December 2015 Newsletter

As we gathered around the war memorial for this year’s Remembrance service I found myself paying far more attention than usual to the memorial stone itself. In fact ever since the Local History Group paid host to Dr. Todd Gray and his talk on Devon’s War Memorials I’m in danger of becoming a bore on the subject. If you missed the talk you can find an account of it on the News section of our website (just follow the links). It’s easy to take for granted these familiar stone monuments but in the immediate period following the First World War there was a fierce national debate concerning the most appropriate way by which the nation could honour those who had made the ultimate sacrifice. Fortunately in Ipplepen there was no such rancour as the Parish Council restored and extended the existing granite cross which had stood on the square for centuries. The work, which began in 1919, was competed in 1920 whilst the protective railings were added in 1926. Of course our memorial achieved listed status in 2014 and with its recent restoration continues to form a central part of our community life.
From the archive..
Last month’s school photo posed quite a challenge. Thank you to those who contacted me with solutions to the mystery. We have identified 19 of the 26 pupils in the photo which we think was taken in either 1948 or 1949.
Brian Hoare; George Kidd; Iris Kiff: Mary Allen; Joan Maraga; David Luscombe; David Fordham; Yvonne Caunter; Carol Harris; Lesley Bartlett; Edward Caunter; Phyllis Wood; Maureen Almond; Olive Rowe; Emily Hellyer; William Greenaway; Tony Greenaway; Ken Peacock; Ruth Kidd.
For this month I offer you this interesting snap of some Ipplepen ladies and they look like they meant business!
December