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On this day in Wembury August 31st

In the 1970s, August 31st in Wembury was characterized by the end of the traditional summer season, the peak of local "Carnival" fever, and the ongoing presence of the Royal Navy.

Here are some specific snapshots from that decade:

1. The Wembury Carnival (Late 1970s)

In the late 1970s, Wembury had a very active Carnival Committee. The carnival was a massive village event involving floats, fancy dress, and competitions. While the main parade often took place earlier in August, the August Bank Holiday (which frequently included August 31st) was the traditional "grand finale" for summer fundraising. Archives from 1978 and 1979 show heavy planning and press clippings for these village events, which brought the whole community together before the school year began.

2. HMS Cambridge & The "Big Guns"

Throughout the 1970s, August 31st would have been a day of transition at HMS Cambridge, the Royal Navy Gunnery School at Wembury Point.

• The Noise: Locals from that era remember the constant "thump-thump" of the guns.

• The Holiday Break: Training often paused or wound down for the Bank Holiday weekend. If you were standing on Wembury Beach on August 31, 1975, you wouldn't have seen the peaceful nature reserve that Wembury Point is today; you would have seen a high-security military installation with live firing out to sea.

3. A Notable Record: August 31, 1972

Local parish records from St. Werburgh’s Church (the iconic church on the cliff) show a specific entry for August 31, 1972. It marks the passing of an 84-year-old local resident, with the burial taking place a few days later. In a small village like 1970s Wembury, the loss of an "old hand" who had lived through the pre-war years was a significant event for the community.

4. The "Definitive Map" Reviews

During the mid-to-late 1970s, Wembury was undergoing a "Limited Special Review" of its public footpaths. This sounds dry, but it was a period of high tension! Landowners and villagers often clashed over which "cliff paths" and "little lanes" (like the ones near Bovisand) should remain open to the public. August 31st, being a prime day for walkers, often saw these paths at their busiest, fueling the debates that eventually secured the public rights of way we use today.