Flags At Half-Mast

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.

Funeral of Mr A Hocking

Flags at Bideford Liberal Club and Bideford Bowling Club, of which he was a member, were flown at half-mast on Saturday for the funeral at Northam Methodist Church of Mr Alfred Hocking, Burrows View, Westward Ho!

Mr Hocking, who was 65, for formerly in business at Shebbear and on retirement first came to live at Bideford and later at Westward Ho! For a number of years he was hon. secretary of Bideford and District Local Savings Committee and contributed much to the success of the big war-time savings drives. He was a trustee and treasurer of Northam Methodist Church and lay secretary of Exeter District Methodist Citizenship Committee.

Mr Hocking was Treasurer of Torrington Divisional Liberal Association and a director of Bideford Liberal Club.

The Rev W J Tyrer and the Rev Isaac Bond officiated. Mr H Thorne was the organist.

Immediate mourners were: the widow; Messrs Wilfred and Stanley Hearn; Mrs Metherall and Mrs Gayton; Mrs Walter Hocking and Miss Greenslade; Messrs W J and H J Greenslade; Mrs Stanley Hearn, Mrs A Lock; Mr Chubb, Mr R Metherall and Mr A Lock.

Unavoidably absent were: Mr W Hocking and Mrs S Hearn, and Mrs W J Greenslade.

Representng Bideford Bowling Club, Messrs W and A J Joslin, F Snell, S F Marshall (also representing Messrs Marshall Verren Ltd and Mr C Brough), H W Mules, F Boundy, D J Reed, P Vicary, W E Ellis , J Steer, A C Hoopoer (also representing Mr W H Copp), E H Hopcraft, J Mitchell, J P Cleverdon, J Slade and H W Elliott.

Others attending included: Pastor and Mrs Argall, Mr and Mrs J F Colwill, Mr an dMrs W E Babb, Mr and Mrs P H Joselin, Mr and Mrs F Wilkey, Mr and Mrs D Whitton, Mr and Mrs J Quance (Monkleigh), Messrs W J Mills, T Williams, C H Bale, M H Clverdon, W J G Coad (representing Lloyds Bank), A W Griffin, S Griffin, R Babb, J Heywood, F C Twose, M Sanders, E Shaxton, J E Ash, W Cole, A Davies (also representing Mr J Tuplin), R B Blackmore, C T Copp, W J Western, S P Luxton, W Pursey, W Harris; Mesdames A Griffey, L Pennington, A C Melrose, W J Tyrer, G Sinnons (also representing Mr and Miss Sinnins), C F Stephens, N Martin (also representing Mr R H Taylor), F Lucas, E Nicholas, G Hurford, T Colwill, L Symes, A J Slade, J Squance (Shebbear), L Nicholls, Misses G Luxton, H Davis, J Shutt, E Pearce, E Fenwick, M Fenwick, S Hutchinson, E Chappel, D E Feist, G Pooley.

The bearers were Messrs T Shutt, H Heaman, A Hearn and S Kelly.

Floral tributes were from: his wife, Edie, Sarah, Kit and Bert; members and friends of Northam Methodist Church; directors and members of Bideford Liberal Club; Bideford Bowling Club; Bideford and District Liberal Association; Will, Flo, Aubrey and Pat; Walter, Ethel and family; Frances and Wilfred; Stan, Dolly and Oswald; nieces and nephews, Westcroft and West Wootton, Rev W J and Mrs Tyrer; Mr and Mrs F Twose and family; cousin Bertha (Clevedon); Miss Mary G Bridgman; Mr John Heywood and family; Mr and Mrs P H Joselin; Mrs Munro; Mr and Mrs A Brown and Mr and Miss Pursey; Mr and Mrs F J Wilkey; Mr P H Morrish; Mr and Mrs A Davies; Mr and Mrs Hannaford and Jean; Mr and Mrs M Wilkey; Mr Deverell; Mrs F Gray and Mrs J Moore; Mr and Mrs E J Tuplin.

Messrs Littlejohn Bros., Fore Street, Northam, carried out the funeral arrangements.

Gazette article dated 14 April 1955