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Instow Noticeboard

New Parent & Toddler Forest School Group starting.
At Two Rivers Outdoor Pre School, Huish, Nr Instow on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Both days have two sessions 9:30 to 11:30 and again at 1:00 to 3:00.


For any further information people can contact via email: georgie.bailey67@gmail.com or phone: 07526743064

From Matthew Footner

Reading these posts from former residents- brings back warm feelings of an idelic childhood. Playing in the bubbles formed by the waves….our parents called in Pollution!! Playing on the sunken barge, long summers
in the dunes and causing trouble with the straw bales in the farmers fields!!
I also had, Mr Husband, as headmaster, and Mrs Pain as my first teacher. Mrs Tucker is still my favourite ever teacher. The school fireworks displays and carol singing around the lanes at Christmas, with
Rev Spear as the Rector of Instow church. Was it really such a beautiful place…??or have the mists of time enhanced my memory. Either way, when I do visit it, I still get a warm child like feeling!!
Hi to everyone still there
Matthew Footner

Ferry Boat Information Please

I have just become the proud owner of a rather forelorn looking launch named Swiftsure.

From what I can see she has spent about 3 years on the canals after finishing working the Appledore to Instow ferry (A year in Evesham and 2 years in Tewkesbury).

Although I have some history of her, it would be fantastic to know more. I have some documents relating to her from F. JOHNS AND SON (Chandlers and Boatmen) which give the idea that she started service in 1951 and that there was also a sister vessel which is referred to as Ferry 2.

What it would be great to find out is where she was built and when. The name of her sister vessel, and just really general information as to how long she serviced the route and who for.

Any information would be gratefully received to markyoungiw@yahoo.com

Hopefully she will be back in full operation in Cowes next year, although the is some fairly serious work to do this winter to achieve this.

Mark 

GALSWORTHY HOUSE

My husband and I have recently returned from a short stay in North Devon (Eastleigh). We visited Instow a couple of times and I was intrigued to find a house called Galsworthy House on The Quay. Galsworthy was my maiden name and I know my ancestors were from Bideford, Barnstaple, Appledore, Northam. I am in the process of tracing my family tree and if anyone can give me any information why this house is called Galsworthy House I would be very pleased.

We thorough enjoyed our stay in North Devon and will certainly be visiting again in the near future.

My email address is irene.palmer@btopenworld.com if anyone has any information

Kind regards
Irene

INSTOW SIGNAL BOX

Friday 27th June 2008 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
An Evening at Instow Signal Box
A chance to explore the operation of this Grade 2 Listed building and learn about a signal box that controlled both the single lines to Bideford and Fremington as well as Instow's level crossing. Guided walks and refreshments. Books, DVDs and lots more for sale.
You might even want to join our band of volunteers!

INSTOW IN BLOOM

 

Annual Gathering of Minds
Aka, our AGM. A stimulating opportunity for local people to exchange ideas for the benefit of Instow's community and environment. It's normally held early in the year. February 2009 brought a good turnout with some constructive discussion over ethical refreshments and homemade nibbles.

Next Adopt a Beach event:
Date: 19/09/09
Time: 11.00
Meet: Commodore Htelslipway
Duration: 1 hour approx.

Urgent: According to the Marine Conservation Society most of the world's fish stocks are fished to their limit or over-fished. Some are verging on collapse. Visit their excellent website - www.fishonline.org - to see how you as a consumer can help.

Britain In Bloom
Our committee has decided to take a year out from the competition. After 10 years we felt a 'creative suspension' was timely, a chance to pause, look and listen.

What the SW judges had to say last year: ‘An excellent entry with very good community involvement. Excellent range of habitats, with an excellent school project. The work is very well promoted with the leaflet (visitor brochure), interpretation boards and website. Improvements around the route were evident since last year. There was excellent colour given by the wild flowers and the artwork (doorknockers) stood out. The marine litter campaign was impressive.’

Garden Trail
Our open gardens fun(d)raiser was this year held during the afternoon of Saturday 13 June, in association with the Royal National Institute for Blind people. Features included sensory & RNIB displays, cream teas, local art & craft exhibits and a prize raffle.

The event was a great success, raising over £600. More importantly, it generated much goodwill and community spirit. Huge thanks to all those who contributed.

Go Wild In The Garden!
We actively encourage people to garden with wildlife in mind. Click here for our top ten tips.

Climate Change

The Royal Horticultural Society have been looking at how climate change will affect gardening in the UK. Click here to find out more.

NB = Noticeboards

For the latest on our activity, please see our noticeboards beside the quay car park and inside the parish hall.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING INSTOW

The following is an email sent to us from Gail Harrington:
Sent: 30 March 2006

My husband and I are planning to trip to Britain this spring. As an avid genealogist we are planning to visit the villages where our families came from. Although we don't know much about Instow we are so looking forward to seeing the area. It sounds very quaint and beautiful.
While there I'm hoping to find the Perryman Farm. In our family history (Wheeler/Perryman) note is made of this farm and am anxious to see if it is still there. I never give up hope that I may run into long, long, lost relatives too.

