bideford, were pleased with the way the operation had gone, and expect to take a month to 6 weeks to complete the demolition of both vessels. It is wonderful to see the dock again being put to its intended use – nine years have passed since the last vessel, the ‘Antic’, used the drydock . On behalf of the readers of the “Buzz” I wished them every future success with this venture, which is in the best tradition of Appledore’s true nautical roots. Norman.
‘Anneliese’ and ‘Jannie En Klass’ arrive under tow.
‘Anneliese’ is towed to the dock.
‘Anneliese’ in dock.
Dear Editor,
Further to September’s BUZZ WORD re Reeds Cafe, as a member of the Reed Family I can give you more information!
Albert Reed was the son of Alfred (my great-uncle) and Esther Reed who owned the Baker’s Shop at No 12, Bude Street, Appledore. Albert’s wife, Flossie, was Florence Penhorwood of Diddywell.
My parents, Percy and Irene Reed, met whilst working at the Appledore Bakery and Shop, back in the 1920s. If you visit Bude Street today, you will see that the step of No 12 still bears the name REED – with the original green tiles beneath the ‘shop’ window. Like father, like son?
I am attaching 5 photos, 4 of which I took today (29th August), showing the Appledore Bakery and step, and the Bideford step and Cooper Street. The 5th photo is of my sister and me, taken 1933/34, at the top of Cooper Street. (I am the one who has been chopped!) If you look closely, you will see the wall behind us in that photo is the same as the wall at the top of Cooper Street today – even the position of the pipe!
The steps have had the names REED for as long as I can remember. My guess is that they were ‘engraved’ back in the 1930s.
Kind Regards
Cynthia Snowden (nee Reed) – now aged 82!
Helped by a nautical author, I have been researching the S.S ‘Hebridean’. We know that in the summer months she left Scottish waters and went south, to Bristol, St Helier and France, but your Bideford Buzz has added another chapter to her life story. I mean the Aug 2011 – One Hundred Years Ago article:
“The last trip for the season on the SS Hebridean is a trip to Lundy leaving Bideford at 9am. Return fare is 3 shillings. Tickets from T Pollard, East the Water.”
Is it just possible that you have ‘more’, for example, the actual original press cutting, e-mailable as an attachment any other article about her? Or, a local photo? I have a personal interest, in that my own grandfather was her captain from 1887 to 1898 – the ship is given as his “Usual Residence” when he married in 1889.
Ewen McGee, Glasgow.
Mike Davy replies :
BIDEFORD GAZETTE 11th July 1911 – The Liverpool & Cornwall Steamship Company’s passenger and freight S.S. ‘Hebridean’ makes her first sailing from Liverpool on Saturday next for Bideford. The ‘Hebridean’ will leave Liverpool each Saturday until the end of August, and every night on a Wednesday from Ilfracombe or Bideford. Under ordinary circumstances she will take about 24 hours to come down, and will be on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in Bideford, possibly making day trips when convenient before her return. The ‘Hebridean’ is a handsome, up to date boat, and is registered for 312 passengers. The opportunity of making sea trips to and from Bideford under ideal conditions is one that will doubtless be appreciated, and should bring some new visitors into North Devon.
BIDEFORD GAZETTE. 18th July 1911 –
The S.S. ‘Hebridean’, referred to in our last week’s issue, was the subject of much interest while lying at Bideford Quay yesterday. Visitors and residents will be afforded the opportunity of taking a cruise of the Bideford Bay in the ‘Hebridean’ on Tuesday evening July 25th, and a day trip to Lundy (allowing six or seven hours on the island) on Wednesday July 26th.
BIDEFORD GAZETTE. 29th August 1911 –
The S.S. ‘Hebridean’ will make her last trip of the season to Lundy to-morrow, leaving Bideford Quay at 9 a.m.
( from articles in “Bideford Gazette”).
Ewen replies – For your efforts, and maybe for the ‘Buzz‘ files, a picture of the SS ‘Hebridean’ on the Avon near Bristol. I have also sent a copy to the North Devon Maritime Museum. See above.
(Courtesy of the Witherspoon Collection in the Mitchell Library, Glasgow). Ewen McGee
Monday 4th June 2012 will see Bideford marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 
with a civic parade along the Quay followed by a family-friendly party in the park. The parade, led by the Youth Pipe Band, will leave the Town Hall at 3.00 pm and anyone wearing 1950s dress will be invited to become part of the procession. To make this a safe event there will be a temporary road closure between 3.00 pm and 3.45 pm for Bideford Quay. The parade will stop at Jubilee Square for a 10 cannon salute and then continue on to the park where it will be greeted by music from the Bideford Town Band.
Following on from this, music will be provided throughout the afternoon by the ex- radio one roadshow. Local groups will be providing displays and entertainment, and there will also be traditional fairground rides and food outlets with the festivities continuing until 8.00 pm. So come along, bring a rug and a picnic, and make it a day to remember.
There are still some spare slots for groups and organisations who would like to put on a display during the afternoon. This can be arranged by calling Bideford Town Council: 01237 428817.
Memories of earlier Jubilees –
Silver Jubilee 1977, in Stucely Road. ‘I can just about remember the day, even though I was only four-ish at the time. Mum said they had a huge tea urn to supply the street and were serving hot dogs at the other end of the street’ – Gaylena Humphries.
Silver Jubilee 1935, in Torrington Lane. (Sitting left : Beryl Braunton. Next two girls called Mills, Joyce Rivers holding Pam Shortridge, Herb Squires,Reg Mower, ‘Jimmo’ Geary, Derek Shortridge, Billy Paddon, Reg Spearman, ‘Curly’ Paddon, Arthur and John Osborne).
