Names

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.

A member of Bideford Town Council Mr A I Rogers, dropped a bombshell when without any previous intimation he announced at yesterday’s meeting of the Council that he was resigning his membership immediately.

Towards the end of the meeting Mr Rogers said that would be his last meeting on the Council and he was vacating his seat forthwith.
Mr G H Braddick: What for?
Mr Rogers said he would give his reasons in his notice to the Town Clerk the following day.
Mr Braddick: We cannot accept it without a reason.
Mr Rogers: I do not want you to accept anything. I will explain in my note to the Town Clerk.
Mr T A Goaman said Mr Rogers was elected for a term of three years, and he might just as well go on.
Mr Rogers: My decision is final.
Mr Braddick: Is it the Council’s fault?
There was no reply to this question, but when Mr Braddick mentioned the words ‘Ratepayers’ Association’ Mr Rogers jumped to his feet and said ‘I have never craved any man’ smile, and I do not fear their frowns’.
The Mayor, Mr J H Bright, who presided, said he was very sorry to hear Mr Rogers’ announcement and Ald H W Fulford said he hoped he would reconsider the matter. Questioned by a Press representative, Mr Rogers declined to make any statement on his decision. Mr Rogers was elected to the Council for a three years term in November 1938.

To Be Offered To Mr Inkerman Rogers and Alderman F E Whiting

Bideford Town Council, at their meeting yesterday (1947) decided to offer Mr Inkerman Rogers, author of the newly published ‘Ships and Shipyards of Bideford, Devon’, and Ald F E Whiting, former Mayor, the Honorary Freedom of the Borough.

At the September meeting of the Council, the General Purposes Committee was instructed to consider bestowing upon Mr Rogers some fitting recognition of the Borough’s gratitude for his valued services. At yesterday’s meeting the Committee recommended, and it was approved, that the Council should invite Mr Inkerman Rogers to allow the Council to confer upon him the Honorary Freedom of the Borough ‘as a mark of appreciation of his many antiquarian and other researches in connection with the history of the town’.
At a later meeting the Committee decided to recommend that Ald Frank E Whiting should also be asked to allow the Council to confer upon him the Honorary Freedom of the Borough in recognition of his many valued contributions to the life of the Borough.
In the event of their acceptance, it was decided, the necessary arrangements should be referred to a sub-committee consisting of the Mayor, Mr J Lang, Ald H A W Huxham, Ald T Burton and Cllr J H Sharley, with power to deal.
There are only two Honorary Freemen of Bideford left today – Sir Hugh N G Stucley and Ald H A W Huxham. Both are former Mayors.

Death of Mr E A Stapledon, a well known land agent, in 1952

The death occurred at ‘Damerels’, Limers Lane, Northam, on Sunday of Mr Ernest Allen Stepledon who, until he retired in 1946, had been the senior partner of the well known North Devon firm of land agents of Messrs Smyth-Richards and Stapledon for many years.

Mr Stapledon, who was 80, was a son of the late Mr William Stapledon, of Lakenham, Northam, and was educated at the United Services College at Westward Ho! and the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.

Mr Stapledon first entered into partnership with the late Mr J Groves Cooper under the title of Groves Cooper and Stapledon. On retirement of his partner, he took Mr C R E Powell into partnership, the firm becoming Groves Cooper, Stapledon and Powell. When Mr Powell retired, Mr Stapledon amalgamated with Messrs Smyth-Richards and Fox of Barnstaple, and on the death of Mr Fox, the firm became Messrs Smyth-Richards and Stapledon. For many years he carried out the duties of Consular Agent for France up to the time of the time of the collapse of that country during the evening 1939-45 war.

Mr Stapledon was a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, a Fellow of the Land Agents’ Society, a Member of the Institute of Registered Architects and a Member of the Royal Agricultural College.

He leaves a widow and two sons and a daughter. Mr C W Stapledon is partner of the firm of Messrs William Stapledon and Sons of Port Said, Egypt, and Mr R de S Stapledon, OBE, is economic secretary to the East African High Commission, Nairobi. The daughter, Miss Mariel Stapledon, lives at home. Another son, Mr C E C Stapledon B.Sc, (Naval architecture), who was with the Crown Agent, Singapore, died in a Japanese internment camp in Sumatra in 1945.

The funeral of Mr Stapledon took place privately.