People

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.

Four sisters, average age 73, are staying together under one roof for the first time since girlhood.

They want to make the most of the last few weeks before one of them – Mrs Alice Billings (78) – returns to her home in Toronto, Canada.

Mrs Billings last month returned to North Devon, which she first left in 1913, to be reunited with her sisters and brother.

Now, Mrs Nellie Harris, of 17 Fore Street, Langtree, and Mrs Edith Gerry, of Sutcombe, have temporarily moved in with the baby of the family, Mrs Dora Hutchings who lives at St Elvis, Northdown Road, Bideford.

Their brother, Mr George Beal, lives at 2 Hillside Terrace, Pitt Lane, Bideford.

Born in Frithelstock, Mrs Billings emigrated to Canada 12 months after her fiancé, Mr Tom Hill, and they were married. She has a son, Mr Tom Hill, in Newhaven, Sussex, two grandchildren, Michael and John, and two great-grandsons, Brett and Scott.

Gazette article dated 20 June 1969

Faints As She Wins National Competition

Ambition to travel

When Miss Brenda Brown learned that she had won a national dressmaking competition with the trouser suit she is here seen modelling she fainted.

“It was such a shock” she told the Gazette.

Miss Brown (20), of The Store, Buckland Brewer, an assistant in a Bideford chemist’s shop and a member of Buckland Brewer Young Farmers’ Club, was a Devon representative in the contest promoted by the National Federation.

Miss Brown, who became keen on dressmaking when introduced to the craft at Torrington County Secondary School, now classes it as ‘the hobby I like best of all.’

This was Devon’s third win in the competition.

The full Gazette article is dated 9 May 1969

Births and Marriages

10 April 1945

Alver – April 5 1945 at 29 Bowden Green, Bideford, to Mr and Mrs J Alver, a son, Keith David, a brother for Hazel
Colome – April 1 1945 to Sergt and Mrs Colome, a daughter, Marilyn Lolita, a sister for Janet, Pamela and Brian
Tucker – April 4 1945 at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Margaret, wife of Sidney J Tucker, of Babeleigh Barton, Parkham, a son
Whitty – April 4 1945 at 31 Royston Road, Bideford, to Phyllis (nee Harris), wife of Cpl T J P Whitty, RAF, a daughter, Jean Margaret.

Barton-Baker – marriage between Eric Barton and Elizabeth J (Betty) Baker at St Mary’s Church, Bideford

Bennett-Jones – March 17 1945 at Llangeiror Church, Glamorgan, by Rev Grenfell Rees, BA, Victor Ross Bennett, son of Mr and Mrs Bennett, The Quay, Appledore, to Elsie Muriel Jones, daughter of Mr and Mrs Jones, Ogmore Vale, Glamorgan
Briscoe-Turner – April 6 1945 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, Herbert, son of Mr and MRs Walter Briscoe, Southport, Lancashire, to Margaret Cecile, daughter of Mr and Mrs S Cecil Turner, Heathville, Westcroft Terrace, Bideford
Elkin-Matthews – March 31 1945 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by the Rev Prev W N Manning, Pte Ralph J Elkin RAMC of Plumstead to Winifred M Matthews, Park Lane, Bideford
Gates-Copp – April 2 1045 at the Bridge Street Methodist Church, Bideford, by Rev John K Lockeyr, Jack Trevor, son of Mr and Mrs A Gates, 55 South Way, Shirley, Croydon, and Vera Olive Joyce, daughter of Mr and Mrs W H Copp, 6 Buttgarden Street, Bideford
Heywood-Howe – March 24 1945 at Pontypool, Wales, John Thomas, son of Mr and Mrs J Heywood, Kerswell, Parkham, to Nancy, only daughter of Mr and Mrs C Howe, 7 Windsor Road, Treharris, Wales
Jenkins-Rose – April 5 1945 at St John’s Church, Cardiff, by Rev D E Lake, Albert Edwin Jenkins (Chief Officer, MN), son of Mrs and the late Mr Silas Jenkins, Appledore, to Olwen May Rose, daughter of Mrs and the late Mr Charles Rose, Cathays, Cardiff
Thatcher-Prouse – March 21 1945 at the Baptist Church, Appledore, by Rev B Hardy, Leading Seaman Brian F Thatcher, son of Mrs F Thatcher and the late Mr Thatcher, Hydesville, New Milton, Hants, to Miss Margaret Hilda Prouse, daughter of Mr and Mrs J Prouse, 11 Kimberley Terrace, Northam
Washer-Waldon – April 5 1945 (by licence) at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by Rev Preb W N Manning, Ernest, son of the late Mr and Mrs Charles Washer, 6 Friars Walk, Exeter, to Florence Hilda, daughter of Mrs and the late Mr S Waldon, 1 Kingsley Road, Bideford