JUBILEES AND JUBILATIONS.
Jubilees, coronations, and the like have marked some seemingly notable events in my family’s life. For instance my mother was born in 1897 the same year as Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Mum would have been one hundred and fifteen in April. In 1901 at the ripe age of four she went with one of her sisters to watch Queen Victoria’s funeral and the seven kings who rode in the procession. I think she was really more interested in the Queen’s little dog as it obediently trotted along on its lead held by a footman. She told me the crowds were immense and at first all she could see was a sea of legs making an impenetrable barrier between her and the procession. Prevented from seeing anything she complained loud and long “I want to see! I want to see!” Suddenly in sheer exasperation, a man picked her up and sat her on his shoulders for a grandstand view denied to her sister; who the man was we shall never know.
Next came the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, latterly the Queen Mother who, as a little girl of seven, danced several jigs and reels for my Grandmother. In 1937, I was aged four, it was a beautiful day and one of my uncles gave all of my brothers and cousins a coronation mug. Bitterly disappointed not to be included, I asked my mother “Why haven’t I got one?” “You’re too young, you would only break it if you had it”. “No I wouldn’t. Mick and John and Wally have got one. Why can’t I have one?”. “If you start making a fuss I’ll take you home and send you to bed”. I never did get one.
In 1952 my in-laws were invited to the Coronation of our present Queen, and they
had to be at their places in the Abbey four or five hours before the ceremony began. They
sat on narrow but especially made wooden stools upholstered in royal blue velvet edged with gold braid. Thoughtfully the designer and maker had provided a concave seat to fit the seats of the privileged, but after five hours conversation had long ground to a halt, and for more than a few the generous curve was not generous enough. However, once the ceremony began all was forgotten and the ‘stool pigeons’ were allowed to keep the stools they had sat on. My in-laws came away with two sequentially numbered, and a yard of cloth-of-gold that had been woven by members of the Royal Institute of Embroidery, part of the Abbey drapery. It’s 2012 another Diamond Jubilee, I won’t be invited and I don’t have a television so I can’t watch but God bless her Majesty all the same
Grampus©
May 1912.
Road Conditions – A County Alderman had a tyre of his motor car wrenched off in the road ruts near Monkleigh.
Tidal wave or Bore – a remarkable phenomenon, never seen in the Torridge before, was seen this month. The tide had been flowing for about half an hour when a crested and foam-topped bank of water came rushing up at great speed, sweeping along at a height of 4 – 6 feet. Boats were swamped and damaged.
A new lifeboat for the Appledore No 2 station was launched from Bideford Quay and named by the Countess Fortescue. The boat, the Robert and Catherine was provided out of the bequest of the late Miss Leicester. The boat will be placed on Braunton Burrows where it can be launched down the beach and into the Bay.
Mike Davy.
Bideford’s New Torridge Bridge was opened to the public on May 20th 1987 – 25 years ago. This photograph was taken on Sunday 17th May 1987; it was an open day for members of the public to walk across the bridge for the first time, and an opportunity to explore the interior service tunnel as well.
Crowds crossed the bridge led by the Bideford Town Band, and there was even an elephant involved.
The helicopter and the Appledore inshore lifeboat were demonstrating a rescue and I positioned myself in the centre of the bridge to get some shots of this. I had been told that after this demonstration there was a possibility the pilot might attempt an under-fly, and as it flew towards me I was still expecting it to lift. There was only time for the one shot and luckily the camera got the exposure right.
You could say, 25% anticipation, 75% luck.
Tony Parsons.
THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE TORRIDGE BRIDGE.
Personal memories of the event.
Wednesday the 20th of May, 1987 was a warm, bright and sunny day with a gentle breeze blowing as we ushered children out of St Mary’s Church of England school in Chanters Road. My wife and I, along with other volunteer parents, were taking the pupils, including our youngest son Kevin, to witness the official opening of the Torridge Bridge.
We walked along Chanters Road and joined Kingsley Road before climbing up Heywood Road. We then turned right onto the pristine tarmac of the newly constructed link road.
As we made our way towards the bridge, we could see that a large crowd had already assembled. Flags were flying on both sides of the west end of the bridge, and Appledore Band was already in-situ. Our eldest son, Mark, was in the band, which was conducted by the bandmaster, Geoff Abbot.
On arrival at the location, all the children were instructed to sit on the tarmac. I can’t remember if they had anything to sit on but one of my photographs would suggest not.
The ceremony was scheduled, I think, for 11am and after the children had settled, I took the opportunity to take a few photographs. As the hour approached, I noted that there were two television crews and strangely only one stills photographer and I could see an opportunity to capture the event close-up.
I made my way around the perimeter, expecting to be stopped at any moment but no one intervened and I found myself standing between the two TV crews and was able to capture the moment the ribbon was cut.
The opening ceremony was performed by the High Sheriff of Devon, records show this to 
be John Rosewarne Trehair esq, from Ivybridge, and the blessing conducted by, if my memory serves me correctly, The Bishop of Crediton, the Right Rev Peter Coleman.
After the ribbon was cut, the official cars drove across to the east side, flanked by two police outriders and then returned to signify that the bridge was now officially open. The bridge was cleared for normal traffic use about an hour later.
These are my memories, although I am sure others will recall the event slightly differently.
Tony Parsons.
Do you have any memories of that day? Send them to [email protected] or c/o TTVS, 14, Bridgeland St, Bideford, EX39 2QE.
