Memories of the Early Festival

Posted on by

Ian Thomas as a Bishop with his children Kate and Andrew

Ian Thomas, Deputy Headmaster of The Bluecoat C.E. Junior School, Pilton from January 1978, got involved in the Rev. Anthony Geering’s idea of resurrecting Pilton Festival in 1982 – an event with its roots in the 1344 granting of the right to hold a market by Edward III.  With Anthony Geering, Albert Linacre and Noel Harley, Ian formed the core of the first Festival Committee.  On The Pilton Story archive now is a short memory of his personal involvement in the first few years of the Festival.  Read more in Pilton Festival : The Early Years by following this link.  It tells us a little about how Pilton Festival became what it is today.

N. Devon Technical College 1947

Posted on by

 

Outside North Devon Technical College in 1947.

Around 1947 the North Devon Technical College was housed in old huts where Barnstaple Fire Station is now located on the A39 North Road just beyond Pilton Bridge. This photograph shows a group of young women presumably attending the College. The huts may have been left over from World War 2 when they housed the American Red Cross and were described as very modern and sleek for that time. In the background you can see the fairly new North Road (built 1938) and behind it what is now Rotary Gardens with Pilton House partially hidden by the trees.

Thanks to Peter Christie of the North Devon Atheneum for the photograph.