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Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

Torrington Company of Cavaliers to join the Hunt

So far the Torrington Company of Cavaliers have been very much a ‘shanks’ pony brigade’ but on Saturday they plan to be mounted and ready to play their part in adding to the splash of colour in Torrington Square on Boxing Day when the traditional meet of Torrington Farmers’ Hunt is held there.Will all the Cavaliers be joining the Hunt on Boxing Day? ‘Only the more proficient’ says Company Captain, Mr Laurie Alexander, guardedly. Because only two of the Cavaliers had been on a horse before, it was thought prudent to have what might be called a trial ride to see how they shaped. There was one moment when one of the horses, imagining perhaps that its ancestors must have been one of Prince Rupert’s troop, broke into a gallop which had its rider, Water Board engineer Percy Rook, clutching its neck.

Larkworthy Family are in Shebbear's Football Team in 1954

Two Brothers and Cousin in Team

Two brothers and a cousin, George and Allan Larkworthy, and Godfrey Larkworthy, are included in Shebbear’s football team. The father of the two brothers is a member of the committee and his brother, Godfrey’s father, was one of the prime movers in the formation of the club and its original secretary. The club has the unusual distinction of having a woman secretary, Mrs D Bridgman, who succeeded her husband in this office.
Chairman of the Club is the Vicar, Rev H A Robins, and Mr F Pett has been treasurer since 1948. Skipper of the side for the past three seasons is Arthur Buse and the team includes three former Black Torrington players – E Luxton, W Harris and D Ley. Also playing for the team but not in the photograph are G Dymond, A Stevens (the oldest player) and H Jeffery.
In the game which followed the taking of the photograph Shebbear lost 3-0 to Appledore Reserves in the second round of the Pickard Cup. Shebbear still have an interest in the Holman Cup and are about midway in the Northern Division of the Kingsley League table.
Seen from left to right – back row – W Jeffery, George Larkworthy, A Buse, E Luxton, J Leonard, - front row – B Jones, W Harris, G Bailey, D Ley, Godfrey Larkworthy, Allan Larkworthy.