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.

Bideford Gazette Appointment - R Balsdon, 1965

Mr R G Balsdon, who has been appointed a director of Bideford Gazette Ltd. joined the Gazette from Bideford Grammar School as an apprentice to journalism. During the war he joined with the Devons, was commissioned and saw active service as a captain in the Reconnaisssance Corps in Western Europe. Shortly after his return, he transferred from the editorial department to the commercial side as advertisement manager, gaining knowledge of all departments, and is now commercial manager.
Aged 47, Mr Balsdon is a member of the Rotary Club, of which he was the honorary secretary for some years, has assisted Bideford Chamber of Commerce as joint organiser of one of its trade exhibitions and has co-operated with Bideford Joint Advertising Committee as publicity manager. He is married with one daughter.

Death of Major J R Braddick - 1948

Member of a well-known Bideford family, Major J R Braddick, M.C., youngest son of the late Mr and Mrs J J Braddick, of Silford Farm, Bideford, died at Fairfield, St Agnes, on Tuesday. He leaves a widow. Aged 58, Major Braddick served with the Royal Artillery udring the first World War, when he was awarded the Military Cross and mentioned in despatches. During the 1939-45 war he was also cited for gallantry and good service by the Commander in Chief, Home Forces.
Following the 1914-18 war Major Braddick served in the Colonial Service in West Africa, retiring in 1932. He was early in the field of A.R.P, first on a voluntary basis, then being appointed to a post in London and subsequently to that of A.R.P organiser for the city of Glasgow. Early on the outbreak of hostilities in 1939, he rejoined the army and was appointed to the staff.
Relatives from Bideford were among those attending the cremation at Plymouth. There was no mourning and flowers at his request.

Bideford Shot is Chosen for England

Bideford Shot is Chosen for England - 1970

Bideford businessman Mr Graham Braddick, Devon and Southern Counties clay pigeon shooting champion, who has been selected as first reserve for the All-England team. He thus wins his first England blazer badge and joins in the team another Devonian, Mr Arthur Pickard, of Beaford, who has been a regular member for the past four years. The team meets Scotland, Ireland and Wales at Leamington Spa on July 17th and 18th.