Budleigh Past and Present

Continued from 11 June 1941 ‘A German platoon fired a salute of honour over the grave’ FLYING OFFICER PETER HAROLD HOWARD PRITCHARD (1921-41)   https://budleighpastandpresent.blogspot.com/2021/11/ww2-75-11-june-1941-german-platoon.html   Image credit: www.FindaGrave.com Stanley’s sad death at the age of 27 stirred various thoughts in me when I first read about it. He is not listed on Budleigh Salterton’s War Memorial, yet his grave is in St Peter’s Burial Ground on Moor Lane. His family were not local, yet he seems to have been killed while engaged in the highly hazardous work of protecting Budleigh against invasion.   The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records him as a member of the 12 th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment with the Service Number was 5627659. According to the same source, his parents were George and M. Holloway, of Hounslow, Middlesex.   Tackling this WW2 project chronologically as I am, it was clear that Stanley had died on the sa...

Budleigh’s ‘buns’ or pebbles are what make its beach special and pebble artist Simon Wood over the last few years has made it even more of a talking-point with his creations. They don’t last for ever of course. The winter storms have taken away these pebble pictures that he created but the photos remain.  Apart from the pleasure they give, the pictures have benefited the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) for which Simon set up a website at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/simon-wood24       Simon has been kind enough to agree working with Fairlynch on a project connected with the Reg Varney centenary exhibition which will take place between Easter and the end of September.   You should be able to guess a likely subject of Simon’s pebble art for 2016. Meanwhile I’ll leave you with the...

Every Christmas Day spectators and swimmers gather on Budleigh beach just before 10.00 am. Or should that be sadists and masochists...? Even the odd dog is welcome to join.  The weather had been stormy in the run-up to Christmas Day and I'd heard rumours that the event might have to be cancelled.  But who would decide? The coastguards in the photo were looking as if they thought everyone was mad.  They told me that the event is spontaneous with no organiser. People just turn up. Here are some people putting on brave faces as 10.00 am approaches.    And they're off! Clearly some people are having second thoughts. Those waves look quite big. Yes indeed. This could have been a big mistake.   The return! For most people that was after a few minutes.   Some people just enjoy showing off.    ...