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.

Death of Mr Hobart Braddick

One of the leading businessmen in North Devon and one whose enterprise and public service found notable expression in Bideford district, Mr George Hobart Braddick, of ‘Three Elms’, Northam, died in hospital on Wednesday.

Mr Braddick, who was active in the family business until his recent last illness, was 85.

On 1953, Mr and Mrs Braddick, a former Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford, celebrated their golden wedding.

Mr Braddick was one of the 12 children of the late Mr and Mrs J J Braddick. He attended the old Board school at the top of Gunstone in the days when Mr Baxter was headmaster. On leaving school he joined his father in the auctioneering business and about 1905 he established his own furnishing, removals and storage business. Electrical and house agency branches were later added and the business has steadily grown into one of the principal of its kind in this area. Mr Braddick’s progressive personality was widely acknowledged.

In 1939 he was one of the prime movers in the launching of a £50,000 holiday centre at Cornborough Road, Westward Ho! (later sold) and he had played a prominent part in the modern development of Westward Ho! in the form of holiday centre, camping and caravan sites. His business interests extended all over North Devon.

In 1925 he was elected to Bideford Town Council but after a three-year term of office he did not seek re-election. In 1933 he was pressed to stand again and was returned next to top of the poll. He served for 15 years altogether – as did his father before him – and his enterprise and business experience were of great value.

In 1940, he and his wife began two very strenuous war-time terms of office as Mayor and Mayoress, being particularly associated with the looking after a large influx of evacuees.

For nearly 40 years Mr Braddick was leader of the Sunday School at Bridge Street Methodist Church – where he was married in 1903. He served as Society steward and in other lay offices of the Methodist Church and was a Trustee of a number of chapels. Throughout his long, active life he always retained a keen interest in work for young people.

In addition to the widow, he leaves a son, Mr L G H Braddick, two grandsons (Messrs G and I Braddick), all associated with the family business, and one granddaughter, Mrs M Wicks.

The funeral of Mr Braddick takes place at Bridge Street tomorrow (Saturday).

The Gazette's article on the funeral is HERE (opens in new window)

Gazette article dated 14 July 1961

Mr H Hopkins’ 35 Years in Insurance

Mr H (Hoppy) Hopkins has retired after 35 years

as district agent (covering Appledore, Westward Ho! and Northam) of the Pearl Assurance Co. Ltd. To mark his retirement a dinner and social were held on Friday at the Globe Hotel, Torrington, attended by officials, agents, their wives and friends.

Mr Hopkins, who lives at 9 Seaview, Morwenna, Northam, and is a member of Northam Urban Council, was presented with a long-service certificate by Mr W H Boud and a dining room clock by the district manager, Mr A E Coles; a bouquet was given to his wife by Mrs R Cookney.

Tributes were also paid to Mr Hopkins by Mr Cookney on behalf of the officers and Mr J Jones on behalf of the agency staff.

About 50 people attended the social in the Globe ballroom.

Mr W J Barry was toastmaster.

The full Gazette article is dated 25 August 1961

Births, engagements and marriages

2 September 1966

Dymond – On Sunday August 28th 1966 at Exeter City Hospital, to Marjorie and Ken, a daughter, Clare Lorraine, sister for Sally and Sarah.
Garnsey – On August 29th 1966 at 32 Northview Avenue, to Jennifer and John, a daughter, Jane Rachel, sister for Stephen and Paul.
Lamanna – On August 21st 1966 to Anne (nee Pooley) and Pasquale, a daughter, Caterina Joanne.
Parkhouse – On August 27th 1966 at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Patricia (nee Cook) and John, a son, Simon Charles.

Webber-Downing – the engagement has been announced between Patricia, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Downing, 11 Meddon Street, to Gordon, son of Mr and Mrs Webber, of South Molton.
Floyd-Parkhurst – Mr T Floyd, 2 Pitt Avenue, Appledore, has pleasure in announcing the engagement of his twin son, Robert, to Jane, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs C Parkhurst, 10 Frederick Street, Southampton.
Jones-Willoughby - Mr and Mrs D Willoughby, 4 Shipton Grove, Swindon, formerly of Bideford, have great pleasure in announcing the engagement of their eldest daughter, Ann, to Royston, youngest son of Mr W and the late Mrs Jones, of Calne, Wiltshire.

Brennan-Slade - On August 27th 1966 at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, by the Rev R C Dixon, Ronald, younger son of Capt and Mrs P Brennan, 15 Stanhope Terrace, Bideford, to Susan Ann, only daughter of Mrs and the late Mr John Slade, 7 Burrows Road, Northam.
Fulford-Le-Fevre – On August 27th 1966 at St Peter’s Church, Tiverton, Maurice Frederick, eldest son of Mr and Mrs A C Fulford, Glenside, Glenburnie Estate, to Hilary Le-Fevre, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Richard Le-Fevre, Woodside, Middle Marwood, Barnstaple.
Taffs-Balfour – On August 31st 1966, the wedding took place of Marlene Edith Balfour, only daughter of Mr and Mrs G W Balfour, 65 Barton Tors, Bideford, to Anthony Taffs, third son of Major and Mrs B W Taffs, 16 South Street, Torrington.