Torrington

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.

Next Sunday will be a day of memories for Mr and Mrs Arthur Stapleton, of 70a Calf Street, Torrington – memories of fifty years of married life, for it is on that day that they celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

A family gathering at their home will mark the anniversary.
Mr and Mrs Stapleton were married in 1907 at Torrington Baptist Church by the Rev Franklin Owen.
The sons are Messrs Reg Stapleton of Torrington, Fred and Bill Stapleton of London, and the daughter is Mrs Rene Mills of Torrington.
Mr Arthur Stapleton, who is 73, left school at the age of 13 and worked on a farm at Peters Marland for 12 months before going to Croydon in the grocery business. He worked for a short time at Clay Moor. During the 1914-18 war he served with the RAMC in France and Belgium and received the MM in 1917 at Ypres. During the 1939-45 war Mr Stapleton was in the Home Guard.
Mrs Stapleton, formerly Miss Selina (Lena) Page, is 69. Leaving school at 13 she worked at a Torrington gloving factory.
The full article is dated 1 November 1957

Torrington Station's Brief Passenger Use Revival

Possibly the last passenger train to visit Torrington station did so on Saturday.

It was full of railway enthusiasts from all over the country and was named the Exmoor Belle, travelling from Exeter to Ilfracombe and then to Meeth, via Torrington and back to Exeter.
The trip was arranged on the last day of the operation of the Barnstaple to Ilfracombe section of line.

Retired PC mourned at Torrington

Many friends attended the funeral service in St Michael’s Church, Torrington, for Mr Frederick John Allen, 105 Mill Street, Torrington. Mr Allen, who was 68, was a retired policeman.

The service was conducted by the Vicar of Torrington, Rev P G Harrison, and the organist was Miss M L Wright.
Principal mourners were: the widow, Dorothy and Steve, Pamela and Roger, Beatie and Gladys, Eddie and Cred, Mrs W Portman, Mrs Ivy Bryant and Hazel, Mr and Mrs T Mills, Mr Tony Avery.
The bearers were Messrs E Lawrence, M Burke, T Hammett, W Newcombe, P May and B Copp.
Others attending included Sergeant J Street and Constable Hancock, Mrs M Doyle, Mr E Johns, Mr and Mrs P May, Mr and Mrs E Lawrence, Mr Hammett, Mr and Mrs J Norman, Mr and Mrs B Norman, Miss Ethel Rowe, Mrs F J Bryan, Miss F Snell, Mrs W Blight, Mr and Mrs A Sutton, Mr and Mrs Martin Burke, Miss K Baker, Mrs Len Eastwood, Mrs S Blight, Mr S C Ward, Mr and Mrs Fred Vodden, Mr and Mrs C Winson, Mrs C R Popham, Mrs D Snell, Mrs Joe Davies, Mr J Quick and Mrs Charles Popham.
Floral tributes were from: May, Dorothy and Steve, Pamela and Roger, Beatie, Gladys and Monty, Cred and Eddie, Thelma, Laurie and Lyndon, Mr and Mrs W Allen, Ivy, Fred and family, Mr and Mrs Portman and Roy, Fred and Lily, Graham, Julia, Elizabeth and Jonathan, Doris, David and Ann, Ciss and Essie, Elsie, Graham, Heather and Michael, Win, Ted and Margaret, Chief Constable and members of Swansea Borough Police Force, Albert and Doris, Mr and Mrs Bonniwell, Mr Tayler, Mr and Mrs Matthews, Mr and Mrs E Lawrence, Emrys and Betty, S C Ward, Mr and Mrs F Sussex, Mrs Cole and family, Mr Tony Avery, Bill, Edie and Florrie, Mrs Holland and Florrie, Mr and Mrs Brown and Stanley, Mrs Snell and Dorothy, Mr and Mrs May and Alan, Mill Street and Taddiport Old Age Pensioners Association, Mr and Mrs J Norman and family, R W Hearn and family, K Sandford and G Dyer, Kathleen Baker, Mrs B Sussex and J Davies, Joyce Steer, Mr and Mrs J Reed, Elsie, Jack and Lionel, past president, president and all members of Swansea Devonian Society, Connie Thurston and Betty Tuck.
Funeral arrangements by Mr Ivor Combe, 72 New Street, Torrington.
Full Gazette article dated 12 October 1962