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.

The new Sheriff of Devon is to be Lieut-Col Joseph Eric Palmer, of Rosemoor, Torrington.

He was chosen by the Queen on Thursday of last week when she appointed the 1964 Sheriffs of England and Wales by pricking the roll of Sheriffs with a gold handled steel bodkin.
At Rosemoor, Col Palmer farms 400 acres, the holding including some woodlands. Twice Mayor of Torrington, he is chairman of the local Bench of magistrates, a member of the Town Council and local representative on Devon County Council. He is a member of many local organisations and committees. For 30 years he served in the Territorial Army, for most of that time in the Duke of Lancaster’s Yeomanry. For his part in the landings in France he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and mentioned in despatches. He holds the Territorial Decoration with bars. After the war he for some time commanded the North Devon Regiment of the Royal Devon Yeomanry, RA, TA.
His wife, whom he married in 1939, was formerly Lady Anne Walpole, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Orford.

Gazette article dated 3 April 1964

Presentation to Mr Fred Vodden of Torrington in 1964

Presentations have been made to Mr Fred Vodden, of 11 Mill Street, Torrington, to mark his 50 years with the Torrington glove firm of William Vaughan and Sons.. and he is still going strong.

On the right is the managing director, Mr Michael Vincent, who presented Mr Vodden with a cheque on behalf of the firm. From fellow employees, whose spokesman is on the left, Mr Vodden received a chiming clock.

Torrington Couple’s Celebration Lunch – 50 years wed

To celebrate their golden wedding last week, a Torrington couple, Mr and Mrs Thomas Newcombe, of 199 New Street, had lunch at an Exeter hotel before going on to visit their only daughter, Mrs Doris Tickle, at Topsham.

The day’s expenses were met by their grandson, David.The day’s expenses were met by their grandson, David.

Mr and Mrs Newcombe were married at St Michael’s Parish Church on December 23 1908 by the then Vicar of Torrington, the Rev Frank Emlyn Jones. Now aged 74, Mr Newcombe left school at Langtree at the age of 11 to work on his father’s farm, and continued on the land with Mr Woolacott, of Yarnscombe. After eight years he joined the staff at Torrington railway station where he served for 25 years until his retirement in 1947. Mrs Flossie Newcombe, who is 71, was formerly Miss Pantoll. A native of Torrington, she left school at 13 and worked for Mr Jackson making athletic and sports equipment before going to Messrs Vaughans, the glove manufacturers. She now runs a general store at their home.

Their daughter, Mrs Tickle, was well known at a Bideford school teacher and a Sunday school teacher at Torrington.