See you soon
Gail Harrington

INSTOW GHOST
The following is an email sent to us from Hannah Bowden:

Hi, I have just spent a wonderfull weekend in instow in a house over looking the quay called "the captains house",during our stay i had a very strange experience in the very top bedroom of the house ( the room to the front with the small round window) i have tryed to find out some history about the house with not
much luck!
I would be very intersted to know who i shared a room with on that nite!! i got the feeling it may have been a child or young girl!! she did not want me to sleep, made noiseys in my ear and also sat on my bed
and gave me a little shake!!!
I would be realy interested to kniw more and i was hoping you may be able to help. family and friends put forward that she could of been a maid! as they ussally slepted at the top of the house.
I look forward to a reply yours for now!

hannah bowden. bowdenfamily.1974@tiscali.co.uk

INSTOW REMEMBERED
The following is an email sent to us from Helen Brown:
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006

I just had to write and say I lived in South Molton for the first 11 years of my life and visited Instow every Sunday afternoon. I have always wanted to see Instow again and last Easter I returned and it was just as I remembered with my late parents. I said if I could visit and have a Hockings ice cream I would be over the moon. Guess what appeared on the front - well yes I had a double cone. The following day before returning up the M5 I went back again for another double cone and walk along the beach. Paradise. My
only complaint were the dogs littering the beach!
Enjoy Instow it is jewel, timeless!!

Best wishes
Helen Brown

Many years ago (some 25-30) as a young lad I worked at the Lobster Pot (now The Boathouse) and amongst other things I used to sell ice-cream and gifts in the shop. It was my great pleasure after work had finished to stay behind and listen to the great live music that was performed in the then cafe/restaurant/nightclub run by John Oliver. Many of your residents and visitors will remember both the Lobster Pot and John who was the proprietor for many years during it's heyday as a live music and theatre venue.
Many well respected musicians played at the Lobster Pot during these years and the venue supported many local up and coming musicians as well. It is a happy fact that John recorded many of the sessions and that the resulting tapes are of high quality and have survived in good order to this day. A chance meeting with a recording engineer has meant that the tapes are now to see the light of day again, re-mastered onto CD.
I live locally still, having been born and bred in North Devon and never wanted to be anywhere else. Whilst John has moved to Portugal for the sunshine, we have kept in touch and John makes regular visits home. So it is that I have become involved in the project and am excited by the possibility of this wonderful music being released as the Lobster Pot Sessions. Volume One of Jake Thackray Live at the Lobster Pot is available now at Solo Music, Barnstaple and by mail order. This CD has already received much acclaim and airplay on national radio from people such as Mike Harding of BBC Radio 2. More releases are expected soon.
I feel that there will be many visitors to your site who will have been in the audience at one of these sessions and will be delighted to know of the forthcoming CD releases. Lobster Pot Records and myself and John in particular would love to hear from anyone who has memories of the Lobster Pot and of being at any of the performances. If there are any photographs out there that were taken during the 60s, 70s & 80s we would love to see them.

Contact Martin via:
email : website www.lobsterpotrecords.com

EMAIL FROM THE ANTIPODES

We recently received an email from an ex resident of Instow living in Australia - it is printed below in case it brings some back memories.
I’ve just been looking at your site and it took me back to my childhood.
I was born in Barnstaple in 1958 where my Father, Grandfather and Uncle owned and ran Taw Garages Ford motor dealership. Our Family moved away to Okhampton for a couple of years before we arrived in Instow about 1963/4.
We lived at 2 Rose Cottage, Quay Lane. With our Father John and Mother Ann Isaac
There were 4 of us in our Family, myself Michael, my sister Rosalyn, brother Andrew and baby sister Gillian, we all attended Instow Primary school.( Mr Husband - Headmaster and Mrs Parsons – Teacher )
I was the first Instow Primary School Football Team Captain, shortly after they built the playing field onto the school. It wasn’t a happy reign as we got flogged every game that we played. I had a better time as the School Captain in the Annual Area Sports Carnivals. With my sister Rossy and friends Mark Lanchbury, Rodney Cann and Kenny Gaunt we were invincible and won the Area Sports Cup 2 years in a row. I think my Long Jump Record of 12 foot 6 inches still stands to this day, it would be nice to find out if has been broken.
I was in the Choir at the Church and one year was lucky enough to be sent to Bristol to The Royal School of Church Music, where I passed and returned to become Head Choir Boy.
My Grandparents George and Dorothy Milner ran the Hotel on the sea front adjacent to the Quay Pier.
We left Instow around 1969/70 and moved to Bideford (on or about the same time that Bideford Bridge fell down). >From there we moved to West Appledore. I left North Devon in 1976 joining the RAF and served 14 years all over the UK and Europe and in 1990 we emmigrated to Australia where we now reside in Sydney and I work for Qantas Airways as an Avionics Engineer.
I have never forgotten Instow and my childhood days and still tell my children that the years I lived in Instow growing up as a young boy were the best years of my life. My children Kevin and Sian and Granddaughter Hayley, have only seen Instow through my recollections and Instow – The History book which was sent to me by a relative.
Yours from Down Under

Mike Isaac

I didn’t mention the Johns or Shepperd family’s as anyone who lived in Instow would have known them. Adding to people I knew; one of my best friends was James Dugbridge who’s Father was Major Dudbridge Officer in-charge of the REME Camp during the 60’s, our neighbours at 1 Rose Cottage were the Harpers, Mr (Cheffie) Harper was the Head Chef at my Grandparents Hotel on the Quay and Mrs Harper was a Nurse? at the Blind home on Marine Parade. where we would got Caroling for the Old Folk. The Harpers had twin boys Michael and ? both were in the Merchant Navy, Michael’s claim to fame was he swan from Instow beach to Appledore and back one summer. Is Mrs Johns, Instow to Appledore Ferry, still alive and is the Ferry still running?
Half way along the pier on the right hand side is at sort of seat come look out cut into the wall. It was from here that you had to jump to the sand below, before you could become part of the scene as a youngster, a kind of trial initiation, ask around and find out if anyone else remembers having to do this.
One thing I will always remember was Summer time and HOCKINGS ICE CREAM, I later became friends with the Hocking Family (Appledore) and went to school with their eldest (Sorry Name escapes me)

Click here if you would like to email Mike.

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