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.

Many congratulations have been extended to Mr and Mrs F Wilkey, of Glen Eden, Westward Ho! who on Wednesday celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

For thirty-five years Mr Wilkey was a member of Northam Urban District Council and he was Chairman in 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1941. His public services were recognised by the award of a Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935. He is a past president of Northam and Westward Ho! Chamber of Commerce, which he helped to found. For forty years he has been secretary of Northam Burrows Committee. Mr and Mrs Wilkey were married at Barnstaple Parish Church. Mr Wilkey is a native of Shirwell; his wife, who was a Miss Griffey before marriage, was born at Northam. They have lived at Northam and Westward Ho! for over fifty years. Mr Wilkey farmed Venton, Westward Ho! for some years and carried on a dairy business before his retirement. He joined the Royal North Devon Yeomanry in 1891 and served under command of the late Sir Arthur Chichester, of Youlstone Park, and the present Earl Fortescue’s late father. Mr and Mrs Wilkey have a son and three daughters, ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Instow’s Loss in 1941 Sudden passing of Rector

The Rev S Weaver, who has been the Rector of Instow for the past three years, died suddenly on Tuesday evening in the garden of Marine Cottage, Instow, while visiting Bishop Harmer, formerly Bishop of Rochester, who resides there.

His sudden passing was a great shock to the man friends he had made in Instow and district. Rev S Weaver was 59. He leaves a widow.

Cremation took place at Plymouth. On Friday afternoon a memorial service was held at Instow Parish Church, the flag of which was flown at half mast. The memorial service was conducted by the Dean Rural Rev J C Mitchell, who was assisted by the following robed clergy: Rev J H Phillips, Rev F W Germon, Rev R P Neill (Fremington), and Rev F W Bodger (Westleigh). Mr C E Tucker presided at the organ. Among those present was a contingent of the military, Miss Belshaw (representing Mr John Christie), Bishop Harmer, Mrs Harmer, Miss Adeline Harmer and Mrs Robert Banner (Marine Cottage, Instow); Rev R A B Chambers (representing the Rector of Bideford, Rev Preb W N Manning), Rev H C A S Muller (Vicar of Appledore), Rev H P D Pinhey (Vicar of Northam), Rev M Rycroft (Assistant Priest at Northam), Rev H de C Stevens-Guille, Rev J H Prince, Rev C G Powell (Rector of Horwood with Newton Tracey), Mr Rose (representing Instow Home Guard), Capt Johnson (representing Rear-Admiral H G C Franklin, RNO, Appledore), Mrs Cathcart (Quartermaster, Devon 72, representing Instow Red Cross), Mrs Longhurst (representing Instow WVS); Mrs O Moore, Miss O Pidler and Miss Kent (representing Instow Church choir); Mr A R Dobbs (representing Mr R W Way, head teacher, teachers and scholars of the Instow Council School), Police Constables Mist and Butt (Instow), and Sergt T Anstey (Special Constabulary), Major and Mrs Spragge, Capt and Mrs Leach, Capt and Mrs Johnson, Mr and Mrs Whitchard, Mr and Mrs A V Pedlar, Mr and Mrs S Parkhouse, Mr and Mrs Bone, Mr and Mrs Robert Tritton, Mr and Mrs Rose, Messrs Peters, Spindler, A P Cummings, M T Molland, C Pedlar, H and P May, F J Greening, H Yeo jnr. P Smallridge, H B Smallcorn, Colonel Hawkins, Colonel Gamble, Colonel Evatt, Messrs Leigh-Ibbs, Blatchely, J W Hyde, W Leaworthy, J T Dark, Capt F Dark, Messrs G Staddon, Sydney N Dawson, Lady Renshaw, Mesdames Wickham, Miller, Rodd, Staddon, O’Brien, Justin Rees, H Cox, Dawney, Jordan, Pope, W Braunton, W Smallridge, Arbuthnott, Ker, Bradshaw, J Barrett, Parker , Milne, E Jarvis, J Duck, Simmonds, Critchley-Salmonson, May, O Giddy, G Rendall, Gray, J Martin, Kent, A C Smith, Howman, Kavanagh, C G Powell, Somers-Cocks, Noel-Roberts, T Anstey, Kelland, Foorad, Yates, Batterbury, Frayne, J W Mulrock, Symons, Ebsworthy, Barfood, Aldridge, Misses Bainton, Cross, Dawson, Martin, Wynne, Burton, Wells, Howden, Clarke, Nancekivell, P O’Brien, Berry-Torr.

New Rector of Instow - Institution and Induction of Rev S Weaver - 1939

On Tuesday evening the Rev S Weaver was instituted and inducted as Rector of Instow, in the presence of the Bishop of Exeter (Dr C E Curzon), many robed clergy from neighbouring parishes, and a large congregation.

The new rector comes to Instow from Milton near Gravesend, Kent, where he was Vicar of Holy Trinity Church. The parish embraced the headquarters of London river for Trinity House pilots and he is keenly interested in the sea and sailors which is a happy omen for his new incumbency which is also closely associated with the sea. The institution was performed by the Bishop and the induction by the Dean Rural (Rev H P F Scott of Atherington) in the absence of Preb Hay (Archdeacon of Barnstaple). Other robed clergy attending included the Rev Preb. F M Wallington, Revs J C Mitchell, J H Phillips, F W Bodger (Westleigh), A E Wynne, P D Scott, H F Burrows (Fremington), C E Purves, H Sharples, G Rogers, Dimond-Hogg, W D Phillips and H Somers-Cocks (formerly of Instow). On behalf of the patron, Mr John Christie of Tapley Park, who was unavoidably absent being abroad, the living was presented to the new rector by Lieut-Col D A Bullock, who with Mr Bruce Smallcorn accompanied the procession of clergy and the visits to the various parts of the Church in the course of the induction. Following the ceremony the visiting clergy were entertained in the Vestry Room on the invitation of the Parochial Church Council. Last evening, at the kind invitation of the patron, parishioners were invited to Tapley Park to meet the Rev and Mrs S Weaver.